How Does a Bottle Filling Machine Work?

Bottle filling machines are widely used in industries to automate the process of filling liquid into bottles on a conveyor belt. In this blog, we’ll explain the operation of a bottle filling machine, covering its components and how it functions in different modes: manual and automatic.

In PLC Programming MADE EASY: Level 2, you'll learn how to write a real-world PLC program that takes control of this machine, from start to finish.

Components of the Bottle Filling Machine

Input devices

The input devices include:

• Momentary switches: Allow manual control of the machine.
• Three-position selector switch: Sets the machine’s mode to off, manual, or automatic.
• Three photo-eye sensors: Detect and count bottles on the conveyor.
  

Output devices

The output devices include:

• Conveyor belt motor: Moves the bottles along the conveyor.
• Drain valve: Opens to fill bottles with liquid and closes after filling.
• Signal lamps: Indicate whether the machine is in manual or automatic mode.
  

Modes of Operation: Manual vs. Automatic

Manual mode

In manual mode:

• Pressing the first switch rotates the motor clockwise; releasing it stops the motor.
  

• Pressing the second switch rotates the motor counterclockwise.
  

• Pressing the third switch opens the drain valve; releasing it closes the valve.
  

‍

This mode allows operators to manually control each component of the machine.

Automatic mode

In automatic mode:

1. Pressing the start switch begins the operation.
2. The motor rotates the conveyor belt until Sensor 2 detects a bottle.
3. The motor stops, and the valve opens for 7 seconds to fill the bottle.
4. The valve closes, and the motor resumes operation.
5. This process repeats until the stop switch is pressed, shutting down the machine.
   

Two additional sensors—Sensor 1 and Sensor 3—count the empty and filled bottles at each end of the conveyor. The RESET switch clears these counts when pressed.

Conclusion

This bottle filling machine provides a reliable way to automate the process of filling bottles in a production line. With input devices like sensors and switches, and output devices such as motors and valves, it operates efficiently in both manual and automatic modes.

Understanding how each component works and how the machine operates is the first step in creating a fully automated system. If you're ready to take the next step and learn how to program this system, check out our detailed course where we cover PLC programming for this machine.

‍