Gravity filling as the name implies uses gravity to complete the filling. Gravity filling machines allow packagers to fill the same volume of product into each bottle using the time-based filling principle. That's why it's also called a time gravity filling machine.
A gravity filler has a hopper placed up above a set of nozzles, which is then filled with the liquid to be bottled. Once the bottles are placed below the nozzles, the nozzle valves can open, and gravity works to draw the product down. The valve is timed to shut again after a precise amount of product has flowed into the containers, and then new containers can be set underneath the valves so the process can begin again.
Thin liquids with no particles and bulk density/flow characteristics do not change.
The product bulk supply is pumped into a holding tank above a set of pneumatically operated valves. Each valve is independently timed by the filler&#;s master computer so that precise amounts of liquid will flow by gravity into the container. Gravity fillers built with bottom up fill capability can handle a wide range of flowable liquids including foamy products.
This type of filler is best suited for liquids with very thin viscosities that do not change with ambient temperature or with batch variation. This machine is also suited for applications where recirculation of the liquid in the fluid path is not desirable. Although this type of filler is used predominantly on products that do not foam, foam may be limited and controlled by subsurface/bottom-up-fill capability.
Examples
Water, solvents, alcohol, specialty chemicals, paint, inks, corrosive chemicals i.e. acids and bleach.
Advantages
This is the most economical type of filling machine for a limited range of applications. It is especially well suited for corrosive chemicals.
These machines work best with low to medium viscosity or frothy liquids, such as water rather than mayonnaise. The product also should be free of any chunks or particles that could clog the nozzle, and it should have a uniform consistency throughout. The fill is volumetric based on time, with thicker liquids requiring a slightly longer fill time than the same volume of low viscosity liquids. The same volume of product will be dispensed each time.
This machine can be found in industries that include food and beverage, specialty chemical and cosmetics and personal care, provided the product is free-flowing and has a low viscosity. Most recently, many manufacturers have been using the gravity filling process to meet the high demand for hand sanitizer. Because hand sanitizer is flammable, the filler has to be customized with explosion-proof controls, and you can turn to our experts to guide you through the process.
Given the right set of conditions, gravity filling can be a good choice for a company looking for an economical and simple automatic process.
Finding the right level of automation depends on knowing which balance of speed and cost is best for your company. Unlike manual filling machines, which are used by a single operator to fill one container at a time, or semi-automatic filling machines that still require some manual operation, automatic filling machines like automatic gravity fillers are the best choice for large-scale companies with high production requirements. They take up the most space, are usually connected to conveyance systems, and require the least manual operation. VKPAK offers only fully automatic gravity filling machines.
Introduction This Filling Machine is gravity type filling machine which is suitable for filling thin fluid. The machine is made by in-line structure , filling head quantity can be custom-made according to different production capacity such as 6/8/10/12/16 /20 heads. The filling volume is controlled by filling time,...
VKPAK's gravity fillers provide volumetric time based filling solutions. An elevated tank on this bottle filler holds product until containers are in place under the fill nozzles. The fill tubes or nozzles then open and release product for a pre-set amount of time. Each fill head can be individually timed to allow for an accurate volumetric fill for each bottle. Gravity filling machines are best suited for free-flowing, low viscosity products like water and ink. Special nozzles for gravity fillers can also be used help prevent drips and control foaming with some products.
When working out which system best fits your budget, factor in the level of growth you are expecting over the next few years so the equipment you purchase today will continue to meet your production demands over time. The number of containers you can fill per hour depends on the viscosity of your product, the volume of your containers, and the number of fill heads used. When you have taken these variables into account, you can better project the cost savings of automation based on your own specific situation.
VKPAK fillers are made in the China. Our machines are designed to accommodate future upgrades, and all purchases are backed by our guarantee of quality and commitment to service. Some of the features of our gravity fillers include:
While gravity filling machines can use a number of different nozzles, generally speaking the nozzles will open for a pre-set amount of time to allow product to flow from a tank into the waiting bottles or containers. On most machines, the fill time for each individual head or nozzle can be adjusted to allow for greater accuracy. Times can also be set to fractions of a second to also improve volumetric accuracy. Once the pre-determined time has been reached, the nozzles will cut off the flow of product. For semi-automatic machinery, simple operator activated switches are used to activate the cycle, while automatic machinery will use a PLC to achieve the same.
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The choice to use a fill to level system or a fill by volume system will always depend on the characteristics of the unique project at hand. For packagers using clear containers, the trend is toward the overflow principle, allowing for an increase in shelf appeal and aesthetic value as a result of the level fills. For packager not using opaque containers, the gravity filler may offer a better alternative, especially when consistent volumes are important to the industry. But even exceptions to these rules may apply where containers or product themselves are unique. The best advice for a new packager is to not only know, but understand, the different options that are available for packaging your own unique product before selecting any packaging machinery.
When looking for a filling machine for free-flowing products, a packager will likely come across a variety of different liquid fillers. Two of the most popular for low viscosity liquids are the gravity filler and the overflow filling machine. While handling the same product types, each machine offers a unique way of completing the fill.
Gravity filling machines offer a simple way to achieve an accurate volumetric fill. Product is held in a tank above the fill heads and, as the name suggests, gravity is used to move product into the waiting bottles. Valves will open and close according to pre-set times during which liquid will be released to allow each bottle to reach the desired volume. On VKPAK machines, the fill time (or time that the valve is open to allow product in) can be set for each individual head, allowing for added accuracy.
The overflow filler allows an alternative to a volumetric fill by filling each container to the same level, even if the internal volume of the bottles is slightly different. This type of fill is ideal for clear or nearly clear containers, allowing for a clean, aesthetically pleasing look when the product reaches the shelf. The overflow filler uses a unique filling nozzle that seals over the container opening. Product is then released into the container and will "overflow" back to the holding tank through a second port on the overflow nozzle when the desired level is reached. The recirculation of liquid also helps to reduce product waste.
While other filling machines may be used for free-flowing or low viscosity products, the gravity and overflow options will probably be seen more than any other fill principle. Automatic machinery uses an indexing system and a PLC to move bottles in and out of the fill area without the assistance of an operator for each cycle.
Gravity filling is the simplest filling method. The uncomplicated construction and operation of gravity filling machines permits them to run with a minimum of maintenance. The supply tank (more properly called the filler bowl) is the upper, central part of the machine. Filling stems are attached to the bottom surface of the bowl at each container filling point. A vent tube extends upward into the filler bowl to a point above the liquid level. To begin the filling operation, the container is raised by the platform until it contacts the filling stem. The platform then continues to raise the container against the stem, opening the filling valve. With the filling valve open, the liquid drains into the container. The air in the container flows out trough the vent tube into the space above the liquid in the filler bowl. Although the container becomes filled, the liquid continues to flow in. The excess fluid rises in the vent tube until it reaches the same height as the liquid level in the bowl. Because the vent tube extends above the bowl liquid level, there is no overflow of liquid from the container into the bowl.
How It Works:
The product bulk supply is pumped into a holding tank above a set of pneumatically operated valves. Each valve is independently timed by the filler&#;s master computer so that precise amounts of liquid will flow by gravity into the container. Gravity fillers built with bottom up fill capability can handle a wide range of flowable liquids including foamy products.
Application:
This type of filler is best suited for liquids with very thin viscosities that do not change with ambient temperature or with batch variation. This machine is also suited for applications where recirculation of the liquid in the fluid path is not desireable. Although this type of filler is used predominantly on products that do not foam, foam may be limited and controlled by subsurface/bottom-up-fill capability.
Examples:
Water, solvents, alcohol, specialty chemicals, paint, inks, corrosive chemicals i.e. acids and bleach.
Advantages:
This is the most economical type of filling machine for a limited range of applications. It is especially well suited for corrosive chemicals.
View Video VK-GF Automatic Gravity Chemical Bottle Filling Machine How It Works: The product bulk supply is pumped into a holding tank above a set of pneumatically operated valves. Each valve is independently timed by the filler&#;s master computer so that precise amounts of liquid will flow by gravity into the container. Gravity fillers built with bottom up fill capability can handle a wide range of flowable liquids including foamy products. Application: This type of filler is best suited for ...
Containers enter the gravity filler filling area in groups. When the last container in the group passes the mounted counting sensor, a pneumatic gate will engage and prevent other containers from interfering in the filling process. A product aligner engages the necks of each container, centering it under each fill nozzle, and the nozzles will lower into the opening of each container. Once seated on the opening of the bottles, the fill tubes will be opened and as air exits the container, product will flow in from the product tank. The fill level in each container is controlled by the position of the vent tube, so it is a fill-to-level principle.
When product reaches the vent tube the excess recirculates back into the product tank. The cycle of the gravity filler is time-controlled and fully adjustable. When the cycle completes, the fill head elevates, the fill valves close and the neck guides retract. Finally, the pneumatic front gate releases allowing your filled containers to exit. The product level in the tank is managed by sensors controlling a pump which will pump product into the tank from your supply.
If the product is foamy, the foam will rise in the vent tube above the liquid level in the bowl. If it is stable foam and will not break down, it will ultimately overflow into the bowl. For this reason, gravity fillers are not often used for foamy products. At the predetermined time after the container is filled, it is lowered from its filling position, closing the filling valve. Liquid left in the filling stem is removed from the vent tube in several ways.
While overflow fillers will allow a packager to fill to a level, gravity filling machines let a packager fill each bottle with the same volume of product using a time based filling principle. Once again referring to the discrepancies in the interior volume of containers, a gravity filler will ensure that each bottle containers the same amount of product, even if this results in some containers looking more filled or less filled than others.
While gravity filling machines can use a number of different nozzles, generally speaking the nozzles will open for a pre-set amount of time to allow product to flow from a tank into the waiting bottles or containers. On most machines, the fill time for each individual head or nozzle can be adjusted to allow for greater accuracy. Times can also be set to fractions of a second to also improve volumetric accuracy. Once the pre-determined time has been reached, the nozzles will cut off the flow of product. For semi-automatic machinery, simple operator activated switches are used to activate the cycle, while automatic machinery will use a PLC to achieve the same.
The choice to use a fill to level system or a fill by volume system will always depend on the characteristics of the unique project at hand. For packagers using clear containers, the trend is toward the overflow principle, allowing for an increase in shelf appeal and aesthetic value as a result of the level fills. For packager not using opaque containers, the gravity filler may offer a better alternative, especially when consistent volumes are important to the industry. But even exceptions to these rules may apply where containers or product themselves are unique. The best advice for a new packager is to not only know, but understand, the different options that are available for packaging your own unique product before selecting any packaging machinery.
Are you interested in learning more about Gravity Non-viscous Filling Machine? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!