Automatic Mixing Line for Plastic Extruder

Automatic mixing line is a highly integrated system for automation of manufacturing processes: raw material handling, weighing, mixing and conveying of raw materials etc. The system is widely used in compounding and manufacturing of PVC dry blend, powder coatings, color masterbatch, pigments, thermoplastic rubbers, wood plastic composites(WPC), stone plastic composites.

Automatic Dosing
Dosing of multiple composites required by formula can be simply understood as weighing&metering of each composite automatically. Additionally, loading&feeding of raw materials to weighing device are also actuated by mechanism automatically. Kenneth adopts add-in-weight scale for general application of bulk solids. Loss-in-weight scale is used in few particular situations. As for liquid compositions such as DOP oil, the weighting scale is fairly similar with bulk solids while the feeding or onloading device changed to pumps.

Automatic Mixing
Once one batch size of formula composites been dosed, the system conveys raw materials to mixer as per command from system controller. Conveying mechanism, transition hopper, pipe line and valves are needed for the automatic operations. Unlike operation on a single mixer, automatic mixing operation requires additional processing variations on speed, temperature and time rather than a simple speed or temperature value setting. Additionally, feeding sequence of different composites to mixer at certain processing condition, discharge operation, and other mixing related operations are all performed automatically.

Automatic Conveying
The overall conveying concept in the system represents the transport of raw materials between modules. For example, powder solid raw materials transported from dumping station to weighing module, from weighing module to mixing module, from mixing module to next process. The conveying method varies as per physical characteristic of composite. Power/granule solid items use helical screw conveyor, pneumatic blower, while liquid items use pump. All related devices are controlled by system program automatically.

“Central Brain” PLC&HMI
To make all devices worked together and properly, the system has a central brain PLC control cabinet and HMI for manual operation and input. Besides automatic operations of whole system, the controller has protective programs for both human safety and equipment safety. Production data tracing and remote monitor and maintenance are also available.

Kenneth Automatic Mixing Line adopts industrial automation Siemens PLC control module. All operations are integrated on the control panel. Conveying of raw materials, weighing of batch size, feeding sequence of each composite, feeding method, mixing processing parameter setting, data record and production truce etc.
Advantages:
1. Minimize labor operation:
*Dramatically increase mixing process efficiency, maximize productivity.
*Reduce labor cost.
*Ensure weighing accuracy.
2. Consistency of mixing quality:
*Precise automatic weighing accuracy guarantees formula compliance.
*Step by step automatic operation as per formula processing requirements.
*Automatic injection of liquid composite ensure dispersion at best compounding zone.
3. Comfortable working ambient:
*Excellent dust control of powder shaped raw materials.
*Transportation of raw materials in closed pipelines ensure no contamination.
4. Raise company profile:
*Industrial 4.0 paragon.
*Clean workshop.
*Quality guarantee basis.

Applicable End-user with Following Considerations:
Complicated processing requirements.
Strict mixing compounding quality.
Large scale mass production.
High labor cost.
Dust-free working condition.
Special materials.