Materials Handling


of partially empty bags, an optional Power-Cincher pneumatically-actuated flow control valve cinches the spout concentrically on a horizontal axis for easy tie offs, and vertically in a tight zigzag pattern to prevent leakage of powders.


Constructed of stainless steel finished to food, pharmaceutical and industrial standards, the dust containment enclosure is offered on all Flexicon dischargers.


This includes models requiring forklift loading of bulk bags, models that load bags using an electric hoist and trolley, half-frame dischargers that require a forklift or plant hoist, and split-frame dischargers for forklift loading of bags in low headroom areas.


All can be integrated with the company’s mechanical, pneumatic and tubular cable/ disc conveyor systems, and are available with controls for automated weigh


batching directly from bulk bags.


Meanwhile flexible conduit solution specialist Flexicon Limited – no relation to the US company Flexicon (above) – has extended its range of hazardous area conduit systems with the launch of an increased safety EX e and dust ignition proof EX t fitting for use with liquid tight conduits.


“While our EXD barrier glands can also be used for increased safety and dust ignition proof, we recognised that not all hazardous area applications need a flameproof barrier gland and for these we can now provide a system that reduces installation times significantly and offers cost savings,” said technical director Ian Gibson.


The LTP EXE conduit fittings have been independently tested and achieved an IP rating of IP66, and meet the latest ATEX and IECEX requirements for increased safety (Fig. 1). l


U


Bag filling efficiency key for peanut packer Golden Grove required


S company Golden Grove sells the bulk of its 10,000 tonne


peanut harvest in 900lb bulk bags that are shipped to customers around the world. Originally company employees were manually filling 20 bulk bags per day. Three filling stations each contained a hopper fitted with a slide gate and a scale positioned below.


An operator would open the slide gate, allowing the peanuts to fall into the bulk bag until the bag was within ±2lb of the target 900lb weight.


The process was extremely slow and labour 16 www.engineerlive.com


intensive. Weighing accuracies could be improved to increase profitability as well. The process also generated some spillage and possible product contamination. If the bag spout was not held firmly beneath the slide gate, peanuts fell on the floor and had to be swept up daily. Operators were easily bored with the tedious process and would sometimes look at their cell phones during filling. On occasion cell phones (and other items) were dropped into the bulk bag, contaminating the contents.


a significantly faster contamination-free process to meet the growing wholesale demand.


The company turned to Spiroflow Systems, which recommended an automated gain-in-weight filling system. Golden Grove initially invested in a single Spiroflow C1-2 bulk bag filling system and the solution worked so well that it quickly purchased two more identical systems. As a result, the filling rate has increased to 300 bulk bags per day, weighing accuracy improved by over 400% and product spillage reduced. l


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