A new Bulk Bag Conditioner-Unloader System from Flexicon Corporation loosens bulk solid material that has solidified during storage and shipment, allowing the material to discharge through a bag spout.

The integral configuration of the conditioner eliminates the time, labor and equipment needed for separate loading of bulk bags into a stand-alone conditioner. The design also consumes significantly less floor space than two separate pieces of equipment and requires less material and labor to construct, reducing initial cost, according to the company.

Two hydraulic rams with contoured end plates press opposing sides of bulk bags, which can be raised and lowered for conditioning at varying heights using an electric hoist. The hoist assembly also includes a motorized trolley to allow loading and unloading of bulk bags without the need for a forklift.

The conditioner's controller and hydraulic pump can be mounted on the exterior of the unloader or remotely. Safety interlocks disallow operation of the conditioner when the unloader's doors are open.

The unloader also features a SPOUT-LOCK^® clamp ring that forms a high-integrity seal between the clean side of the bag spout and the clean side of the equipment, while a TELE-TUBE^® telescoping tube maintains constant downward pressure on the clamp ring and bag spout, elongating the bag as it empties to promote complete discharge.

Immediately above the clamp ring is a POWER-CINCHER^® flow control valve employing a series of curved, articulated rods that cinch the bag spout concentrically, allowing dust-free retying and removal of partially-empty bags.

The surge hopper is equipped with an optional dual-shaft agitator that de-agglomerates material and promotes flow into an optional, integral auger conveyor to feed a downstream process.

The entire unloading frame is mounted on load cells that transmit loss-of-weight data to a controller that starts and stops the auger conveyor, allowing programmable weigh batching directly from bulk bags.