Gravimetric Dosing, Mixing and Cleaning Products and Systems

The AZO COMPONENTER® is an automated batching system designed to accurately weigh, meter, and feed minor and micro ingredients into production processes, reducing manual handling and minimising errors. This system is highly adaptable, offering multiple configurations to meet the specific needs of various production environments. The configurations ensure flexibility, efficiency, and precise handling of raw materials, enhancing process quality across industries like food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.

The COMPONENTER® series includes six configurations:

1. COMPONENTER® Step: Utilises an indexing conveyor to move individual containers through ingredient stations, reducing cross-contamination risks.
2. COMPONENTER® Linear Design with Mobile Scale: Features surge bins with discharge and dosing units in opposing rows, suitable for processing numerous components.
3. COMPONENTER® Linear Design with Mobile Container: Uses a mobile container system to ensure contamination-free handling, particularly for sensitive industries.
4. COMPONENTER® Indexing Mode: Ideal for high-frequency batch operations requiring precision for numerous components.
5. COMPONENTER® Circular Design: Provides a cost-effective solution for automatic total batch weighing, particularly for formulas with fewer ingredients.
6. COMPONENTER® Fully Automatic: Incorporates Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) for precise weighing and dosing, offering flexibility in non-linear supply point arrangements.

These configurations allow facilities to select tailored systems to optimise their production processes while maintaining high levels of accuracy and hygiene.

The AZO® dosing screws, types DFS…NE and DFS…DE, are designed for precise conveying and dosing of bulk materials across industries such as food, plastics, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Both models feature high-quality nickel-chromium steel construction, suitable for vibration operation, and are equipped with pneumatically operated shutoff valves. They offer high output during coarse-stream operation and exceptional metering accuracy in fine-stream operation, facilitated by frequency-controlled drives. The modular design allows for easy integration into existing systems, and quick-release clamps enable straightforward inspection and cleaning.

The primary difference between the two models lies in their application configurations. The DFS…NE is typically used for standard conveying and dosing tasks, where the bulk material enters the screw housing via the product inlet and is transferred to the screw outlet. In contrast, the DFS…DE is designed for applications requiring the feeding of multiple production lines. It features a dual-screw system, where the bulk material enters the second screw via the product inlet of the first screw, allowing for flexible conveying in lines and precise feeding to several production lines.

The three AZO® sampling units – PRS, PRK, and PRA are tailored for different sampling needs, each with unique designs and applications. The PRS unit utilises a screw mechanism for sampling from downpipes or pressureless hoppers with cone inclinations up to 30°. Its modular design allows for adjustable screw shaft inclinations and is available with pneumatic, electric, or manual drives. Sampling can be continuous or random, controlled via the respective drive. The transparent collection hopper ensures samples can be easily transported to laboratories without contamination, and a new hopper can be attached immediately after removal​.

The PRK unit employs a piston mechanism with angular drilling, suitable for free-flowing products from downpipes or hoppers with similar cone inclinations. It offers both manual and pneumatic drive options and features a compact, rust-free, and easy-to-clean design. In contrast, the PRA unit is specifically designed for sampling during silo filling operations, such as those involving tank trucks. It uses a pneumatic system to draw samples from pneumatic silo filling lines, relying on overpressure for sample collection. The PRA’s compact construction includes a level indicator and butterfly valve for controlled discharge, allowing the laboratory to validate products before they proceed to production

The AZO® cleaning station is engineered for the dry cleaning of rotation-symmetrical containers and hoppers using compressed air. It effectively removes product residues without the need for wet cleaning and subsequent drying, thereby reducing downtime and eliminating the need for transporting containers over long distances for cleaning. The system is particularly beneficial for containers with small inlet apertures, as its folding mechanism allows the cleaning unit to unfold inside the container, ensuring thorough cleaning.

The cleaning unit is mounted on a vertical column with a cantilever arm and is moved vertically by a linear drive. It comprises two arms with attached cleaning nozzles that remain folded during insertion and unfold once inside the container. A pneumatic rotary drive rotates the unit during the cleaning cycle, allowing the nozzles to reach all internal surfaces. The system includes a patented docking collar that creates a dust-tight connection between the container outlet and the suction hopper, preventing dust exposure to operators and the environment. Various levels of automation are available, including options for container positioning and cover opening, enhancing operational efficiency.