transfer of big bags into feeding hoppers or direct use
transfer of bagged goods into feeding hoppers
decanting of liquid components into storage tanks
weighing accuracy between +-50 g and 3 kg
mixer feeding
flexible allocation of formulations
100% reproducibility
tracing + tracking
The Solution
Automated handling of raw materials in the manufacture of toothpaste
The main components in toothpaste are chalk and silica, which are delivered in sacks. The bulk components are poured into the indoor silos via several sack discharge stations that can be used on both sides. At the same time, control screening is carried out via a type E 650 cyclone screener underneath the sack discharge station, before the raw materials enter the indoor silos.
The bulk components are ready in the indoor silos for the next process of filling the individual vacuum mixer lines. Bulk components are discharged and distributed to the lines using vibration bottoms and stacked dosing screws. AZO vacuum conveying scales located close to the vacuum mixers are filled from the indoor silos in accordance with the formulations and required degree of accuracy.
Medium components and additives, also delivered in sacks, are transferred via sack discharge stations into the system above the AZO COMPONENTER and stored upstream. The AZO COMPONENTER, AZO’s flexible container system, collects the additives needed for the formulation, weighs them with gram accuracy and transfers them into a collecting vessel, all in a fully automated process. These bulk materials containers are connected to the vacuum mixer lines; their contents are sucked into the liquid by the mixer in accordance with the formulation.
The same procedure is used with the many liquid components, which are usually conveyed into the mixer before the dry materials are added. When it comes to adding liquids, a difference is also made between the bulk components, e.g. sorbitol, and the additives, e.g. aromas. The bulk components are stored in large tanks and gradually pumped into the scales, which are located close to the vacuum mixer. The liquid scales are then emptied completely into the mixer. The procedure is different for aromas: in this case, the amounts are pumped into small liquid scales located near the vacuum mixer. These scales is designed as a loss-in-weight scales in order to comply with the required levels of accuracy.
The entire system is controlled, operated and monitored by AZO’s Kastor process control and instrumentation system combined with a visualisation system.
