What Is a Hydraulic Piston Filler?
A Hydraulic Piston Filler is a device that utilizes hydraulic pumps to power the filling of foods, such as pastes, using a piston mechanism. This mechanism allows for the suction and extrusion of high-viscosity substances, making it ideal for filling viscous materials like ground meat and fish paste. It is commonly referred to as a hydraulic stuffer and falls under the category of volumetric fillers. The rapid filling capability of piston fillers makes them perfect for high-volume applications.
Applications of Hydraulic Piston Fillers
The primary applications of Hydraulic Piston Fillers are in food factories, meat processing plants, supermarkets, and butcher shops for sausage production. Casings for stuffing can be attached to the nozzle, allowing for sausage production. With additional attachments, they can also be used to shape hamburgers, meatballs, croquettes, and more.
Larger models can be used to stuff entire muscles into nets for products like hams, enabling the stuffing of prosciutto, rolled hams, and boiled hams. These fillers accommodate stretchable nets and general sausage casings.
Operating Principle of Hydraulic Piston Fillers
Mechanism
Most Hydraulic Piston Fillers feature a large cylinder with a hydraulic piston attached at the top.
The operation proceeds as follows:
Food to be filled is placed into the cylinder.
A piston is fitted at the top of the cylinder, and a casing is attached to the nozzle at the piston’s end.
When activated, the cylinder’s bottom rises, pushing the filling material upward to the top piston and then into the casing.
Filling into casings usually involves manual support. Consequently, the device’s switch is often a knee switch, allowing for hands-free operation.
Structure
The device is made of hygienic stainless steel, designed for easy piston removal and a screw-free bottom cylinder structure for straightforward cleaning. Some models feature corrosion-resistant coatings on cylinder parts. Many devices also use waterproof electrical boxes for the power and electrical circuits, enhancing durability.
Particularly in meat processing, piston fillers are designed to prevent the filling material from heating up, with some equipped with cooling fan kits to limit heat transfer.
Types of Hydraulic Piston Fillers
Hydraulic Piston Fillers are available in various sizes and capacities from multiple manufacturers, necessitating selection based on specific needs. Cylinder capacities range from small to large, with options like 14, 20, 25, 35, 50 liters, etc. Nozzle diameters can often be changed, with sizes like 12mm, 20mm, 30mm, and even up to 70mm to 200mm for larger models suited for hams.
Advanced models may include built-in pressure gauges and automatic depressurization as contents diminish. Some come with integrated speed regulators, allowing for manual speed adjustments. Models designed for mobility may be equipped with wheels.
Optional Attachments
Many Hydraulic Piston Fillers support a variety of optional attachments. For example, manual portioners can set quantities from 10 to 500 grams, and there are parts for shaping uniform patties of 100g, 80g, or croquette components. Some products feature attachment nozzles with vertical holes for producing skewered sausages (kebabs). These attachments are typically easy to disassemble and clean, similar to the main unit.