Powder Feeding
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. We have 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!
Examples of feeding techniques include:
Pin Feeding and Volumetric Dispensing
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 dispenses 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 precise but sometimes slow, or very speedy while a little more inaccurate.Vibro-Feeding
Vibro-feeders are one of the most common applications. Labman tailor a bespoke robot to suit a customers particular requirement for different containers, rack layouts, labeling etc.. Caps can be pierced and material fed in a manner similar to a salt cellar. 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
Auger feeders can provide a good powder feeding method for samples that are otherwise difficult to feed. Powders do need to be relatively free flowing. 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.