See us at the PMCA Show in Lancaster, PA on 4/15
Home » Fillers - Powder Filling » Auger
Auger fillers are versatile volumetric fillers capable of filling a variety of dry products. Products filled range from fine powders such as a talc or flour, through granular products such as sugar to larger piece products such as corn, birdseed or even small candies. Some auger fillers can be used for handling viscous semi-liquids like grease.
The augur filler consists of a conical hopper-reservoir which tapers to a smaller discharge tube. An auger or screw is mounted in the center of the hopper and is rotated to drive product down and out the discharge.
The amount of product to be dispensed is determined by the size of the auger, its speed and the number of rotations it makes. Augur size is matched to the hopper. Dispensing by augur revolutions is more or less linear. That is, if 1.5 complete revolutions dispense 1 ounce of product, 3 should dispense 2 ounces of product. Speed can also affect dispensing.
The auger is driven by a motor mounted on the top of the machine. A controller allows the amount of rotation to be precisely controlled. Older systems may continuously run motors with a clutch/brake to control auger rotation. Newer systems will usually have direct drive servo motors with touch screens.
Some products may not need a discharge valve. Most will need something more positive. The conceptual sketch above shows a “birdfeeder” tray on the discharge. This tray prevents flow when the auger is not turning.
Other systems may use a butterfly, slide or other types of valves for more positive shutoff.
A key issue in any powder feeder maintaining a consistent flow. This is especially true when the powder is funneled from the larger diameter of the hopper to the discharge. Ratholing, sometimes called bridging or arching is one common problem.
Ratholing occurs when only some of the powder flows, creating a void. The augur continues to turn, but because of the void, less, or even no, product is fed.
This affects filling accuracy. Generally the finer the particle size, the more prone it will be to ratholing. Some products like brown sugar may have relatively large particle sizes but, because of a tendency to clump, may have problems with ratholing.
Ratholing can sometimes be solved by mounting vibrators on the side of the hopper to help flow. An agitator, mounted to the auger as shown in the sketch, can be used to keep the product stirred up.
This may cure the ratholing but excessive mixing by the agitator can damage or cause demixing of some products. Some sticky products may have a tendency to stick to the hopper walls. If needed, a scraper can be used instead of or in addition to the agitator to continuously scrape the walls.
Safety must always be paramount and sometimes we don’t realize how flammable or even explosive some common products like sugar or flour can be. When selecting any machinery, care must always be taken to address any potential safety issues.
AMS, Model A100, Semi-automatic single head auger filler with number of containers per minute – depending on materials, application, machine configuration and operator dexterity. All stainless steel contact parts. Equipped with 22" Diameter x 20" deep product hopper with agitator, bolt down dust cover, 7" OD product port, 8" long x 5" wide bolt down access port and top mounted level detector. Control panel with an touch screen display and push button start / stop. Mounted on stand alone base.
OAD: 46" L x 44" W x 100" H
AMS, Model A100, Semi-automatic, single head auger filler with number of containers per minute – depending on materials, application, machine configuration and operator dexterity. All stainless steel contact parts. Equipped with 22" Diameter x 20" deep product hopper with agitator, bolt down dust cover, 7" OD product port, 8" long x 5" wide bolt down access port and top mounted level detector. Control panel with an touch screen display and push button start / stop. Mounted on stand alone base.
AMS Filling Systems model A400 Filler and model FA-800 auger feeder. Model FA-800 auger feeder rated up to 140 ft³ of product per hour – depending on materials, application and product density. Equipped with 36” long x 36” wide x 26” deep stainless steel product hopper, 4" OD x 120" long stainless steel product conveying screw, 4½" OD x 96" long flexible poly tube and has top mounted 3 Hp motor drive with 6” ID product discharge port and 90" ground clearance. Control panel has push button start / stop / jog controls and VFD. Model A400, single head, auger filler rated from 4 to 40 containers per minute with pounds of product per hour – depending on materials, application and machine configuration. Stainless steel construction. Equipped with 22" OD (16 gallon) agitated product hopper with dust cover, 7" OD charge port and level detector. Control panel has A/B HMI touch screen display with start and stop push buttons. Mounted on platform style basewith leveling legs.
OAD: 98" L x 36" W x 93" H (A400 Filler)OAD: 140"L x 41"W x 123"H (FA-800 Feeder)
AMS, Model A-400, automatic, in line, single head, stainless steel, auger filler with amount of product per minute / hour – depending on materials, application and machine configuration. Capable of handling round, non-round plastic, metal, glass and composite containers with proper change parts. Equipped with 90" long x 1" wide single chain container conveyor, adjustable guide rails, pneumatic container indexing, single auger filler with agitated hoppers and dust proof covers, 7" OD product feed ports, level sensors and vibratory container lift. Control panel with an AB PLC and touch screen HMI. Mounted on stainless steel base frame.
AMS, FA800, single head, stainless steel, feed system with amount of product per minute / hour – depending on materials, application and machine configuration. Equipped 36" Long x 36" Wide x 28" Deep agitated single stainless steel product hopper, 4" OD x 144" long stainless steel product conveying screw, 4½" OD x 118" long flexable poly tube, with top mounted 3Hp motor drive and 7” OD product discharge port with 97" ground clearence. Mounted on heavy duty frame with locking casters.
O.A.D: 100"L x 45"W x "94"H (Filler)O.A.D: 145" L x 74" W x 128" H (Auger Feeder)
AMS Model A100 semi-automatic single head auger filler and Flexicon Model 1312 screw conveyor with number of containers per minute – depending on materials, application and operator dexterity. All 304 stainless steel contact parts. Equipped with 22" OD,16 gallon product hopper, with agitator, bolt down dust cover, 7" OD product port, 6" long x 4" wide bolt down acess port and top mounted level detector. Control panel has A/B controller with readout and start, e-stop and run / reset controls. Mounted on painted stand alone base with foot pedal jog control. Accuracies of +/- 0.25%, depending on product and tooling required per application.
Flexicon 1312 screw conveyor. Equipped with 36" wide x 36" long x 32" deep stainless steel product hopper with safety grid, 4" OD 120" long stainless steel product conveying screw with 4" flexable poly tube, top 3 Hp motor drive, with 6" ID product discharge port. Control panel with start, e-stop, reset, forward and reverse controls.
OAD: 48" L x 36" W x 86" H Auger Filler 156" L x 36" W x 98" H Screw Feeder
AMS Model A100 semi-automatic single head auger filler and Flexicon Model 1312 screw conveyor with number of containers per minute – depending on materials, application and operator dexterity. All 304 stainless steel contact parts. Equipped with 22" OD,16 gallon product hopper, with agitator, bolt down dust cover, 7" OD product port, 6" long x 4" wide bolt down acess port and top mounted level detector. Control panel has A/B controller with readout and start, e-stop and run / reset controls. Mounted on painted stand alone base with foot pedal jog control. Accuracies of +/- 0.25%, depending on product and tooling required per application.Flexicon 1312 screw conveyor. Equipped with 36" wide x 36" long x 32" deep stainless steel product hopper with safety grid, 3" OD 120" long stainless steel product conveying screw with 3-1/4" flexable poly tube, top 3 Hp motor drive, with 6" ID product discharge port. Control panel with start, e-stop, reset, forward and reverse controls.
Triangle Model RFC48/10, 10 pocket, continuous motion, stainless steel filler. Rated from 30 to 120 containers per minute – depending on materials, application and machine configuration. Equipped with open top, (10) pockets set on 15" centers with 13" long x 8" wide x 13" deep funneled product hoppers, 190" long x 8" wide container conveyor with worm screw to star wheel in feed and discharge and safety guarding. Control panel has AB controller with touch screen HMI.
OAD: 195"L x 96"W x 78"H
All Fill, Model R, 24 pocket, rotary, continous motion, stainless steel auger. Filler rated from 30 to 200 containers per minute – depending on materials and application. Container size range: 1" to 5" in Diameter. Equipped with 2½" wide x 72" long Delrin infeed conveyor, 18" long worm screw to star wheel indexing, dual auger fillers, 50" OD turret with (24) 5" long x 7½" deep product funnels set on 5½" centers. Control panel has Microproccessor controller with touch screen HMI. Mounted on heavy duty frame with safety door guarding.
OAD: 112"L x 78"W x 106"H
OAD: 48" L x 36" W x 86" H
AMS Filling Systems, single head, stainless steel auger filler rated from 20 to 120 cycles per minute – depending on materials, application and machine configuration. Equipped with 22" OD (16 gallon) agitated product hopper with dust cover, 7" OD charge port and level detector. Control panel has AB touch screen display with push button start / stop. Mounted on platform type base.
OAD: 48"L x 32"W x 98"H
OAD: 48" L x 36" W x 86" H Auger Filler 145" L x 72" W x 145" H Screw Feeder
AMS, Model TFA 800, automatic, in line, dual head, stainless steel, feed system with amount of product per minute / hour – depending on materials, application and machine configuration. Equipped 36" Long x 36" Wide x 28" Deep agitated stainless steel product hopper. With (2) 4" OD x 144" long stainless steel product conveying screws, (2) 4½" OD x 110" long flexable poly tube, with top mounted 3Hp motor drives with 7” OD product discharge port with 100" ground clearence. Mounted on heavy duty frame with locking casters.
AMS, Model A-500, automatic, in line, dual head, stainless steel, auger filler. Equipped with 115" long x 1(1/8)" wide single chain container conveyor, adjustable guide rails, pneumatic container indexing, (2) auger fillers with agitated hoppers and dust proof covers, 7" OD product feed ports, level sensors and vibratory container lift. Control panel with an AB PLC and touch screen HMI. Mounted on stainless steel base frame. Capable of handling round, non-round plastic, metal, glass and composite containers with proper change parts. Speed dependent on materials, application and machine configuration.
OAD: 120"L x 35"W x 88"H (A-500 Filler)OAD: 145"L x 60"W x 131"H (TFA-800 Feeder)
Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest in packaging tips, case studies and more.