Weighing and Feeding Machines

Weighing machines are semi or fully automatic machines that are programmed to measure a mass of free-flowing product before depositing it into a container.

If you choose a semi-automatic machine, the product will be automatically weighed but will require an operator to press a switch or foot pedal to deposit the product as the operator will likely be presenting the container to the machine manually. Alternatively, the automatic version would be synchronised to another automatic processing or packaging machine e.g. a VFFS, pouch or horizontal sachet machine.

There are 2 main types of weigher: multihead and linear. Depending on your product type and production requirements, one will likely be preferable for you.

In general, a linear weighing machine is ideal for smaller, uniform products where precise accuracy isn’t the main concern and the budget and production rate is lower. They have a lower number of heads and using vibrations to move product along which slow when the target weight is approaching.

A multihead weigher is more complex ensuring higher speeds and accuracy even with unusual products making them ideal for large-scale productions. Using the high number of weighing heads, these machines demonstrate combination weighing technology. Product is dispensed into all the buckets and weighed simultaneously. When the weights of multiple buckets equal the target weight (or very close to), they all open. It is this technology that allows for such high speeds and accuracy.

Features can be adapted on weighing machines for different product types e.g. stainless-steel construction for food hygiene, increased angles for sticky products, reduced angles for delicate products, double systems for mixed products etc.

A feeder takes product from a hopper and transports it towards other equipment e.g. a counter. A counter is similar to a weigher in that it measures and dispenses product but it is specific to items that need to be counted. Feeders are either a bowl or linear system both producing guaranteed quantities of products like capsules, DIY parts and seeds. They can also orientate products and are fully automatic machines commonly integrated with vffs, horizontal sachet, vertical sachet and stick pack machines.

A bowl feeder uses a vibrating pan of product where the vibrations move products towards the edge of the pan where they are carried away on a track one by one. Usually, installed on the track is an infrared sensor which detects and counts passing goods. Once the correct number of products have passed the sensor, they are deposited into the pack. This singular output makes bowl counting equipment slightly slower but capable of counting very low numbers accurately.

In contrast, a linear feeding and counting machine uses vibrations to move product through multiple trays and outlets. A photoelectric system is used to count products as they drop with vibrations slowing and tray doors shutting as the target count is approached. These machines are widely used in pharmaceuticals for counting capsules and other tablets.

Counting machines can accommodate products needing orientating as well as products as small as 3mm in diameter.

The customisability is endless, if you don’t see a weigher or counter suitable for you here, contact us, and we will find a solution.

• Efficient – With weighing machines depositing over 100 times a minute and counters capable of counting 360,000 items an hour, speed benefits far exceed those seen with manual methods.
• Economical – budget-friendly models make these machines viable even for start-ups.
• Compact – radial multi-head weighers can have up to 32 heads yet still only require 2.1m of space.
• Fully Automatic – alongside other automatic processing and packaging machinery these machines can run independent of human interaction, reducing labour costs, workplace injuries and human error.
• Range – with a huge variety of models there is a machine that will suit your production rate requirements and packaging sizes.
• Versatile – weighers and counters can be used for products varying in size, flowability and shape.
• Changeovers – internal storage allows for quick changeovers between products and weights as commonly used parameters can be stored and easy access allows the quick cleaning of machine parts.

Weighing, feeding and counting equipment is found across many sectors due to their versatility and impact on production quality and speed.