Solution topic
Yogurt Cup Filling and Sealing Line: Cup Feeding, Filling, Lidding and Checkweighing
Configure cup feeding, yogurt filling, lid sealing, optional overcaps and coding, inline checkweighing and case packing from actual cups, lidstock, product and acceptance criteria.
- Validate the cup, rim, yogurt and lidstock before adding overcaps, coding, checkweighing and case packing; checkweighing verifies the finished pack only.
Solution summary prepared for you
- For yogurt cup equipment, first distinguish between "filling and film sealing" and "heat sealing only for pre-filled cups", then check cup material, fruit pieces, film type, and finished product inspection.
- The small cup filling and sealing machine handles metered filling and film sealing; the small-diameter cup sealing machine SGP-03 is for independent heat sealing. Modified atmosphere is evaluated only when the target is clear.
- Submit empty cups, filled finished cups, actual yogurt material, and formal lid film to check rim cleanliness, filling consistency, seal edges, and batch code position simultaneously.
Route comparison
- Suitable for projects where the filling process is already arranged and the current focus is confirming small-cup sealing, film material, and opening effect.
- Independent heat sealing allows quick film changes and seal observation, suitable for sample confirmation of pre-filled cups.
- Filling and cup placement depend on upstream processes or manual labor, so a complete yogurt filling-sealing cycle cannot be formed within the same main machine.
- When continuous cup dropping, metered filling, and film sealing are required, configuring only independent heat sealing equipment is not appropriate.
- For pre-filled small-diameter cups, the small-diameter cup sealing machine SGP-03 can first verify the cup-film combination.
- Suitable for production that requires yogurt filling and film sealing within one main machine, with the cup-film combination already finalized.
- The small-cup filling and sealing machine places metered filling and heat sealing in the same process, facilitating control of the cup rim interface.
- Cup type, yogurt state, fruit pieces, sealing film, and cleaning conditions must be fixed before equipment confirmation.
- When cups or films are still changing frequently and filling requirements have not been tested, do not directly lock in a continuous filling-sealing solution.
- Use the small-cup filling and sealing machine as the main machine, followed by a date/batch inkjet coder, and select weight or foreign object inspection as needed.
- Suitable for yogurt cups where gas replacement requirements have been raised and finished product testing is planned to confirm packaging performance.
- The modified atmosphere branch can add gas replacement during sealing, but the result is still determined by the yogurt, cup film, and cold chain together.
- Additional verification of cup rigidity, film barrier properties, gas conditions, and actual cold chain validation is required.
- When the product only needs conventional heat sealing, or preservation goals are not yet defined, there is no need to enter the modified atmosphere configuration.
- After clear modified atmosphere requirements, evaluate the tray-type modified atmosphere sealing machine and simultaneously determine gas, barrier film, and post-seal inspection.
Associated Equipment / Consumables
Automatic Small-Cup Filling and Sealing MachineThe machine denests cups, doses product, registers and heat-seals film, trims and discharges. Confirm cup stacking and rim, viscosity, particles, foaming or stringing, rollstock or pre-cut lids, peel and leak criteria...
Small-Diameter Cup Sealer SGP-03Cup placement and film sealing main machine; The small-diameter cup sealing machine SGP-03 only handles film sealing for compatible cup types and cannot replace upstream yogurt fillin...
Carton Sealing and Outer Case Labeling LineEmpty cup separation and supply; The listed equipment does not include a fixed cup unscrambling main machine; the cup feeding interface and food-grade conveyor line should...
Food-grade conveyor lineEmpty cup separation and supply; The listed equipment does not include a fixed cup unscrambling main machine; the cup feeding interface and food-grade conveyor line should be checked with the...
Core process
The empty cup supply method should be determined based on cup rigidity, nested cup separation, and manual boundaries, not just planned takt time.
When yogurt needs metered filling into cups, use a small cup filling and sealing machine. Cups already filled can be transferred to independent heat sealing.
Trial seal the lid film with the cup material first, then choose the film structure based on opening, display, or modified atmosphere requirements.
The date and batch coding machine can write traceability information on a suitable film surface; the position is confirmed with the pattern and cup type.
Choose one of the inline checkweigher, food metal detector, or inline checkweighing and vision inspection system based on finished product risk.
When carton delivery is required, a case sealing and outer case labeling line can be connected separately. Small quantities can also be collected manually.
Sample details
First describe the yogurt type, sales packaging, refrigerated transport, and opening method, and distinguish whether the project is R&D sampling or ongoing production.
Yogurt finished product photos, sales channels, cold chain conditions, opening and sealing requirements, and project stage.Cup material, rim diameter, edge width, taper, and nesting condition affect cup feeding, filling positioning, and heat-seal tooling.
Empty cups of each specification, cup rim and body dimensions, rim structure, nested cup condition, and filled finished cups.Yogurt viscosity, fruit pieces, and rim residue determine filling and cleaning challenges. Roll film or pre-cut film changes film feeding and registration methods.
Actual yogurt material, fruit piece condition, lid film samples, heat-seal layer, print registration, and easy peel requirements.List requirements station by station: cup feeding, metered filling, film sealing, date marking, weight or foreign object inspection, collection, and case packing.
Required processes, manual positions, coding content, inspection items, existing equipment, and downstream packaging.Planned takt time, cup change frequency, cleaning schedule, site flow, and utilities together determine single machine or line configuration.
Production plan, workshop layout, changeover list, cleaning requirements, power and air supply, and procurement schedule.Common selection mistakes
Using a bottle filling approach for yogurt cups ignores cup denesting, rim positioning, fruit piece passage, and film lidding processes.
When the heat-seal layers of the cup material and film do not match, even if the film surface is flat, there may be weak seals, leakage, or difficulty opening.
Modified atmosphere is not the default configuration for ordinary yogurt cups; preservation performance cannot be separated from formula, film material, and cold chain validation.
Different cup rims and heights without corresponding tooling and adjustment plans can lead to positioning or seal edge deviations after changeover.
During the trial stage, integrating coding, checkweighing, metal detection, and case packing all inline may make it harder to adjust the not-yet-stable main process.
View detailed technical notes
Confirm Cup, Yogurt, and Sealing Film as a Set
Yogurt cup selection starts with the cup-film combination. The cup material, rim, and stacking condition determine the cup feeding and sealing tooling. Yogurt viscosity, fruit pieces, and residue on the cup rim affect filling and sealing. Submit empty cups, filled product, and official sealing film for testing; do not substitute generic cup diameters or fixed filling methods.
Boundary Between Integrated Filling-Sealing and Independent Heat Sealing
When both metered filling and film sealing are required, the small-cup filling and sealing machine is the main route. If yogurt has already been filled into cups in a previous step, the small-diameter cup sealing machine SGP-03 can be used for independent heat sealing. The cup feeding, filling boundaries, and automation scope differ between the two; they cannot be substituted based solely on speed.
Configure Traceability and Inspection After the Main Machine
Beyond the main machine, an inkjet coder handles cup surface traceability. In-line checkweighers, food metal detectors, or in-line checkweighing and vision inspection systems are selected according to the inspection items defined by the producer. Food-grade conveying lines and outer case downstream equipment are confirmed separately based on layout and shipping method.
Modified Atmosphere Only Serves Explicit Replacement Goals
The tray-type modified atmosphere sealing machine serves only explicit gas replacement needs. Whether to use modified atmosphere must be verified based on the yogurt formula, cup rigidity, sealing film barrier properties, and cold chain conditions. Ordinary yogurt cups do not automatically enter the modified atmosphere route just because freshness preservation is needed.
Test Cup Material, Sealing Film, and Easy-Peel Performance Simultaneously
The sealing film must first be compatible with the heat-seal layer of the cup material, then compare transparency display, easy-peel, print registration, or gas barrier. When yogurt with fruit pieces or cup loading operations may contaminate the rim, also observe whether the seal traps material, whether the film surface wrinkles, and whether the cup rim is damaged upon opening.
Judge Batch Code, Weight, Foreign Objects, and Seal Separately
After sealing, date and batch codes can be printed on a suitable film surface. Cup body labeling needs are handled separately based on cup taper. Finished product inspection can choose weight, metal foreign objects, or seal vision items; each standard and rejection method must not be mixed into a single 'inspection station.' Date, batch, and label content should also be retained as samples separately.
Exclude Bottle, Tube, and Liner Equipment
Screw capping, induction foil sealing, and tube tail sealing use different container positioning and closure structures and are not suitable for yogurt cups. Even if the tabletop multi-compartment tray sealing machine is related tray equipment, the cup rim, tooling, and filling boundaries must be separately verified for the yogurt project.
Transition from Cup-Film Sealing Samples to Continuous Production
During R&D or trial production, cup-film sealing samples can be completed first without using unverified output ranges to determine automation level. After the cup type, yogurt, and orders stabilize, compare manual cup placement, automatic cup feeding, and the interface scope of food-grade conveying lines.
Mold Change Preparation for Multiple Cup Specifications
For multi-specification production, place each cup rim, cup height, film width, and print position in the same changeover checklist. The solution must explain which tooling to replace, how to adjust the filling position, how to recheck the seal after changeover, and include food-grade sealing rings, cleaning consumables, and changeover parts.
Common questions
Can yogurt with fruit pieces be filled and sealed on a small cup main machine?
It can be evaluated, but actual material with fruit pieces must be provided. Fruit piece size, distribution, and residue on the cup rim affect the filling channels; final results depend on trial filling.
How should yogurt cups and lid films be matched?
First confirm that the heat-seal layers of the cup material and film are compatible, then compare requirements for easy peel, transparent display, print registration, or gas barrier, and conduct formal trial sealing with the actual cup and film.
Is modified atmosphere packaging necessary for ordinary yogurt cups?
No. Only when the product plan clearly specifies gas flushing and cold chain validation should a tray-sealing machine with modified atmosphere be evaluated. Ordinary yogurt cups can follow the heat-sealing route first.
Is a conveyor line needed during the cup trial stage?
Not necessarily. During the sampling stage, cups can be placed and collected manually. Whether to add a food-grade conveyor line should be determined by stable orders, site conditions, and workstation integration.
How should mold changes be planned for multiple cup types?
Submit all cup types and film widths at once, first distinguish shared and dedicated tooling, then evaluate change parts, adjustment positions, and recheck items.
Must date and batch coding be done online?
It does not have to be fixed inline. Date and batch coding machines can be arranged independently or inline depending on the production method; the key is the printing surface, content, and adhesion effect.