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Third Edition, Nov 2016
ACS V4.2
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18
Section C. ACS Operations Overview
C.4.4
Foam Valve and Top Up Setting
C.4.4.1
Foam Valve & Button
In order to keep air pick up to an absolute minimum the beer must be foaming when it leaves the filler until the
lid is applied at the lid applicator. Generally the level of foam should be at or over the top of the can rim when the
lid is applied.
If the foam level on the beer is low, additional foam can be created by activating the foaming valve.
When the foaming valve button is turned on, the timer below this button controls the length of time that the foam
valve will create foam. Generally, only a very short setting is required to create foam. We set this at 0.1 to 0.2
seconds to begin. Run through several beer fill cycles to establish whether the foam is sufficient before increasing
the timer setting. To set timer: press timer button, enter time, hit enter button to save change. Timer can be
changed at any time during operation – the new time will not take effect until the next fill cycle starts.
Note:
Never turn the foam valve button on or off while the fill valves are open and filling. This will cause a
malfunction of the level sensors.
C.4.4.2
Top Up Setting
When the
Top Up
button is turned on the fill valves will shut off as usual when the level sensors detect foam BUT
– they will reopen for a period of time – determined by the adjacent top up timer – while the valves are being
withdrawn from the can.
This
Top Up
function gives the operator further control of the final fill level of the can. The beer that leaves the fill
spout as the spout is rising with the fill head replaces the volume of the spout itself – raising the final fill level. This
may prove necessary with beers that are excessively foamy during the fill, leaving too much head space in the can
once the initial foam recedes. The top up function can also be used to create a small amount of additional foam
(due to the turbulence created as the beer flows into the filled can) to beers that foam too much when the foam
valves are used.
To operate: turn the foam valve on when the fill heads are at rest. Set the timer to 0.25 seconds. Run a few can
fill cycles to gauge the effect. Increase the time interval as required.
Note:
When setting interval on top up timer, be sure that beer valves are not still open (verify visually during
operation) when the valve has exited the top of the can as this will result in oxygen pick-up.
C.5
Can Filling
The two primary functions of your canning system are filling an empty can with beer, and seaming a lid onto the filled can.
This section is a useful reference understanding how the machine accomplishes these two functions. It is necessary to
understand the filling process and your choices associated with it regarding foam. The seaming process is very important
to the on-shelf quality of your product. Without the proper seam in place your cans could leak, spoil, or go flat before the
beer gets to the customer resulting in wasted product and decreased revenues. For this reason it is very important to both
understand the seaming process and how to evaluate your seams once made.
As previously discussed under Section C.4.2 Beer Manifold (page 16), the first step required is to have your product
connected to the machine. The beer passes through the manifold to the ten valves in the fill head. The first five empty
cans stop directly beneath the fill heads five fill stations. Each station has two fill spouts, one with a foam valve, one
without, and a fill level sensor. The fill head then drops down inserting both spouts and sensors into each can. If you desire
more foam in the can, set the system for it with the foam timer on the HMI Panel. The switch must be set to the on position
and the desired foaming time set on the timer dial. When the foam button is on the fill sequence begins with a burst of
foam from the foam valve for the duration set on the foam timer. Regular filling then continues until the cans are full.
Once the beer/foam level reaches the sensors the corresponding valves will close and filling will stop for that fill station.
