Why is my oil press not feeding properly?
The situation of not feeding the oil press in the operation process will seriously affect the production efficiency, and may even lead to equipment damage. In this article, we will analyze in detail the five common reasons why the oil press does not feed, and provide specific solutions to help operators quickly troubleshoot and repair the problem.
The common reasons for the oil press not feeding and detailed solutions
1. The feed port or screen blockage caused by the oil press does not feed
The most common reason why the oil press does not feed is that the feed opening or screen is blocked by foreign objects. When the oil contains too many impurities, such as straw, stones, metal fragments, etc., these impurities will accumulate in the feed opening, preventing the oil from entering the press chamber normally. In addition, if the moisture content of the oil material is too high, it is easy to form a sticky substance in the feed opening, further aggravating the clogging problem.
Long-term failure to clean the screen is also an important factor leading to clogging. Fine particles and grease residues in the oil will gradually build up on the screen and eventually block the oil passage completely. It is recommended that the operator thoroughly cleans the screen and inlet after each shift. For oil with high impurity content, consider installing pre-cleaning equipment such as vibrating screens or magnetic separators to minimize the risk of clogging.
2. Screw shaft or press chamber failure affects feed efficiency
The screw shaft is the core component of the oil press and is responsible for pushing the oil material towards the press chamber. If the auger shaft is broken, badly worn or not properly broken in, it will not provide enough propulsion to move the oil into the press chamber. Newly purchased oil presses usually go through a break-in period where the machine is run over with cake meal until the surface of the screw becomes smooth.
Wear and tear of the press chamber will also affect the feed. After a long period of use, the inner wall of the press chamber may become grooved or deformed, resulting in oil retention. The operator should regularly check the condition of the press chamber, and if serious wear is found, the relevant parts should be replaced in time. In addition, the clearance between the screw shaft and the press chamber should be adjusted to a suitable range, too tight will increase the friction resistance, too loose will reduce the pressing efficiency.
3. Improper pretreatment of oilseeds causes feeding problems.
The physical state of oilseeds directly affects the feeding performance of the oil press. If the moisture content of the oilseed is too low (e.g., less than 5%), it will become too dry and easily stick to the press screw, forming a blockage. On the contrary, too much moisture (more than 12%) will lead to oil lumps, making it difficult to enter the press chamber smoothly. Ideally, the moisture content of oilseeds should be controlled between 8% and 10%.
Certain oilseeds (e.g. cottonseed) have fibrous lint on their surface, which may be entangled in the feeding device and cause blockage if they are pressed directly without delinting. In addition, improper fire control during frying of oilseeds can also affect the feed. Frying too light will lead to too wet oil, frying too heavy may make the oil carbonization, increasing the risk of clogging.
4. Improperly set equipment parameters lead to poor feed
Adjustment of the gap between the bar row and round row of the oil press is crucial for feeding. If the gap is set too tightly, it will be difficult for the oil to pass through; if it is too loose, it will not be able to form enough pressing force. Operators should refer to the manual to adjust the appropriate gap according to the type of oil and equipment model.
The size of the cake outlet also affects the feed. If the outlet is too small, the pressure inside the press chamber will be abnormally high, which will reverse and prevent the oil from entering. At this time, you can appropriately increase the thickness of the cake to balance the pressure of the press chamber. In addition, the oil tank clogging will also lead to the oil can not be discharged smoothly, thus affecting the feed, so you need to regularly clean the oil tank residue.
5. Influence of temperature abnormality on feeding and control methods
The temperature of the press chamber is a key factor affecting the fluidity of the oil. Too high temperature (more than 120°C) will lead to carbonization of oil, forming hard lumps and blocking the press chamber; too low temperature (less than 60°C) will make the oil sticky and poor fluidity. Before operation, the press chamber should be fully preheated to the ideal working temperature of 80-100°C. If the temperature of the press chamber is found to be abnormally high, it is recommended to preheat the press chamber.
If the temperature of the press chamber is found to be abnormally high, it should be shut down immediately to reduce the temperature, and if necessary, the press can be returned to cool the cake to reduce the temperature of the system. For electric heating type oil press, you can check whether the temperature control system is faulty; for traditional coal-fired heating equipment, you need to pay attention to the fire regulation to avoid local overheating.
Recommendations for daily maintenance and long-term maintenance of oil presses
In order to reduce the occurrence of non-feeding failure, it is recommended to establish a perfect equipment maintenance system:
- Daily maintenance: clean the screen, check the feed opening, remove the residual oil
- Weekly inspection: measure the wear of the screw shaft, adjust the gap between the press chamber
- Monthly maintenance: comprehensive disassembly and cleaning, replacement of badly worn parts.
For older equipment with frequent non-feeding problems, a specialized technician may be required to check hydraulic system pressure or motor drive efficiency. High-quality maintenance not only reduces malfunctions, but also prolongs the service life of the oil press and ensures a stable oil yield.
Through the above detailed analysis and solutions, operators can systematically troubleshoot and solve the problem of oil press not feeding to ensure the continuous and stable operation of the production line.