With HYGiTip, GEA has developed a new bag emptying system for the safe and efficient opening of 25 kg bags in food production lines. The automation of these work steps minimises the risk of contamination and prevents powder loss.
The new bag emptying system controls the entire opening and emptying process. This enables Precise repeatability. The packaging waste is safely removed after emptying and sent for recycling. The HYGiTip is Versatile in use z. e.g. for milk powder, food supplements, milk and food ingredients, coffee, tea, bakery and confectionery ingredients and pet food.
All-round closed bag emptying system
The HYGiTip is a fully enclosed system for the automatic emptying of 25 kg powder bags. This enables a high level of hygiene and safety and therefore also product integrity with simultaneous reduction of operating costs.
After depalletising, the full bags are fed into the system manually using a vacuum lifter or automatically by robot. The kraft paper outer packaging is removed manually and sent for recycling. The plastic inliner is then sterilised with UV light. The bag is then adjusted, tilted and its contents fed into the pick-up system. The Empty inliners removed for recycling.
"After bag filling, the powder is at its most valuable - and most sensitive - and special care is required from then on, as the product is exposed to the greatest risk of contamination by foreign bodies and pathogens during further processing, at least if further handling, including cutting open the bags manually by operating personnel. Our new HYGiTip system eliminates this risk and improves the efficiency of the entire system." Kyle HogartyProduct Manager Powder Packing at GEA
HYGiTip offers smore efficient handling
Key features of the new system are the Positive grip mechanismwhich GEA has applied for a patent, and the Clean-Cut rotary knives. This mechanism holds and moves the bag during the entire process. After the bag has been securely picked up, the clamping device brings the bag into a Vertical position. Here it is perforated before being cut open. This ensures even pressure distribution within the bag so that the powder can escape more easily. This handling Prevents bag deformation and the Remaining powder residues. The bag is always located at a sufficient distance from the powder flow to minimise the risk of contamination.
The Clean-Cut system has two non-serrated, curved cutting blades that cut the bag from the centre outwards by rotation. There is no sawing cut, as no plastic particles should get into the further production flow. Knives cut through the inliner on three sides so that the lower ends of the suspended inliner are spread apart and cut open right into the corners. In this way, no pockets are formed in which powder could remain - this ensures maximum efficiency during emptying.
Source: GEA
