By Greg Washburn and Joshua Belisle · Edited by Dana Gardner
Published August 8, 2024 · Reviewed by Greg Washburn · August 31, 2026
Summary
How does a Gaylord sweeper system unload resin?
A sweeper system unloads a Gaylord with a rotating, slotted pickup tube connected by flexible hose to a vacuum source. The Gaylord, still on its pallet, sits under a frame that supports the tube, which rotates on top of the material and vacuums it to the destination. The device needs no compressed air, has no pinch points, and runs without operator attention once unloading starts.
This unique Gaylord unloading device does not require compressed air, has no pinch points and requires no human intervention, once the unloading process has started. The principle is simple. The Gaylord on a pallet is placed under a frame that supports a new type of slotted pickup tube that is attached to a flexible hose with a vacuum source. The pickup tube is rotated around on top of the material and literally vacuums up the material and transfers it to the destination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Gaylord sweeper need compressed air?
No. The sweeper system does not require compressed air. The pickup tube is rotated over the material and the vacuum source pulls the resin through the flexible hose to its destination. The design also has no pinch points.
Does someone have to attend a Gaylord sweeper while it unloads?
No. Once the unloading process has started, the sweeper requires no human intervention. The Gaylord on its pallet is placed under the frame, the slotted pickup tube is set on top of the material, and the tube rotates around on its own, vacuuming up the resin and transferring it to the destination.
About the Authors
Vice President of Operations, Novatec
Greg Washburn is Vice President of Operations at Novatec and has been with the company for more than three decades. He is involved in all phases of engineering design and product manufacturing, giving him a broad perspective on how resin drying and conveying equipment moves from engineering concept through production and into real-world processing environments. Greg holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and an MBA from Loyola University Maryland. His experience spans engineering, manufacturing and operations across Novatec’s material-handling technologies.
Technology Manager, Novatec
Joshua Belisle is Technology Manager at Novatec, where his work focuses on simulation and technology development for resin drying. He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Engineering Business from the University of Virginia in 2023 and joined Novatec that same year. Joshua uses simulation tools to investigate previously difficult-to-measure aspects of the drying process, helping Novatec better understand airflow, heat transfer and other variables that influence resin-drying performance.
Related Articles
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