Precision and Cleanliness: Key Considerations for Handling Rice and Other Foods with Granular Filling and Sealing Machines

Precision and Cleanliness: Key Considerations for Handling Rice and Other Foods with Granular Filling and Sealing Machines

Granular filling and sealing machines are essential equipment for achieving efficient and standardized production when packaging staple products such as rice, coarse grains, and legumes. However, due to the physical characteristics of these materials—such as variable flowability, dust generation, and irregular shapes—their operation is more complex than liquid filling. To ensure packaging quality, efficiency, and food safety, the following key points must be carefully addressed.

1. Equipment Selection and Parameter Calibration: Tailoring to the Material is Essential

The particle size, density, and surface friction of granular materials like rice vary significantly. First, the most suitable metering method must be selected based on the material's properties: volumetric measuring cups are ideal for uniform, free-flowing grains like japonica rice, while combination weighers, with their high-precision dynamic weighing, are better suited for mixed grain products with irregular particles or strict weight requirements. Before filling, extensive trial runs using the actual batch of materials are necessary to repeatedly calibrate the machine, ensuring that the average error remains within national standards (typically ≤±1%). Additionally, the amplitude and frequency of vibratory feeders or dispensers should be adjusted to ensure smooth material flow without clogging or splashing.

2. Production Process Control: Dynamic Monitoring and Contaminant Prevention are Crucial

During operation, dust control is the top priority. Rice bran dust generated in the filling area not only contaminates equipment and affects seal integrity but also poses a risk of dust explosions. Equipment should be equipped with effective integrated dust removal systems and cleaned regularly. Second, strict measures must be taken to prevent contaminants such as metal or stones from mixing into the product. It is advisable to install multi-stage screening and metal detectors before filling, as well as checkweighers and metal detectors after filling, to create a dual-layered safety net. Operators must periodically inspect seal quality, ensuring that heat-seal patterns are clear and robust, which is critical for maintaining the packaging’s oxygen-barrier properties and extending the shelf life of grains.

3. Cleaning, Maintenance, and Environmental Management: Eliminating Cross-Contamination

After daily production, all parts of the equipment that come into contact with materials must be thoroughly cleaned to remove residual particles and dust, preventing cross-contamination between batches and pest infestations. Special attention should be paid to components such as measuring hoppers, chutes, and sealing molds. The production environment should be kept cool and dry, meeting the basic requirements for grain storage. Regular deep maintenance is essential, including checking the sensitivity of photoelectric sensors, the zero-point stability of weighing systems, and the temperature uniformity of sealing heating elements to avoid fluctuations that could lead to inaccurate filling or poor sealing.

4. Packaging Material Compatibility Testing

The performance of packaging materials directly impacts the final product quality. It is necessary to test in advance whether the material, thickness, and heat-sealing properties of the packaging film or bags are fully compatible with the machine parameters (such as temperature, pressure, and time). For heavier products like rice, the tensile strength and puncture resistance of the packaging materials must also be evaluated to ensure they are not easily damaged during transportation.

In summary, successfully using granular filling and sealing machines for foods like rice requires a systematic approach that encompasses precise equipment adaptation, dynamic production control, and stringent cleaning and maintenance. Only through meticulous management at every stage can each bag of product be guaranteed to meet weight requirements and sealing safety standards, fully realizing the efficiency and quality advantages of automated production.