Vacuum conveying technology has become an unavoidable part of the food and consumer packaged goods manufacturing process.

 It is being used for an increasingly wider sequence of tasks: moving materials like coffee seed through the processing line, mixing ingredients, even powder handling in the cheöical and cosmetics industry. The growing faith on vacuum conveying is not hard to comprehend, once you consider its numerous advantages. It is covered, safe and hygienic, which is recommended when transferring materials and finished products in food processing applications. Granules and powders are ideal for vacuum conveying as well as a number of other materials. Even those materials that are responsive to humidity and contamination can be safely conveyed by vacuum conveyor.

Most firms and producers in the food industry use pneumatic vacuum conveyors for loading and unloading blenders or mixers. Some companies are using vacuum conveyors for the mixing of multiple ingredients such as starch and salt in the production of chips. Other companies are using conveyors to transport a big quantity of fresh or green ingredients into packaging machinery without causing harm in the process. Handling plastic pellets in the manufacture of product packaging.

TeknoConvey stainless steel vacuum conveyors are ideal for conveying powders, starches, and other dry fresh ingredients. Vacuum conveyor powered by pneumatically driven vacuum ejector pumps, these systems safely and quietly can transport up to 13-15 tons/hour of material.

Choosing our  best vacuum conveyor for your food or user goods manufacturing environment is a challenging task that requires careful significance. If a system is chosen without the necessary common sense, it may result in serious reaction, such as employee hazards, loss of productivity, downtime, segregation and etc.

There are a variety of specific features and benefits to look for when choosing a vacuum conveying system. An ideal system will optimize efficiency, and increase total productivity.

Look for vacuum conveying systems that offer the following qualities.

Pneumatic ejector vacuum vs. mechanical vacuum pumps;

The most types of vacuum pumps used in vacuum conveying systems are pneumatic and mechanical. The main difference between these two types of vacuum pumps lies in their source of power; pneumatic ejector vacuum pumps are powered by compressed air and mechanical vacuum pumps are powered by electricity. Pneumatic vacuum pumps are more and more smaller, more compact and lighter in weight, which makes them more efficient than mechanical pumps. Additionally, pneumatic pumps have no any moving parts, which need to lubrication and create friction and sparking!! But in contrast, mechanical pumps feature several moving parts and require regular lubrication and maintenance!!!

Coffee beans are transported through a vacuum conveyor.

Vacuum conveying of food and materials; some coffee mix powder ingredients are mixed in a mixing container before the powder is packed in bags. A vacuum conveyor is used to move the many separate containers of ingredients to the mixing container. One ingredient at a time is transported within the system.

Another utility of pneumatic vacuum pumps over mechanical pumps is their ability to operate intermittently. With a pneumatic vacuum pump, an air-operated solenoid valve component can be added to accomplish intermittent use of the vacuum, but a mechanical pump must run continuously. Also important to note is that mechanical pumps only operate properly within an ambient temperature range of 0Cº F to 37Cº, while pneumatic vacuum pumps are less affected by ambient temperature conditions, due to their internal multi chambered design and pneumatic operation.

Lastly, pneumatic vacuum pumps offer minimal product degradation, excellent material containment, and ease of system configuration. Consequently, the heat, noise and contamination issues associated with mechanical pumps are eliminated.

Flexibility and modularity rather than opting for a conveyor with unibody construction   which means that it can only be used for one application and offers no flexibility  it is a good idea to choose for a conveyor that can be customized, allowing users to mix and match various attachments to fit their needs. Because food powders and granules feature varying densities and flow characteristics, it is important that the conveyor be modular, and capable of running a variety of different dry materials, such as the sugar, ground coffee and powdered milk that make up coffee mixes.

Speed of system a vacuum conveyor should be able to move material at nonstop speeds. Some systems can move product from 0 to 20 meters  per second. Also, look for a conveyor that allows you to convey the maximum amount of product. There are systems that can enable you to convey up to 15 tons  of material per hour.

Hygienic solution with less waste. It is ideal for material being conveyed in the food industry to be completely hygienic and free from contact with any pathogens. When the conveying system is covered and safe from source to destination  there is no risk of contamination or dust creations, thus improving the overall health and safety aspects of the process. Another advantage of an enclosed vacuum conveying system, as compared to an open belt conveyor system, is that items will not fall off and be destroyed. For example, one company in the food industry was using a belt to convey grated salad to a weighing device before packaging it. They found that a large part of the salad fell of the belt or became stuck on the conveyor belt.

Vacuum conveyor filtration;  filters are an integral component to the vacuum conveyor, because they prevent dust and fine dust particles from being drawn into the vacuum pump and escaping into the enviroments. Additionally, filters protect the product from foreign bodies. There are several filtration options to consider the key is to pick a vendor that offers a variety of choices. Our filters are ideal for all powder applications and are recommended for powders with a particle size of 0.5 micron and greater. Some manufacturers offer conveyors that can be equipped with high efficiency particle assay   filters, which filter 99.9% of all dust particles. Additional types of filters are available for powders with a particle size of greater than 0.5 microns.

Vacuum conveying of food and powder materials

Laboratuar testing this important step in the conveyor selection process is often overlooked. If you can find a manufacturer with this capability, the advantages are evident. Make sure the laboratuar is able to test run a variety of powders, granules or fluids, to assess conveying characteristics over various vertical and horizontal distances. You will also want the opportunity to view an analysis of volume conveyed per hour or minute over a given distance, as well as vacuum cycle time and energy consumption.

Fluidization allows for compressed air to pass through a porous and spongy material, creating a cushion that reduces the coefficient of friction allowing non free flowing material to discharge freely from the vacuum receiver. Fluidization is ideal for the conveying of non free-flowing powders, a common characteristic of so many sugars and starches. Ideally, conveyors offer a relatively small footprint, allowing manufacturers to maximize floor space for product production.

The shape of various conveyor parts is also an important consideration, not just in terms of efficiency but also as it relates to safety issues. For instance, the conical shape of some conveyor modules makes them rigid, eliminating the risk of implosion. Conveyors for the food and chemical industries should be constructed with a durable material in order to cope with the most demanding circumstances. Easy cleaning ability, combined with the innate strength, makes stainless steel the material of choice for strict hygiene conditions.

TEKNOCONVEY’s testing facility allows customers to test powder, granule or fluid samples. Testing ensures the vacuum cycle time and energy consumption are effective. Users should be able to modulate flow characteristics through the conveyor line by increasing and decreasing the amount of air at the feed point. This can also be achieved by increasing or decreasing the product velocity by adjusting the feed pressure at the vacuum pump. Flow modulation changes the way material is conveyed and provides the operator with greater control.

Customers should look for a vendor that can providea selection of accessories for the conveying system, such as feedadapters and portable stands. Devices such as these can greatly optimize the vacuum conveyor  performance. The fluidization feature creates a consistent, reliable flow of product both in the feed source and the discharge from the vacuum conveyor reveiver. Fluidization is ideal for the conveying of non free flowing powders. Like any industrial product, conveyors come with warranties that protect the user against costly repair during the warranty period.

Having your employees manually feed food or cosmetic ingredients can put them at risk of breathing dust or chemicals into their lungs. Additionally, lifting and handling of heavy sacks can result in serious back or shoulder strain. With the proper conveying system, a greater number of materials can be safely conveyed, reducing the risks of employee inhalation or physical injury. Manual transport of ingredients can also lead to inefficiencies in production.

The automated system is much easier to control and ensure the highest quality product for its customers. With the increasing need for energy efficiency and low contamination, the government has been tightening regulations on emission control. Make sure your conveying equipment complies with the latest industry standards; mechanical systems often pose a threat of oil or lubricant contamination. It requires careful consideration of numerous criteria regarding safety, performance, flexibility and ergonomics,. But the time spent in this process will be an invaluable investment in the overall health of your manufacturing operation.

TeknoConveyis a leader in industrial vacuum technology, designing innovative solutions that improve the productivity and working environment of vacuum conveyor users around the world. TeknoConvey manufacturers a complete line of vacuum conveyors and variety of automated material handling and factory automation processes.