Volumetric filling’s a wheeze with pneumatics
Precise control of pneumatic actuator position points food processors
towards a safer, more hygienic method of achieving very accurate
volumetric filling at the final packaging stage
When Regal Packaging was developing a new line of accurate product
depositors for the food packaging industry, the Lincolnshire based
machine builder turned to Festo for a solution to its volumetric
filling needs.
The new machines rely on Festo’s SPC200 servo controllers to dispense
very accurate volumes of soft foods and liquids into containers without
splashing, foaming or aeration. The system ensures that at least the
stated minimum weight of product is dispensed with less incidences of
‘giveaway’. It also avoids having to adjust the filling heads to
compensate for the effect of ambient conditions on product viscosity.
The SPC200 effectively controls the position of standard pneumatic
actuators to very fine limits of accuracy. Using a pump-style piston
assembly, it draws the product from a hopper of header tank, switches a
valve to redirect the flow path and then dispenses the product through
nozzles into the containers passing beneath on the process line.
The controller can halt the actuators at any position along their stroke,
thus avoiding the need for manual adjustment. With up to 12 heads
operating on the line, each one can be independently driven and
controlled to ensure target weight is achieved, small variations in the
process variables being automatically compensated for.
Regal’s depositor range is available as a free-standing system on mobile
trolleys or as an integral part of a machine layout. It can be supplied
in both single and multi-fill options for a variety of food products,
including cream, yoghurt, custard, jelly, soup, pate, margarine, mousse,
coleslaw and beverages.