What are the core components of a fully automatic feeding machine?

The fully automatic feeding machine is a key equipment for achieving automated material conveying in modern industrial production, which includes multiple important core components.

1、 Conveyor system components

Conveyor belt or screw conveyor

In a belt type fully automatic feeding machine, the conveyor belt is one of the core components. It is made of high-strength rubber or polyurethane materials, with anti slip texture on the surface, which can smoothly carry and transport materials. The quality of the conveyor belt directly affects the stability and efficiency of feeding. For example, in the food processing industry, when transporting granular grains, the conveyor belt needs to have sufficient strength to withstand the weight of the material, while its surface cannot contaminate the grains.

For spiral feeders, the screw conveyor plays a crucial role. It consists of a helical shaft and helical blades, with the helical blades tightly welded onto the helical shaft. When the spiral shaft rotates, the spiral blades push the material forward along the chute. This conveying method is suitable for powdery, granular, and small block materials such as cement, fertilizers, and plastic pellets. The pitch, diameter, and other parameters of the screw conveyor are designed based on the characteristics of the material and the required conveying capacity.

Drive motor

The drive motor is a key component that provides power to the conveyor system. The power of the motor is selected based on factors such as the conveying capacity and distance of the feeding machine. Generally speaking, motors with higher power can drive the feeder to transport a large amount of material in a shorter period of time. Meanwhile, the speed of the motor can be adjusted through devices such as frequency converters to adapt to different production rhythms. For example, on high-speed automated production lines, motors can run at high speeds to quickly complete material conveying tasks.

2、 Storage bin and feeding components

Storage bin

The silo is an important component for storing materials, and its structural design needs to consider the flowability and stacking characteristics of the materials. The shape of the silo usually includes conical, square, etc. A conical silo can allow materials to naturally flow towards the discharge port under its own gravity, which is beneficial for the smooth discharge of materials. The material of the silo can be carbon steel, stainless steel, etc. Stainless steel silos have good corrosion resistance and are suitable for storing materials with high material requirements such as chemical raw materials.

Feeder

The feeder is installed at the discharge port of the silo to control the discharge speed and flow rate of the material. Common feeders include vibration feeders and impeller feeders. The vibration feeder uses the vibration generated by the vibration motor to evenly flow the material out of the silo, and it is suitable for granular and powdery materials. The impeller feeder uses a rotating impeller to extract materials from the silo, accurately controlling the flow rate of materials. It is commonly used in production processes that require precise batching.

3、 Control system components

Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)

PLC is the "brain" of the fully automatic feeding machine, which receives signals from sensors such as level sensors, speed sensors, etc., and controls the start and stop of the motor, the speed of the conveyor belt, the flow rate of the feeder, etc. according to preset programs. Through programming, PLC can achieve complex control logic, such as automatically adjusting the feeding speed based on the material level of the silo, or linking control with other production equipment.

sensor

The level sensor is an essential component in the control system, installed in the silo to detect the height of the material inside the silo. Common level sensors include ultrasonic sensors and capacitive sensors. Ultrasonic sensors measure the distance between materials and sensors by emitting and receiving ultrasonic signals, thereby determining the height of the material level. Capacitive sensors use the principle that the dielectric constant of materials is different from that of air to detect material levels. The accuracy and reliability of these sensors are crucial for ensuring the normal operation of the feeding machine.