Flaker Descripting Information
General description This machine is designed for its usage in the oilseed industry, being its main function to transform the crushed seeds into flakes of small thickness, for its later oil extraction by means of mechanical pressing or by solvent. This machine is composed of two revolving rolls, mounted over two spherical roller bearings in its extremes. Each roll has two extremes, one is permanent, and the other is erected on dump bodies, as explained below. These rolls are both driven. Pressure between the rollers is the one that produces the necessary force for the transformation of the split seed into flakes. This pressure is given by two hydraulic cylinders that drive the moving bearing-holder bodies, which ones dump on bolts linked to the framework of the machine. Cylinders are fed by means of a hydraulic central for this purpose. Framework of the machine consists of a machined nodular casting, and two headers also cast bolted to this. Driving of the rolls is made by means of 2 electric motors. Transmission is carried out through belts of trapezoidal section, which are protected by means of metallic covers bolted to the framework of the machine. The machine is linked to an appropriated foundation in order to support required efforts. Feeding is carried out from the upper part by means of an external hopper to the machine, driven by a motor gear-box. Extraction of product (flakes of seeds) is by gravity and is collected by a conveyor located underneath of the foundation of this equipment. 2
Main components Supporting base It s built using steel plates bent and welded from different thicknesses, thickening it where design conditions required so. This has been carefully studied in order to provide robustness and rigidity to the structure so it can perform its function, considering that, as it is the chassis of the equipment it must not transfer vibrations to mobile components like bearings or rollers, as these components are costly and must be prevented for early or abnormal wearing. Fixed bearing holder head These holders are built from cast iron from optimal quality. The smooth finish acquired in the inner diameter guaranties the strict tolerance set to fabrication are verified on each unit, making that way a perfect assembly and spare parts interchangeable. Moving bearing holder head This head pivots in its lower part, by means of an inserted pin, which is connected to the fixed head. It s articulated with the hydraulic cylinder to perform the crushing force, during process. Its fabrication process is similar to the fixed bearing holder head. 3
Bearings Bearings are SKF spherical roller bearings and the supporting covers have seals and traps to block dust or particles to enter which would affect lubricant grease properties. Lamination rolls The lamination rolls that are equipped in our machines are made from indefinite chill cast iron and they count with a hard external surface which is highly resistant to wear, even when processing seeds with a relevant percentage of impurity, but the performance is obtained processing seeds as clean as possible. Within the range of quality for commercial rolls, ours are in the group of higher performance and working life, nevertheless it s necessary to frequently check and maintain them, as detailed below, in order to obtain the expected results. Hydraulic system Is a key component of the machine as its function is to perform the crushing force needed to reach the correct thickness of the flakes. Another function is to protect the rolls when a strange object is mixed with the seeds about to be laminated, mainly when these objects are metallic. This system is composed by 2 cylinders mounted one at each side of the equipment and linked to the fixed bearing holder heads by means of inserted pins; at the other end, the piston rods are linked to the moving bearing holder heads. The rods are threaded at some part of its length where the safety nut and the fixing washer work to perform the regulation of the gap between rolls. Another important element is the buffer vessel which its function is to reserve the energy required to quickly opening the rolls in the case of a strange object gets into the system, like bolts, bearing balls, steel scrap, etc, and then putting them back to the original position as soon as the object is gone. 4
It also has incorporated in the head of the cylinder a safety valve which, after going over a 50% of the working pressure, triggers the opening of the working chamber of the cylinder getting the oil off allowing the rollers to separate almost instantaneously letting pass the object what caused the raise of the working pressure. The force performed over the rolls by hydraulic pressure can be up to 20.000 kg, varying according the needs by modifying pressure on the regulating valve. A complete list of components can be looked up on the drawing 513206 and its attached spare part list. Electrical system This system makes the functioning of the equipment by giving the power and the logic of working. It s over dimensioned in order to prolong the working life of its components. Control Panel description Key 1 bypass the logic of the system by setting off the flow sensor. In automatic position it will allow the sensor to work so seed will be let in the equipment. On Manual position the logic will be bypassed in order to perform set up operations, and the seed will not enter. Push buttons 2, 3 and 4 are to star or stop the engines for the rollers and for the hydraulic system that actions the moving heads of the bearing holders. The ammeters on 5, are measuring the power consumption of each engine for rollers. Push button nº6 is the emergency stop. 5
Scrapper blades The flaker has in the lower part of the rolls a system of scrapper blades pressed against them by springs to scrap out any particle that may had been stuck to roll s surface in order to assure a correct flaking. The scraping system consists in a bent sheet frame (1) where the blades (2) are bolted to the swinging arms (3). These arms are pivoting thanks to bushings (4) in their ends where the axle (5) is inserted. The axle is linked to the equipment s frame (6). To regulate the gap between the roll and the blade there is a bolt welded to the frame (7) that rests over one of the arms, the spring arms (8) have the function to keep the blade next to the roll. 6
Rotary feeder Rotary feeder is assembled directly over the flaker. It is designed to produce a seed curtain of constant and uniform thickness throughout the complete feeding line over the roll, which is essential in order to achieve an even wear. The feeding roll (1) spins with uniform speed, driven by a gearbox motor (2). Regulation of the feeding is made by a valve carefully designed and driven externally (3). Seed curtain, in its fall, pass through a magnetic trap (4) that withhold all the metallic elements that may cause damage to the flaking rolls. It is important a periodical inspection and cleaning every 2 or 3 hours of the mentioned trap when there is no other trap upstream the process 7
Feeding hopper with continuous weighting This component s function is to regulate feeding flow to the flaker. It s located over the feeding system and has a universal strain gage to provide information for the automatization of the feeding system (see point 5.9). From one side the hopper (1) is pivoting (2) and the other is hanging from the strain gage (3) so any variation in the weight is transformed into information through the transducer that send a signal to the PLC to command the speed of the feeding roll by varying the signal through the inverter linked to the motor. The strain gage is only provided for two of the three flakers, this is because they are part of the automation system and are only needed in the two last flakers of the line so as to give the sign to regulate the feeding. It also has a level limit switch (4) that commands the logic of the system by detecting the presence of seeds accumulated on the hopper, if there are no signal the PLC commands the stop of the feeding roll. 8
Canalizing systems These systems have the function of guiding the seed curtain (1) at every side to lead it inside the rolls working area. There front (2), rear (3) and lateral (4) canalizing systems which are regulated by screws 9
Contact us for more information MAPCA S.A. Av Fillippini 1343 2124 Villa Gobernador Gálvez Argentina Tel. +54 341 4921910 / 12 / 14 e-mail: allocco@allocco.com.ar www.allocco.com.ar MAPCA S.A. reserves the right to introduce changes without any advertisement