Flexicon BULK-OUT® Bulk Bag Dischargers, also referred to as bulk bag unloaders, FIBC unloaders and FIBC dischargers, are offered in numerous frame configurations, the two most popular of which are: BFF Series dischargers with bag lifting frame for forklift loading and unloading of bulk bags (FIBCs), and BFC Series dischargers with cantilevered I-beam, electric hoist and trolley for loading and unloading of bulk bags without the use of a forklift.
Other bulk bag unloader configurations include split frames for forklift loading of bags in low headroom areas, half frames for suspending bags during discharge using a forklift, hoistable frames for lifting the entire bulk bag discharger using an overhead crane, continuous loss-of-weight dischargers for uninterrupted feeding directly from bulk bags, and other designs satisfying highly specialised requirements.
All BULK-OUT® Bulk Bag Dischargers are offered with a broad range of innovative accessories (many patented), delivering an unprecedented level of efficiency, cleanliness and economy. A range of integral flow promotion devices is available, as are dedicated bulk bag conditioners that loosen bulk solid materials that have solidified during storage and shipment, enabling bulk bag unloaders to discharge the material through bag spouts.
Just as bulk bags changed the way bulk material was stored and shipped over the last decade, so will these bulk bag dischargers revolutionise the way you load, untie, retie, remove and collapse bulk bags in the future.
No longer must your operators reach through cramped access doors and awkward glove boxes, struggle to retie partially empty bags, clean up spillage after disconnections, dislodge products from dead spots or flatten bags manually.
Flexicon's latest generation of bulk bag dischargers can eliminate the drawbacks of outdated designs while dramatically improving convenience, safety and cleanliness. The heart of the new design is a bag spout interface that not only creates a dust-tight seal, but promotes material flow and total evacuation. It also allows easy retying of partially empty bags, and can collapse empty bags — free of spillage and dust.
(Loading of bag by customer)
with options including Flexicon
pneumatic conveying system interface
(Electric hoist and trolley loading)
with options including Flexicon
pneumatic conveying system interface
(Forklift Loading)
with options including Flexicon
flexible screw conveyor interface
Sealed system prevents dust throughout the entire discharging process, from untying of bag spout to collapsing and retying of empty bags.
The SPOUT-LOCK™ clamp ring creates a high-integrity sealed connection between the clean side of the bag spout and the clean side of the TELE-TUBE™ telescoping tube. Once connected to the bag spout, the drawstring can be released, allowing material to fall freely into the hopper rapidly and free of dust.
The positive connection can eliminate the need for flow control valves employed to prevent uncontrolled bursts of material from the bag and dust into the plant environment.
Flow control valves are, therefore, only required for retying spouts of partially empty bags.
STEP 1
SPOUT-LOCK™ clamp ring open ready to accept bag spout being uncovered by operator.
STEP 2
Pulling the bag spout over the rim of the SPOUT-LOCK™ clamp ring.
The TELE-TUBE™ telescoping tube raises the SPOUT-LOCK™ clamp ring for connection to the bag spout, then lowers, applying continual downward tension. As a result, the spout is kept taut at all times, preventing excess spout material from bulging outward (creating dead
pockets) or falling inward (creating flow restrictions). Works in conjunction with SPOUT-LOCK™ clamp ring and FLOW-FLEXER™ bag activators to promote material flow and total evacuation.
STEP 3
Clean side of bag spout securely connected to clean side of TELE-TUBE™ telescoping tube ready for untying of bag spout.
STEP 4
After bag spout is untied TELE-TUBE™ telescoping tube keeps bag spout taut with continuous downward tension, promoting flow and complete discharge.
Unlike opposing bars that pinch the spout of partially empty bags from two sides, the POWER-CINCHER™ pneumatically-actuated flow control valve contains a series of curved, articulated stainless steel rods that cinch the spout concentrically on a horizontal axis for easy tie-offs, and vertically in a tight zigzag pattern to prevent leakage of even the finest powders. It also resists jamming, breaking and leaking, and allows full-open discharge from bag spouts of all popular diameters.
The Dust Containment Enclosure for Flexicon Bulk Bag Dischargers contains spillage and dust that can escape through seams in the bag and folds in the spout. The six-sided enclosure seats against the rim of a hopper or flange of downstream equipment, and is equipped with an exhaust port for dust collection and a hinged door with inspection window.
The top of the six-sided enclosure contains a circular opening that allows passage of the bag spout to the equipment connection point, while the flat bottom supports the bag/spout interface.
Shown is a TELE-TUBE™ telescoping tube that pneumatically raises a SPOUT-LOCK™ clamp ring which makes a secure, dust-free connection between the clean side of the spout and the clean side of the equipment. Also available is an iris valve bag/spout interface for applications in which dust containment is not a concern.
The high integrity connection between bag outlet spout and discharger creates a sealed system that can be vented through a filter sock, to a central dust collection system, or to an optional BAG-VAC™ dust collector (patent pending). Actuating the BAG-VAC™ dust collector creates negative pressure within the sealed system to collapse empty bags prior to retying, eliminating dust commonly emitted when bags are flattened manually. In addition, the BAG-VAC™ dust collector vacuums any particles trapped in spout creases during disconnect, eliminating the need for awkward access ports.
When a sealed connection is unnecessary, iris valves are recommended. To operate, the bag outlet spout is pulled through the iris valve which is then closed around the spout, preventing material flow. The spout can then be untied, the access door closed, and the valve released slowly, reducing uncontrolled bursts of material into the hopper and dust into the plant environment. Shown at bottom right is an iris valve in fully closed position.
In addition to Bag Spout Interface Options, all BULK-OUT® Bulk Bag Dischargers are available with the following optional features:
All BULK-OUT® Bulk Bag Dischargers are available with variable speed rotary airlock valves for volumetric metering into positive- or negative-pressure pneumatic conveyor lines (shown), as well as with hoppers configured for connection to process equipment and mechanical conveyors including Flexicon flexible screw conveyors.
Poor-flowing, non-free-flowing and/or compacted materials will not fall through the bulk bag discharge spout consistently, often "rat-holing" or bridging as shown above.
At timed intervals, FLOW-FLEXER™ bag activators raise and lower opposite bottom edges of bulk bags, promoting material flow into the discharge spout.
As the bag empties, the stroke of the FLOW-FLEXER™ bag activators increases, raising the bottom of the bag into a steep "V" shape while POP-TOP™ extension devices stretch the bag into a cone shape, promoting complete discharge.
(On BFC models without POP-TOP™ bag stretching devices, the bag can be stretched in the same manner using the electric hoist, to promote complete discharge.)
The Multi-purpose Hood allows automatic discharging from bulk bags as well as manual emptying from sacks, drums and other containers. Available as an option on both BFC and BFF Series dischargers, it can operate with an optional dust collector to prevent contamination of the product and plant environment.
All BULK-OUT® Bulk Bag Dischargers are available mounted on load cells, with controllers and flexible screw conveyors to accurately measure loss-of-weight as a batch is conveyed to any discharge point. Also available are gain-in-weight systems that measure
weight discharged into a central receiving vessel, and start/stop each conveyor delivering materials from bulk bag dischargers, manual/dumping stations, silos, or any other material source.
Also see weigh batching systems.
Flexicon Loss-of-Weight Batching Systems discharge one or more bulk bags while weighing the material and conveying the batch directly to a common hopper, blender, conveyor, shipping container, or process vessel automatically, accurately, and economically. This loss-of-weight system is mounted on load cells which transmit the amount of weight lost to a controller which, in turn, stops the conveyor once the target batch weight has been reached.
The weigh batch filling head of this bulk bag gain-in-weight batching system can be cantilever-mounted (shown), or mounted remotely above any discharge point desired; the flexible screw conveyor can transport material at any angle to any nearby or distant plant location. Electric hoist and trolley model shown.
Options by model |
BFC Series (Cantilevered hoist & trolley) |
BFF Series (Forklift loading) |
BFH Series (Half-frame) |
| Rotary airlock valve for operation in-line with pneumatic conveyors | • | • | • |
|
SPOUT-LOCK™ clamp ring with TELE-TUBE™ telescoping tube (single or double wall) |
• | • | • |
| Conventional iris valve with intake chute/access door | • | • | • |
| Multi-purpose intake chute and manual dumping station | • | • | • |
|
POWER-CINCHER™ flow control valve (only with SPOUT-LOCK™ clamp ring and TELE-TUBE™ telescoping tube, above) |
• | • | • |
| BAG-VAC™ dust collector | • | • | • |
| FLOW-FLEXER™ bag activators | • | • | • |
| POP-TOP™ bag extension devices | — | • | — |
| Stainless steel in industrial or sanitary finish | • | • | • |
| Designed for high sanitary/dairy applications | • | • | • |
| Floor hopper with outlet for mechanical or pneumatic conveyor process equipment or storage vessel | • | • | • |
|
Flexible Screw Conveyor (only with floor hopper, above) |
• | • | • |
| Weigh Batching Package | • | • | — |
