Why You Need Tubular Conveyor Systems For Your Food Processing Facility

When it comes to conveyor systems for the food processing industry, it’s important to choose one that can efficiently and safely handle delicate products while minimizing contamination risk. 

One option that excels in these areas is the tubular drag cable and disc conveyor system. 

This system offers:

• Gentle conveying
• Enclosed design that protects products from dust and debris
• Flexible and modular design
• Low energy consumption
• Varying capacities to meet different production needs

These unique features make it a superior choice when compared to traditional belt conveyors, pneumatic conveyors, screw augers, and bucket elevators.

Let’s dive into how tubular conveyor systems (especially cable and disc systems) can transform your food processing business.

Gentle conveying

A tubular drag cable and disc conveyor system utilize a sealed cable that runs inside a tube. Along this cable, solid circular discs are evenly spaced, creating “pockets” in which the conveyed material sits. 

The cable is driven by a motor, which pulls the material through the tube by the discs. This design allows for a low-impact, smooth movement of the conveyed material that minimizes product damage. 

The pockets formed by the discs also cushion the product, further reducing the chance of damage.

This is particularly beneficial for delicate food products such as snack foods, pet food, frozen food, nuts, coffee beans, tea blends, and other bulk materials. 

These products may be easily broken or damaged by traditional conveyor systems (such as a screw conveyor or a pneumatic conveyor), but the gentle movement provided by the tubular conveyor system keeps them intact. 

This results in an overall reduction of waste and an increase in product quality.

Enclosed tube

One of the key features of a tubular drag cable and disc conveyor system is its enclosed tube design. This feature plays a vital role in reducing the risk of contamination and ensuring food safety. 

Contamination refers to the presence of unwanted substances or microorganisms in food, which can cause food poisoning, product spoilage, and other health hazards.

An enclosed tube provides a barrier that protects food products from external contaminants such as dust, debris, and other particles. 

Additionally, the sealed cable inside the tube ensures that the conveyed material doesn’t come in direct contact with the steel of the cable.

The use of an enclosed tube design not only improves the overall safety of the food products but also enhances their quality. 

The enclosed design also reduces the need for cleaning and maintenance, which can save time and money. 

Easy cleaning and maintenance

One of the key features of a tubular drag cable conveyor (a Cablevey tubular drag cable conveyor, to be precise) is the ability to be cleaned in place, which allows for quick and easy cleaning without the need to disassemble the system. 

This is achieved through the use of specialized cleaning equipment (both dry and wet) that can reach all parts of the conveyor. 

This drastically reduces the cleaning time and effort needed compared to traditional conveyors.

Furthermore, the maintenance of a tubular drag cable and disc conveyor system does not require a lot of downtimes. 

The system is designed with modular components that can be quickly and easily replaced in case of any breakdown. This means that repairs and maintenance can be done in a timely manner, minimizing downtime, and maximizing productivity.

Flexible design

A tubular drag cable and disc conveyor system boasts a flexible design that can easily accommodate facilities with small floor spaces. 

The system is designed with modular components that can be assembled and disassembled in a variety of configurations, allowing for easy customization and expansion as needed. This makes it an ideal solution for facilities with limited space or changing production requirements.

The tubular conveyor system can be designed to fit into tight spaces, such as corners or under existing equipment, without sacrificing performance or efficiency. Additionally, this flexibility ensures that the conveyor system can grow with the food production facility and adapt to changing needs.

Furthermore, the flexibility of the tubular conveyor system allows for easy maintenance and repairs. 

In case of any breakdown, the modular design enables fast and straightforward replacement of individual components, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity. This flexibility also makes it easy to upgrade the system with new features as they become available.

Low energy consumption

Tubular drag conveyors are designed with energy efficiency in mind, making them a smart investment for food processors looking to save on energy costs. 

The system’s enclosed design and low-friction movement allow it to consume less energy than traditional conveyors.

Not only does this lead to significant cost savings for food processing facilities, but it also helps to reduce the facility’s carbon footprint. 

The enclosed design of the tube conveyor reduces the need for additional power to maintain the integrity of the conveyed material. This results in a significant reduction in energy consumption and cost.

Additionally, the low-friction movement of the conveyor system also contributes to its energy efficiency. 

Unlike traditional conveyors that require more energy to move materials, the tubular conveyor system’s smooth movement means it uses less energy to convey the same amount of materials.

In today’s world, where energy costs are constantly on the rise, and companies are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint, the low energy consumption of tubular drag conveyor systems makes them highly desirable food conveyors.

Varying capacities

A tubular drag cable and disc conveyor system offers the ability to accommodate different capacities through its varying tube diameters. The diameter of the tube can be adjusted to match the needs of the facility’s production. 

Smaller diameter tubes are well-suited for handling smaller quantities of material, while larger diameter tubes are better suited for larger quantities.

Cablevey conveyors offer the following tube diameters: 

• 2” systems – convey up to 3,000 lbs per hour
• 4” systems – convey up to 21,000 lbs per hour
• 6” systems – convey up to 49,420 lbs per hour
• 8” systems – convey up to 80,000 lbs per hour

This feature allows food processing facilities to customize their conveyor system to their specific needs, whether it’s for a small batch of products or large-scale production. 

Furthermore, the varying tube diameters also allow the system to handle different types of products. 

For example, a small diameter tube can be used to convey small, delicate products such as berries, while a larger diameter tube can be used to convey bulkier items such as frozen vegetables.

Additional features

A tubular drag cable and disc conveyor system can be customized with additional features to meet specific application needs. Two such features that can be added to the system are an internal minicam and a pneumatic tensioning air device.

An internal minicam is like a secret spy camera for your conveyor, it helps detect any potential weak spots in the construction, easily inspect cleaning and maintenance levels, and even diagnose issues remotely, keeping your conveyor running smoothly. 

This feature allows for easy monitoring of the conveyor’s performance and can help identify issues before they become major problems. 

This can save time and money on repairs and maintenance, and ensure the system is running at peak performance.

A tubular drag cable and disc conveyor system can be equipped with a pneumatic tensioning device that manages the tightness of the cable. This is crucial for the proper functioning, reliability, longevity, and performance of the conveyor. 

The pneumatic tensioning device allows adjusting the cable tension to the optimal level, ensuring that the cable is not too loose or too tight. 

If the cable is too loose it could cause a malfunction, and if it’s too tight it could cause excessive wear, energy consumption, and other issues. 

Conclusion

Tubular drag cable conveyors offer several benefits such as gentle conveying, easy cleaning and maintenance, low energy consumption, and varying capacities. 

The gentle conveying mechanism of the tubular conveyor system can protect delicate food products from damage, while the enclosed design of the tube reduces the risk of contamination. 

The low energy consumption of these food conveyor systems can lead to significant cost savings and environmental benefits for food manufacturing facilities.

Furthermore, the varying tube diameters of tubular cable conveyors allow for greater flexibility and adaptability to the changing production needs of food processing facilities. 

Additional features such as an internal minicam and pneumatic tensioning air device can be added to the system to meet specific application needs, and ensure that the system is running at peak performance and efficiency.

If you’re ready to invest in a tubular drag cable and disc conveyor system for your food processing facility, please visit our website or contact us directly. We’ll be happy to assist you and provide you with more information on how our systems can benefit your facility.