Applications Of Plc In Flour Mill

• 01.

  Start and Stop: The flour mill contains multiple motors, such as the grinding motor used to drive the grinding rollers and the conveying motor for transporting materials. Through the PLC, the start and stop control of these motors can be realized in a predetermined order. For example, during startup, the conveying motor is started first to transport wheat and other raw materials to the appropriate position, and then the grinding motor is started to avoid problems such as material accumulation; when stopping, the order is reversed. The grinding motor is stopped first, and then the conveying motor is stopped after the materials are basically processed to prevent residual materials from affecting the next startup.

• 02.

  Speed Regulation: Different processing steps may require the motor to operate at different speeds. The PLC can be connected to a frequency converter to accurately adjust the motor speed according to the process requirements. For example, in the grinding process, for different qualities of wheat or when grinding flour with different fineness, the speed of the grinding motor can be controlled by the PLC to ensure the best grinding effect.

• 01.

  Feeding Stage: The PLC can be used in conjunction with electronic weighing sensors and flow sensors. In the feeding stage before the wheat enters the flour mill, the sensors monitor the flow of materials in real time and send signals back to the PLC. Based on the preset feeding amount standard, the PLC accurately adjusts the flow of wheat into the flour mill by controlling the speed of the feeding motor or the opening of the valve, ensuring the uniformity and stability of the grinding process and thus guaranteeing the consistency of the flour quality.

• 02.

  Ingredient Control (if there is a mixture of multiple materials for processing): If other auxiliary materials need to be added during the flour production process, the PLC can also accurately control the addition amount of various auxiliary materials according to the preset ingredient ratio to ensure that the final flour product meets the corresponding formula requirements.

• 01.

  Temperature Monitoring: During the long-term operation of the flour mill, components such as grinding rollers may overheat due to friction, affecting the normal operation of the equipment and the quality of the flour. The PLC can be connected to a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of key parts in real time. Once the temperature exceeds the set threshold, an alarm signal is immediately issued, and corresponding measures can also be taken, such as suspending the equipment operation or starting a cooling device.

• 02.

  Vibration Monitoring: When certain components of the equipment are loose or worn, abnormal vibrations usually occur. Vibration sensors are installed on the flour mill, and the detected vibration signals are transmitted to the PLC. The PLC analyzes parameters such as vibration frequency and amplitude to determine whether the equipment is in normal operation. If abnormal vibrations occur, an alarm is issued in time to remind the staff to carry out maintenance and avoid further expansion of the fault.

• 03.

  Overload Protection: If the motor and other loads are overloaded, the equipment is easily damaged. The PLC can monitor the current and other parameters of the motor in real time. When the current exceeds the normal operating range, it is determined as an overload, and the power supply is quickly cut off to protect the motor and other related equipment and prompt the operator with overload fault information.

• 01.

  Operation According to Process Sequence: The PLC strictly controls the sequence of each step in the flour production process, from raw material cleaning, wheat tempering, grinding, sieving to finished product packaging, based on the pre-programmed program. The start, operation time, and stop of the equipment in each step can be accurately controlled to ensure that the entire production process is carried out in an orderly manner, reducing the errors and uncertainties that may be caused by manual intervention.

• 02.

  Remote Control and Monitoring (Optional Function): With the help of the network communication module, the PLC can upload the operating status information of the flour mill equipment to the remote monitoring platform. Managers can remotely view the equipment operating parameters, production progress, etc. in the central control room or through mobile devices, and can also remotely issue control instructions to realize the remote operation of the equipment, which greatly facilitates production management, especially for large flour production enterprises with multiple workshops and multiple sets of equipment.

• 01.

  Improving Production Efficiency: Through precise automated control, the time consumption and possible errors in manual operation are reduced. The connection between each step is tight, and the equipment can operate continuously and stably, effectively improving the production efficiency of flour.

• 02.

  Enhancing Product Quality: The accurate control of key parameters such as material flow, motor speed, and processing temperature ensures that the quality indicators such as the grinding fineness and composition ratio of the flour are more stable and meet the standard requirements.

• 03.

  Reducing Maintenance Costs: The timely equipment status monitoring and fault alarm function enable the staff to detect potential problems of the equipment as early as possible and carry out maintenance in advance, avoiding serious damage to the equipment, prolonging the service life of the equipment, and reducing the losses caused by maintenance costs and equipment downtime.

In conclusion, the application of PLC in flour mill equipment plays a crucial role in promoting the automation and intelligent development of the flour production industry and significantly improves the economic benefits and market competitiveness of enterprises.