Author : M. R. Saraf, V. V. Ruiwale, V. V. Kulkarni and S. M. Kulkarni

The packaging industry has advanced leaps and bounds over the few years. The pouch packaging machines also
known as Form Fill and Seal Machines (FFS Machines) are available over a wide capacity range. A low cost
automated packing machine can be used by small enterprises which would help reduce their cost of plant. This low
cost automated machine uses simple pneumatic, mechanical and electric systems. In this paper we have presented
one such low cost pouch filling machine. An additional weighing and pouring mechanism has been added to increase
the accuracy of the system. The process flow has been described in detail. Various processes involved in the pouch
packaging are neatly aligned and properly timed to get optimum production rate. A mechatronics system, developed
for this machine, which takes feedback from sensors and accordingly controls the manipulators has been introduced
in this paper. A microcontroller system is used for this particular machine. A detailed cost comparison between a
conventional machine and the one developed by us has been presented.

Keywords: Low Cost Automation, Microcontroller, PLC