Metering Screws Drive Surge Production and Eliminate Waste

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 15:05:04 GMT

Metering Screw Conveyors provide surge delivery to downstream equipment, allowing continuous production. Load cells can be integrated into the metering screw to use the loss-in-weight method for measuring product displacement. Metering Screws deliver and surge the correct quantity of product to the mixers, cookers, or blenders downstream as required by the recipe.

CLEAN SWEEP

The Metering Screw Conveyor is designed with a Clean Sweep Hopper that eliminates waste with a solution that mechanically clears food product between batches.

In the animation, a paddle agitator sweeps the sides of the tub and continually pushes product into the feed screw.

The spin ridge keeps product from barreling, maintaining positive conveyance until the food product is completely unloaded.

DESIGN

Mepaco has engineered Metering Screws up to 6000 lbs. capacity. The screw conveyor delivers metering, formulating and surge applications and handles ground and trim meats, prepared foods, frozen foods, and pet food. Design customization includes:

Incline up to 35 degrees
Load heights range from 72” and 84” for an average 3000 lb. unit
Discharge heights vary based on a 20’ screw length and incline angle
Screw lengths longer than 20’, are application dependent, and will require a hanger bearing

Contoured covers can be integrated on the screw conveyor, which allows for an increased incline angle, fully contained discharge and reduced footprint.

Processors can realize production efficiencies with options that include:

Single or dual screw
Screw covers
Load Cells
Clean in place (CIP) solutions
Electropolished food contact surfaces
Heating or Cooling Jackets
Fixed or variable speed drives

INFEED

A typical floor layout is a DP3000 (Direct Pivot) Dumper feeding the hopper. For discharge heights greater than 120”, custom platforms can provide elevated load height and higher discharge requirements.

While not as common, the HD3000, LD3000 and CD1000 dumpers have also been used to feed the Metering Screw.

Surge loading metering screws used in a formulation system configured side by side often use a reciprocating belt conveyor to deliver product between hoppers, depending on the recipe demand.

DISCHARGE

The discharge chutes on Metering Screws can be static or pivoting. Controls can be programmed to direct chutes to multiple discharge locations.

Mepaco engineers and manufactures many types of Metering Conveyors, from the Clean-Sweep configuration to the Cross-Screw Hopper Design and the conventional center-screw hopper. Our engineering team works with the processor to specify and modify the design to meet the goals of the application.

Mepaco Blog

Metering Screws Drive Surge Production and Eliminate Waste