Tubular Cable Conveying
HOW DOES TUBULAR CABLE CONVEYING WORK?
By gently handling friable materials with efficiency and dust-free operation.
Tubular Cable Conveyors, also known as Disc or Drag Conveyors, gently transport bulk materials through smooth stainless steel tubing using low-friction polymer discs attached to a stainless steel cable. The system operates with a drive wheel at one end and a tensioning wheel at the other, allowing for flexible routing of the tubing in horizontal, vertical, or angled directions through tight spaces. The modular design enables easy addition, removal, or relocation of inlets and outlets, as well as adjustments to the circuit's length or path as needed.
FEATURES
- Gently conveys friable materials with varying particle sizes, shapes, and densities without separating blended materials.
- Capable of transferring materials from one or multiple inlets to one or multiple outlets, making it ideal for packaging lines.
- Modular design allows easy adjustments to conveyor routing, length, and the number and placement of inlets and outlets.
- Low energy consumption per volume of material conveyed.
- Air-free operation eliminates the need for blowers and filtration systems.
- Preserves the temperature and moisture levels of the conveyed material.
- Fully enclosed system prevents dust and contamination.
- Stainless steel components are available with finishes suitable for food, pharmaceutical, or industrial standards.
- Efficiently evacuates material, reducing waste and enabling quick cleaning.
- Optionally equipped with quick-clean features.
CABLES, DISCS & TUBING
The Cable-Disc Assembly is designed for maximum efficiency, durability, and gentle handling of products. Discs, available in various designs and high-strength polymers, are optimized for smooth movement through tubing bends while minimizing product degradation. The low-friction surfaces ensure efficient gliding within the stainless steel tubing, reducing product hang-up and simplifying cleaning.
The Cable is available in stainless steel, with an optional polymer coating.
Straight tubing, elbows, and couplings are offered in 304 or 316 stainless steel, meeting industrial or sanitary standards. Clear inspection tubing can be placed in straight sections to visually monitor the system's performance.
SANITARY SYSTEMS
Cable Conveyors are fully enclosed, protecting both the product and the plant environment from contamination. After each conveying cycle, the discs effectively clear the tubing of material, reducing waste and enabling quick, thorough sanitization.
Sanitary options include polymer-coated or uncoated 304 or 316 stainless steel cables. All tubing, inlets, outlets, and metallic components are crafted from 304 or 316 stainless steel with continuous welds polished to food, pharmaceutical, or industrial standards.
Wet or dry cleaning attachments can be quickly added to the cable, minimizing downtime between product changeovers.
DRIVES & TENSIONERS
Drive System powers a drive wheel that reverses the cable’s direction by 180° and moves the cable and discs at a slow speed through the conveyor circuit. With an optional discharge cone, the drive system can function as the sole discharge point or as the final discharge in the system.
Automatic Cable Tensioner maintains tension in the cable and disc assembly, ensuring it stays taut throughout the conveyor circuit. This compact design is smaller than traditional units and features a Tension Inspection Window positioned for easy viewing.
MATERIAL INLETS
- Metered Inlet Adapter features dual adjustable metering gates that can be infinitely adjusted to control the material flow into the conveyor tube. The fill rate can also be fine-tuned by adjusting the speed of the cable and disc assembly.
- Non-Metered Inlet Adapter funnels material at a rate determined by upstream processes with metered discharge. In this case, the speed of the cable and disc assembly controls the fill percentage of the disc pockets.
MATERIAL OUTLETS
- Inline Tubular Discharge Valves allow material to be dispensed at one or multiple points along a conveyor circuit. They feature round spouts for flexible downspout connections or flanged outlets for integration with process or packaging equipment. A U-shaped trough within the valve, rotated by a pneumatic actuator, enables complete material discharge at a mid-point or allows material to pass through to a downstream outlet. In the open (downward) position, the trough discharges material fully, while in the closed (upward) position, material continues along the conveyor.
- Full-Flow Inline Discharges lack valves and actuators, offering an unrestricted final discharge through either a flexible downspout or a flanged outlet. An air knife or disc ramp can be used to remove material from the cable and discs in these setups.
- Drive Systems with Optional Discharge Cones can include a discharge cone, serving as the primary or final discharge point instead of a Full-Flow Discharge.
- Brush Boxes are equipped with one or two pairs of cylindrical brushes that converge at the cable's centerline. As discs pass through, the stiff bristles deflect, removing any residual material clinging to the cable and disc assembly.
MATERIALS HANDLED
FOOD PRODUCTS:
- Animal Feed, Bacon bits, Breadcrumbs, Flour, Hazlenuts, Malt, Pistachio Meats, Snack Foods, Sunflower Seeds, Trail Mix
- Beans: Azuki (dried), Cocoa (dried), Fava (dried), Kidney (dried), Lentils (dried), Lima (dried), Pinto (dried), Soybeans (dried)
- Cereal: Dried fruit, flakes, formed shapes, grains
- Coffee: Blended, freeze dried, green beans dried, ground, instant, roasted, whole bean
- Dried fruit: Apples, bananas, pineapple
- Frozen: Blueberries, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cherries, corn, green beans, peas, strawberries
- Grains: Barley, corn, oats, rice, wheat
- Nuts: Almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, filberts, macadamia, peanutes, pecans, pistachios, walnuts
- Pasta in many forms, Couscous
- Peas: Black eyed (dried), Chickpeas (dried), Dixie Lee (dried), Snap peas (dried), Split peas (dried), Sweet peas (dried), Yellow peas (dried)
- Pet foods: Chunks, formed shapes, kibble, pellets
- Seeds: Bird seed, carrot seed, Cottonseed, Dill seed, Flax seed, Grass seed, Mustard seed, Pepper seed, Sesame seed, Tomato seed
- Spices: Basil (dried), Chives (dried), Coriander (dried), Cumin (dried), Garlic (dried), Ginger (dried), Marjoram (dried), Mint (dried), Nutmeg (dried), Oregano (dried), Paprika (dried), Parsley (dried), Pepper (dried), Rosemary (dried), Saffron (dried), Sage (dried), Thyme (dried), Vanilla (dried)
- Teas: Black tea, Green Tea, Oolong Tea, White Tea, Yellow Tea
- Pelletized Products, Pills, Tobacco, Hemp
MANUFACTURING MATTERS PODCASTTake a Deeper Dive
Our podcast - How Tubular Cable Conveying Works provides an in depth dive into how manufacturing processes can benefit.
Manufacturing Matters
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Join us in the MANUFACTURING MATTERS PODCAST HUB
Storytelling is ingrained in our DNA; it's a fundamental way we acquire knowledge. Our dedication to sharing Application Stories on manufacturing processes and the advantages of specific equipment underscores our commitment to enhancing plant productivity, hygiene, worker safety, and reducing downtime, among other benefits.
Flexible Screw Conveying
A flexible screw conveyor, also known as a helix or auger conveyor, features a flexible steel screw housed in a plastic or steel tube and driven by an electric motor, typically at the discharge end. This simple, cost-effective design offers reliable and efficient material transport, outperforming many traditional conveyors like rigid screw or drag chain conveyors when properly engineered for the specific material and process
Dilute Phase Pneumatic Conveying
Dilute phase pneumatic conveying systems cater to a wide range of bulk material applications, from simple single-point installations to complex cross-plant systems with multiple pick-up and discharge points, and automated controls. These systems are custom-engineered to integrate seamlessly with Flexicon equipment and your process.
Tubular Cable Conveying
Dilute phase pneumatic conveying systems cater to a wide range of bulk material applications, from simple single-point installations to complex cross-plant systems with multiple pick-up and discharge points, and automated controls. These systems are custom-engineered to integrate seamlessly with Flexicon equipment and your process.
