Package Fill Control

Depending upon; the degree of accuracy required, product type and line speed, manufacturers could choose between checkweighers, x-ray inspection systems or vision inspection systems for package fill control.

Gravimetric weighing technology is recognised as the only checkweighing method for accurate and reliable results that can be verified and traced to a certified weight standard. Hence in-line checkweighers are the only choice to ensure compliance with local weights and measures requirements. Also if the cost of the product is high, manufacturers will be concerned about absolute accuracy requiring the performance only a checkweigher can give. Accurate feedback to fillers to minimize over and under fills is one of the strongest reasons to invest in a checkweigher.

For applications such as portion checking in multi-compartment packages, missing or broken items and where weight variability of the packaging material is greater than the ‘accept/reject’ tolerances of the package contents, estimation of mass is a viable option. Hence deployment of x-ray inspection is an appropriate choice.

Vision inspection systems would be ideal for applications requiring full bottle inspection to ensure that bottles are properly filled, labelled and sealed.