Before using the toothpick machine, the raw materials (wood, bamboo, etc.) need to be pretreated. Cut the raw materials into long strips of suitable size, usually about 20-30 cm in length, and the width and thickness depend on the specifications of the finished toothpick, generally 1-2 cm in width and 0.3-0.5 cm in thickness. During pretreatment, ensure that the surface of the raw materials is flat, without obvious scars and cracks, so as not to affect subsequent processing.
Automatic loading model: stack the pretreated raw materials neatly in the loading bin, and pay attention to keep the direction of the raw materials consistent. Start the loading motor and gradually feed the raw materials into the feeding channel through the conveyor belt or robotic arm. During the loading process, it is necessary to always observe the remaining amount of raw materials in the loading bin. When the raw materials are less than 1/4 of the total capacity, they should be replenished in time to avoid idling of the machine due to lack of materials.
Manual feeding model: Put the raw materials into the feed port one by one manually, and keep a uniform and stable speed when placing them, so as to avoid the raw materials blocking the feed channel due to too fast feeding, or affecting production efficiency due to too slow feeding. Keep an appropriate distance between each raw material, about 1-2 cm, to ensure that the raw materials can enter the machine smoothly.
Set the corresponding parameters on the machine operation panel according to the length, thickness and other specifications of the required toothpick. For example, if you want to produce toothpicks with a length of 6 cm, set it to 60mm on the length adjustment knob; if you want to produce toothpicks with a diameter of 0.3 mm, adjust the tool spacing parameter. After the parameter setting is completed, perform 1-2 empty machine operation tests first, and confirm that the cutting size is correct before officially starting production.
Tool status monitoring: During the cutting process, pay close attention to the running status of the tool. If you find that the toothpicks after cutting have burrs and uneven cuts, it may be that the tool is worn, and you should stop the machine immediately for inspection. When the tool edge wear exceeds 0.1 mm, a new tool needs to be replaced in time. When replacing the tool, first cut off the power supply, use a special tool to loosen the tool fixing bolt, remove the old tool, install the new tool and ensure that it is firmly fixed. The tool installation error does not exceed ±0.05 mm.
Raw material transportation observation: Pay attention to the transportation of raw materials in the feed channel. If the raw material is stuck, press the emergency stop button immediately and turn off the machine. Check whether there is foreign matter blocking the feed channel or whether the raw material is stuck due to moisture deformation. After cleaning foreign matter or replacing suitable raw materials, the machine can be restarted.
The cut toothpicks need to be polished to remove burrs and edges on the surface. Feed the cut toothpicks into the grinder and select the appropriate grinding sandpaper according to the material and surface requirements of the toothpicks (generally 80-120 mesh sandpaper for coarse grinding and 200-300 mesh sandpaper for fine grinding). During the grinding process, control the grinding speed, usually maintained at 15-20 revolutions per minute, to avoid overheating and deformation of the toothpick surface due to excessive speed.
After grinding, polish the toothpick. Apply an appropriate amount of polishing wax on the polishing wheel of the polishing machine and send the toothpick into the polishing area. The polishing time depends on the glossiness requirements of the toothpick, generally 3-5 minutes. During the polishing process, the debris and wax residue on the polishing wheel should be cleaned regularly to prevent affecting the polishing effect.
Through manual visual inspection, observe whether the toothpick surface is smooth, cracked, bent and other defects. Randomly select 5% of each batch of toothpicks as samples. If the unqualified rate exceeds 3%, the entire batch of toothpicks needs to be fully inspected.
Use a vernier caliper to measure the length and diameter of the toothpick, and randomly measure 20 toothpicks per batch. The length error should be controlled within ±0.5 mm, and the diameter error should be within ±0.03 mm. If the size is found not to meet the standard, adjust the machine cutting parameters in time.
Use a hardness tester to test the hardness of the toothpick to ensure that the hardness of the toothpick meets the use requirements. For wood toothpicks, the hardness value should be between 15-25HB; the hardness value of bamboo toothpicks is between 20-30HB. If the hardness does not meet the standard, it may be that the raw material is not dry enough or the processing technology is problematic, and the raw material processing or processing parameters need to be adjusted.
Choose appropriate packaging materials according to the sales channels and customer needs of toothpicks. Common packaging materials include plastic film bags, paper boxes, paper tubes, etc. If used for supermarket retail, transparent plastic film bags can be selected to facilitate consumers to view the product; if sold as gifts, exquisite paper box packaging can be selected.
Quantitative packaging: Use a quantitative packaging machine to put the toothpicks into the packaging container according to the specified number. For example, common packaging specifications are 50 pieces/bag, 100 pieces/bag, etc. During the packaging process, ensure that the number of toothpicks in each package is accurate, with an error of no more than ±1 piece.
Sealing and labeling: After packaging, seal the packaging container. Plastic film bags can be sealed with a heat sealer, and paper boxes are sealed with glue or tape. Clearly mark the product name, specifications, production date, shelf life, manufacturer and other information on the packaging to ensure compliance with relevant food safety standards.
Clean the machine: After production, turn off the power and use brushes, vacuum cleaners and other tools to clean wood chips, bamboo chips and other debris on the surface and inside of the machine. Focus on cleaning the feed channel, cutting area, grinding device and other parts to ensure that there are no residual debris.
Check parts: Check the connection of various parts of the machine, such as whether the bolts are loose and whether the conveyor belt is deviated. If the bolts are found to be loose, tighten them in time; if the conveyor belt is deviated, adjust it by adjusting the conveyor belt tensioning device.
Lubrication and maintenance: Lubricate the moving parts of the machine, such as bearings, gears, guide rails, etc. Use special lubricants and add or replace them according to the lubrication points and lubricant amounts required by the instructions. For example, bearings are lubricated once every two weeks, and gears are greased once a week.
Electrical system inspection: Check whether the electrical circuit of the machine is damaged or aged, and whether the connection of each electrical component is firm. If the circuit is found to be damaged, replace it in time; if the electrical component has poor contact, repair or replace it.
Tool replacement and grinding: Check the wear of the tool. If the tool is severely worn, it should be ground or replaced even if it does not meet the replacement standard. For tools that can be grinded, use special grinding equipment to grind and restore the sharpness of the tool; for tools that cannot be grinded, replace new tools in time.
Machine performance test: Perform a comprehensive performance test on the machine, including cutting accuracy, grinding effect, polishing gloss, etc. According to the test results, the machine parameters are appropriately adjusted to ensure that the machine always maintains a good operating condition.
This guide covers how to use and maintain the toothpick making machine, from the raw material feeding to the finished toothpick packing. If you have specific needs in actual toothpick machine operation, or want to know more details about these machines, please feel free to contact Bidragon Machine.
