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[JPO]

We pack lots of powders into pouches on vertical form fill seal machines (VFFS). These are filled with rotating augers that meter the product into the pouch. Some products run just fine. Some don't.

Some products fuse to the augers or the filler tubes (or both) from friction of rotation. These augers spin at 500-2000 RPM when filling.

I'm trying to find (or in the absence of a standardized test, develop) a testing method to see if a product will run or won't run in the filling equipment without making an entire batch of product.

I'm thinking that a steel block with a hole in it and a corresponding rotating post that fits the hole with tolerances similar to the tolerances we use in our auger/filler tube combo should work.

Put product in the hole, turn on pretend auger (drill press), lower auger into hole. Product moves up the sides of the auger a bit and you hold the auger down for X number of seconds. Lift auger and see if there's any fused product on the sides of the auger or hole.

I'm at a loss.

Help.

[Simon]

Can anyone help JPO with this question?

Thanks,
Simon