How does the vertical filling pearl powder packaging machine work?

Author: Smartweigh–Multihead Weighter

​ How do vertical fill pearl powder packaging machines work? Vertical fill seal packaging machines are used in nearly every industry today, and for good reason: they are a fast, economical packaging solution that saves valuable factory floor space . Whether you're new to packaging machinery or are already proficient with multiple systems, you're probably curious about how they work. In this article, I will introduce how the vertical filling pearl powder machine can turn a roll of packaging film into a finished bag on the shelf.

The simplified vertical packaging machine starts with a large roll of film, forms it into a bag, fills the bag with product, and seals it vertically, at a maximum speed of 300 bags per minute. But there is more. 1. Automatic unwinding Vertical packaging uses a single layer of film material (often referred to as web) that is rolled around the core.

The continuous length of packaging material is called a web of film. The material can be different from polyethylene, cellophane laminates, foil laminates and paper laminates. Place the film on the spindle assembly on the back of the machine.

When the packaging machine is running, the film is usually pulled off the roll by a film conveyor, which is located on the side of the forming tube on the front of the machine. This shipping method is the most widely used. On some models, the sealing jaws themselves grab the film and pull it down, allowing it to be transported through the packer without the need for a belt.

An optional motor-driven surface unwind wheel can be installed to drive the film to assist in driving the two film conveyors. This option improves the unwinding process, especially if the film is heavy. 2. Film tension During the unwinding process, the film is unwound from the roll and passed through the floating arm, which is a counterweight pivot arm located at the rear of the packaging machine.

The arms are fitted with a series of rollers. During film transport, the arm moves up and down to keep the film under tension. This ensures that the film does not wobble from side to side as it moves.

3. Optional printing If film is installed, after the film has passed through the film skipper, it will pass through the printing unit. The printer can be a thermal printer or an inkjet printer. The printer places the desired date/code on the film, or can be used to place registration marks, graphics or logos on the film.

4. Film tracking and positioning After the film passes under the printer, it will pass through the registration camera eye. The registration photo-eye detects the registration marks on the printed film and then controls the pull-down belt to contact the film on the forming tube. Keep the film in the correct position by aligning the eyes of the photo so that the film is cut in the proper place.

Next, the film passes through a film tracking sensor, which detects the position of the film as it travels through the packaging machine. If the sensor detects that the edge of the film deviates from its normal position, it generates a signal to move the actuator. This causes the entire film carriage to move to one side or the other as needed to bring the edges of the film back into the correct position.

5. Bag forming From here the film enters the forming tube assembly. When it bears against the shoulder (collar) of the forming tube, it is folded over the forming tube so that the end result is a length of film with the two outer edges of the film overlapping each other. This is the beginning of the bag making process.

The formed tube can be set up for lap seal or fin seal. The lap seal overlaps the two outer edges of the membrane to form a flat seal, while the fin seal combines with the inside of the two outer edges of the membrane to create a seal that protrudes like a fin. Lap seals are generally considered more aesthetically pleasing and use less material than fin seals.

The rotary encoder is placed near the shoulder (flange) of the formed tube. The movable film in contact with the encoder wheel drives it. Each movement generates a pulse and transmits it to the PLC (Programmable Logic Controller).

The bag length is set numerically on the HMI (Human Machine Interface) screen, and once this setting is reached, the film transport stops (On intermittent motion machines only. Continuous motion machines do not stop.) The film is pulled down by two gear motors, Gear motors drive pull-down friction belts on both sides of the forming tube.

If desired, a pull-down belt that uses vacuum suction to tighten the packaging film can be used instead of the friction belt. Friction belts are generally recommended for dusty products because they wear less. 6. Bag filling and sealing Now the film will pause briefly (on the intermittent motion packer) so that the formed bag can get its vertical seal.

The hot vertical seal moves forward and makes contact with the vertical overlap on the film, bonding the film layers together. On continuous motion packaging equipment, the vertical sealing mechanism is always in contact with the film, so the film does not need to stop to receive its vertical seam. Next, a set of heated horizontal sealing jaws are clamped together to form the top seal of one bag and the bottom seal of the next.

For batch packaging machines, the film stops and the jaws move in an opening and closing action to obtain a horizontal seal. For continuous motion packaging machines, the jaws themselves can be moved up and down, or by opening and closing motions to seal the film. Some continuous motion machines even have two sets of sealed jaws for increased speed.

Ultrasonic is an option for "cold sealing" systems, typically used in industries with heat sensitive or messy products. Ultrasonic sealing uses vibrations to induce friction at the molecular level, which generates heat only in the areas between the membrane layers. While closing the sealing jaws, the product to be packaged is lowered from the middle of the hollow formed tube and filled into the bag.

Pearl powder equipment, such as a multi-head scale or a screw-type pearl powder machine, is responsible for correctly measuring and releasing discrete quantities of product to be dripped into each bag. These pearl powder machines are not a standard part of packaging machines and must be purchased in addition to the machine itself. Most enterprises integrate the pearl powder machine with the packaging machine.

7. Unloading the bag After putting the product into the bag, a sharp knife in the heat sealing jaw moves forward and cuts the bag. The jaws open and the packaged bag drops. This is the end of a cycle on the vertical packaging machine.

Depending on the type of machine and bag, packaging equipment can perform 30 to 300 of these cycles per minute. Completed bags can be unloaded into containers or on conveyors and transported to end-of-line equipment such as checkweighers, X-ray machines, case packing or carton packing equipment.

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