In our previous blog post, we briefly described our integrated packaging system comprised of a FILAMATIC® Model AW-4 air wash system, an intrinsically-safe FILAMATIC® Model DFS-X liquid filling system, and an intrinsically-safe beltwheel-style capping machine used to fill alcoholic beverages.
As we previously mentioned, the intermittent-motion FILAMATIC® Model AW-4 air wash system is used to let out a stream of compressed air to dislodge any dirt, dust, or other small particles from the containers. Any particles that may be present are held in suspension and a vacuuming process extracts the matter and deposits it into a storage tank. This non-explosion-resistant system is comprised of four each air nozzles and tubing sets that blow out the compressed air as well as four each locators and vacuum bells.
The containers then enter the intrinsically-safe FILAMATIC® Model DFS-X system. The filling nozzles are mounted on a walking beam assembly that tracks the movement of the containers through the filling area. During the liquid filling process, the nozzles drop into the containers to a point roughly ½” above the bottom and rise in unison with the level of the liquid during the filling cycle. The metering devices used in the DFS-X liquid filling system are FUS (XL)-1100 piston filling units in order to fill the 750ml fill volumes required in this application. A servomotor-operated walking beam nozzle movement mechanism is included in this liquid filling machine. This mechanism is designed to provide a continuous motion liquid filling process which increases the system’s overall production rate as well as prevent the product from foaming or splashing by utilizing a bottom-up fill technique.
The containers then enter the intrinsically-safe beltwheel-style capping machine. The containers enter the capper in a single file manner and make their way to the gripper belts. Once in the gripper belts, the containers are carried through the cap pick-off and stabilization assembly at the end of the feed cute and three sets of tightening wheels. Between the top and bottom of the gripper belts, there is a set of spacer change parts that allows the belts to adjust to specific containers depending on the container size of each application. The belts are also specifically contoured for belt pressure at different intervals of the capping application which eliminates the possibility of forcing product up and out of the neck opening of the container. During the pick-off assembly, each container strips a cap out of the assembly as it passes through.
