Buyer article
FTPfill sauce filler: complete container changeover checklist
Review container handling, the product path, HMI and cleaning handover in one sauce-filling changeover checklist.
The decision this page helps you make
Review container handling, the product path, HMI and cleaning handover in one sauce-filling changeover checklist.
Buyer questions answered here
Why does a bottle changeover require more than changing the filling recipe? Because changes in neck, height, or diameter affect the gripper, adjustable guides, and nozzle alignment while the container moves along the conveyor.
Which mechanical points should be checked first? Check stable container feeding, gripper spacing, adjustable guide position, filling-head height, and whether the filling nozzles remain centered over the container openings.
What should the operator verify on the control interface? HMI settings include filling volume and filling speed, and the system provides operating status and filled-quantity feedback. The available materials do not define a target value for a particular container.
Does the available material provide a standard changeover time or a universal container range? No. It confirms the adjustment points, but not a standard changeover duration or supported dimensional limits; those items require engineering confirmation against the actual container.
1. Start with the container and conveyor relationship
FTPfill is a four-head tracking piston filler for sauces, tomato ketchup, tomato paste, and other thick or viscous food products. Bottles or jars move forward on a chain conveyor while the filling heads follow the container movement. That operating principle makes the first changeover question simple: can the new container enter, travel, and remain stable through the filling zone?
2. Set the bottle gripper, guides, and filling-head alignment
Before running the new format, compare the container neck, height, and diameter with the previous format. Adjust the bottle gripper spacing and the adjustable guide plates so the container is held and presented consistently. Then check the vertical position of the filling heads and confirm that the nozzles stay aligned with the openings. The materials confirm that the nozzle can be replaced, but they do not define a universal nozzle size or changeover setting.
3. Review the sauce product path and dosing unit
A container changeover is also a product-path check. Review the U-shaped hopper, level sensor, material pipes, three-way rotary valve, filling valves, and quick-release connections. The level sensor feeds back hopper level and controls the feed pump stop function. For thick products, the piping, valve group, and metering chambers should be included in the cleaning and discharge discussion rather than treated as invisible utilities.
4. Verify the HMI settings without inventing a rate
Use the HMI to review the filling volume and filling speed required for the new format, then check the displayed operating status and filled quantity during verification. FTPfill uses four servo-controlled piston units; the materials describe control through servo speed and rotation count, not a guaranteed filling rate or accuracy. Keep the verification tied to the actual sauce, container, and engineering-approved settings.
5. Close the changeover with cleaning and a clear handover
Finish the checklist with cleaning, access, and handover points. FTPfill materials describe removable piping with quick-release clamps, cleaning lines, and a wastewater collection structure; they confirm cleaning with clean or sterile water but provide no CIP time, temperature, flow, or validation level. The transparent tempered-glass guard supports visual observation of moving assemblies, while the HMI and control enclosure support operating and maintenance checks. Record the agreed container setup and the open questions before production release.
Need to check a new container format?
Send the container drawings or samples together with the sauce or thick product information. The engineering team can use them to review gripper spacing, guide adjustment, filling-head position, nozzle choice, and the required cleaning discussion.