Even seasoned professionals in the food industry may struggle to differentiate between various conveyor types, such as screw (augur), pneumatic, vacuum, aeromechanical, and tubular drag chain and disc or tubular drag cable and disc. This is especially true for those who are not plant engineers or maintenance crew. As a result, conveying delicate materials or precise blends can be a challenge without technical or hands-on experience with these systems.
To address this, tubular drag cable conveyors utilize a coated, flexible stainless-steel drag cable to gently and reliably move product through a sealed tube. The cable is pulled through in a continuous loop, with solid circular discs (flights) attached to push the product without the use of air. This versatile solution is well-suited for transporting delicate, precise blends for a wide range of food types, with flexible layouts and configurations.
Tubular drag conveyors are not the same as a screw system: A common misconception is that tubular drag cable and screw conveyors are the same, but this is not the case. Screw systems, also known as auger conveyors, use a helical blade in a tube to move granular materials. However, augers can cause damage and compromise blends. They are better suited for non-critical materials, like food waste. The key difference is that augers use a helical screw, while tubular drag cable conveyors use discs pulled by a sealed cable. They are designed to protect fragile products and blends.
Tubular drag conveyors are designed to protect blends and mixes: When utilizing a conveyor system to transport a blend of products, it is crucial to maintain a constant mix ratio. This is true regardless of whether the blend is a fine powder, coarse mix, or a combination of varying weights and shapes. Unfortunately, traditional conveyor systems are not specifically designed to precisely transport blends without altering the mix ratio.
Due to the nature of open systems like bucket conveyors, different product material weights, sizes, and shapes can shift and disperse, while vibration can cause the blended product to move during transport. Alternatively, tubular drag cable conveyors are purpose-built to maintain a precise blend ratio. Similar to a continuous train of cars, each space between solid circular discs holds a predetermined volume of product.
Based on the manufacturer’s specifications and requirements, engineers can calculate the optimal speed of the system, the most suitable tube angles, and the appropriate construction design to ensure that their blended product remains consistent from input to discharge, even at high volumes.
Tubular drag conveyors can carry moist, hot, or frozen material: Efficiently convey food materials in any form or state with tubular drag cable systems. From powder to pureed, chopped to frozen, these systems handle high moisture content and even convey water alongside the product. Perfect for food industries seeking versatile and reliable transportation.
Tubular drag conveyors have no footprint or expansion limitations: Although some in the food industry may wrongly assume that tubular conveyors are not suitable for their facility’s available space or layout, this is not true. Modular systems, such as tubular drag cable conveyors, can provide a viable solution for complex layouts that require curves or changes in direction.
Contrary to popular belief, tubular conveyors do not need to be installed at a 90° angle and can utilize angles to maneuver around existing equipment or obstacles. This flexibility is especially important for existing facilities that may not have the ability to move objects out of the way. Tubular conveyors are also highly efficient in terms of space utilization, as both the conveyor turnaround and its inlet can be positioned vertically.
Cleaning tubular drag conveyors does not require dismantling and extended downtimes: Some traditional conveyor systems require disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly in between product changeovers, which can be a time-consuming process. However, tubular conveyors offer dry, wet, and in-line cleaning options that eliminate the need for this laborious task. Among the dry options are brush boxes and air knives, which can effectively clean the cable, while brushes and wipers are used to wash the tubes.
To properly sanitize the system, a sponge soaked in sanitizer can be used without getting the entire system wet. For more thorough cleaning, the wet cleaning process of the cable conveyor internally washes the tube in multiple steps, including a water rinse, foaming agent, sanitizing rinse, and final water rinse. Once the system is fully flushed out, wipers attached to the tubular conveyor’s discs can remove any remaining water.