Screw Feeders

The feed screw mechanism, that has been around since ancient Egypt, is a screw conveyor that can efficiently and economically move powders, granular materials, wood chips, saw dust, and powdery materials from storage to production. Available in an assortment of feed screw designs and configurations of any size, these rapid feed screw mechanisms are the perfect solution for supplying production directly from storage.

What is a Screw Feeder?

A screw feeder, in simplest terms, consists of a tube with a feed screw down the center. As raw materials are fed into the tube, the feed screw turns and moves the material along to a discharge unit located at the end of the tube. The type of screw and the angle of its blades controls the volume of material that is moved at each turn.

As simple as this description may be, it does not cover the necessary engineering expertise needed to design a proper feeding mechanism. There are a number of factors required to determine the use of this conveyance device. The first consideration is the pitch of the blades of the screw, which has to be perfect to fit the characteristics of the product.

Prior to determining the pitch. The distance between the blades has to be calculated since that will determine the amount of product for each flight, the flight being the area between the blades. Once the flight is decided, the pitch has to be calculated such that it isn’t too great to cause the feeder to jam or too small to not move a sufficient amount of product. These design factors are carefully calculated to ensure optimum performance.

Types of Screw Feeders –

As with any type of conveyance device, screw feeders have to be designed to exactly fit the requirements of the product to be moved. This factor is an essential part of the decision process and determines the type of screw feeder, feeding mechanism, and speed of conveyance.

Though the design of feeders seems rather simple, there are variations to fit every type of product. The most obvious difference is in the type of screw, which can be tapered, have variations in pitch, or be a combination of factors. The main consideration is the type of material since a different type of feeder is required for grain than is used for powders.

Benefits of Screw Feeders –

The first and most prominent factor regarding the benefits of a screw feeder is its durability. Unlike conventional feeding methods, a screw type feeder is made from durable materials that are not pliable but are engineered to last. From the hopper to the discharge, every element of a screw feeder is solid state metal that is designed for longevity and endurance.

Another benefit of a screw method of feeding is speed, which can be varied according to the need of production. In operations that require products to be mixed and finished in a set time, screw feeders are the best choice.