Glossary and Abbreviations - Unido

Bagging equipment
Flours are filled and sealed into paper or polythene bags
for retail sale, or into polypropylene, multi-wall paper or
cotton sacks for bulk sales. Most small-scale processors fill
bags and sacks by hand and then check the filled weight
on scales, but this is time-consuming. Faster filling can be
achieved using a manual or semi-automatic bagging
machine (Fig. 5.1), which is adjustable for different fillweights.
Flour is released from a hopper into a weighing
section, and the correct weight is then dropped into a bag
or sack.
An auger carries flour to the weighing/bagging machine. It
is important that this is set up correctly because the
product feedrate of the auger affects the accuracy of the
weighing/bagging. Two bolts join sections of auger
machine and it is important that the spring washers are in
place and the bolts are fully tightened (a loose bolt can
severely damage the auger).
Fig. 5.1 Bagging machine
All connecting sleeves should be fully tightened to prevent the auger sagging (if this happens
the auger will cut through the outer tube and destroy it). Guards should be fitted over all drive
belts. A starter should be used for the conveyor motor, and located on a wall, not on the
auger or motor. Never wire a motor directly to a socket. Wiring should be an adequate size to
prevent a voltage drop and a competent electrician should set the overloads to match the
rated current of the motor and check that it rotates in the correct direction.
If it is necessary to service the auger or remove a blockage, make sure that the
motor is isolated and that all guards are replaced before reconnecting the power
supply.
To operate the auger, switch on the motor and feed material into the intake end. If material
does not flow evenly from the discharge end, check that:
• The motor is turning in the correct direction
• The auger is turning
• V-belts and chains are tightened
• Extensions are properly connected
• The auger turns freely in the tube
• Material is not bridging over the inlet
• An obstruction has not entered the auger tube
• The outlet spout is not obstructed by product (this will lead to a build-up of material in
the tube which will damage the top of the auger)
• Flour is not damp as this could build up on the inside of the tube, reducing the
clearance with the auger and eventually causing it to stall. If this happens, remove
the auger and clean the tube.
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