A New Rinser-Filler-Capper from A Packaging Systems

A Packaging Systems, LaPorte, IN, has introduced a Monoblock Rinser-Filler-Capper to the water and juice bottling industries. This fully automatic machine replaces 3 separate machines used in bottling production lines. This allows doubling of production with no increase in labor or overhead. That’s what Whispering Springs Bottled Water in Pierceton, Indiana accomplished. Like other small to medium sized water bottlers, they were running an inline system. Due to pricing pressure from the large bottlers and the rising cost of consumables, they were beginning to see their profits erode.

Filson Water in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, had been filling 5 gallon bottles for years. They wanted to market individual sized bottles of water. The only production space available was a small room off the main production area. It wasn’t large enough to install a traditional line.

"We solved their problem by installing our new Monoblock Rinser-Filler-Capper System in each company." Said Todd Cannon, president of A Packaging Systems. "It’s an efficient, fully automatic machine that does everything the old production lines do only more efficiently. Because it integrates the functions of 3 separate machines, it takes less labor to operate and requires less space. The bottles are clamped at the neck and suspended during the entire operation. That means additional savings by switching to lower density PET bottles."

A Packaging's Monoblock Rinser-Filler-Capper System is manufactured in an ISO9001 certified manufacturing plant. All contact parts are stainless steel. The electronic controls are made by Mitsubishi and Omron. It consists of a monoblock base, an electronic control panel, a rinsing station, a filling station, and a capping station in one integrated unit.

Monoblock Base - The sturdy base is supported by adjustable feet with a stainless steel sheath secured to the tubular frame. The base houses the motor and drive gears and it is accessible through stainless steel removable doors. The rinser-filler-capper is motorized by a single AC electric motor and controlled by an inverter. This allows for variable speed operation. The operating speed of the rinser-filler-capper is fully synchronized.

Electronic Control Panel - The electric panel contains the inverter, motor starters, the PLC, and other electromechanical components for the operating the machine. The inverter enables the operator to vary the rate of production. This lets the operator synchronize the rinser-filler-capper with other packaging equipment running on the same line. An emergency stop button is mounted on front of touch screen panel. And, the machine automatically stops when there is no bottle or cap.

Rinsing Station - The rotary rinsing turret consists of individual bottle neck grippers and spray nozzles to rinse the inside of PET bottles. All parts that contact the bottle are made of stainless steel and food grade plastics. The bottle grippers take the bottles from the inlet star wheel while they are still driven by the star wheel, guaranteeing a secure grip. After the bottles are secured in the gripping mechanism, the bottle is turned upside down and centered above a spraying nozzle that directs a stream of rinse water into the bottle. After being rinsed, the bottle drains and is automatically inverted to an upright position.

Filling Station - The filler has overflow style stainless steel fill heads that are suitable for thin flowable liquids in PET bottles. Star wheels move the bottles, by the neck, through the rinsing, filling and capping mechanisms. The filling valves are made of 316 stainless steel with food grade gaskets. They are secured to allow easy assembly and disassembly. Each valve is internally polished to a mirror finish. If the bottle is not present the valve does not deliver any product.

Capping Station - The rotative capping turret with 6 heads is designed for screw plastic caps on PET bottles. The capper consists of a steel structure shrouded with a stainless steel casing. The fixed part consists of the cap hopper, the cap feeder with relevant motor, and the cam actuating the capping heads. The cap feeder and all the parts in contact with the caps are made of stainless steel and food grade plastic. The cap feeder guides the caps onto a chute fitted with a device to deliver them to the pick-off point with the open end down. The capping heads are raised and lowered by the action of a follower that rides on a cam.

The new Monoblock Rinser-Filler-Capper System is available in six different configurations and the base price starts at $68,300. It’s available now for from A Packaging Systems, LaPorte, Indiana. They can be reached by phone at 866-369-9030, on the web at www.apackaging.net, or by email at todd@apackaging.com.

This release was published on openPR.