CHOOSING OPTIMAL ARRANGEMENT OF KNIVES ON ROTOR-TYPE MACHINES FOR FEED GRINDING

The paper considers three arrangement options for knives on a rotor machine for feed grinding: with a vertical blade, with a blade inclined forward, and with a blade inclined back. The authors proved that for a rotor-type machine, it is preferable to arrange the knife blade inclined forward, as this reduces the cutting force and hence the energy consumption required for cutting. In addition, this option of knife arrangement will ensure tight press of the grinded material to the rotor, which is necessary for effective cutting. The authors show the effect of knife wear on the cutting process proving that the blunting of knives reduces the grinding effi ciency. The paper presents an improved structural design of the grinder, according to which the rotor rotates
not only in the horizontal plane, but also vertically, which reduces the cutting angle of the material and the cutting force. Based on experimental studies, the authors recommend that the knives be set at an angle of 30 degrees, at which the “chopping-type” cutting transforms into cutting with moving or sliding effects.