NF-150 Tube Filling Machine: A Deep Dive Into Dual-Use Technology

Introduction

In the competitive landscape of cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and chemical manufacturing, efficiency is not just about speed; it's about precision, reliability, and versatility. Production managers constantly seek equipment that can minimize downtime, reduce waste, and adapt to diverse packaging needs. The challenge is finding a single machine that excels in all these areas. Enter the NF-150, a fully automatic tube filling machine designed to be the comprehensive solution for modern production lines.

Whether you are packaging high-viscosity ointments, gels, creams, or even toothpaste, the NF-150 offers a powerful combination of advanced technology and robust engineering. This article will take a deep dive into the features that make the NF-150 a standout performer, exploring its advanced mechanics, precision filling and sealing capabilities, and its revolutionary dual-use system for both plastic and aluminum tubes.

What is the NF-150 Tube Filling Machine?

The NF-150 is a state-of-the-art, fully enclosed, stainless steel filling and sealing machine. It stands as a testament to innovative engineering, developed by integrating advanced international designs with the practical realities of domestic tube manufacturing. This machine is specifically engineered to handle a wide range of tube types, including all specifications of plastic tubes, aluminum-plastic composite tubes, and traditional aluminum tubes.

Key Performance Metrics:

• Maximum Speed: 130 tubes per minute
• Stable Production Speed: 100-120 tubes per minute
• Filling Accuracy: ±1%

At its core, the NF-150 is a dual-station machine that automates the entire process from tube loading to sealing and ejection, making it an ideal choice for high-volume production.

The Core of Innovation: Advanced Mechanics and Drive System

The long-term performance of any industrial machine is built on the quality of its core mechanics. The NF-150 utilizes a suite of advanced technologies to ensure its operation is not only fast but exceptionally stable and durable.

Servo-Driven Precision for Smooth Operation

Unlike traditional mechanical systems, the NF-150 employs an advanced servo-driven turntable and a unique main drive system. The entire machine is powered by a total of nine individual servo motors, controlling critical actions including:

• Color mark alignment
• Filling volume
• Main drive motor
• Nozzle lifting/lowering
• Turntable rotation
• Aluminum tube folding
• Plastic tube heat sealing

This extensive use of servo motors, all coordinated by a sophisticated motion controller, guarantees that every movement is smooth, gentle, and perfectly synchronized. This eliminates the jarring motions found in older machines, which reduces mechanical stress and significantly increases the reliability of the machine at high speeds.

Built for Durability and GMP Compliance

To ensure an exceptional service life, the main cam is crafted from forged steel, making it highly resistant to wear and tear even under continuous, high-speed operation.

Swiss Leister dual heating system (with temperature control system)

Furthermore, the NF-150 is designed with the pharmaceutical industry in mind. As a premier pharmaceutical tube filling machine, it meets stringent GMP requirements. The work surface above the tabletop utilizes wear-resistant sliding bearings that require no oil lubrication, drastically reducing the risk of product contamination. The fully enclosed, stainless steel body is not only durable but also easy to clean and maintain.

A Masterclass in Filling and Sealing

The NF-150’s process flow is a meticulously engineered sequence designed for maximum precision and efficiency.

High-Capacity, Gentle Tube Feeding

The injection nozzle can be raised and lowered, and the height of the pipe can be freely set.

The process begins with an automated tube feeding system. The large-capacity tube magazine can hold over 1500 tubes (using a 20g tube as an example), minimizing the need for frequent operator intervention. A servo-driven mechanism gently and smoothly feeds tubes to the turnover plate. This plate features negative pressure holes that securely hold each tube by suction, ensuring it drops perfectly into the tube cup every time. Operators can even control the tube feeding process with a rocker switch while the machine is running.

The Precision Filling Mechanism

The heart of the machine is its valve-body piston-style filling system. The NF-150 incorporates several intelligent features to guarantee a perfect fill:

• Anti-Drip and Anti-Stringing Technology: To solve the common problems of bubbles, splashing, and messy nozzles, the filling nozzle descends to the bottom of the tube before starting the fill. It then rises slowly as the product is dispensed. After the fill is complete, the nozzle pauses momentarily and performs a "blow-cut" action, using a jet of air to ensure a clean break from the product. This leaves the nozzle spotless and prevents product stringing or dripping.
• "No Tube, No Fill" Double Assurance: The machine is equipped with two independent "no tube, no fill" detection systems. This dual-check mechanism provides a double guarantee that the machine will not dispense valuable product if a tube cup is empty, eliminating waste and messy cleanups.
• Quick-Change Nozzles: The connection between the filling head and the nozzle uses a quick-change connector. This design ensures there is no residual paste left in the joint and makes disassembly for cleaning incredibly fast and easy.

This system is capable of handling a wide range of volumes, from 3-250ml for plastic tubes and 3-150ml for aluminum tubes, making it perfect for everything from sample sizes to full retail products.

Flawless Sealing Technology: Plastic and Aluminum

As a comprehensive tube sealing machine, the NF-150 offers dedicated, high-integrity sealing methods for different materials.

• For plastic and aluminum-plastic composite tubes, it utilizes a hot air sealing method. This technique creates a strong, clean, and aesthetically pleasing seal, making it an exceptional plastic tube sealer.
• For aluminum tubes, the machine employs a robust mechanical folding system. A robotic arm performs a series of precise folds to create a secure, multi-layered crimp seal.

After sealing, the machine performs date/batch coding and tail trimming before automatically ejecting the finished tube.

The Unmatched Dual-Use Advantage: One Machine, Two Materials

Perhaps the most significant innovation of the NF-150 is its "one machine, two uses" design. The machine's operating platform is simultaneously equipped with the mechanisms for both hot air plastic sealing and mechanical aluminum folding.

This means that if you need to switch production from a plastic tube filling machine to an aluminum tube filling machine, you do not need to perform a complex and time-consuming disassembly and replacement of mechanical parts. An operator can select the desired mode of operation. This revolutionary feature:

• Drastically reduces changeover time.
• Minimizes labor requirements.
• Avoids the risk of mechanical faults that can occur from repeated assembly and disassembly.
• Maximizes machine uptime and operational flexibility.

Intelligent Control, Safety, and Production Line Synergy

The NF-150 is powered by a complete Siemens electrical system, ensuring world-class stability and reliability. It uses pneumatic components from AirTAC and sensors from Banner (USA). The Human-Machine Interface (HMI) is a user-friendly touchscreen that allows for easy operation and monitoring.

Safety is paramount, and the machine includes multiple protection devices:

• Main servo overload protection.
• Manual/automatic operation switching protection.
• Low air pressure protection.
• An easily accessible emergency stop switch.

Finally, the NF-150 is designed to be a team player. It can be used as a standalone unit or seamlessly integrated with a Grand automatic cartoning machine and a Grand automatic heat-shrink wrapping machine to create a fully automated, end-to-end production line.

Conclusion

The NF-150 Fully Automatic Filling and Sealing Machine is more than just a piece of equipment; it is a strategic asset for any modern production facility. By combining high speed, pinpoint accuracy, GMP-compliant design, and the groundbreaking flexibility of its dual-use sealing system, it addresses the core challenges of today's manufacturing environment. For businesses looking to scale up their Toothpaste filling or Ointment filling machine operations, or any application requiring versatile and reliable tube packaging, the NF-150 offers a robust, efficient, and future-proof solution.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How does the NF-150 handle both aluminum and plastic tubes without a major changeover?

The NF-150's key innovation is that the sealing mechanisms for both material types—the hot air system for plastic/composite tubes and the mechanical folding system for aluminum tubes—are co-located on the machine's operating platform. An operator can select which system to engage via the control interface without needing to remove, replace, or retool heavy mechanical parts physically. This reduces changeover from hours to minutes and significantly improves operational flexibility.

2. What specific features prevent product waste from dripping or stringing on the nozzle?

The machine uses a multi-stage "blow-cut" filling process. First, the filling nozzle lowers deep into the tube to prevent splashing. It rises as it fills. Once the fill is complete, the nozzle briefly pauses, and a jet of air "cuts" the product stream cleanly. This ensures no residual product is left clinging to or dripping from the nozzle tip, which is critical for maintaining cleanliness and preventing waste of valuable product.

3. Is the NF-150 suitable for a cleanroom or pharmaceutical environment?

Yes, absolutely. It was designed with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards in mind. The machine features a fully enclosed, stainless steel body that is easy to sterilize. Critically, the moving parts on the work surface use special wear-resistant sliding bearings that do not require oil lubrication, eliminating a major potential source of contamination and making it an ideal pharmaceutical tube filling machine.

4. How does the machine maintain an accuracy of ±1% at speeds up to 120 tubes per minute?

The accuracy is a result of its advanced drive and control system. The filling pump is controlled by a dedicated servo motor, not a mechanical cam. This allows for extremely precise, software-defined control over the piston's stroke length and speed. This digital precision, combined with the stable, vibration-free operation of the servo-driven main turntable, ensures that every single fill is consistent and accurate, even at maximum production speed.

5. What happens if a tube is missing from a cup? Does the machine still dispense product?

No, it does not. The NF-150 is equipped with two separate and independent "no tube, no fill" sensor systems. If the first sensor fails to detect a tube in the cup, a second sensor acts as a fail-safe. If both confirm a tube is missing, the machine's control system will not activate the filling sequence for that specific station. This dual-check system provides robust protection against wasting product and creating a mess on the machine.