Volume In, Weight Out
A bucket conveyor carries a volume of product per hour. Our pendulum bucket conveyors are rated at 10–20 m³/h, depending on the model. The weigher and the packing machine downstream work in weight: fill weight per pack, packs per minute.
The same conveyor moves more kilograms of a dense product than of a light one. To know whether it can feed your line, convert its volume to weight with your product's bulk density.
The Conversion
Bulk density is the weight of a loose product per unit of volume, with the air between the pieces included. It is not the density of a single grain or kibble.
Check the units: 1 kg/L = 1,000 kg/m³, and 1 g/L = 1 kg/m³. A lab figure of 0.8 kg/L is 800 kg/m³.
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| Example bulk density | At 10 m³/h | At 20 m³/h |
|---|---|---|
| 800 kg/m³ | 8,000 kg/h | 16,000 kg/h |
| 400 kg/m³ | 4,000 kg/h | 8,000 kg/h |
| 150 kg/m³ | 1,500 kg/h | 3,000 kg/h |
Example densities only. Measure your own product: variety, piece size and moisture change the figure.
Compare It With Line Demand
Then work out what the packing line needs, counted in good packs:
Example: 1 kg bags at 40 good bags per minute are 2,400 bags per hour, so the line needs 2,400 kg/h. At 400 kg/m³ that is 6 m³/h of product. At 150 kg/m³ the same line needs 16 m³/h, near the top of the range.
Supply must stay above demand, so the weigher or filler never waits for product. We size the conveyor from your bulk density and the packing rate downstream.
How to Measure Bulk Density
- Take a container of known volume, such as a 1 L or 10 L measuring container.
- Pour the product in loosely from a fixed height. Do not tap or press it down.
- Level the top without compacting it.
- Weigh the product and divide by the volume. Repeat three times and use the average.
Measure the product as it reaches the conveyor, at the same temperature, moisture and piece size. Send us the figure with your sample; we check the conveyor throughput in kg/h in the packaging test.
Beyond the Conveyor
The conveyor is one stage. The weigher has to deliver enough doses per minute, the packing machine enough good packs, inspection enough accepted packs and case packing enough cases. The line runs at the pace of its slowest stage.
In line planning we check every stage in one capacity calculation, with your bulk density as the starting point. Line planning is free.
Check Your Line Capacity
Send your product, bulk density and packing target. We return a layout drawing, an equipment list and a capacity calculation, free of charge.
Plan Your Line