The Chocolate Filling Machine: Your Guide To This Delicious Piece Of Equipment

Hardly anything tastes as good as well-made chocolate. Many of us love it – even those who are lactose intolerant. However, for chocolate to come out as amazing as it tastes, much work needs to be done. 

Take a trip with us as we examine the chocolate filling machine.

Overview of Chocolate Filling Machines 

What Is The Chocolate FIlling Machine & What Does It Do?

When it comes to chocolates, one thing we all love is the filling. Chocolate just doesn’t hit as much when it doesn’t have any juicy filling in it – this filling could be syrup, warm cream, what have you. 

Now, there is a general process of amalgamating this filling with the outer shell of the chocolate. And, this is where you need the chocolate filling machine.

The machine is designed to optimize production accuracy and efficiency, while ensuring that products remain highly consistent across the board.

The Types Of Chocolate Filling Machines

Generally, you don’t have to restrict yourself when it comes to this equipment. Variations exist that can pique your fancy.

• Piston Filling Machine: We understand if you think this is the most popular variant available. After all, most people tend to choose it. Here, the mold is injected using a simple piston mechanism.
  It’s a simple setting – the piston is pulled or pushed to draw in the filing, and then it dispenses it directly. 
• Gear Pump Filling Machine: This variant makes use of a gear pump to maintain control of the dispensing rate for the filling material. As we know, gear pumps help optimize accuracy and volume control, with each gear rotating seamlessly to operate. 
• Rotary Filling Machine: A rotary filling machine consists of a turntable or spinning carousel, with different stations. The chocolate molds move across each station, where they are adequately filled. You usually designate a specific filling mechanism to each station, allowing it to fill the chocolate mold in its own way.
• Depositing Filling Machine: On this front, you get a depositing mechanism that allows you to accurately deposit the material into the chocolate molds.
• Enrobing and Filling Machine: If you’re looking to really optimize your process, then you might want to get the enrobing and filling machine. The primary objective here is to douse the confectionery with coating, while also ensuring that its center areas are filled with the required material at the same time. 
• Hand-Held Filling Device: Some devices have got to stand for small-scale production. And, in this regard, it’s the hand-held filler. While they are mostly manual, they do offer optimal control over filling parameters. So, you don’t lose across the board.

Key Components Of A Chocolate Filling Machine

Like all other devices, these ones don’t work alone. Instead, a simple look will reveal different components that work together to make them functional:

• Hopper: The hopper basically acts as a container where the filler is loaded. It can be filled manually, or with an automated system that controls the process. With it, you don’t have to worry about your machine being filled.
• Filling Mechanism: Here is the primary component of the entire machine. Primarily, it is responsible for maintaining a seamless output of the filling from the chocolate mold filling machine into the mold itself. Depending on the type of filling machine, this mechanism can differ – it could be a nozzle, a piston, a gear pump, etc.
• Conveyor System: For larger filling machines that fill multiple molds at the same time, there is usually a conveyor system that moves the chocolate molds through the filling process one at a time. This system ensures a continuous chocolate flow, with each mold being positioned under the mechanism to be filled accurately.
• Control Panel: With the control panel, you will be able to establish operating parameters for the filling machine – from flow rate to filling volume and more. Just as well, you can make adjustments to these parameters, ensuring that the operation is as seamless as possible. Selecting one should be done based on its ease of use and monitoring capabilities.
• Temperature Control System: As you can imagine, a temperature control system’s job here is to regulate the overall temperature of the filling material. With these components, you can make sure that each individual mold has the very same characteristics as the one that came before and the one that came after.
• Sensors and Detectors: It’s not uncommon for filling machines to come with sensors and detectors to ensure optimal filling. These sensors do a great deal, from detecting chocolate presence to monitoring the flow rate. Just as well, they should be able to detect any irregularities that arise throughout the process.
• Frame and Structure: You want to have a device that will maintain its operation for a long period. As such, it will need a frame to ensure that it maintains its stability across the board.
• Cleaning and Sanitization Features: As it is in producing anything else that is consumed, you need to ensure optimal hygiene with chocolate production. With the filling being one of the most important, sanitation features such as quick-disconnect fittings and removable parts are critical.

Working Principle of Chocolate Filling Machines 

When you look into the in-depth working structure of the chocolate mould filling machine. You’d find that it is quite intriguing. And, understanding this should help you understand better how to optimize your processing. 

How The Machine Works 

First off, you should know that there is no generalized working structure for this device. You have different types, which we will consider in a later section. And, these types will eventually influence the overall working mechanism. However, the process workflow usually follows this structure: 

Machine Preparation:

Before you even get into the technical details, it is essential to make sure that the equipment is ready and in top shape to operate. . You want to clean and sanitize it, ensure that all components are in top shape, and that the machine is properly supported.

Filling Material Setup: 

Next, you set up the filling material by injecting it into the machine’s hopper. You can have one filling material or incorporate a mixture – but, the most important thing here is ensuring that the material itself is at the right temperature that ensures optimal consistency across the board.

Adjusting Settings:

With your control panel, you can set different parameters for the filling operation based on your requirements. From the filling volume to the flow speed and rate, ensure that the parameters are compatible and accurately set.

Chocolate Shell Placement: 

Next, take things out of your own hands and let the conveyor system of the machine take it from here. Proper alignment is important here so you don’t waste the filling when it’s being injected.

Filling Process: 

With your molds set, you can initiate the filling process. Fire the equipment up, and you will see the filling being put into each mold one at a time. Still, you don’t want to snooze here – keep an eye on the filling parameters, and make sure that the sensors can ensure consistent filling.

Conveyor Movement: 

With each step of the process being completed, the finished molds will be moved along. This means that you can maintain a consistent schedule for filling – while also ensuring that the other parts are also being catered to.

Cooling:

Once you’re done with the filing process, you can take the chocolate molds into a cooling tunnel.  The entire filling process tends to involve elevated temperatures, so allowing the mold to cool down is always a recommendation.

Cooling methods can also differ, as expected. As long as the machines meet your desired specifications, you can go ahead.

Quality Control:

Confectionery production is a high-stakes process. So, to make sure that things go off without a hitch, you want to make sure that you have the right QC measures in place.

Visual inspections ensure that you can maintain consistency in filling, and you also need to check the material’s weight. Overall, the objective is to ensure that your final output can hold its own when industry standards are compared. 

Packaging or Further Processing: 

Once the chocolate molds have been filled and you’ve ascertained that they pass the right quality control checks, you can go ahead to complete the production process.

Once the chocolates have been filled and pass the quality control checks, they can proceed to packaging or undergo additional processes, such as enrobing with chocolate coatings or decoration.

Cleaning and Maintenance: 

Once the entire process is done, feel free to clean and ensure proper maintenance of your filling machine based on the manufacturer’s guidelines. At Sainty Tec, we will provide proper technical instructions and guides to help you maintain our chocolate filling machines properly. 

Chocolate Filling Modes: How filling Machines Dispense 

Besides understanding the working process for a chocolate filled cookie encrusting machine, you should also be familiar with the filling techniques that these machines use. 

Generally, chocolate filling machines incorporate multiple modes to accommodate different chocolates and filling styles. A few of the common ones include: 

Single Shot Filling:

For the single shot filing mode, you have a single dose of the filing material that is put into each chocolate mold. The filling mechanism will be set to deliver a specific amount of filling into the center of the chocolate mold, and you will be able to adjust this volume as you see fit. 

Single shot filling is especially suitable for chocolates that require consistency and uniformity in the filling quantity. 

Double Shot Filling: 

With double shot filling, you get two different doses of the filling material in the chocolate mold. The first shot will partially fill the mold, then a second shot is delivered that completes the filling requirements. 

Many chocolate makers employ double shot filling for its ability to enable layered fillings – or those double-flavored fillings that have become especially popular. 

Cascade Filling: 

In cascade filling, you have a continuous flow of the filling material into a series of chocolate molds. This way, the filling material essentially flows from one mold to the other – thus creating a form of cascading effect. 

The cascade filling for chocolate filled cookie making machine is being especially used when making enrobed chocolates, where the filling is poured from a mold’s bottom, and then the chocolate shell is added.

Injected Filling: 

While this isn’t the most popular filing mode, it is quite nifty in its own right. Here, the filling material is added to the mold under immense generated pressure. A nozzle is used to make the injection, so you can maintain precision in placement. 

Swirl Filling:

As the name suggests, the swirl filling method involves filling the mold in a swirl pattern. If you have fillings with different flavors, this pattern essentially sees to it that you can incorporate them simultaneously. 

With the filling mechanism dispensing different fillings simultaneously, you will also be able to alternate between different fillings to create layered flavors and decorative patterns.

Center-Filled Filling: 

The name says it all. Take the mold’s center, and put the filling into it. The mechanism ensures accuracy in placement, after which you seal the entire thing with more chocolate to enclose it entirely.

Customized Filling Patterns: 

This final mode tends to come in handy when you have a clear vision and would like to work it out on your own. Flexibility is the name of the game, and this mode allows you to enjoy it to the maximum.

Of course, you should note that the selection isn’t one you want to take lightly. Instead, you want to consider the factors in front of you- material type, your overall design specifications, and more. 

Why Should You Engage A Chocolate Filling Machine?

When you’re in the sweetness industry, this is one of the first machines you want to get. This piece of equipment will offer a significant number of benefits, including but not limited to the following:

Increased Production Efficiency: 

Filling chocolate by hand is an arduous task. However, things don’t have to be like that. These machines make it possible for you to let this all-important process run on autopilot. So, you can ramp up several areas of your overall process and move along more quickly.

All in all, you get better production efficiency and output, cutting your costs and saving you a great deal of time.

Accurate and Consistent Filling:

Precision is another important thing that you want to keep an eye on across the board. With the use of controlled mechanisms, you can easily dispense the filling material in set quantities, ensuring consistency and uniformity across the board. 

This makes for better product quality and will lead to higher consumer satisfaction. 

Time and Cost Savings: 

The dream for any manufacturer is to be able to let things run on their own, while they simply reap the fruits of their ingenuity.

Instead of filling the molds manually, you can do that with the machine, allowing your workers to focus more on other important tasks across the production process. This automation also reduces possible errors, optimizing the use of filling materials and reducing wastage.

Flexibility and Versatility: 

In an earlier section, we already highlighted the fact that you can be as creative as possible when decorating the external parts of a confectionery. Well, part of that can also involve these machines. 

With their ability to cater to different filling materials, you don’t need to worry when you need to produce different ranges for textures. 

Enhanced Product Presentation: 

In the confectionery industry, aesthetic appeal and presentation are everything. Designing a chocolate that tastes great isn’t enough; you need to present it in an attractive manner as well. 

With chocolate filling machines, you have the opportunity to contribute to this. With their ability to pinpoint placement, you can see to it that your final product appeals to your target audiences. 

Consistent Product Weight: 

These machines will also go a long way in ensuring that you can keep a singular and straight weight for your confectionery. Every mold is measured to be the same, so there is no irregularity in the final product you push out. 

Hygiene and Food Safety: 

We already pointed out the need for chocolate filling machines to be designed with sanitation features in mind. Their ability to incorporate easy cleaning will ensure compliance with industry standards, while also contributing to consumer safety and reducing the risk of contamination.

Scalability: 

Confectionery makers come in different types and sizes. And, understanding the level you are in the production climate should come in handy here. 

Whether you want to upscale or take things down a few notches, you should have a machine that easily accommodates your requirements.

The goal is to choose a machine that matches your desired production volume, thus allowing for optimal adaptability and scalability in the face of switching requirements. For manufacturing factories, this is especially important. 

Your Chocolate Filling Machine Selection Checklist 

Ready to make a purchase of a chocolate filling machine? Great! 

But, you need to make sure that your machine will be able to serve your desired functionality. To that end, you want to keep some factors in mind:

Production Capacity: 

The first thing you should consider wil be your production volume. Assess it, and compare it with the capacity of your filling machine. Look into details like the number of chocolates  it can fill in an hour, and throw that against your production targets and requirements. 

As long as the machine is able to meet or exceed your requirements, you’re good to go.

Filling Flexibility: 

You should also consider the types of filings that the machine can support. Some machines handle certain types of fillings better, and you need to know that these capabilities are in line with your needs. 

Whether it’s ganache, fruits, soft creams, or other fillings, make sure that the machine is capable of handling your requirements.

Chocolate Shell Size and Shape: 

You want to keep an eye on the shape and size variations of your chocolate molds as well. Besides just watching its operational efficiency, you want to make sure that your machine can easily handle any intricate details of your mold.

Filling Accuracy and Consistency: 

Always choose a machine that offers precise filling and which can deliver accurate volume and consistency. This ensures that your chocolate molds are filled consistently and uniformly, thus optimizing your product quality and presentability. 

Automation Features: 

In general, we would recommend going for machines with automation features. To start with, you want to determine whether you would need a semi-automated or fully automated machine – as well as select the features you’d require. 

With automation, you can improve operational efficiency, cut labor costs, and speed up the filling process.

Machine Size and Footprint: 

Compare the machine’s size in relation to the available space in your production facility. The machine needs to fit your layout, and in many cases, it would need to be compatible with other equipment. 

Ease of Use and Maintenance: 

You want a machine that’s easy to use and is user-friendly. It should be accessible and easy to clean and maintain, and you should also be able to access spare parts if the need arises to replace any. 

Rest assured that with Sainty Tec, you will be able to get access to adequate technical support whenever you need it.

Hygiene and Food Safety Standards:

Considering that you’d need to adhere to strict sanitation requirements, it is important for your machine to also do the same. Your machine should be made of food-grade materials and be designed for seamless cleaning.

Just as well, examine the machine’s adherence to standards and regulatory requirements.

Cost and Return on Investment: 

All in all, no one wants to make a purchase of a material without considering what they would have to spend. and, the same thing goes here.

First, examine the chocolate filled cookie machine price, and your capability to afford it. Then, look into the machine’s features and its ability to optimize your manufacturing process. 

In most cases, you’d find that the potential benefits of a filling machine far outweigh the cost. And, with the machines we offer at Sainty Tec, you can rest assured that you will get a proper bang for your buck. 

Manufacturer Reputation and Support: 

Working with a reputable manufacturer is important as it gives you the confidence that your machine will serve you. 

At Sainty Tec, you have the perfect partner that ticks all of these boxes and much more. Our products meet the required operational standard, and we will also be there to offer any insights or assistance you might require. 

Don’t waste any more time – we’re here to give you that unfair advantage, and you can get it by simply reaching out to us.

Conclusion 

If you’re in the confectionery business, then there really is no need to convince you further of the benefit of these machines. At this point, you’re probably plotting how you can get your hands on one.

Well, don’t waste any more time. Get in touch with us at Sainty Tec, and let’s find you a high-quality filling machine to help step up your production process.