Solids Handling Discharge Bulk Container Dischargers

Bulk Container Dischargers

Upstream Performance Improving Downstream Efficiency

NBE bulk container discharger systems provide controlled discharge, and complete unloading, of dry bulk materials from totes, gaylords, bins, or other intermediate bulk container types. NBE bulk container discharging systems are engineered and constructed to withstand the harshest plant environments and demanding duty cycles. Together, with NBE automation and controls, this integrated construction and automation infrastructure enables dry bulk material processing operations to safely discharge, even the most hard-to-handle materials, while limiting operator interaction, reducing dusting, protecting product from contamination, and eliminating material waste. NBE bulk container discharging systems aid downstream process performance by ensuring a reliable, accurate material supply.

Literature Download

Features and Integration:

Container Discharger Configurations

NBE bulk container discharging systems are built to handle any intermediate bulk type of container, and are designed to fit any dry bulk material processing plant layout or equipment configuration. NBE application-specific engineering brings process performance to applications where other designs on the market do not; applications where space limitations do not allow front loading, or where high-lift discharge is needed.

Container Discharger Framework Construction

All NBE container discharging systems are constructed with structural frameworks and sub-assemblies each specifically engineered to withstand the harshest of processing and packaging environments and demanding duty cycles; including those requiring FDA, 3-A, USDA or international regulatory compliance. NBE build specifications and materials of construction requirements enable NBE bulk container discharging systems to safely handle and discharge container capacities ranging from 750 pounds to 16,000 pounds, with higher capacities available.

Lift Carriage and Container Bucket Configurations

Lift carriages and container buckets on NBE bulk container discharging systems are designed to the specific requirements of each application. NBE lift carriages are engineered to provide high-performance operation; regardless of lift height, rotation, container weight, or duty cycles. NBE container buckets reduce operator interaction with equipment and provide safe handling of containers during material discharge. Pneumatic container-centering devices position the bulk container in the optimal position for sealing into the hood and achieving maximum unloading of material from the containers.

Material Discharge Hoods and Diverters

The discharge hood design of each NBE bulk container discharger is specifically engineered to ensure material being unloaded into downstream processes is infed at optimal rates, is protected from introduction of contaminates, and is prevented from creating nuisance dust throughout the facility. Application-specific discharge hood designs may integrate material conditioning systems, material-present sensing, and machine interface configurations custom to downstream equipment.

Safety Cage and Light Curtain Systems

Comprehensive risk assessments and design reviews, together with customer specifications, ensure NBE bulk container dischargers are engineered to protect operator safety. NBE bulk container discharging system safety cages are designed to the specific requirements of each application. Light curtain systems, integrated to NBE bulk container dischargers, provide operator protection where machine access areas, or process requirements, are not conducive to caging.

Automation and Control Systems

The integrated automation of NBE bulk container dischargers brings system-wide process control, communication, sensing, monitoring, and reporting together into a single, menu-driven, touch-screen HMI. High-speed Ethernet communications deliver information between NBE equipment and legacy systems to UL listed panels designed and built by NBE. NBE integrated automation pushes control functionality farther out, and deeper into equipment operations to optimize total line throughput and deliver a standard, system-wide, data report from the control layer. Broader controls functionality and increased data reporting improve resource management, reduce operating burden, and extend the equipment lifecycle.

Hydraulic Systems

The hydraulically driven lift carriage of an NBE bulk container discharging system is engineered to ensure high-performance lifting and rotation of the bulk container; regardless of container weight, lift height, or duty cycles. The hydraulic power unit and valve stack of an NBE container discharging system are specified based on the required cycles per hour, and per-cycle duration for the application. NBE bulk container discharger hydraulic systems are constructed for general industrial material unloading applications; as well as wash-down duty, intrinsically safe, and explosion-proof classifications.

Open-Bucket Container Dischargers

Open-bucket container dischargers provide highly effective unloading of non-dusting materials. NBE container lift carriages and buckets are engineered to specific container requirements; regardless of size, weight, or materials of construction.
Sealed Container Dischargers

For applications with stringent material dust control requirements, NBE sealed and enclosed discharge systems prevent material dust from escaping and creating an airborne nuisance. The NBE container sealing design hydraulically lifts and seals the top edge of the container into the discharge hood, preventing foreign material on pallets or containers from contaminating the material stream.
High-lift Container Dischargers

NBE high-lift container discharging systems safely raise bulk containers from floor-level load position to high-level discharge heights of up to 40 feet. The NBE high-lift container discharge system is capable of vertically conveying container weights of up to 16,000 pounds. To ensure complete material discharge from the container, NBE container discharge lift carriage systems provide a complete 180-degree rotation of the bulk container. NBE high-lift container discharging systems are engineered to the unique requirements of each application. Application-specific discharge designs include custom discharger configurations, sealed container dischargers, and open-bucket container dischargers.

Other Container Discharger Configurations

General Industrial Construction

NBE container discharger systems are engineered for rigorous duty in critical applications. Every NBE discharging system, regardless of its particular design or application, operates on a process-specific, fully welded structural framework chassis. The standard framework is constructed of heavy-duty structural steel and thick-wall structural tubing that is continuous welded to provide superior structural integrity.
Sanitary / Hygienic Construction

NBE sanitary container discharger systems are specifically engineered and constructed for material infeed applications where compliance with regulatory, governmental, or industry-based hygienic design standards is required. NBE sanitary bulk container dischargers meet, or exceed, materials of construction, build specifications, and process protocols where third-party requirements are necessary. NBE sanitary container discharger designs includes CIP features, such as: 304-2b construction, continuous-weld seams ground to a No. 4 finish, and tool-less, quick-clean component designs to simplify sanitizing and inspection.
Wash Down Construction

The build specifications and materials of construction for NBE bulk container dischargers operating in wash down applications includes structural framework beams and cross members that are of tubular construction with all ends capped and no holes protruding to the inside of any tubing. Beams and cross members are angled away from product zones, or turned 45 degrees to horizontal, to aid in preventing material accumulation and pooling of liquids. Absolutely no angle iron, C-channel, or I-beam shapes are used in the construction of the equipment.
Lift-and-Discharge Construction

For applications requiring elevating the bulk container, then rotating and discharging the bulk container at height; NBE high-lift container discharging systems provide safe and stable container handling. Bulk containers are raised using a hydraulically driven track-and-cam roller mechanism that eliminates side-to-side racking, and vertically conveys containers, in excess of 4,000 pounds, to discharge heights exceeding 25 feet. All moving hydraulic hose, pneumatic tubing, and electrical Sealtite® conduit are contained in flexible cable carriers to protect them during operation. A mast cylinder guide race stabilizes the cylinder rod eliminating potential damage to the rod and seal.

Other Container Discharger Frameworks

Floor-Loading Lift Carriage

The floor-loading lift carriage system designed into NBE bulk container dischargers enable operators to safely load containers into the carriage without manual interaction with the equipment. Bulk containers can be loaded at floor level using casters, a pallet jack, or forklift truck.
Forklift-Loading Carriage

The forklift-loading carriage design of NBE bulk container dischargers enables forklift operators to properly align containers into the carriage without dismounting the forklift, involving other equipment operators, or making metal-to-metal contact with the forks to the carriage base.
Infeed Conveyor-Loading Carriage

Powered-roller, or gravity-roller conveyors integrated to NBE container discharger lift carriages enable interfacing with upstream indexing and accumulation conveyor systems. The integrated NBE conveyor designs can include chain transfer devices to move full or empty bulk containers, at right angles, from their load position.

Other Lift Carriage and Container Bucket Configurations

Control Enclosures

NBE bulk container discharging system control enclosures are custom-built in a dedicated, on-site, UL certified panel-build facility. Panel configurations include UL 508A, Class I and II, Division 1 and 2, Group A-D, F and G, and NEMA 12 enclosures with Type X purge.
PLC Programming

For bulk container discharging applications requiring automated control operations and sequences, NBE automation engineering resources will design, engineer, and integrate a process-specific automation architecture. NBE bulk container discharging systems automation ensures process effectiveness at every level. From intuitive HMI screen layouts and straightforward fault monitoring and recovery, to comprehensive data reporting.
Device Wiring

NBE bulk container discharging systems are plumbed using custom-formed, rigid conduit and flexible, poly-tubing. Numbered, or color-coded wires are pulled and secured to terminals between devices, junction boxes, main control component enclosures, and operator control stations. Poly-tubing is color-coded to simplify troubleshooting and maintenance of the equipment.

Other Automation and Control Systems

Power Unit

Power units include a large reservoir with a return line filter, sight gauge, and vented fill cap. Power units are mounted to the framework of the NBE bulk container discharger. Skid-mounted power units are also available.
Valve Stacks

Valve stacks provide a range of adjustability and control to the lift and rotation speeds of the bulk container lift carriage. For NBE bulk container discharge systems with the container lift-and-seal feature, NBE hydraulic valve stacks also enable adjustment of the hood-to-container seal pressure; ensuring an effective container seal without damaging the container.
Container Seal Cylinders

For NBE bulk container discharge systems with the container lift-and-seal feature, NBE container seal hydraulic cylinders raise the lift carriage, with the bulk container, to seal the top edge of the container into the internal flange of the discharge hood. The NBE lift-and-seal feature prevents foreign material on pallets or containers from contaminating the material stream.
Rotational Cylinders

Rotation cylinders provide the inversion actuation to the bulk container lift carriage; up to a 180-degree rotation. The NBE rotation cylinders also revert the lift carriage, and the bulk container, to their pre-inverted position in the discharge sequence of operation.
Mast Cylinders

Mast cylinders deliver hydraulic actuation required to safely raise the lift carriage and container to the discharge height. NBE bulk container discharging systems use a hydraulically driven mast cylinder, together with a carriage track-and-cam roller system, to eliminate side-to-side racking, and vertically convey containers, in excess of 4,000 pounds, to discharge heights exceeding 25 feet.
Rotolink™

Rotolink™ is a 3-bar mechanical linkage that provides a smooth, continuous-speed to the rotation of the lift carriage and bulk container; up to 180 degrees. The Rotolink feature, proprietary to NBE bulk container dischargers, uses a specific geometry, calculated for the application, to provide optimal balance and consistent force and velocity during the rotation action.

Bulk Container Dischargers

Upstream Performance Improving Downstream Efficiency

Features and Integration:

Container Discharger Configurations

Open-Bucket Container Dischargers

Sealed Container Dischargers

High-Lift Container Dischargers

Container Discharger Framework Construction

General Industrial Construction

Sanitary / Hygienic Construction

Wash Down Construction

Lift-and-Discharge Construction

Lift Carriage and Container Bucket Configurations

Floor-Loading Lift Carriage

Forklift-Loading Carriage

Infeed Conveyor-Loading Carriage

Material Discharge Hoods and Diverters

Material Discharge Hoods

Material Discharge Diverters

Safety Cage and Light Curtain Systems

Safety Cages

Light Curtains

Automation and Control Systems

Control Enclosures

PLC Programming

Device Wiring