The Depositor container filling machine is designed to eliminate hand labor by automatically filling multiple product fill zones and is easily integrated with automatic thermoforming machinery and tray indexing conveyors.
Standard models can fill 1×1, 1×3, 2×2, 2×3 and 3×3 configurations. Additional configurations are available upon demand.
Perfect for dispensing and filling frozen foods, pasta, fresh product, cheese and meat into containers.
A thermoform tray filler is usually integrated with a filling machine and is used to deposit product into product zones. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:
Thermoforming Process:
- Plastic Sheet Feeding: A roll of plastic sheet material is fed into the machine.
- Heating and Forming: The sheet is heated to a pliable state. Then, a mold shapes the heated plastic into the desired tray form. This forming can be done by pressure or vacuum depending on the machine.
- Cooling and Trimming: The formed tray is cooled to solidify the shape. Excess plastic is trimmed away to create clean edges.
Filling Process (with Multiple Heads):
- Product Supply: The product to be filled is fed into a hopper or conveyor system via a filling machine.
- Multi-Head Weighing/Dosing: This is where the multiple heads come in. A multi-head weigher dispenses the product. Each head vibrates a small platform with product on it. Based on the vibrations and weight calculations, the controller releases the exact amount of product into each thermoformed tray. There can be several configurations of filling mechanisms depending on the product (volumetric for free-flowing items, pumps for liquids, etc.).
Integration:
- The thermoforming and filling processes are often synchronized. As a new tray is formed, the multi-head weigher dispenses the product into it.
- After filling, the tray may go through additional processes like sealing with a film or adding labels.
Benefits of Multiple Heads:
- Increased Speed: Multiple heads can fill multiple trays simultaneously, significantly increasing production speed compared to single-head fillers.
- Improved Accuracy: Multi-head weighers offer high accuracy in dispensing product, reducing waste and ensuring consistent fill weight.
Applications:
Thermoform tray fillers with multiple heads are widely used in the food industry for packaging various products like fruits, vegetables, bakery items, and snacks. They are also used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries for filling containers with tablets, capsules, and creams.
