Particularly in the case of bulk materials, there are many different materials and container shapes, all of which must be handled quickly and safely. Depending on the application and material, different solutions are available.
When handling bags, drums, buckets, cartons and small load carriers, the vacuum lifter ezzFAST from Best Handling Technology is the ideal solution. The vacuum lifter is used wherever speed is of the essence. It can be used to move goods quickly, safely and ergonomically. One application example of the ezzFAST is its use in a dairy plant, for example, where milk sugar is extracted, which then has to be filled into bags, barrels and cartons and palletized. In addition to speed, the requirements for the vacuum lifter here are the specifications from the hygiene requirements of the food and pharmaceutical industries. Explosive dust can be generated when emptying bulk materials. For potentially explosive environments, the ezzFAST is also available in different ATEX versions, depending on the EX class.
In many plants, a wide variety of materials must be weighed and combined in large quantities. The bulk material in bags or cartons etc. is then combined and mixed. For the handling and partial emptying of cartons with powder contents, the ezzFLOW Balancer is very well suited. For the handling of the cartons, a pneumatic balancer and a load pick-up with vacuum cups are used. The emptying of the cartons is realized for the employees by a swivel joint with hole grid. With the pneumatic balancer, the open carton can be parked in any position and positioned at any angle above the mixer by the perforated grid. In the example shown, the working area is completely covered by a gantry crane. The substructure of the crane was adapted to the special spatial conditions.
Dosing: Turning the container to empty the contents is done manually via a crank or electrically at the touch of a button. A wide selection of different grippers enables different containers to be clamped so that everything can be held and emptied securely. Cartons, barrels and buckets can be clamped with force and form fit and rotated as required. With the ezzLIFTmaster's forward or sideways emptying function, pouring can be easily and accurately metered. The flowability depends on the substances, which are powdery or liquid. In addition, if the container is clamped, the operator can use a ladle to assist the dispensing process. Here, the operator gets relief by holding the container, which significantly improves the ergonomic work.
Weighing: A special tool of the ezzLIFTmaster is an integrated scale. The advantage here is that weighing can also be carried out directly on the lifting aid. There is a weighing cell on the base frame of the lifting aid, on which a weighing platform sits. The incoming goods can also be verified, weighed and stored here by the weighing cell in conjunction with a data logger or an online connection. The display is usually located on the column of the mobile lifting aid. However, the display can be placed according to customer requirements. For example, it can also be attached to a flexible arm so that it can be rotated individually. In this way, the mass can be weighed directly during decanting and dosing without having to perform another intermediate step.
Mixing: For small batches, the ezzLIFTmaster can also be used as a continuous mixing device. The advantage here is that the substances can be metered and then mixed directly without having to change the unit. Here, with the lifting aid, a container can be picked up, lifted, mixed and set down. The positions are then approached by pressing a key. This can also be done while the machine is moving. Mixing operation is also performed by pressing a key. By means of a special control system, the positions of the pick-up and set-down points as well as the mixing (duration, reversal of direction, ...) can be preset.
Thus, there are individual solutions for each bulk material, making handling easier and more ergonomic. More efficient workflows increase the company's competitiveness and offer improved profitability in the long term.