What key items should be included in the daily inspection and regular maintenance of ore feeding equipment

The stable operation of a mining production line depends on meticulous management of every piece of equipment. As the "first checkpoint" of the entire process, the health of the ore feeding equipment directly determines the efficiency of subsequent crushing, grinding, and other processes. Therefore, systematic, professional daily inspections and regular maintenance of feeders are crucial. This not only effectively extends equipment life but also fundamentally reduces failure rates, ensuring continuous and safe production.

Daily Inspection: A "Quick Health Check" Before Production
Daily inspections are mandatory checks performed by operators before, during, and after equipment shutdown. They aim to quickly identify potential problems and prevent minor issues from becoming major failures.

Appearance and Cleanliness Inspection: Inspect the feeder exterior for visible damage, cracks, or foreign matter. Pay particular attention to key components such as the drive chain, chain, and vibrator, ensuring they are free of dust and adhesion. Keeping equipment clean effectively reduces wear and poor heat dissipation.

Fastener Inspection: Equipment generates constant vibration and impact during operation, which can easily loosen bolts. Check all bolts and nuts, especially fasteners on the motor base, vibrator, liner, and chain plates. Tighten any loose parts immediately to prevent secondary damage caused by loose components.
Lubrication System Inspection: Verify that all lubrication points, such as bearing seats and drive chains, are adequately lubricated with grease or oil. Check the oil lines for unobstructed flow and leaks. Promptly replenishing or replacing lubricants is fundamental to reducing friction and extending component life.
Drive System Inspection: For vibratory feeders, check the connection of the vibration motor coupling. For apron feeders, check the drive chain for proper tension and any binding or unusual noise between the chain plates. Drive system problems are often a precursor to equipment failure.
Binister and Feeder Port Inspection: With the equipment shut down, inspect the silo outlet for signs of blockage and the feeder trough for foreign objects or large pieces of material. Prompt cleaning can prevent damage from overload during startup.

Regular Maintenance: A Systematic "In-Depth Checkup"
Regular maintenance is typically performed weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually, based on the equipment's operating time or production cycle. It's more in-depth than routine inspections, aiming to comprehensively assess and adjust equipment wear and performance parameters.
Inspecting and replacing wear parts: This is the core of regular maintenance. Wear parts vary depending on the feeder type.
Vibratory feeders: Mainly inspect the trough liner and screen bars for wear. When wear reaches a certain level (usually 50% or more of the original thickness), replacement is necessary to protect the main trough structure.
Apron feeders: Focus on inspecting wear of the chain, sprockets, and liner. Pay particular attention to wear on the chain pins and bushings, as this directly affects transmission smoothness. Severe wear should be promptly replaced.
Trough and reciprocating feeders: Inspect the bottom plate liner for wear and the condition of the slideways.
Electrical system inspection: Check the insulation and connections of the motor, cables, and control cabinet. Use specialized instruments to measure the motor's current and voltage to ensure they are within the normal operating range. Check the sensitivity and reliability of control components such as sensors and safety switches.

Drive System Maintenance:

Vibratory Feeder: Check the wear and clearance of the vibrator's internal bearings. Replace bearings and seals as needed, and re-lubricate. Ensure the vibrator's eccentric weight is properly adjusted and the excitation force meets the design requirements.

Apron Feeder: Check the chain and sprocket for wear and alignment. Adjust the chain tension or replace chain links as necessary. Check the oil level and quality of the reducer and hydraulic coupling, and replace or refill them.

Equipment Foundation and Anchor Bolt Inspection: Continuous vibration or heavy impact can cause the equipment foundation to sink or the anchor bolts to loosen or shear. Check the secure connection between the equipment and the foundation and check for damage to the anchor bolts. Reinforce or replace them if necessary.

System Interoperability Test: After maintenance is complete, perform no-load and loaded tests to verify the coordination between the feeder and other downstream equipment (such as crushers and belt conveyors) and ensure the proper functioning of the feed rate control system.