processing feature | Materials handling
operations by allowing greater control and documenta- tion of processing. It is compatible with Windows 8. MaxiBatch feeding controls, meanwhile, are
accurate “to within a fraction of a gram,” Smith says, and automatically adjust flow when deviations are detected. Materials behaviour, he adds, is a continually improving science. “As we learn how materials behave, we do software upgrades to maintain feeding accuracy.” Importantly, hoppers and other components on
MaxiBatch feeders are standard items. As a result, Maguire can supply units anywhere in the world from global warehouses in as little as two weeks. This also means system cost is comparatively low –
Corner valves are used in some Maguire hoppers to help the flow of hard-to-handle materials
ents, including powders, fibres, flakes, regrind, liquids, blowing agents, silanes and catalysts. Hourly through- put rates range up to 5,500 kg (12,000 lb) for two to four ingredients, or 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) for nine or more. Features include hopper devices that prevent bridging and other flow impediments. One bridge- breaking technique involves attaching a pulley and specially designed mix blade to a hopper auger. As the auger turns, the pulley and mix blade turn with it, which prevents bridging. Another approach is to install a vertical bridge-
breaking plate inside a hopper. The plate, which contains holes to facilitate flow and is activated by an air cylinder, moves up and down during feeding, a simple operation designed to prevent hang-ups. Maguire also inserts corner valves, typically 6 inches (15.2 cm) wide and 6 inches deep, in some hoppers. These open to assure the flow of especially difficult materials. Once materials clear the hoppers they collect
The FlexWall 20 miniature feeder from
Brabender is primarily
designed for laboratory work
concentrically in a 30-kg (66-lb) weigh bin mounted on load cells in the middle of the MaxiBatch frame. The layered materials are mixed by paddle-type blades and metered for compounding. Among recent developments
for metering material from a hopper to the weigh bin is a carousel valve, which mimics a vibratory feeder to accurately dose difficult-to-handle materials at extremely low rates. The device delivers additives and master- batches at rates below 1 gram per second.
MaxiBatch units are controlled with Maguire’s proprietary PC-based Gravimetric Gateway (G2) Server. The G2’s new Version 5 software increases plant-wide and multi-plant monitoring
44 COMPOUNDING WORLD | February 2014
around US$50,000 for a nine-component unit. Conven- tional gravimetric feeders with nine hoppers can cost around $180,000, Smith says, based on a price of $20,000 per feeder. Motan-Colortronic has developed modular dosing and mixing stations that combine precision operation with ready machine access and fast material change- over. These are the C-Flex M (medium) and ER (extend- ed range) dosing units, and the Spectroplus gravimetric synchronous dosing and mixing station (also known as Graviplus in Europe). The M and ER models are for use with gravimetric or
volumetric feeders. They process diverse materials in continuous and batch operations, and feature quick- exchange hoppers for speedy cleaning and changeover. Both have flexible polyurethane hoppers with steep inlet walls to aid material flow, and they feature massaging rollers to minimize abrasion of sensitive materials. Interchangeable hoppers include single- and twin- screw versions, which can be configured for dosing virtually any type of additive in minutes. C-Flex M, the smaller of the two with a standard 10-litre hopper, has features that achieve material change in less than one minute, says Rickenbach. These include a hopper that slides out from the back of the unit, full
access to components through the rear, and a bayonet release for fast screw removal. Units can operate alone and are compact enough for integration in multi-line systems. Hoppers are
available with up to 60 litres
of volume. The M model’s rated throughput is 638 litres/hour, depending on material and interior screw configuration (single or twin). Its
DC motor permits high screw turndown ratios, Rickenbach adds.
www.compoundingworld.com
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