Liquid Filling Machines Interface Screens - Filler Set Up

Automatic Filling Machines, whether an overflow filler, gravity filler, piston filler or custom filling machine, must be set up correctly in order to efficiently and consistently fill the desired bottles.  The operator interface on automatic filling machines makes the correct set up of the packaging equipment quick and simple.  From the Main Menu of the operator interface, the operator of the filler simply presses the Filler Set Up button to access the screens that allow components to be turned on and off or set to the required option.

 

The Filler Set Up Screens work in conjunction with the Adjust Pre-Sets Screens (which will be discussed later this week) found on automatic filling equipment.  The adjust pre-sets screens will determine when and for how long certain functions perform, through delay and duration time settings.  But before the pre-set times are entered, the correct functions must be available.  The Set Up screens allow the opertor to turn on (in some cases, turn to auto) components such as a drip tray and supply pumps.  It also allows the operator to easily set the indexing type and sensor type for the filling machine.  Some of the more common controls found in the Filler Set Up Screens include:

 

• Drip Tray - The operator of the filling machine can set the drip tray to work automatically during production runs or the drip tray can be turned off.

• Bottle Locators - The operator of the filling machine can set bottle grabbers or locators to work automatically during production or the bottle locators can be turned off.

• Pump Controls - Automatic filling equipment can be set up so that supply pumps and even fill pumps are only turned on when certain conditions are met.  These controls will work in conjunction with float controls in some cases.  For instance, a supply pump may not be turned on until the filling equipment completes the current cycle, helping to ensure fill levels remain consistent.

• Dive Limits - On some filling machines, the operator can turn the fill head dive limits on or off.  Turning on the dive limits enables reed switches at the top and bottom of the fill head motion to limit the high and low peaks reached by the fill heads.

• Indexing Type and Controls - The operator can choose between pin indexing, star wheel indexing, no indexing or, on some machines, custom indexing systems.  In addition to choosing the type of indexing, the entry and exit pins can be set to function in different manners depending on the type of sensors used on the machine and to protect containers in the event of an emergency stop.  
• Float Controls - Float controls, as noted above, may work in conjunction with pump controls to ensure consistent fills.  The float can also be set to Normal or Inverted depending on the type of float being used on the liquid filler.

• Sensor Controls - Sensors, similar to floats, can be set to function in a normal manner or an inverted manner, depending on the type of sensor being used.  The sensors controlled by the filling machine may include a count sensor, bottle available sensor or even a back up sensor.  The back up sensor is normally used downstream from the filling machine, near a capping machine, labeling equipment or other packaging machinery.  These sensors will pause the filling machine if bottles happen to jam further down the line.

 

Once the Filler Set Up Screens have been properly set, the operator of the filling machine can move on to the Adjust Pre-Sets Screens to set the parameters for the individual bottles to be run.  As always, if you have any questions regarding automatic filling equipment, or any of the other packaging machinery manufactured by Liquid Packaging Solutions, contact our offices today.