The screw oil press is a mechanical oil extraction machine used to extract edible oil from oil-bearing seeds such as sunflower, groundnuts, sesame, soybean, and palm kernel. It consists of a feeding hopper, a rotating screw shaft (auger), pressing chamber (cage), heating system, oil outlet, and cake discharge outlet. The machine is powered by an electric motor or engine and is designed with a heavy-duty steel structure to withstand high pressure during continuous oil extraction.
In operation, cleaned and sometimes pre-heated seeds are fed into the hopper where the rotating screw gradually conveys them into a narrowing pressing chamber. As pressure increases, oil is squeezed out through small openings in the cage while solid residue (oil cake) is expelled at the discharge end. The operator controls temperature and feeding rate to optimize oil yield and quality. Continuous pressing ensures efficient extraction, and regular cleaning of the screw and cage prevents blockage and maintains performance.
