Totalizing hopper scales are designed for accurate and versatile monitoring of material flows. Various process steps can be managed effciently, such as raw material receiving, unloading, and dosing. FLINTAB is an expert in this field and has been using SysTec IT8000E weighing electronics and customized BULK E software for years to master these demanding applications flawlessly. Recently, FLINTAB has sucessfully realized two projects with automatic discontinuous totalizers in Romania for the companies AMEROPA / CHIMPEX and TTS. The goal was to carry out the loading of ships/barges with bulk material with high throughputs and metrological accuracy.
Process description
The hopper scale system is placed in an existing feeder. After opening the supply flap, the material flows into the weighing vessel (the drain flap under the weighing vessel is closed). When the default weight in the weighing vessel is reached, the feed flap closes, the weight value is stored, and the drain flap opens to discharge the weighed content from the weighing vessel into the draining vessel.
The emptying vessel unloads the product into the existing transporting system (e.g. another buffer hopper, elevator, conveyor belt, truck, wagon, ship) with a lower flow rate than that at which it unloads the weighing vessel, thus preventing overloading of the downstream transporting systems.
The electronic system controls the entire dosing process, monitoring the states of the various component parts and signaling any error that may occur during this process.
When the weighing vessel has emptied, the emptying flap is closed and the weight value of the material that may have remained in the vessel is stored.
During this time, the material continues to flow and accumulates in the feeding vessel, and so the feed is made in continuous flow, without interruption.