Structure of an auger filler
The core element is the filling head unit consisting of a hopper in which the dosing screw and the agitator are housed.
If the auger filler is used with a vertical or horizontal form, fill and seal machine, the filling head unit is installed on the machine
As a semi-automatic machine in stand-alone operation, the filling head sits on a body/frame, which also houses the control cabinet. The custom-designed worktop allows containers, cans or bottles to be placed under the outlet of the filling tube, which is mounted on the hopper outlet and encases the dosing screw. Additional bag clamps are used when filling into bags.
In fully automatic solutions, auger fillers are often integrated into packaging lines as fully enclosed machines. Experience has shown that link belt conveyors are used for safe feeding and removal of the containers. Inside the machine, lateral clamps with grippers ensure the exact positioning of the containers - especially in multi-head auger fillers.
Other essential components:
Fill level sensor: Monitors the fill level and sends the signal to an external conveyor to convey the material.
Dust separator: Extracts dust residues that can escape at the outlet. Recommended for very dusty products.
Trickle flaps: Flaps that close after the filling process prevent the product from trickling out.
Bag clamps: Necessary when filling into bags to hold the bag by clamping it to the filling tube.
Load cell: If the auger filler is equipped with a load cell, this sends the current filling weight to the PLC (programmable logic controller) via real-time feedback. Product-specific settings are therefore either not necessary at all or are less time-consuming - particularly advantageous for frequent product changes.
Drive motors for agitator and dosing screw. A servo motor is used for the latter.
Dosing method
The product in the hopper flows to the outlet using the gravimetric principle and is conveyed from there by a rotating spiral screw. The filling quantity is controlled by the number of revolutions of the dosing screw. The output (fillings per minute) can be regulated by specifying the rotational speed.
The necessary parameter values for the filling process are determined manually by operators. After the filling is complete, the weight of the product is checked using an external scale. The use of an integrated load cell in the filling equipment greatly reduces or even eliminates the time needed for this process. This technology allows for more efficient and accurate filling operations, ensuring that products are filled to the correct weight every time. By automating this step, manufacturers can increase productivity and reduce the risk of errors in the filling process.
The screw can be installed vertically or horizontally. The product characteristics and customer-specific requirements are decisive here.
Auger fillers and their areas of application
- Food industry for the dosing and packaging of: Flour and baked goods, ground coffee, cocoa, powdered spices and spice mixtures, salt, powdered sugar, nutritional supplements such as protein powder, etc.
- Chemical industry: pigments, dyes, etc.
- Building materials: cement, sand, gravel, etc.
Which auger filler is suitable for us?
- The decision-making process depends on
- Budget framework in conjunction with desired output
- Fully automated production or semi-automated
- Frequent product changes or 1 product that is relatively easy to handle