Customer requirements

In the interests of reducing manual handling and associated costs, pharmaceutical manufacturers have increasingly adopted large containers such as rigid IBCs for the delivery of mixed materials to tabletting lines. These enable obsolete methods such as the use of small containers and hand scoops to be eliminated.

Spiroflow solutions

Spiroflow has now developed dedicated equipment to enable material to be conveyed automatically from a rigid IBC to pharmaceutical tabletting lines or other process machinery.

Its advantages are:

• Completely sealed, hygienic design system.
• Accurate and consistent flow of material with no pulsation.
• Easy disassembly for cleaning.

Simple to use

A rigid bin is placed in position over the inlet hopper for the Spiroflow conveyor and the two units are connected by a sealed chute. The inlet hopper is crevice-free welded and polished - this high quality finish ensures system hygiene suitable for wet or dry cleaning.

The discharge valve of the bin is opened and material falls into the hopper and into the bottom of the UHMWPE delivery tube in which the stainless steel flexible spiral rotates. Above the tube is fitted a proximity type low level sensor switch which inhibits rotation of the spiral when the contents level of the hopper has fallen below the critical level. This is to prevent spiral rotation in an empty tube, which is undesirable with this kind of conveyor.

Connections for the tube and the proximity sensor to the hopper are of the quick release type, allowing the sensor and the end of the tube to be detached easily for cleaning. An interlock on the end plate is provided so that when the plate is removed, the spiral can rotate only in the reverse direction. The spiral is guarded so there is no risk of entrapment.

This facility may be used when a change of mix is made.

No contamination from motor The motor drive has been purpose designed for pharmaceutical applications and features an offset motor mounting which ensures that no contaminants from the motor can enter the material flow path.

The motor drive spigot enters a socket adaptor at the top of the spiral, which is completely sealed, and the drive pin connector between the spigot and socket is of the widely used retracting lobe type.

When withdrawn, it enables the spiral to be taken out of the tube.

Alternatively, the seal at the top of the tube can be manufactured to permit Cleaning in Place. Quick release fasteners are provided for this purpose.

Other advantages of hte unit are:

• USDA approved.
• Totally hygienic in operation.
• No filters are used - therefore no filter cleaning.
• No separation of mixed ingredients.

Spiroflow offers the equipment with models 44 or 55 flexible spiral conveyors for rigid bin applications. Model 37 flexible spiral conveyor is ideal for laboratory or sampling use and may be floor or bench top mounted.

Techical Specifications

Spiroflow flexible screw conveyors are also available in larger sizes for capacities up to 15 tonnes per hour. See separate 6 page brochure.