The screw conveyor is one of the most widely used and critical continuous conveying equipment in feed mills. Its simple structure, low cost, excellent sealing, and easy operation make it ideally suited for various processes in feed production.
Coreal Machinery has compiled some information for your reference.
I. Application Scenarios of Screw Conveyors in Feed Mills
1. Raw Material Receiving and Cleaning
- Horizontal Conveying: Conveys raw materials horizontally from the discharge pit to the elevator inlet, and then into the silo.
- Inclined Conveying: Conveys raw materials from the ground to a higher cleaning screen or elevator.
2. Batching and Mixing Processes
- Micro-component Addition: The core application of screw conveyors is the precise micro-delivery of premixes, vitamins, minerals, and other additives to the mixer. A variable pitch/diameter design is often used to ensure uniform material delivery, coupled with high-precision sensors for closed-loop control.
- Main Raw Material Conveying: Conveys main raw materials such as corn flour and bran weighed on a batching scale to the mixer.
3. Post-Pelletizing Process
- Post-Cooling Conveying: Horizontally conveys pellet feed from the cooler to a crusher or elevator.
- Crushed Pellets Conveying: Conveys crushed feed to a screening system.
4. Finished Product Packaging and Distribution
- Bagging Bin Feeding: Conveys finished feed from the baling bin to the buffer bin of the baling scale.
- Palletizing/Loading: In some automated systems, horizontally conveys and stacks packaged bagged feed over short distances.
5. Auxiliary Systems
- Dust Removal System: Collects and conveys dust removed from the dust collector, typically using a shaftless screw to prevent clogging.
- Debris Handling: Conveys by-products such as light and heavy debris separated by the cleaning screen.
II.Advantages of Screw Conveyors
- 1. Excellent Sealing: The fully enclosed trough effectively prevents dust from blowing out, protecting the environment and reducing material loss, meeting the strict hygiene and environmental protection requirements of feed mills.
- 2. High Flexibility: It can be installed horizontally, tilted, or even vertically, offering flexible layouts and adapting to complex feed mill structures.
- 3. Simple Structure and Low Cost: Manufacturing, installation, and maintenance costs are relatively low, resulting in a high cost-effectiveness.
- 4. Easy Operation and Maintenance: Simple operation facilitates common maintenance tasks such as replacing hanging bearings and seals.
- 5. Versatility: It can perform both pure conveying tasks and simple processes such as mixing, stirring, heating, and cooling during conveying.
III. Key Maintenance Points
- 1. Regular Cleaning and Inspection: Clean any remaining material from the machine casing at the end of each shift. Check the screw blades weekly for wear and replace them if they are worn to half their original thickness.
- 2. Lubrication and Seal Maintenance: Lubricate the bearings with lithium-based grease monthly. Check the seals quarterly for leaks or unusual noises. Replace the seals immediately.
- 3. Load and Speed Monitoring: Monitor the motor current in real time using the PLC system. Any abnormally high current should prompt a shutdown to check for material blockage or screw shaft deformation. Avoid prolonged overload operation to prevent screw shaft breakage.
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