PRODUCT HANDLING
The product is dispensed or conveyed by an auger filler into the receiving funnels. It
then free falls down through the funnel and into the container. During this free fall, the
product becomes aerated and loses its density and may not fit into the container. The
bottom rail vibrator option can be used to shake the product down into the container. It
produces a thumping action to the bottom of the container as it travels around the turret,
causing the product particles to pack together.
Some products tend to build up in the bottom of the receiving funnels prior to going
into the container. This condition is known as product bridging and is usually caused
by air displaced by the product in the container forced back up into the receiving funnel
restricting product flow long enough to back it up and form a clogged funnel. To
help eliminate this situation an upper turret vibrator can be installed which will vibrate
the receiving funnels and keep the product in motion so it has less chance of packing.
If upper vibration is not effective enough to eliminate the bridging, puffer wheels can
be installed which are used to squeeze the container periodically forcing a relatively
large puff of air up into the funnel to break up the bridged product, then letting it fall
back down into the container. Multiple puffer wheel assemblies can be positioned
around the turret to create this puffing action at numerous locations.
Some products tend to build up a residue on the inside surface of the receiving funnels
and will keep building up until finally falling off into the container. This situation will
produce random overweight fills. To remedy this condition, a higher frequency upper
vibrator may be needed in place of or along with the pneumatic oscillating turret vibrator.
Periodic cleaning of the funnels will also be necessary.