These automated systems use a combination of
mechanical devices such as brushes and air sprays to clean dust and product from the
outside of the bags as they are being conveyed from the loading station to the stacking
area [USBM 1995; Cecala et al. 1997]. It is recommended that bag cleaning be performed
in an enclosed system so that all the dust removed is contained and exhausted to an LEV
system. By having a hopper located under this cleaning unit, product removed from the
bags can be recycled back into the process (Figure 4-13