What is a drying/cooling machine in the food industry?

A drying/cooling machine in the food industry is a device used for the simultaneous drying and cooling of food products, such as cereal pulp, pasta or spices, after their previous thermal processing. The drying process removes excess moisture, which preserves the consistency and shelf life of the product, while cooling prevents it from overheating and prepares it for further packaging or processing. After processing, the mass is fed onto a large cylinder on which it is dried, cooled and the thickness of the resulting “cake” is evened out and then cut from the machine. This process is important to maintain product quality and meet hygiene and sustainability standards in the production chain.

What is machine leveling?

Leveling industrial machinery is the process of precisely aligning machinery in the correct position to ensure stability and proper operation. It involves fine-tuning the machine’s position relative to the horizontal (the direction of gravity) using specialized tools such as machine levels, wedges or shims. Proper leveling is crucial because it minimizes stresses resulting from uneven gravity on the machine structure. With good leveling, we reduce the risk of component damage, increase the life of the machine and the accuracy of its operation.

What is the alignment of such devices?

Aligning the drive with respect to the machine’s axis of rotation involves fine-tuning the axes of rotating components, such as the drive shaft and the machine’s main rotating component, so that they are aligned coaxially. The process involves measuring the angular and parallel deviation between the axes, and then adjusting their alignment with adjustable supports and travel. Correct alignment minimizes vibration, reduces wear and tear on bearings and other mechanical components, and ensures efficient power transmission, resulting in higher machine reliability and performance.

Task: leveling and alignment

The service consisted of precise leveling of the machine body and drive, as well as precise alignment between the drive shaft and machine shaft. As part of the process, the rotary axes of both components were aligned to ensure their concentricity, which enabled smooth and efficient power transmission and minimized vibration. Finally, the entire assembly was leveled and full alignment was set, which improved the durability and accuracy of the machine.

Summary

The machine alignment process has achieved significant improvements in leveling and alignment. Position to level has been improved from 3.5mm of error to 0.5mm across the entire work area. Correct alignment of components in industry is crucial to ensure smooth machine operation, high production efficiency and quality of the final product.
It is recommended to regularly check and inspect the alignment of machine components to avoid breakdowns and keep machines running.

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