Your egg carton making machine suddenly stops. The trays come out soft and damp. Your daily output drops by 20%. These aren’t just technical issues; they are profit leaks. For every hour your machine is down, you are losing hundreds of dollars.
As machinery experts at Shuliy, we know that most problems are preventable. This egg tray machine maintenance and troubleshooting guide will walk you through the most common failures and show you how a well-engineered machine avoids them from day one.
Proactive Maintenance for Your Egg Carton Making Machine
Consistent maintenance is the best way to prevent costly repairs. Here is a simple schedule to follow.
Daily Maintenance Checklist (Before & After Each Shift)
- Mold Cleaning: Use a high-pressure water gun to spray the forming molds and transfer molds. This prevents dried pulp from accumulating and ensures clean demolding.
- Pulp Screen Check: Clean the filter screen in the pulp tank to remove any large impurities (like plastic bits or staples) that could clog the pump.
- Visual Inspection: Walk around the machine. Look for any loose bolts, water leaks, or unusual wear on chains and sprockets.
Weekly Maintenance Checklist
- Lubrication: Add grease to all designated lubrication points on the main drive, chains, and bearings.
- Vacuum Pump: Check the oil level in the vacuum pump’s sight glass and top up if necessary.
- Air Compressor: Drain any accumulated water from the air compressor’s storage tank to prevent moisture from entering the pneumatic system.
Egg Tray Machine Troubleshooting Common Problems
When a problem occurs, follow these steps to diagnose and fix it.
Trays are Too Soft, Wet, or Have Thin Spots
- Diagnosis: This is typically a vacuum or pulp issue.
- Check 1 (Pulp): Is the pulp concentration correct (around 3-5%)? If it’s too watery, the fibers won’t form a strong bond.
- Check 2 (Vacuum): Look at the vacuum gauge. The pressure should be stable between -0.05 and -0.07 MPa. If it’s low, the machine can’t effectively suck water out.
- The Fix: If the vacuum is low, the first place to check is the vacuum pump’s filter. It’s likely clogged with pulp fibers. Clean it thoroughly.
- The Engineering Insight: A well-designed egg carton making machine has a powerful vacuum system that can compensate for minor variations in pulp consistency, ensuring a higher pass rate.
Trays Stick to the Molds and Tear
- Diagnosis: This points to a problem with the demolding process.
- Check 1 (Air Pressure): Is the air compressor providing enough pressure (around 0.4-0.6 MPa)? A weak air blast can’t push the tray off the mold.
- Check 2 (Mold Surface): Is the mold surface clean and smooth? Even a thin layer of dried pulp can cause sticking.
- The Fix: First, ensure your air pressure is adequate. Second, implement a strict daily mold cleaning routine. Never use a metal brush, as it will damage the fine mesh on the mold surface.
- The Engineering Insight: High-quality aluminum molds are CNC-machined to be perfectly smooth. This reduces the chance of sticking and significantly extends the mold’s lifespan compared to rougher cast iron or plastic molds.
The Egg Carton Making Machine is Making Grinding or Clunking Noises
- Diagnosis: Unusual noise almost always indicates a mechanical issue.
- Check 1 (Reducer): Look at the oil level and quality in the main reducer (gearbox). Black or low oil is a major red flag.
- Check 2 (Bearings & Chain): Listen closely to identify the source. A worn bearing will often produce a high-pitched squeal, while a loose chain will make a slapping sound.
- The Fix: Stop the machine immediately. Change the reducer oil if needed. Tighten the drive chain and inspect bearings for wear.
- The Engineering Insight: A robust egg carton making machine uses heavy-duty reducers and oversized chains specifically designed to handle the constant start-stop motion of production, reducing the likelihood of premature wear.
The Machine Stops at the Wrong Position
- Diagnosis: This is an electronic or sensor issue.
- Check 1 (Sensors): Locate the proximity sensors that control the stop positions. Are they covered in pulp or have they been knocked out of alignment?
- Check 2 (Electrical Cabinet): Check for any loose wires or error codes on the frequency inverter (VFD) display.
- The Fix: Wipe the sensors clean with a dry cloth. If the problem persists, you may need to recalibrate the sensor’s position (a 1mm adjustment can make a big difference).
- The Engineering Insight: Reliable machines use high-quality, waterproof sensors mounted on sturdy, adjustable brackets. This ensures they remain accurate even in the wet and vibrating environment of a pulp molding factory.
Conclusion: Good Maintenance Starts with a Good Machine
While this guide can help you solve many common issues, constant troubleshooting is often a sign of a poorly designed machine. A high-quality egg tray making machine from Shuliy is engineered for reliability and ease of maintenance. Our designs feature durable components and smart engineering to minimize the very problems that cause downtime.
If you find yourself spending more time fixing than producing, it may be time to consider an upgrade.
Need professional support or considering a more reliable machine?
Contact Shuliy’s Technical Team for Spare Parts or a New Machine Quote！
