A flexible hopper micro feeder holds powder in a food-grade polyurethane hopper that external paddles gently massage, keeping difficult powders in constant motion without internal agitators. Combined with a single or twin discharge screw, it feeds bridging-prone, compacting, and shear-sensitive powders from 0.05 to 200 litres per hour with a crevice-free product zone.
Two external paddles alternately flex the hopper walls inward, continuously disturbing the powder mass so it cannot bridge or ratholes over the screw throat. Because agitation acts through the wall, no shaft, seal, or agitator intrudes into the product. The flexing also refills the screw flights uniformly, stabilising volume per revolution, while the polymer hopper lifts out complete for cleaning or dedicated-product exchange.
Challenges
Bridging of Cohesive Powders Over the Screw
Cohesive powders arch over the screw throat in rigid hoppers, starving the flights intermittently.
Agitator Shear and Seal Contamination
Internal agitators compact or shear sensitive powders and add a shaft seal directly in the product zone.
Hopper Material Compatibility
Polymer hoppers must resist the powder chemically and meet food and pharma contact regulations.
Limited Headload Capacity
Flexible hoppers cannot support tall powder columns or direct big-bag headloads.
Static Charging of the Polymer Wall
Insulating polymer walls accumulate charge from powder friction, attracting product and posing ignition risk.
Solutions
- External Wall Massage Eliminating Bridges: Alternating paddle flexing keeps the powder mass live at the throat, sustaining uniform screw fill with cohesive products.
- Sealless Product Zone Design: All mechanical action outside the product zone leaves a smooth, crevice-free interior with no dynamic seal to fail.
- Certified FDA and EU Contact Polyurethane: Hoppers moulded in FDA 21 CFR and EU 10/2011 compliant polyurethane grades cover food and pharma contact requirements.
- Buffer Hopper Decoupling Above the Feeder: A small rigid buffer with level control above the flexible hopper isolates it from column and big-bag headloads.
- Antistatic Hopper Grade with Earthing: Conductive polyurethane grades bonded to the frame earth dissipate charge below incendive levels.
Applications
- Pharma Excipient and API Feed: Feeding cohesive actives and excipients in continuous and batch pharma processes.
- Sticky Flavour and Seasoning Dosing: Metering hygroscopic seasoning blends at snack coating drums.
- Pigment Dosing with Dedicated Hoppers: Colour-dedicated interchangeable hoppers eliminating cross-contamination at changeover.
- Nutraceutical Premix Feeding: Gentle feeding of vitamin premixes that compact under agitators.
- Fine Chemical Powder Dosing: Feeding compacting fine chemicals in crevice-free contained execution.
Model Range and Capacity: JBM-MF-F Series
Basis: Rates at 2 to 100 percent screw speed, kg/h at 0.6 t/m3, FDA/EU-grade PU hopper.
| Model | Screw Dia (mm) | Feed Rate (L/h) | Rate (kg/h) @ 0.6 t/m3 | Hopper (L) | Massage Paddles | Contact Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JBM-MF-F12 | 12 | 0.05 – 4 | 0.03 – 2.4 | 6 | 2 | PU / SS 316L |
| JBM-MF-F20 | 20 | 0.5 – 25 | 0.3 – 15 | 12 | 2 | PU / SS 316L |
| JBM-MF-F30 | 30 | 2 – 80 | 1.2 – 48 | 20 | 2 | PU / SS 316L |
| JBM-MF-F40 | 40 | 5 – 200 | 3 – 120 | 40 | 2 | PU / SS 316L |