Powder Feeding
Contact our powder feeding application specialist for more information:Mark Walton
Labman find that many customers request similar applications, and of these powder feeding is one that we perform time and time again. Many laboratories and workplaces are involved in the manual sampling and handling of powders. Such industries may be companies needing to dispense powder solids (and add liquids - such as in high throughput product making and testing), soil analysis (such as building sites), mining companies (flux and ore samples), plant samples in laboratories, food stuffs or metals.
Labman can fully or partially automate these processes to cut costs and improve throughput by working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Over the last 25 years Labman have become experts in the field of powder feeding, our customers wanting to feed many types of powders with a huge range of properties. We have therefore developed many techniques and pieces of equipment that allow different powders to be fed at different rates and tolerances.
Please contact Labman to find out how we can help! (mailroom@labman.co.uk)
Pin Feeding and Volumetric Dispensing
(Video 1 here)(Video 2 here)
One of the most common and reliable applications is the volumetric dispense. By using techniques such as the Labman pin feeder, a set volume of powder can be rapidly dispensed into vials, containers, tubes and dishes. This volume, as the density of the powders is consistent, results in highly accurate and reproducible dispenses. Powders that differ in density and consistency are fed in smaller dispenses, with multiple dispensing to achieve the final weight.
Spatula Feeding
This technique mimics the techniques used in the laboratory when weighing by hand. A specially developed robot with automatically interchangeable grippers and spatulas can pick specific spatulas of various shapes and sizes to handle powders of different particle size and consistency. Such a technique can avoid cross contamination and depending on the size of the spatulas can be very speedy while a little more inaccurate, or very precise.Vibro-Feeding
(Video here)Vibro-feeders are one of the most common applications. Labman tailor a bespoke robot to suit a customers particular requirement, for example to suit the containers they use in the lab, and create a system that will feed the powder from one container to another. This may be by tilting the container to create a pouring motion, or by piecing the container to make a small hole and shaking it rigorously. Containers have also been squeezed to create an effective pouring spout.
Pour Feeding
A simplistic technique needing few components to achieve. If powders are free flowing then we can simply pour them to dispense. By monitoring feed rates the powder is fed to the correct tolerances.Auger Feeding
(Video here)Auger feeders provide a good powder feeding method for samples that are otherwise difficult to feed. A screw thread runs through the centre of a container, which dispenses amounts of powder as it rotates. The size of the auger feeder and the rate of rotation dictates the rate of the feed and the accuracy. Labman can tailor these feeders to suit your application.
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