Automatic filling machine

moldfor cartridgesfor tubes

Product overview
The lipstick filling machine is a volumetric piston dosing system designed to fill lipsticks, lip balms and lip glosses into molds, tubes or cartridges. Configurable as semi-automatic or fully automatic, the machine integrates servo-driven pistons, rotary air-valve control and dual independent tanks to support continuous cosmetic production with controlled thermal management.

Key features

• Volumetric piston dosing driven by a servo motor for precise, repeatable fills (up to 0.1 ml accuracy).
• Rotary valve actuated by air cylinder to ensure smooth switching and prevent leaks.
• Two independent 25 L tanks with three-layer construction for rapid product changeover and thermal insulation.
• Product-contact materials: SUS316L; frame and non-wetted parts: SUS304.
• Adjustable tank temperature control and variable agitation for consistent melt homogeneity.
• Siemens HMI and PLC for operator-friendly control and recipe management.

How the machine works
The production sequence follows a controlled molding and assembly flow: Filling – Cooling – Demoulding – Stick loading – Coupling – Final fixing. Filling uses volumetric piston nozzles; cooling and handling steps are synchronized to preserve product geometry and surface finish.

Process steps

• 1. Filling: Servo-controlled piston dispenses precise hot-melt volume into each mold cavity placed on temperature-controlled plates.
• 2. Cooling: Filled molds pass through a cooling tunnel with controlled rate to avoid stress and cracking.
• 3. Demoulding: Solidified sticks are ejected by pins and transferred for handling.
• 4. Stick loading: Robotic grippers or vacuum pick-and-place systems collect sticks automatically from demould stations.
• 5. Coupling: The stick is positioned and inserted into the cartridge (plastic or metal inner part).
• 6. Final fixing: The base is softened and the stick is secured by mechanical screwing or insertion, depending on cartridge design.

Advanced/automatic line
Fully automatic configurations include one-head or multi-head filling modules, integrated cooling tunnels and automated stick handling. Example one-head hot-fill line with a 3 m cooling tunnel typically achieves ~15–20 pcs/min; multi-head lines scale capacity accordingly for high-throughput production.

Additional production details

• Piston volumetric nozzles with servo control deliver high repeatability; anti-drip valves close within milliseconds to prevent stringing.
• Pressure sensors and closed-loop control maintain stable flow during high-speed operation.
• Ceramic valve core options and shut-off nozzles available for low-viscosity or shear-sensitive formulations.
• Options for gear or piston pumps for bulk recirculation to maintain homogeneity.
• High-efficiency cooling tunnels with configurable length and airflow for precise crystalization/solidification control.

Technical specifications

• Filling technology: Volumetric piston dosing (servo-driven)
• Filling accuracy: up to 0.1 ml (servo control)
• Valve: rotary valve actuated by air cylinder; ceramic core optional
• Tanks: two independent 25 L tanks, three-layer design
• Materials: SUS304 frame; SUS316L for product-contact parts
• Control: Siemens HMI and PLC
• Auxiliary: pressure sensors, anti-drip valves, pump options (gear or piston)
• Line capacity (example one-head): ~15–20 pcs/min; cooling tunnel length example: 3 m
• Automation: semi-automatic or fully automatic; options for robotic grippers or vacuum pick-and-place