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news.K-Tron Process Group, a company that offers solids and liquid feeders for pharmaceutical processing applications, has introduced ActiFlow Smart Bulk Solids Activator, a new material flow aid for feeders that prevents bridging or rat-holing of cohesive bulk materials in stainless steel hoppers, obsoleting many forms of hopper agitation.
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ActiFlow is a non-product contact device, consisting of a vibratory drive and intelligent control unit. The ActiFlow device is bolted to the outside of the rear wall of the extension hopper, above the feeder, reducing headroom requirements. Together with the K-Tron Control Module (KCM) and ActiFlow Control unit, it continuously activates the material inside the hopper with an optimized frequency and amplitude based on changing material flow conditions.
The patent-pending self-tuning algorithm implemented in the K-Tron Control Module (KCM) monitors the system, continuously adjusting the frequency and amplitude of the ActiFlow to maintain flow within the hopper. In this manner, bridges and ratholes are prevented before they can form. For difficult flowing materials, ActiFlow eliminates mechanical agitators with secondary motors and gearboxes, and eliminates the need for flexible side wall agitation devices or aeration pads.
K-Tron Process Group claimed that ActiFlow simplifies the cleaning process during material change-over and is suited for applications in the food, pharmaceutical, plastics and chemical industries.
Working in concert with K-Tron’s patented Smart Force Transducer (SFT) weigh scales, advanced filtering algorithms are used to screen out vibrations, ensuring an accurate weight signal even with the ActiFlow running. The ActiFlow is used in loss-in-weight (gravimetric) feeding applications.