In addition to a reliable liquid filling machine, it’s important to find other equipment needed to maintain efficiency across your entire production line, including a dependable capper. While selecting a capping machine won’t depend on as many factors, there are plenty of options available that can make it somewhat challenging to find the ideal piece of equipment for your facility. There are many different types of containers and openings that will have different capping requirements, making it necessary to find a capper that can meet your specific requirements.
The Range of Cap Sizes
Caps for containers can be anywhere from around 5mm to 120mm in diameter. If your containers’ cap sizes vary greatly, you may want to install more than one capper to meet your needs.
For instance, capping machines for larger caps could require the installation of a vertical placing device along with a cap tightener to complete the capping process, without any other equipment. Conversely, capping for small caps could place limitations on capping machine options. In fact, many smaller caps require “monoblock” systems that maneuver bottles in a starwheel, without any other equipment.
Apart from capping machines, you may also need to consider a sorting system based on the size of your caps. While smaller caps may need vibratory sorting systems, larger caps often use large bulk elevator sorting machines.
Cap Shapes
The width-to-height ratio of the cap will impact both the cap sorting option and the type of capping machine you need to use.
Traditional flat caps consisting of larger widths than heights are among the easiest to apply, tighten, and sort, and they’re compatible with nearly every type of capping machine. On the other hand, if your caps are taller or more square in design, your options may be more limited to vibratory or centrifugal machines.
Other caps of different shapes may entail stripping via a cap chute, or they may require vertical placement on containers. Ultimately, the geometry of the cap will determine whether you should use a vertical chuck capper or an inline capper will be used.
If your container uses some kind of closure other than a cap, whether it’s a dropper tip, spray head, or a pump, automatic tighteners are often used in lieu of capping machines.
Cap Fit and Design
Certain threaded closures, such as spout caps for detergent containers, are incompatible with many cappers and will require the use of chuck type capping machines specifically, along with vertical placement devices. This is because these caps contain a skirt that needs to fit into the container mouth before engaging threads for tightening. This capping method also applies to other types of closures such as corks, stoppers, plugs, and others requiring vertical placement.
Keep in mind that vertical capping machines operate intermittently, which means they are often less efficient than inline continuous motion equipment. They are also more costly. Smaller businesses may also find that smaller closures requiring “monoblock” systems are expensive to implement, hindering profitability for many applications.
Manual, Semiautomatic, or Automatic Capping Systems
The desired level of efficiency is another aspect to consider when selecting capping machinery. Manual capping entails applying and tightening by hand, which is labor-intensive and can present certain health risks to employees, including Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Manual capping is also far less efficient, limiting productivity to an average of around 10 containers per minute.
If you want to reduce labor expenses while increasing productivity, you’re better off using semiautomatic cappers, which can provide capping at higher rates of 15 to 20 CPM, or fully automatic cappers and tighteners that can achieve rates of 200 CPM or higher, depending on the application.
Again, the efficiency of your capping systems will depend largely on the use of intermittent vs. continuous motion machines. While the former can reach a maximum CPM of 30 to 60, you’ll need continuous motion cappers to achieve higher capping rates.
Operations and Packaging Environment
The plant environment will also influence your decisions when selecting capping equipment. If you need liquid filling machines that can function in a corrosive environment or a facility with flammable and potentially explosive chemicals or other substances, the chances are that you’ll need capping machinery designed to work in these environments. Unfortunately, costs can vary greatly depending on the types of design and construction requirements, whether you need a capping machine for a chemical plant or a food production and washdown plant.
Find the Right Capping Machine at Change Parts, Inc.
Here at Change Parts, Inc., you’ll be able to find the right capping system based on your specific needs. Regardless of the application, we have the machinery required to maintain efficiency and avoid costly breakdowns with top-quality designs.
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