Automated powder unloading system halves batching time for adhesives and sealants manufacturer
With the old system, operators dumped 50-lb (28-kg) sacks of dry inorganic powder (up to 32 bags per batch) into a 250-gal (950-L) kneader-extruder or one of two 100-gal (380-L) kneader-extruders. Today, three Flexicon bulk bag dischargers, each equipped with an 8-cubic-foot (226 L) capacity receiving hopper and 10 or 15 foot (3-4.5 m) long, 4.5-in (11.4 cm) diameter flexible screw conveyor, can unload powder from 2,500-lb (1,135-kg) bulk bags as the flexible screw conveyors convey the material at pre-selected batch weights to any of three kneader-extruders under loss-of-weight control.