BETHLEHEM, PA — A new Flexicon Mobile Half-Frame Bulk Bag Unloader with multi-purpose hopper allows material to be discharged from bulk bags, manually dumped from sacks, and conveyed to downstream processes and storage vessels dust free.

For in-plant mobility, the system minimizes weight and achieves a low center of gravity by eliminating upper frame components, relying instead on the user's forklift or plant hoist to suspend the bag above the unit during operation.

The bulk-bag-to-hopper interface consists of a SPOUT-LOCK^® clamp ring positioned atop a pneumatically actuated TELE-TUBE^® telescoping tube, allowing dust-tight connections and unrestricted flow between the bag spout and hopper, as well as automatic tensioning of the bag as it empties to promote flow and evacuation. The telescoping tube raises the clamp ring

assembly that seals the clean side of the bag spout to the clean side of the telescoping tube, and then lowers until the bag spout is pulled taut. Once the spout is untied, the telescoping assembly exerts continual downward tension on the spout, elongating the bag as it empties.

The high-integrity seal between bag spout and clamp ring allows full-open discharge from bag spouts of all popular diameters.

An integral BAG-VAC^® dust collector creates negative pressure within the dust-tight system to collapse empty bags prior to retying and disconnection, eliminating dust emitted during manual flattening of empty bags.

FLOW-FLEXER^® bag activators raise and lower opposite bottom edges of the bag at timed intervals, loosening compacted materials and promoting material flow into the bag discharge spout. As the bag lightens, the stroke

of the bag activators increases, raising the bag into a steep "V" shape for evacuation of material.

For manual dumping in conjunction with, or independent of, bulk bag discharging, the operator raises a hinged bag-dump support shelf and a hinged hopper door, and pours material through a coarse screen into the hopper.

The integral flexible screw conveyor transports both free-flowing and non-free-flowing bulk materials including products that pack, cake, smear, seize or fluidize. The conveyor support mast cantilevers from the frame, and runs parallel to the conveyor tube, allowing the caster-mounted system to maneuver in restricted areas.

Units are available in carbon steel with durable industrial coating, or stainless steel to industrial, food, dairy or pharmaceutical standards.