A mixing silo for bulk material comprises a silo container, a mixing installation mounted in the silo container for mixing the bulk material, at least one shut-off element for shutting off the mixing installation, wherein the mixing silo has a minimum extraction rate and the silo container, with the mixing installation shut off, has a residual cross-sectional area which ensures a mass flow of the bulk material that is greater than or equal to the minimum extraction rate of the mixing silo.

A processing system for bulk material comprises a processing device for the bulk material, at least one bulk material storage container for storing the bulk material, a bulk material dosing device connected to the at least one bulk material storage container for dosed discharge of the bulk material from the bulk material storage container, a bulk material downcomer connected to the bulk material dosing device for conveying the bulk material into the processing device, at least one additive feed for feeding an additive, an additive dosing device connected to the at least one additive feed for dosed discharge of the additive from the additive feed, and an additive downcomer connected to the additive dosing device for conveying the additive into the processing device, wherein the bulk material downcomer directly connects the bulk material dosing device to the processing device.

A method for processing pharmaceutical powders, which comprises providing a feeder module including a plurality of feeder units each with a storage hopper, a weighing cell, a conveyer, and a discharge end, connecting the storage hopper to a refilling system with a refilling valve, connecting the refilling valve to a level or weight indicator disposed above the refilling valve, connecting the discharge end to a common receiving container, refilling the storage hopper with a powder intermittently 40 to 80 times per hour, storing data during refilling, transporting powder from the storage hopper with the respective conveyer, and discharging powder from each feeder unit into the common receiving container. During each refilling of the storage hopper, the refilling valve dispenses powder into the storage hopper and, during the step of transporting the powder from the storage hopper, the conveyer is operated according to the data collected during previous refills.

A method for processing pharmaceutical powders, which comprises providing a feeder module including a plurality of feeder units each with a storage hopper, a weighing cell, a conveyer, and a discharge end, connecting the storage hopper to a refilling system with a refilling valve, connecting the refilling valve to a level or weight indicator disposed above the refilling valve, connecting the discharge end to a common receiving container, refilling the storage hopper with a powder intermittently 40 to 80 times per hour, storing data during refilling, transporting powder from the storage hopper with the respective conveyer, and discharging powder from each feeder unit into the common receiving container. During each refilling of the storage hopper, the refilling valve dispenses powder into the storage hopper and, during the step of transporting the powder from the storage hopper, the conveyer is operated according to the data collected during previous refills.

A deodorization method and apparatus are disclosed to eliminate, reduce or correct the odour of incoherent plastics, i.e. in the form of granules and/or microgranules and/or powder and/or flakes or the like, with a container of the incoherent plastics, an actuator for generating a process gas flow from a gas inlet to a gas outlet of said container, an olfactory sensor arranged to detect odorous emissions in the process gas exiting from said container, a controller configured to control at least one parameter of the process gas on the basis of an odour intensity measured by said olfactory sensor, with the aim of eliminating the substances that cause undesired odours from the incoherent plastics that is usable in a transformation process to make an end product.

A blower unit for pneumatic mixers, comprising: a hollow element internally defining a duct, extending between an input section and an output section, for the passage of an air flow between said sections, wherein said input section can be connected to a source of pressurised air and said output section can be connected to a manifold of a pneumatic mixer; a shutter suitable to shut off said airflow through said output section in a controlled manner; an actuator connected to the shutter and configured to regulate the position of the shutter; the hollow element has a first end portion, at said output section, that can be reversibly coupled to a corresponding end portion of the manifold and wherein the blower unit further comprises first reversible connecting means to establish a reciprocal connection between the end portions.

A method changes the material from a feed mixture to a subsequent mixture in a feed device of an extruder, the method comprising the steps of detecting a change request for changing the material, emptying a mixing area of a mixing device of the feed device, identifying the completion of the emptying of the mixing area, and filling the mixing area of the mixing device with the subsequent mixture after the completion of the emptying has been identified.

A method changes the material from a feed mixture to a subsequent mixture in a feed device of an extruder, the method comprising the steps of detecting a change request for changing the material, emptying a mixing area of a mixing device of the feed device, identifying the completion of the emptying of the mixing area, and filling the mixing area of the mixing device with the subsequent mixture after the completion of the emptying has been identified.

A self-cleaning dosing apparatus includes a material hopper for containing pellets of material, a feed screw, a first material outlet through which pellets of material fall by gravity onto a first end of the feed screw for the feeding of pellets to a process machine. A second material outlet is located beneath the first end of the feed screw, with a slide gate blocking the second material outlet. A pneumatic piston is provided for pulling the slide gate to unblock the second material outlet, and a Venturi pump is located under the second material outlet for pulling pellets through the second material outlet when the slide gate is opened.

A self-cleaning dosing apparatus includes a material hopper for containing pellets of material, a feed screw, a first material outlet through which pellets of material fall by gravity onto a first end of the feed screw for the feeding of pellets to a process machine. A second material outlet is located beneath the first end of the feed screw, with a slide gate blocking the second material outlet. A pneumatic piston is provided for pulling the slide gate to unblock the second material outlet, and a Venturi pump is located under the second material outlet for pulling pellets through the second material outlet when the slide gate is opened.