Materials Handling
discharger, resulting in improved hygiene. Unveiled for the first time by Spiroflow to visitors at this year’s Foodex and Interpack shows, the company says it is probably the first kit of its kind that has been especially designed to help avoid issues caused by dust residue.
Hazardous dust
Dust in a factory environment can prove hazardous so manufacturers must have systems and equipment in place that adhere to the European Union’s ATEX Directive 1999/92/E, which has been implemented by the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) Act in the UK.
These regulations require that employers classify places where explosive atmospheres are likely to occur – such as in the form of combustible dust generated by processes such as flour milling and sugar grinding – and then implement protective measures and select appropriate equipment for use in those environments.
Spiroflow’s products for conveying and bulk handling are designed and built to USDA standard and therefore the meet regulatory requirements for transporting and handling powders and other materials in potentially hazardous conditions.
The company offers the food and pharmaceutical sectors innovative equipment that will help to eliminate material flow problems and dust contamination that can also lead to potentially dangerous blockages in factory piping or tubing applications.
In addition to bulk bag dischargers, Spiroflow manufacturers bin activators, flexible screw conveyors, aero mechanical conveyors, tubular cable and chain drag conveyors, vacuum conveyors, bulk bag fillers, ingredients handling and weighing systems.
The company also supplies state-of-the- art control rooms.
Tackling seams and folds New from Flexicon is a dust containment enclosure for its bulk bag dischargers that contain spillage and dust that can escape through seams in the bag and folds in the spout.
The six-sided enclosure sits against the rim of a hopper or flange of downstream equipment and is equipped with an exhaust port for dust collection and a hinged door with inspection window.
The top of the enclosure contains a circular opening that allows passage of the bag spout to the equipment connection point.
Telescoping tude The flat bottom of the enclosure supports a Tele-Tube telescoping tube that pneumatically raises a Spout-Lock clamp ring, which connects the clean side of the spout to the clean side of the equipment.
Allowing the telescoping tube to descend under its own weight maintains constant downward tension on the spout as the bag empties and elongates, as Flow- Flexer bag activators raise and lower opposite bottom edges of the bag at timed intervals to loosen compacted materials, promoting material flow and complete discharge from the bag.
The enclosure contains incidental leakage of fine powders from seams in the bag, as well as material released from bag spout folds during connection and disconnection activities.
Associated dust is vented through the sidewall-mounted port to an optional Bag-Vac dust collector or plant bag house, preventing contamination of the environment.
For applications requiring retying
www.engineerlive.com 15
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39