A new FLEXI-DISC sanitary tubular cable conveyor for fragile bulk foods and non-foods, launched by Flexicon, allows rapid system wash downs between production runs.
The conveyor moves bulk materials using high-strength, one-piece polymer discs attached to polymer-coated 304/316 stainless steel cables that slide within smooth stainless steel tubing, moving fragile products gently, quietly and in a dust-free way.
The discs evacuate the conveyor tubing of material at the end of a conveying cycle, virtually eliminating any waste product. Any material clinging to the cable and disc assembly can be continually removed during the process by the stiff bristles of a brush box or by a residual return chute equipped with a disc ramp that dislodges material and returns it to the product stream.
All material outlets, inlets and tubing are fabricated of 304 or 316 stainless steel with quick-disconnect covers and continuous welds that are ground smooth, flush with contiguous walls and polished to a mirror finish.
Wet or dry cleaning accessories can be quickly attached to the FLEXI-DISC cable to allow rapid, thorough sanitising of the system, minimising downtime between changeovers; optional clean-in-place (CIP) systems provide an automated alternative.
Clear inspection tubing can be located in any straight run, allowing visual monitoring of the fill percentage during conveyor operation and/or of cable/disc cleanliness during wash-down procedures.
Gentle handling and cleanability make it suitable for friable bulk food and nutraceutical products, as well as contamination-sensitive chemical products.
Modular system components, including 304 or 316 stainless steel tubing, drive wheel housings, tension wheel housings, metered and non-metered inlets, and discharges with and without valves can be combined in unlimited configurations to move materials horizontally, vertically or at any angle through small holes in walls or ceilings.
The sanitary conveyor is offered as a standalone system, or fully integrated with upstream and downstream equipment such as inlet hoppers, bag dump stations, bulk bag dischargers, bulk bag fillers, drum/box/container tippers, weigh batching/blending systems, screeners, filling machines and storage vessels manufactured by Flexicon and others.
Free testing is offered at Flexicon test laboratories on full-scale tubular cable conveyors and upstream equipment that simulate customer processes.