You have probably wondered how detergent cans, medicine bottles, and various cosmetic creams are filled. Where did the idea of packaging and filling liquids in this way originate, and what machines are used for this process? The liquid filling machine is one of the most essential devices in production and packaging lines, used to fill various thin and thick liquids into containers. These machines are not only used for edible beverages but also play a role in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries for filling acids, bleach, medicinal substances, and more. Stay with us in this article as we explore how liquid filling machines work.
Types of Liquid Filling Machines
Liquid filling machines are generally categorized into two types based on the type of liquid they fill: thin and thick liquids. The filling mechanism for thin liquids is simpler and does not require a piston cylinder or pump, as these liquids can be easily transferred from the tank to the container using their own discharge pressure.
Thick liquids with high viscosity (resistance to flow) require a piston cylinder mechanism to be transferred into containers. You can purchase various types of liquid filling machines through the relevant link on Radan Machine’s website. Below, we will briefly introduce three of the most commonly used liquid filling machines:
Automatic or pump liquid filling machine
The pump liquid filling machine, as the name suggests, performs the process of transferring liquids into containers fully automatically without the need for operator assistance. This machine is suitable for high-quality packaging in large volumes, and with it, up to 2,000 one-liter bottles can be filled per hour with an error rate of 0.1%.
Overflow liquid filling machine
Overflow liquid filling machines are used for thin liquids. These machines have a very simple operation and, unlike tri-block machines (which also cap the bottles), they only fill the bottles.
Piston cylinder liquid filling machine
The piston cylinder mechanism is used in automatic machines and offers high precision. Since the set volume is fixed, the error rate in these machines is low, which is why piston cylinder liquid filling machines are used for thick liquids.
How an automatic liquid filling machine operates
Now that we are familiar with the commonly used types of liquid filling machines, it’s time to examine how they work. The operation of an automatic liquid filling machine is as follows: Containers are moved toward the filling station through an electric conveyor system. The filling nozzles send the liquid product, which is stored in a cylinder or hopper, into the container through either a level or volumetric filling method. After the containers are filled, they move on to the next stage of the packaging process, which is usually the capping process.
How an overflow liquid filling machine works
Overflow filling machines adopt the overflow filling method (as the name suggests). These machines are a suitable alternative to gravity filling machines.
Overflow filling machines fill the bottles with the same liquid levels, regardless of the slight volume differences between the bottles, instead of filling a specific amount of product in each bottle. Therefore, overflow filling machines are an ideal solution for filling transparent containers.
Overflow filling machines work best for thin liquid products and foaming products that need to be controlled during the filling process.
How a piston cylinder liquid filling machine works
The operation of a piston cylinder liquid filling machine is similar to that of medical syringes. The pistons draw the liquid into the cylinder and, with forward pressure, transfer it into the container. Each piston in these machines has two one-way valves or a pneumatic three-way valve that determine the direction of the liquid flow into and out of the cylinder. One of the one-way valves opens when the liquid is drawn into the cylinder and closes during discharge. The second valve operates oppositely, closing when the liquid is drawn in and opening during discharge.
The piston cylinder liquid filling machine is slower compared to other types of fillers, but it can fill liquids that other filling machines cannot. One of the best types of liquid filling machines with a piston cylinder mechanism is the RPF 40 automatic servo motor machine, which you can purchase from the Radan store at the best price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What industries are the different types of liquid filling machines used in?
These machines can be used by manufacturers in industries such as food, cosmetics, chemicals, and more, to transfer liquids into containers and package them.
What machine is used to fill shampoo?
Shampoo and other cleaning products can be filled using an automatic liquid filling machine. This process is carried out in a completely hygienic manner and fills the bottles with a specific amount by adjusting the water spray pressure.
Can a liquid filling machine be used for packaging honey?
Since honey is considered a high-viscosity liquid (resistance to flow), a piston cylinder liquid filling machine should be used for its packaging.
Final Words
In this article, we discussed how liquid filling machines work and their various types. These machines are one of the most important components of the production line, significantly speeding up the packaging process for various edible beverages, chemicals such as bleaches and acids, and personal care products. If you are a manufacturer in these industries, it is recommended to purchase a filling machine suitable for your products to improve your production line.