Tube Filling Machine

Tube filling machine is designed to accurately fill liquid and paste products like facial cleanser,ointment, hand cream, gels, liquid foundation, mustard sauce into different  types of squeezable tubes (include plastic soft tube and aluminum tube) and seal them.Tube filler machine is ideal choice for small or medium scale production of food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and daily chemical industries.

How does a tube filling machine operate?

Tube filling machines can be divided into semi-automatic tube filler and automatic tube filler.

Semi-automatic tube filling machines require operators to manually put and position the empty tubes into fixing molds of the filler machine. The machine then performs filling and sealing, while the finished tubes are removed manually.

Automatic tube filling machines can automatically load tubes, orient them, fill liquid or paste into tubest, seal the ends, and discharge the finished tubes without manual intervention.

The working process is same as below:

Step 1: Tube Loading (manually or automatically)

Step 2: Tube Orientation(manually or automatically)

Step 3: Filling Liquid or Paste (automatically)

Step 4: Sealing Tubes(automatically)

Step 5: Date Coding(automatically, optional function)

Step 6: Tube Discharge (manually or automatically)

Which dosing systems are used in tube filling machines?

Tube filling machines employ different dosing methods to ensure accurate product filling. Among the common systems are piston pumps, which rely on volumetric measurement, and ceramic pumps, valued for their high precision of small volume.

Piston pump: precise for higher viscosity products like hand cream, facial cleanser, mustard sauce, liquid foundation, and gels.

Ceramic pump: Ideal for small volume like eye gel, cosmetic serum, liquid foundation sample.

For very thick paste like toothpaste, we will recommend to using the pressurized hopper to ensure the smooth and consistent filling.

How does tube filling sealing machine seal the squeezable tube?

Sealing type of tube filling sealing machine can be devided into hot air sealing, ultrasonic sealing, heated tool sealing (direct heating), metal tube folding.

Hot Air Sealing

• Principle: Using a built-in hot air generator, hot air is blown into the inner wall of the tube end to heat and melt it, and then a cold press mold clamps it to form the seal.
• Applications: Especially good for plastic soft tubes like PE squeezable tubes, it is customizable for curved seal, round corner seal, or other custom seal type tubes.
• Advantages: Clean and neat packaging quality, higher working speed, and wide application range.
• Disadvantages: Precise temperature control and relatively higher equipment cost are needed.

Ultrasonic Sealing

• Principle: This type of tube filler is using ultrasonic vibrations generate high-frequency energy, which can melt the tube material locally and seal it under pressure.
• Applications: Suitable for most plastic tubes and laminated tubest.
• Advantages: No need for preheating, low energy consumption, ideal for heat-sensitive products.
• Disadvantages:Slightly slower sealing speed and can offer higher equipment precision.

Heating Mold Sealing (Hot Press Sealing)

• Principle: Directed heating type is using heated metal molds press directly onto the tube end, melting and sealing the squeezable tube.
• Applications: Plastic squeezable tubes with thinner wall is suitable for this kind of tube filler.
• Advantages: Simple structure and lower cost.
• Disadvantages: Slower sealing process and less aesthetic finish compared to hot air or ultrasonic sealing.

Aluminum Tube Folding

• Principle: The end of the aluminum tube is mechanically folded or crimped to seal the product inside, without applying heat.
• Applications: Widely used for aluminum tubes containing ointments, adhesives, paints, or other chemically sensitive products.
• Advantages: No heat is required, safe for heat-sensitive contents, and provides a reliable airtight seal.
• Disadvantages: Not suitable for plastic or laminated tubes, folding quality may vary depending on operator skill or machine precision.

Which optional function can be realized for the tube filling machine?

Color Mark (Registration Mark) Detection

Tube filling machines can be equipped with a color mark detection system to ensure precise tube placement. Sensors detect the pre-printed marks on tubes, allowing the machine to correct sealing with the tube’s orientation. This effectively reduces material waste and improves product appearance.

Coding / Batch Printing

Tube filling machines can also feature an integrated coding system for printing batch numbers, production dates, or expiration dates directly onto the tube surface. The coding system can use letter stamping on the tube material.

FAQ

1. Can one machine handle multiple tube sizes?

Yes, a tube filling machine can handle tubes of different diameters and lengths by changing fixing molds of the tube filler.

2. What is the working speed?

The speed varies depending on tube size, type, and filling volume. Smaller cosmetic tubes can be filled faster than larger tubes, and fully automatic machines generally offer higher speeds than semi-automatic models.

3. What information is needed for a custom tube filling machine?

We typically need to learn about below information before offering packaging solution:

①tube type and size

②filling material and viscosity

③required production capacity

⑤optional features if needed(batch coding, color mark alignment, etc.)

4. Is local service available?

Yes,installation, training, and maintenance services are available in select regions.But if you aren’t in select regions, we also offer user manual, debug video when shipping out machine.