Time Flow Volumetric Fillers

Accutek pinch series fillers

Accutek pinch series are economical and easily cleaned fillers that deliver consistent fill levels over time. The product delivery pump selected needs to provide constant pressure and the time that product flows into the containers must be regulated to maintain consistent fill levels.

Selecting a pump compatible with the intended product and filling technique is required. The pump technologies that Accutek recommends for the pinch series fillers are as follows:

• Positive displacement 
• Centrifugal 
• Pressure pot 

Positive Displacement Pumps

Gear pumps fall in the broad category of positive displacement pumps. This type of pump can generate good pressure levels with clean moderately viscous liquids because of the tight mesh of the internal gears. Gear pumps require a bypass path to bleed off pressure when the product delivery tubes are pinched closed. Gear pumps need to be primed and should not be run dry for any length of time.

Centrifugal Pumps

Centrifugal pumps that have stainless steel impellers and housings are easier to sanitize. They can tolerate particulates in the product. A centrifugal pump will not overpressure the product delivery tubes when they are pinched close. These types of pumps tend to be self-priming and may be run dry for brief periods of time. This pump type is not recommended for foamy products. 

Gravity Feed

Use one of the above pump types to keep a surge tank mounted above the fill heads full of product.  Gravity fed product is not agitated and flows smoothly into a container.

Pressure Pot

Product is placed in a two or five gallon pressure pot. The pressure pot is sealed and an air hose is connected to the pot. The air pressure pushes the product through the filler and out the nozzles. This technique is also gentle with the product.

Product is routed through a manifold that has an output port for each product delivery nozzle. There is a product delivery tube connecting each manifold port to a nozzle. The product delivery tubes run between a pinch bar and pinch plate that can close the tubes on command. Pinch series fillers have a smooth product flow path that makes it much easier to clean than conventional valve systems.

There is a flow rate adjuster in line with each nozzle to equalize the flow rate between nozzles. With the flow rate for each nozzle set the fill dose will be equal and determined by the time that the pinch bar is open. Pinch bar timing is microprocessor controlled to the nearest one hundredth of a second.

Laboratory testing with a number of different types of nozzles is needed to find the type and size nozzle that works best with a particular product. Each product requires a different nozzle configuration. For instance, a bubble forms at the tip of a nozzle when the nozzle diameter is matched to the surface tension of the product. This bubble prevents dripping at the end of a fill. In other cases a screen can be mounted inside a nozzle to prevent foaming.

Product contact parts must be evaluated for chemical compatibility. Contact parts include product tubing, the manifold, and the pump. The fill temperatures and product abrasiveness will determine the elastomer type needed. Some common types of elastomers used are: 

• Fluoroelastomers 
• Buna 
• Silicon 
• Encapsulated Silicon 
• Teflon

Automatic Models

Automatic fillers can be configured to fill up to twelve containers at the same time. The user friendly touch screen controls on the automatic models enable additional filling approaches.  Most applications move a set of empty containers into position to be filled at the same time. Some product types are best filled a step at a time.

The diagram to the right illustrates step filling. The flow controls and fill time are set so that a container receives a partial dose at each fill station. The container is not full until it exits the last fill station. This technique is often used for foamy products.

An all pneumatic upgrade is available for filling flammable products. The all-pneumatic upgrade includes pneumatic container sensors, pneumatic logic for timer and indexer operation, and container counting.

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Products compatible with pinch series fillers.

Food

Personal Care

Chemical

Pharmaceutical

Other

Water

Perfumes

Candles

Plasma

Pet Food

Fruit Juices

Essential Oils

Wax

Urine

Pet Shampoo

Fruit Extracts

Nail Polish

Motor Oil

Alcohol

Fertilizers

Tea

Nail Polish Remover

Ink

Iodine

Insect Repellent

Liquid Coffee

Lip Balm

Carpet Cleaners

Saline Solution

Vitamin Drinks

Liquid Soap

Silicone

Cough Medicine

Alcoholic Beverages

Sun Tan Lotion

Paint

Milk

Shampoo

Degreasers

Tomato Juice

Hair Conditioner

Window Cleaners

Vegetable Oil

Hand & Body Lotion

Stain Removers

Hot Sauce

Hair Spray

Laundry Detergent

Salad Dressing

Makeup Remover

Food Coloring

Personal Lubricants

Catchup

Personal Oils

Mustard

Douche & Enemas

Syrups

Mouth Wash

Bubble Bath

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