Inclined Shaftless Screw Conveyor for Plastics Recycling Project

General Description

EPIC provides engineering design and complete turnkey systems. As an integrator for various processing industries, EPIC provides solutions that convert raw materials into finished products. Successful projects have been completed in many industries, including food, chemicals, recycling, and electric vehicles.

As part of a system for recycling plastic waste, KWS provided EPIC with an incline shaftless screw conveyor to compact plastic fluff to reduce volume and increase density. The new conveyor was an integral component to another successful EPIC turnkey solution.

Incline Shaftless Screw Conveyor Compacts Plastic Fluff to Reduce Volume and Increase Density

Design Parameters

Product Type: Plastic Fluff
Design Temperature: Ambient
Material Density: 20 Lbs. per Cubic Foot
Capacity: 100 Cubic Feet per Hour
Duty: Intermittent

KWS Advantages

Engineers from EPIC and KWS collaborated closely on the system design to ensure project success. KWS employs more degreed engineers than all other screw conveyor manufacturers combined. The wealth of experience and knowledge provided by KWS made the project easy. Quick delivery of the new shaftless screw conveyor helped keep the project ahead of schedule.

KWS Special Features

The housing of the new KWS shaftless screw conveyor was constructed from 304 stainless steel for corrosion resistance, while the shaftless spiral was manufactured from high strength, abrasion resistant carbon steel alloy.

Plastic fluff is very light and can easily bridge. KWS utilized a flared trough inlet section to keep the walls of the transition at 90 degrees and allow the width of the conveyor inlet to match the width of the equipment upstream. Plastic fluff could drop freely in the conveyor and potential bridging was avoided. KWS provided a unique weighted door at the end of the conveyor to compact the plastic fluff.

Hold downs were located directly over the centerline of the conveyor to keep the shaftless spiral in proper alignment. Spirals tend to “climb out” of the trough in the direction of rotation and bulk materials can sometimes get under the spiral, causing premature failure.

KWS machines every shaftless screw conveyor drive shaft from solid bar with a generous radius at the shaft to coupling flange transition to provide an unbreakable connection. The KWS one-piece drive shaft will not fail under fatigue or torsional loading. Expensive downtime is minimized, creating a maintenance and worry-free operation. All one-piece flanged drive shafts are guaranteed for life.