Pragya Technology India Private Ltd.

, Engineering Design and Consultancy

Services, Pune

Bag Filling Machine

18-Jan-11
 Index

Sr.
Description Page No.
No.

1 Introduction 1

2 Project Aim 1

3 Bag Filling Mechanism 3

4 Working and Parts of machine 4

5 Applications 5

6 Images of Bag Filling Machine 6

7 Technical Specifications 8
 Introduction

 PROJECT AIM:

The Vertical form fill sealing machine (FFS) or Bag filling machine is a type of automated
assembly-line product packaging system, commonly used to in the packaging industry for food, and a
wide variety of other products. The machine constructs plastic bags out of a flat roll of plastic film,
while simultaneously filling the bags with product and sealing the filled bags. Both solids and liquids
can be bagged using this packaging system.

The typical machine is loaded with a continuous flat roll of plastic film, which has had labeling
and artwork applied to the exterior or interior of the film. Note that while plastic is the most
commonly used packaging material in the food industry, the technology can also be used to form
continuous paper and fabric product containers by changing the edge sealing/seaming methods.

Fig 1 Typical form fill seal machine

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 For some products the film may first be fed through a sterilizing chemical bath and dryer prior
to use in the packaging system. The film approaches the back of a long hollow conical tube, and when
the center of the plastic is near the tube, the outer edges of the film form flaps that wrap around the
conical tube. The film is pulled downward around the outside of the tube and a vertical heat-sealing
bar clamps onto the edges of the film, bonding the film by melting the seam edges together.

To start the bagging process, a horizontal sealing bar clamps across the bottom edge of the
tube, bonding the film together, and cutting off any film below. The sealed tube end is then lowered
onto a precision weighing table and the product to be bagged is dispensed through the long conical
tube in the center of the bag.

When the tare weight of the product-filled bag is reached, filling stops, and the horizontal
sealing bar seals the top of the bag, and simulatenously forms the bottom of the next bag above. This
bag is then cut off from the tube and is now a sealed package, ready to advance onward into the
product boxing and shipping processes.

During the final sealing process, the bag may be filled with air from a blower or from an inert
gas supply. Inflating the bag helps reduce the crushing of fragile products such as potato chips, while
inflating with an inert gas helps drive out oxygen and retards the growth of bacteria that would spoil
the product.

Dual web systems are also available for four side sealed pouches, as well as pouches requiring
different materials for each side. Dual web systems use two rolls of material instead of one, which are
fed in from opposite sides of the machine. The bottom and sides are heat sealed together to form the
pouch, and the product is loaded from the top. The pouch with loaded product then advances
downwards and the top is sealed and pouch is cut off. The sealing of the top of the pouch forms the
bottom of the next pouch. During this process a tear notch may be added.

The feeding of material and cutting of the pouch can be determined either by pouch length, or
indexing to an eyespot, which is detected by a visual sensor.While single web systems are popular for

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 food applications, the dual web four side seal system is often popular for IVD and Medical device
products.Closely related is the horizontal form-fill-seal machine, which is generally uses more floor
space than a vertical system.

Modern advancements in pouch forming technology have allowed for smaller and smaller
Vertical pouch forming systems.

 BAG FILLING MECHANISM

Fig:2 Bag filling machine mechanism/layout

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 WORKING AND PARTS OF MACHINE

STATIONS

Empty bags magazine: It has two trays where empty bags are stacked. It incorporates
adjustment for different bag sizes. It has a total autonomy of 250-300 units depending on thickness
and bag type.

Change of tray is done automatically once one of them is empty. This is detected by a
photocell. Driving is done pneumatically guided. Motion is smooth, silent and without vibrations. An
acoustic alarm sounds during changing process.

1. Bag catching group: It is formed by a main body where different vacuum cups are located.
They can be easily adjusted on guides. Frame is driven by pneumatic cylinder with two
movements to proceed with the complete catching cycle.
2. Vertical: system goes up and down to take the empty bag and raise it from the stack.
3. Frontal tilting: system tilts and delivers the empty bag at the level of main frame where bag
opening station is located.
4. Bag opening station: Frontal vacuum cups tilt up once empty bag is delivered into the
opening station for a pre-opening action. A lower cup acts at the same time. Both
simultaneous actions allow the opening arm to enter into the bag mouth and take it by
pressure at both inner sides of bag.
5. Placing arms: Placing arms have the bag caught by its sides and tilt 90º up to deliver it open
to the filling spout.
6. Filling spout: Inner opening pneumatic filling spout adjusts to different bag sizes by pressure
detector. Side dams permit tightness during product discharge.
7. Bag mouth stretching and flattening: Two pneumatic fingers enter into the bag mouth and
stretch both sides outwards once product discharge is over and filled bag is released from
filling spout. Then, a squared plate flattens the bag mouth and delivers this guided to the
closing equipment.

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 8. Quick exit belt conveyor: Filled bag is removed from filling area by means of a short belt
conveyor driven by frequency inverter. This belt runs at high speed allowing fast placing for
next empty bag.
9. Closing belt: It is a motorized belt conveyor placed after quick exit belt. This is also equipped
with frequency inverter for synchronization with closing equipment – stitching, sealing or
gluing -.
10. Height adjustment for exit belts: Both quick and closing belts are supported onto an only
main frame with height adjustment by wheel. There is an only adjusting point this way.
11. 90º bag pusher: This pneumatic pusher is placed at the end of closing conveyor. Pushing
action is done parallel to the belt level – bag bottom – to avoid adjustment for different
sizes. Pusher delivers bags 90º with bottom ahead for a right later conditioning – product
spreading inside the bag - by means of bag flattener or any other system.

 APPLICATIONS

Open mouth sacks:

A. Paper
B. Polyethylene
C. Woven polypropylene

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 IMAGES OF BAG FILLING MACHINE

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 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

System Bag Filling Machine

Capacity Max: 50kg
Min: 20 Kg
Resolution 10 gm
Accuracy ±2e
Number of filling 4-5 bags / min
Filling valve Pneumatically Operated
Load sensor Load Cell
Operating Temprature 10º C - 50º C
Power 230 V AC, 50Hz

Air supply 5-6 kg/cm2