Metering Screw Conveyors provide
surge delivery to downstream equipment, allowing continuous production. Load cells can be
integrated into the metering screw to use the loss-in-weight method for measuring product
displacement. Metering
Screws deliver and surge the correct quantity of product to the mixers, cookers,
or blenders downstream as required by the
recipe.
CLEAN
SWEEP
The Metering Screw Conveyor is
designed with a Clean Sweep Hopper that eliminates waste with a solution that mechanically
clears food product between
batches.
In the animation, a paddle
agitator sweeps the sides of the tub and continually pushes product into the feed
screw.
The spin ridge keeps product from
barreling, maintaining positive conveyance until the food product is completely
unloaded.
DESIGN
Mepaco has engineered Metering
Screws up to 6000 lbs. capacity. The screw conveyor delivers metering, formulating and surge
applications and handles ground and trim meats, prepared foods, frozen foods, and pet food.
Design
customization
includes:
- Incline up to 35
degrees - Load heights range from 72” and 84” for an average 3000 lb.
unit - Discharge heights vary based on a 20’ screw length and incline
angle - Screw lengths longer than 20’, are application dependent, and will
require a hanger
bearing
Contoured covers can be integrated on the screw conveyor, which
allows for an increased incline angle, fully contained discharge and reduced footprint.
Processors
can realize production efficiencies with options that
include:
- Single or
dual screw - Screw
covers - Load
Cells - Clean in
place (CIP) solutions - Electropolished food contact
surfaces - Heating or
Cooling Jackets - Fixed or variable speed
drives
INFEED
A typical
floor layout is a DP3000 (Direct Pivot) Dumper feeding the hopper. For discharge heights
greater than 120”, custom platforms can provide elevated load height and higher discharge
requirements.
While not as
common, the HD3000, LD3000 and CD1000 dumpers have also been used to feed the Metering
Screw.
Surge loading
metering screws used in a formulation system configured side by side often use a reciprocating
belt conveyor to deliver product between hoppers, depending on the recipe
demand.
DISCHARGE
The discharge
chutes on Metering Screws can be static or pivoting. Controls can be programmed to direct
chutes to multiple discharge locations.
Mepaco
engineers and manufactures many types of Metering Conveyors, from the Clean-Sweep
configuration to the Cross-Screw Hopper Design and the conventional center-screw hopper. Our
engineering team works with the processor to specify and modify the design to meet the goals
of the application.
