Liquid Filling Equipment for Products with Particulates

Products with particulates may be thought of as a rare issue for manufacturers of packaging machinery.  They are, however, more common than most people probably realize.  Just pay attention the next time you are walking through the grocery store.  Salad dressings, hand soaps, soups, jams and jellies are just a few of the packaged items that contain particulates.  These particulates may be fine, grainy bits found in hand soaps or large chunks of fruit found in certain jellies or jams.  While several types of filling machines can be used to package products with particulates, the ideal filler will depend in part on the product and the type of particulate.

OVERFLOW FILLERS

For thin products with smaller particles, such as salad dressing, an overflow filler provides an ideal solution.  Overflow filliing machines use a special nozzle that seals the container opening and releases product into the bottle.  When the product reaches a certain level, it overflows through a return port in the nozzle to move back to the supply tank.  The end effect of the overflow filler is a level and consistent fill on all bottles, even if the interior volume of each bottle varies slightly.  This is especially useful for products that are packaged in glass or otherwise clear containers, providing a clean, crisp presentation when placed on the shelf for sale.  

The overflow filler is limited, however, to smaller particles, as the larger pieces can block the nozzle openings and cause inconsistent fills or even damage to the nozzles themselves.  For larger particulates or thicker products, pump filling machines or piston fillers can be used.

PUMP FILLING MACHINE

Pump filling machines can handle thicker products than the overflow filler and may also work with larger particulates.  The type of pump used will be chosen based on each individual product and particulate.  Pump fillers can be used for thick products with smaller particulates such as the hand soap with grit, or it can be used for some products with larger particulates as well.  Pump filling machines will run product through the hose and nozzles and into the waiting containers.  

Extremely viscous products or extremely large particulates may cause inconsistent fills and blocked product pathways on the pump fillers.  When dealing with either of these extremes, the better choice may be a piston filler. 

PISTON FILLERS

In some rare cases, products may not only be highly viscous, but may also contain particulates in the form of large chunks.  Piston filling machines provide a highly accurate volumetric fill.  These filling machines can handle extremely thick products, including putties and pastes.  In addition, the piston filler uses the piston to pull product into a cylinder.  The cylinder allows enough area to handle large particulates that a pump filler may not be able to accommodate.  Larger chunks of fruit in jams or even chunks of food in soups can be pulled into the piston filler cylinder and with the right nozzle, pushed out into the waiting container.

Choosing the correct liquid filler for any product with particulates will depend on the product itself as well as the type and size of the particulates.  If you have questions regarding packaging machinery for products with particulates, feel free to browse our website at www.liquidpackagingsolution.com or call our offices to speak with a Packaging Specialist!