A prototype automatic filling machine was developed for feeding free flowing solid or semi-solid food in canning process. The machine consists of 2 main systems: a food feeder and a can conveyer. Food was conveyed from hopper by screw conveyer and distributed in the feeding holes around a rotating feeding plate. The can was conveyed to a finned can holding plate which rotated synchronously with the feeding plate, allowing food to be discharged by gravity from the feeding hole into a can. The amount of food was controlled by volume of the feeding holes while can size could be changed by changing the hole diameter. The machine was driven by 3 1/4-HP motors. Cho-goy was used for filling tests. It was filled uniformly with a filling speed of 320 can/min. The machine was easy to be operated and cleaned, could be fitted in the processing line substituting manual feed.
By
Samakara Rakmae
Sumeth Ponpakdee
Roungtipaya Tapaneeyasilapa
