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Various can filling machines for handling powder products exist in the market. But, due to the different physical properties of these products, specific powder fillers would be needed for handling each type. For instance, not all powder fillers can handle both free-flowing and non-free flowing products in one machine.
Lots of people are confused with what a piston filler is and the difference between them. While piston fillers are for viscous liquids, auger filling machines are the most popular fillers for handling the majority of powder products especially very fine ones. They are equipped with special devices to properly handle a lot of powders including a dust-free operation. But how do these machines work? Read on to know more!
What is an Auger Filler?
Before we proceed to how auger fillers work, you need to understand what makes auger fillers different from other power filling machines. Auger filling machines are versatile machines for the volumetric filling of either free-flowing or non-free flowing thick paste and powder products.
Free-flowing powders, such as table salt and granulated sugar, have non-cohesive particles and flow freely when dispensed. You cannot compress them even if you add extra pressure and they will not hold their shape. Meanwhile, non-free-flowing powders have opposite properties. Examples are powdered milk, flour, and talcum powder.
They are called auger fillers because they dispense products using an auger screw – a screw-shaped device that transports materials forward by rotating.
Key Components of an Auger Filler
An auger powder filling machine consists of the following key systems to help in the filling process:
#1 Hopper
The hopper is a vessel that holds the product that is being filled into the containers. It supplies the product into the machine’s tooling.
#2 Tooling
This consists of the changeable components of an auger filling machine to suit your application requirements. It depends on what type of material you are handling. It usually consists of the following main components:
- An auger screw – Rotates vertically inside the hopper and feeds the product into the funnel.
- A funnel/tube – The outlet of the hopper in which the lower parallel flights of the auger screw doses.
- An agitator blade – Helps in feeding the powder product into the auger.
#3 Drive Assembly
Includes the start/stop, motor, and transmission mechanisms of the auger filling machine to achieve accurate fills. Some machines will also include servo/brake and clutch systems. There are two major drivers in an auger filler:
- The auger drive – The one controlling the revolutions and speed of the auger screw.
- The agitator drive – Controls the slow speed and counter-rotation of the agitator blade.
#4 Control System
This comprises the mechanisms allowing the operator to control the parameters of the machine. It includes buttons and a touch-screen interface.
Working Principle of an Auger Filler
Step 1. The Setting of Filling Parameters
- The operator sets the filling parameters on the auger filler’s control system.
Step 2. Feeding Empty Containers
- For manual and semi-a utomatic auger fillers, the operator manually feeds containers one by one to the machine and initiates each filling cycle via a finger or footswitch.
- Automatic auger fillers will use a power conveyor system for queueing the containers to be filled.
Step 3. The Filling Process
- The hopper consistently feeds the product to the auger screw to provide accurate fills.
- Since auger powder fillers are volumetric filling machines, the machine will not weigh the products before each fill cycle. Auger fillers equipped with a weighing scale are exceptions.
- The auger drive will rotate the auger screw under a constant speed as it feeds the powder product into the hopper’s funnel/tube.
- The agitator blade, which is separately controlled, will rotate in the opposite direction to that of the auger screw. This will homogenize and de-aerate the product to break any material inconsistencies forming in non-free-flowing powder products.
- The agitator blade will extend down the funnel’s throat to prevent cavitation and rat-holing. This guarantees consistent fills on the machine’s auger flights.
Do note that in auger powder filling machines, the auger’s lower parallel flights are designed with precision to produce precise volumes on each pitch. Assuming that the flights of the auger screw produce a perfect even pitch and rotate at a specific number of revolutions, ideally, there would be no deviation in the doses for each fill cycle.
For applications demanding lower tolerances on the dosage deviations of each fill cycle, you can employ a weigh-filling device on your auger fillers.
Though auger fillers are popular for filling powder products, you can use them for other applications and products with the correct tooling. Various tooling exists to meet the different requirements of each packager. Below are some of the key parameters that will help you decide on the type of tooling and machine you will use for your application:
- The type of product you are handling
- Your required accuracy, speed, and fill quantity
Whatever your needs are, Levapack can help you create can packaging machines perfectly tailored to your business’ requirements. We will do extensive consultation with you pri r to the manufacturer of your machine to ensure that you get exactly what you are looking for. Feel free to contact us for your packaging needs!
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