What is beer can filling machine?
Beer can filling machine is a machine used in the beer production process to fill beer into cans.
Beer is made mainly from malt as the primary ingredient, with the addition of hops and fermented with yeast, resulting in a carbonated, frothy and low-alcohol beverage. The packaging form of cans is relatively simple and suitable for packaging carbonated liquids. Therefore, cans are often used for beer filling.
Types of cans
Can is a standard product on the market. The can used most offen is the type of 202 and 206. Normally there are 3 kinds of can applied:
(1)Standard can
(2)Slim can
(3)Sleek can
Beer can filling machine parameters
Filler valve number: from 28 to 182
Speed: from 1800 bph to 135,000 bph
Can range: from 150 up to 1000ml
Efficiency: >98%
Beer can filling process
Different from bottles, cans are delivered as a pre-formed body with a separate end (or lid). The body is pre-printed with all brand and marketing information. The open ended can is filled, then transferred to a seamer where the end is fitted and sealed on the can.
Cans, like non-returnable bottles, only require rinsing before filling. Almost always a gravity rinser is used, where the cans are rinsed and drained as they are lowered from the depalletiser to the filler.
1.Configuration
The beer can filling machine configured with or without roof, the differences between these 2 kinds of enclosure versions are based on the level of environmental control required.
(1)Filler + Seamer, slim enclosure with no roof
(2)Filler + Seamer, slim enclosure with roof
Compared to the enclosure with no roof, the one with roof makes sure that the filling machine in overpressure has less risk of contamination. The ceiling covering the machine is composed of two different layers, of which the upper layer closes the machine, while the lower layer distributes the air inside the cabinet.
2.Structure
Frame
The frame is of full stainless steel structure with the feet of the basement adjustable in height. It is in accordance with the requirements of hygienic design, which includes good cleanability on the floor underneath the front table.
Driving system
First, the inlet starwheel is directly driven by the filler’s carrousel without the use of gears, which induces lower risk of damaging the cans. Second, the infeed conveyor and motorized infeedscrew are supported by means of toothed belts, which requires less maintenance, so no lubrication is needed.Third, in machine design, whereby it is always the case that the can filler is driven by the seamer, and that the filler has no drive motor itself.
3.Transferring
The use of can stop starwheel is to effectively avoid can jamming. Direct feeding is realised from conveyor on infeed screw which ensures that cans are spaced like the machine pitch. Furthermore, The handling part on the transfer line is equipped with wear inserts.
4.Rinsing
Rinsing is a pre-process before filling to flush the cans with water(or with sterilization), like the treatment done to the non-returnable bottles, so that the cans are rinsed and drained before being transferred to the filler.
Can treatment with different treatments available
Water or sterile water are normally used for rinsing, and it follows the principle of ”No can, no spary”, which optimizes treatment consumption.
5.Filling
There are 6 stages of the filling operation.
-Can positioning
-Flushing
-Pressurization
-Filling
-End filling
-Decompression
Step1: Can positioning
The can is transferred to the right position under the filling valve.
Step2: Flushing
The can is flushed with CO2.
Step3: Pressurization
In order to have the same pressure both inside the can and in the tank, the can is filled with CO2.
Step4: Filling
When the pressure becomes the same, the product is filled into the can. The gas from the can returns into the CO2 chamber.
Step5: End Filling
When the product level gets to the right level, the filling valve closes.
Step6: Decompression
The gas in the headspace is snifted out by another chamber.
As to the beer can filling process, it has certain features as follows:
(1)Mechanical filling ensuring high filling accuracy
With high filling accuracy, there is no product loss due to overfilling.
(2)Hygienic design
All the parts in contact with the product are made of 304 stainless steel or food-grade materials and are easy to sanitize.
(3)A typical can filling valve
A typical can filling valve is used with a central ball and several filling nozzles arranged around to direct the product down the wall of the can, in an attempt to reduce air pick up and to reduce turbulence.
6.Seaming
On the beer can filling line, once the cans have been filled with beer they are fed to the seamer. This always involves a transfer conveyor. On the transfer conveyor the cans are open to any contamination, so this part must be covered and protected. Normally a clear cover is mounted.
There are mainly 4 stages of the crowning operation.
-Can positioning
-The first rolling operation
-The second rolling operation
-Discharge
Step1: can positioning
When the can is feeded into the seamer, the lid is put at the top of the can body where it should be positioned. At the same time, a protecting gas is necessary for flushing the headspace of the can after the filling process finishes but well before the seaming starts. The purpose of this is to make sure that the headspace of the can is filled with CO2.
Step2: The first rolling operation
The first curl of can lid happens when it is locked on the can flange(of the body). Several key points need special attention in order to make sure that a correct rolling operation is carried out. The key points include:
-The correct height of the top and base
-The pressure of the bottom plate
-Position of the seaming rollers and chuck
-The push pressure of the seaming rollers
Step3: The second rolling operation
The second rolling is always known as the finishing curl. Rolling operation is done by the 2nd seaming roller under a correct pressure to achieve the desired seam thickness and depth of overlap. During this process, there is a change from the 1st roller to the 2nd roller, which means the departure of the 1st roller and the engagement of the 2nd roller.
Step4: Discharge
The finished can is now transferred from the base plate to the discharge conveyor.
It is always the case with can filling that the seamer is driven by its own drive motor. During the process, the can sits on the base plate, and rotates at a very high speed, which is usually achieved by having a driven chuck that rotates, too. As to the performance, the features include: ultra rapid total can change-over, automatic oil lubrication system and automatic hot water/foam cleaning system, all of which indicating an improved rigidity and reliability of the seaming process.
7.Format change-over
Can flange
Only need to change the centering bell when the can flange is different.
Can filling level
Only need to change the vent tube when the level is different.
Can different height
Change the sized spacers when the can height is different, or replace the columns if necessary.
Can body diameter
There are some ways to do this kind of format change-over so to realize can diameter flexibility. The methods include:
-Can stop starwheel replacement
-infeedscrew replacement
-Inlet starwheel and guide replacement
-Carousel holding sectors replacement
-Infeed screw counterguide adjustment
The manual operations above are user-friendly and repeatible, which end in minimal change-over time and high precision in adjustment.
8.Cleaning
The cleaning process includes CIP(which stands for Cleaning In Place) and COP(which stands for Cleaning Out Place).
CIP
Cleaning in place means that the filler is not dismantled or opened up for cleaning, the cleaning is done with the filler remaining as a complete unit.
-Perfect cleanability of all the parts in contact with the product
-Acid and lye solution is used for disinfection
-Final rinsing using process water
COP
Cleaning out place means carrrying out the cleaning of the outer surfaces and environment of sensitive key areas. The exterior parts including filling valves, seaming heads and can handling parts like starwheels and guides are cleaned with alkaline solution of foaming agent followed by a thorough clear water rinsing.
Thorough cleaning and sterilisation of the filler is key to ensuring that the product remains free of microbiological contamination and is of high quality.
9.HMI
HMI
HMI stands for human machine interface.
The interface includes the following features:
First, it is displayed with a touch screen. Second, the entry is done manually with the possibility of manual filling on each valve for testing purpose. Third, machine parameters as well as the configuration ones can be imported and exported through USB memory. Last but not the least, manual interventions can be carried out on the interface by means of visualization of the valves or motors.
Beer can filling machine main technical features
Beer can filling machine has a great flexibility in total can change-over, including can flange, can level, can height and can body diameter change-overs, by carrying out certain mechanical operations. Thanks to the fast change-over times, the filling machine is suitable to handle various can formats.
Beer can filling machine ensures a high quality of reliability and accuracy. By saying this, it means filling with an accurate product level, reduced manual interventions thus leading to higher production efficiency and eact can positioning due to optimized synchronization of the transfer system, which helps realize perfect can sealing on centering bell, consequently less spillage, therefore less loss of product and no can damage.
Beer can filling machine has a simple design with less wear and tear, and perfect synchronization on the drive system. Due to this simplicity, high operation precision is made possible.
Beer can filling machine is highly efficient with a short cleaning time, and is quite environmentally friendly. All these features fit it into the category of sustainable development .
The techinical purpose of the beer can filling machine is to offer great potential to reduce operational costs and to minimize the use of energy while achieving maximum output with great precision and high product quality.
Beer can filling line set-up
Below is an example of beer can filling line set-up.
Machine list
How to order beer can filling machine?
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