Filling speed

Screw RPM Screw Condition Screw Tip Final Fill Speed Overall Fill Speed Machine Friction... 

Vial/ampoule filling speed challenge/fill volume ... 

Study No./ Filling Speed (Vials/min) Filling Quantity Fill Volume ... 

Gravity fillers are normally employed for dilutable products, and filling speeds tend to be fairly slow as container sizes are relatively large. For most dilutables the smallest container is usually 0.71 with sizes up to 3 or 5 1 being common. 

It must be possible to adapt the loading and unloading system to the filling speed of the filling line and to the speed of the capping machine. 

The future of the batch record is a paperless system that will record data directly from equipment (start times, weights, temperatures, fill speed, etc.) and use recognition systems such as retinal eye scans for employee signatures. For some, the future is already here in one form or another, but for the... 

The number of various package sizes to be filled from a batch may be critical. For example, for generic drugs, entire batches must be filled for the batch to be accepted by the FDA. Although the batch may be filled into numerous package formats, care must be exercised to fill a sufficient number of each format to ensure proper equipment set-up and that the filling speeds used are representative of a full-scale production effort. 

Filling speeds relate to both the container shape and the neck diameter. If conveyor feeding is likely to lead to excessive surface impacts then alternative methods of feeding may become essential, e.g. worm or screw feed (scroll). Capping speed and efficiency depend on gripping the container, the design of the neck finish and the design of the closure. 

This may be based on product sold by weight, volume, or number. Container capacity is a critical feature bearing relationships with product filling speed, the declared contents and headspace (vacuity or ullage). The ullage (airspace above product) must be adequate to allow for the thermal expansion of the product. This is particularly important with alcohol-based products in narrow necked containers. The capacity usually relates to either a brimful capacity or a defined fill point. 

The latest feature in food packaging is the retortable pouch as a replacement for an open topped can. At the moment economics are improving as the cost of steel and tinplate rises. However, filling speeds for pouches are considerably lower and additional strength outers (for stacking) add to the cost. 

However, on most machines a fill speed of 250 items per minute per track is considered good. These speeds are related to the physical restrictions of feeding an item by gravity. Reciprocating tube fillers and chevron roller fillers are used on some machines where the close proximity of the tracks would cause restrictions to the filling speeds. 

As usual, the injection speed depends on the size and complexity of the part, as well as on the gate and runner system. Slow to moderate speeds give the best results — too fast speeds result in excessive shear heating, degradation and splay. For small parts or parts with relatively simple geometry, a constant filling speed is recommended, while for larger or more complex parts, it may be helpful to profile the speed. Mold... 

This type of procedure can be used in setting up, as an example, a complicated molded IM product. As shown in Figure 5.69 IMM control settings involve melt temperature, mold cavity filling speed, shot size, melt pressure packing, etc. With proper control, high quality parts are fabricated. 

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