Feeders Spotlight - January 09

Sanitary Loss-in-Weight Screw Feeder
The sanitary PF-LC-S is a large-capacity loss-in-weight screw feeder designed for accurate and uniform feeding of a wide range of materials, from free-flowing to very fine cohesive powders. Made from high-quality stainless steel, the unit is corrosion resistant and appropriate for the processing of food products, such as pet food, cereals, chips, and snacks. It was developed for applications that require fast, easy, and thorough cleaning out of materials to prevent spoiling and cross-contamination. The feeder can be completely disassembled, without the use of tools, in less than 1 minute. Rugged stainless-steel construction ensures years of reliable, trouble-free operation.
Thayer Scale–Hyer Industries Inc., Pembroke, MA 781-826-8101 www.thayerscale.com

Volumetric and Gravimetric Feeders
Designed for low feed rate applications, the PureFeed AI-300 feeder features quick and easy disassembly, a dual-arm external agitation system for maximizing material handling versatility, and a disposable, recyclable EPDM feed hopper. The result is simpler, shorter cleaning cycles and virtually no chance of cross-contamination when moving from one material to another. The unit also features a stepper motor that allows users to change the penetration agitation speed on the hopper of the feeder without making any mechanical adjustments. For customers that need to change materials frequently, this feature allows them to do so without interrupting production. The unit is available in volumetric and gravimetric configurations for applications such as metering micro ingredients, color pigments, and plastic additives in feed rates from 0.5 to approximately 150 kg/hr.
Schenck AccuRate, Whitewater, WI 800-606-9248 www.accuratefeeders.com

Batching Feeder
The GeoMate feeder is ideally suited to batching applications due to high-frequency output at both the fast and dribble modes of operation. This eliminates the plopping associated with screws, thereby providing the highest degree of batching accuracy possible. The unit operates with no moving parts and comes with a three-year warranty. The feeder has the ability to feed an extremely wide range of products.
3Sigma, Charlotte, NC 800-299-4994 www.3sigma.biz

Gravimetric Feeder
The Maguire MGF series gravimetric device, which feeds colorants and additives into plastics processing machines, has a new modular design. This design increases production uptime while continuing to be more accurate, and no more costly, than conventional volumetric feeders. The improved design increases uptime by making it possible to remove all main feeder components separately. The basic concept of the MGF feeder is still the same: the use of load cells to accurately monitor the loss-in-weight of colorant in the hopper as the material is fed into the processing machine. In the new design the only component mounted on the load cell is the hopper, and this is readily removable from the device, as are the auger, the auger tube, the motor, and the load cell bracket. As a result, it is easier and faster to access components for cleanout or servicing.
Maguire Products Inc., Aston, PA 610-459-4300 www.maguire.com

Volumetric Screw Feeders
Rite-Rate volumetric screw feeders have a minimum residue U-trough with independently driven agitator blades. The feed screw and feed tube are easily removed for easy access to internals for cleaning. The feeders come standard with variable-speed drive packages and controls, and can be easily integrated with other equipment such as IBC systems and bulk-bag discharge stations. Discharge rates up to 240 cu ft/hr are possible.
Carolina Conveying Inc., Canton, NC 828-235-1005 www.carolinaconveying.com

Continuous Weigh Feeders
Better-Weigh continuous feeders are available for gravimetric feeding of dry bulk materials where it is necessary to determine actual feed rates on a loss-of-weight basis. Available in seven models with feed rates from 1 to 550 cu ft/hr (larger sizes available), these units are designed to feed in either batch or continuous mode, depending upon the arrangement of the feeder’s control electronics. In batch mode, the batch controller is used to control the fast (bulk) and slow (dribble) speeds of the feeder. Accuracies of ±0.5% can be easily achieved in 2-lb or less batches, and ±0.25% in 3-lb or greater batches, with time spans of 30–90 seconds. In continuous mode, the feeder’s electronic controller is used to constantly monitor loss-of-weight of material in order to maintain a continuous loss-of-weight with an accuracy of ±0.25 to ±0.50%. Standard features include a platform or lever balance scale, sealed tactile keyboard, seven-digit numerical keyboard, automatic manual batching, and a 2- or 5-cu-ft hopper. Sanitary construction is also available.
Metalfab Inc., Vernon, NJ 800-764-2999 www.metalfabinc.com

Vibratory Feeders
BEST vibratory feeders are designed to smoothly convey products. The flow of material is adjustable, as the flow rate can be variable or fixed. Available in electric- or air-operated models, these heavy duty vibratory feeders can be designed with above-, below-, or side-mounted drives. They can also be arranged for base mounting or overhead suspension. The feeders come in custom-vibrating trough lengths, with special trough designs available. They are available in several basic models including air-operated light-duty, air-operated heavy-duty, twin-motor vibrating pan and grizzly feeders, electromagnetic, twin motor, and special-application feeders.
Metso Minerals Industries Inc., Brunswick, OH 800-827-9237 www.bestvibes.com

Weigh Feeders
The Model 407 series weigh feeders feature a compact design with a small footprint, resulting in low overall space requirements. The units are versatile, offering a variety of different metering mechanisms capable of feeding a broad range of even the most difficult-handling dry solids materials. They incorporate a robust design, featuring a high-resolution, nonload cell-based weighing mechanism that never requires field calibration or adjustment. This rugged equipment is specifically designed for the industrial environment and offers an unconditional five-year guarantee on the entire weighing mechanism, including electronics.
Acrison Inc., Moonachie, NJ 201-440-8300 www.acrison.com

Air-Activated Feeder
The Dyna-Slide high-precision air-activated feeder with dribble feed control provides up to a 100:1 turndown ratio when feeding most fine (30 mesh to sub-micron) fluidizable powders and granules. In addition, it has variable feed rates from as low as a few grams per minute to hundreds of pounds per minute, and is ideally suited for feeding weigh scales or other process equipment where close, high-tolerance feed rates are required. The feeder efficiently combines low-pressure compressed air and gravity to fluidize and convey most fine, dry granular materials. The low-profile design is totally enclosed and dust-free, making it ideal for conveying from silos to weigh scales, hoppers to weigh scales, or feeding from multiple discharge points to mixers.
Dynamic Air Inc., St. Paul, MN 651-484-2900 www.dynamicair.com

Material Flow Aid
The ActiFlow smart bulk solids activator prevents bridging and rat-holing of cohesive bulk materials in stainless-steel hoppers. It is a non-product-contact device, consisting of a patent-pending vibratory drive and intelligent control unit. In applications involving difficult-flowing materials, it eliminates the need for mechanical agitators with secondary motors and gearboxes, as well as the need for flexible, side-wall agitation devices or aeration pads. The patent-pending self-tuning algorithm implemented in the control module monitors the system, and it continuously adjusts the frequency and amplitude of the ActiFlow to maintain flow within the hopper. In this manner, bridges and rat-holes are prevented before they can form.
K-Tron America, Pitman, NJ 856-256-3265 www.ktronprocessgroup.com

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