Under the trend of continuous pursuit of efficiency, precision, and automation in industrial production, centralized feeding and conveying systems have become a key choice for many manufacturing enterprises to optimize their production processes. This system centrally manages the storage, measurement, and transportation of various materials, achieving automated flow of materials from the source to the production line, effectively improving production efficiency and ensuring product quality. The following will comprehensively analyze the centralized feeding and conveying system from the aspects of system composition, working principle, technical advantages, application scenarios, and development trends.

1、 System core composition architecture

The centralized feeding and conveying system mainly consists of five modules: material storage unit, precision measuring unit, intelligent conveying unit, central control unit, and auxiliary support unit. Each part works together to form a complete and efficient material supply system.

（1） Material storage unit

The material storage unit is the fundamental part of the system, used to store various materials required for production. According to the material characteristics (powder, particle, liquid, etc.) and production requirements, different storage devices are used. Granular materials, such as plastic particles, grains, etc., are often stored in sealed steel silos or plastic storage tanks, equipped with level sensors to monitor material inventory in real time. When the inventory falls below a set threshold, an automatic alarm is triggered to remind operators to replenish in a timely manner; Powdered materials, such as flour and carbon black, are stored in negative pressure silos with dust removal devices to effectively prevent dust from escaping and maintain a clean workshop environment; Liquid materials are stored in storage tanks with temperature control and stirring functions to ensure uniform and stable composition of the materials, and to avoid affecting the effectiveness of use due to temperature changes or precipitation. In addition, the storage bins for different materials are independent of each other, which can prevent cross contamination. Some systems also support quick switching of storage bins to meet the production needs of multiple varieties.

（2） Precision measurement unit

The precise measurement unit is the core to ensure accurate material proportioning. Adopt diverse measurement methods for materials of different forms. For granular materials, weight loss scales and spiral scales are commonly used. High precision weighing sensors are used to monitor the weight changes of the materials in real time, and combined with the speed control of the spiral feeder, to achieve measurement accuracy within ± 0.5%; Powdered materials are often measured using volumetric measuring devices or air flow measuring equipment, which accurately control the volume or flow rate of the material to complete the measurement; For liquid materials, equipment such as mass flow meters and volumetric metering pumps are used to strictly control the measurement error within ± 0.1%. The measuring unit can automatically adjust the measuring parameters according to the production formula, ensuring the accuracy and consistency of each feeding.

（3） Intelligent conveying unit

The intelligent conveying unit is responsible for quickly and stably conveying the measured materials to the production equipment. Select the appropriate conveying method based on material characteristics and conveying distance. Powdered materials are usually transported by pneumatic conveying or vacuum feeding systems, using closed pipelines to prevent dust leakage and achieve long-distance transmission; Granular materials can be transported using belt conveyors, chain plate conveyors, or pipe chain conveyors; Liquid materials are pumped through corrosion-resistant pipelines and metering pumps. During the transportation process, metal detection and foreign object interception devices are installed to prevent impurities from entering the production process and affecting product quality. At the same time, the conveying pipeline adopts a quick detachable design, which facilitates regular cleaning and maintenance, ensuring the long-term stable operation of the conveying system.

（4） Central control unit

The central control unit is based on PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) or industrial computer, equipped with customized control software and human-machine interface (HMI). The operator inputs the production formula through HMI, including parameters such as material type, ratio, feeding sequence, and time. The system automatically controls the discharge of material storage units, the start and stop of measuring units, and the operation of conveying units according to preset programs. During operation, real-time collection of sensor data from various links (such as material level, weight, flow rate, pressure, etc.) is carried out, and the actual values are compared with the set values. Once a deviation occurs, the equipment parameters are automatically adjusted to achieve closed-loop control. In addition, the control system also has fault diagnosis, alarm prompts, data recording, and remote monitoring functions, which facilitate production management and equipment maintenance.

（5） Auxiliary support unit

The auxiliary support unit includes dust removal system, automatic cleaning device, drying and dehumidification equipment, and safety protection facilities. The dust removal system is equipped with dust collection ports in the material storage, metering, and conveying processes, combined with efficient dust collectors, to reduce workshop dust concentration and improve the working environment; The automatic cleaning device regularly cleans the conveying pipeline and measuring equipment to prevent material residue and cross contamination; Drying and dehumidification equipment can pre treat moisture absorbing materials to ensure stable material performance; Safety protection facilities such as emergency stop buttons, overload protection devices, leakage monitoring devices, etc., comprehensively ensure the safety of equipment and personnel.

2、 Working principle and process

After the operator inputs the production task in the central control unit, the system first starts the discharge device of the corresponding storage bin according to the production formula, and transports the material to the precise measuring unit. The measuring unit accurately weighs or measures the material according to the preset measurement value, and stops feeding when the set amount is reached. For example, when measuring granular materials, the weight loss measuring scale monitors the weight changes of the silo in real time. When the reduced weight reaches the set value, the screw feeder stops feeding.

After completing the measurement, the intelligent conveying unit transports different materials to the target production equipment in the set order and time, such as injection molding machines, extruders, mixers, etc. During the conveying process, the central control unit continuously monitors the data of each link to ensure the accuracy and stability of material conveying. If there is an abnormal situation, such as excessive measurement deviation, transportation blockage, or low material level, the system will immediately issue an alarm signal and automatically take corresponding measures, such as suspending feeding, starting the backup transportation line, or notifying the operator to handle it.

After completing a batch of production tasks, the system can start an automatic cleaning program as needed to clean the conveying pipelines and measuring equipment, preparing for the next production. At the same time, the system automatically records the relevant data of this feeding, including raw material usage, feeding time, equipment operating parameters, etc., providing a basis for production management, cost accounting, and quality traceability.

3、 Core technological advantages

（1） High precision and stability

Through advanced measurement technology and intelligent control systems, the centralized feeding and conveying system achieves high-precision proportioning and stable supply of various materials, effectively improving product quality consistency. In practical applications, enterprises adopting this system can reduce the product defect rate by 30% -50%.

（2） Efficient and automated operation

This system achieves fully automated operations from raw material storage, measurement to transportation, significantly reducing feeding time and improving production efficiency. The system can seamlessly integrate with production equipment, achieving 24-hour continuous production and significantly reducing labor costs and intensity.

（3） Flexible production adaptability

Support the storage and quick switching of multiple production formulas, adjust production parameters according to order requirements at any time, and meet the production mode of multiple varieties and small batches. At the same time, the system can flexibly adjust the feeding parameters and conveying methods according to the needs of different production equipment, adapting to diverse production scenarios.

（4） Intelligent management and data traceability

Automatically record the entire production process data and generate detailed production reports. Enterprises can optimize feeding processes, predict equipment maintenance cycles, evaluate production costs, and achieve intelligent production management through data analysis. Complete data records also facilitate product quality traceability and enhance the overall management level of the enterprise.

4、 Application scenarios

（1） Plastic processing industry

In plastic molding production such as injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, etc., the centralized feeding and conveying system precisely controls the ratio and transportation of plastic particles, masterbatch, additives and other raw materials to ensure the stable quality of plastic products. It is widely used in the production fields of automotive parts, home appliance shells, packaging products, etc.

（2） Food and beverage industry

In the process of food processing, precise measurement and dust-free transportation of powdered and granular raw materials such as flour, sugar, salt, and additives are achieved to ensure food safety and product quality. It is commonly used in production enterprises such as biscuits, bread, and seasonings.

（3） Chemical industry

In the production of chemical products such as coatings, inks, adhesives, etc., precise proportioning and safe transportation of various raw materials such as resins, solvents, pigments, etc. are carried out to avoid material leakage and cross contamination, improve product performance and production safety.

（4） Other industries

In industries such as electronic manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and building materials, centralized feeding and conveying systems also play an important role. For example, the supply of materials such as plastic pellets and solder paste in the electronics industry, the precise measurement and transportation of pharmaceutical raw materials in the pharmaceutical industry, and the centralized supply of raw materials such as cement and sand in the building materials industry.

5、 Development Trends

In the future, centralized feeding and conveying systems will develop towards intelligence, integration, and greening. In terms of intelligence, artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms are introduced to enable the system to have self-learning and adaptive capabilities, and to automatically optimize feeding parameters based on production data; In terms of integration, it deeply integrates with the enterprise's ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and MES (Manufacturing Execution System) to achieve collaborative management of production planning, material inventory, and feeding operations; Greening is reflected in reducing equipment energy consumption, reducing dust emissions, and using environmentally friendly materials. By optimizing system design and operating modes, it promotes sustainable development in the industry. Meanwhile, with the development of industrial Internet of Things technology, centralized feeding and conveying systems will achieve more remote and real-time monitoring and management, further enhancing the production efficiency and competitiveness of enterprises.