Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1277345
16 © Copyright Powder & Bulk Engineering 2020 A side-tensioning frame lifts and stretches the bag as it's emptied, ensuring all product discharges. This fea- ture virtually eliminates spillage problems when the operator removes the spent bag from the discharger. The discharger's internal and external welds are con- tinuous to eliminate areas of potential microbe growth. Quick-release fi ttings and self-draining sloped surfaces allow for USDA-required daily cleaning. Product-con- tact surfaces are polished to a number 4, 180-grit fi nish, and noncontact surfaces are blasted with microscopic glass beads to produce a satin fi nish. For transporting milk powder from the discharger's hop- per, the 20-foot long fl exible-screw conveyor moves the powder at a 45-degree incline at up to 20,000 Ibs. The conveyor discharges the powder directly to processing equipment in a dust-tight transfer. The conveyor has one-piece construction and is easily removed for clean- ing by releasing a retaining pin. The conveying tube also is easily removed by releasing two sanitary clamps at either end of the tube. Most of the removable discharger and conveying com- ponents weigh less than 5 pounds, so one operator can disassemble, clean, and reassemble the equipment. In addition, one worker can set up and empty a bulk bag, signifi cantly reducing the labor requirement. The bulk bag discharger can be fi tted with various options. Bag massage paddles can be installed to assist fl ow of easily compacted materials such as fi ne sugar, cellulose, and cocoa powder. Pneumatically actuated spout pinch bars can remotely open and close the bag spout. The sanitary discharger can be used in nonfood applica- tions where cross contamination must be avoided and easy washdown is needed. Because of the continuous welds and highly polished stainless steel surfaces, the manufac- turer recommends the unit for handling such materials as pigments and hazardous or highly toxic products. Discharger streamlines process The sanitary, stainless steel unit is the fi rst bulk bag dis- charger patented to meet both USDA and 3A standards. With it, Mid-American can now handle small or large quantities of milk powder virtually without dust and with minimal worker contact. At the time PBE spoke with McNeese, Mid-American had just begun using the discharger and were happy with the initial results. Workers who used to lift the 50-pound bags are now free to do other tasks because only one worker is needed to operate the discharger. "It took three men to unload the powder before, so now we save the labor of two men," McNeese says. "Pro- ductivity will go up. All you have to do now is pick up the bulk bag with a forklift, mount it, untie the bottom spout, and fl ip a few switches. The process is a whole lot easier than handling 50-pound bags; the workers are quite happy." In addition, the process and plant are much cleaner. "The whole process is more sanitary because it's en- closed," McNeese says. "No dust is emitted during discharge. I'm very satisfi ed with the equipment. I was also very pleased the manufacturer didn't send us the equipment until it was ready. It wasn't half-fi nished and in need of some adjustments. They knew it was ready when it left their door." McNeese is glad that each 2,000-pound bulk bag elim- inates 40 of the smaller bags. And he's even found a good way to dispose of the empty ones. "I found a manufacturer in town that has sand as a waste product. We give them our empty bulk bags to haul the waste sand. We no longer have to landfi ll any bag waste." PBE "It took three men to unload the powder before, so now we save the labor of two men. "