Beyond the sledgehammer: The evolution of vibrating bin activators
Powder flow problems are old news, but ways of handling them are constantly evolving. This article examines the development of vibrating bin activators and explains how these flow aids have been fine-tuned to handle today's flow challenges.
Before 1960, workers in powder and bulk solids handling plants used sledgehammers and primitive vibrators called "thumpers" to promote flow from bins. Thankfully, those days are over -- and with them, costly damage to bins and compaction problems at the bin outlet.