Machine-Mounted Deduster Unit Helps Improve Part Quality

03-Aug-16

Lightweight dust, angel hair and streamers in otherwise high-quality polymer feedstock can cause cosmetic problems including haziness, gels and black spots, as well as mechanical flaws and housekeeping problems. To help processors avoid these problems, Conair is introducing the patented DeDuster^® C-50 separator, a compact, easy-to-use unit that can be mounted above the machine feedthroat. The extremely lightweight unit weighs just 20 lbs (9 kg) and requires only 9.5 inches (241 mm) of additional headroom above the feedthroat of the molding machine or extruder and loading or drying hoppers. It features stainless steel construction, 110 or 220 V operation and only consumes 2-3 CFM (3.4-5 m³/h) compressed air at 20-30 psi (1.5 – 2 bar) pressure.

A simple on/off switch starts the DeDuster C50. As raw material enters the unit, a servo-driven agitator eliminates bridging and regulates the flow. Then, compressed air is introduced directly from the plant-air system and split into two streams. One stream passes through an ionizer and into the body of the DeDuster and breaks the electrostatic bond between pellets and the dust/angel hair falling through it. At the same time, the second air stream passes through a venturi to create a vacuum that draws the lighter contaminants away as the heavier, clean pellets continue down into the processing machine. The dust and angel hair are carried into two mini-cyclones where that they fall out of suspension and into a clear catch bin. The air is exhausted through a filtered outlet.

The physics of the venturi, in combination with the strategically placed ionizer ensure that almost all dust and angel-hair streamers are separated from the pellets. The effectiveness of the system is immediately visible as the undesirable components accumulate in the clear catch bin. The DeDuster C50 separator yields clean dust-free pellets, which makes it ideal for medical processors and others that cannot accept imperfections in finished parts. Payback can be expected in about month based on reduced scrap levels.