Tube Chain Conveyor for Grain Processing Material Transfer

Tube Chain Conveyor Product Introduction

Tube Chain Conveyor is an advanced enclosed bulk material conveying solution designed for the efficient transportation of powders, granules, and small lumps. The system uses a flexible chain with conveying discs moving inside a sealed tubular channel, creating a continuous material flow through pushing force.

Compared with traditional open conveying equipment, the enclosed design of the tube chain conveyor effectively prevents dust leakage and reduces the risk of material contamination. The smooth internal surface and gentle conveying mechanism help protect product integrity, making it suitable for fragile materials that require careful handling.

The conveyor system consists of a tubular conveying body, chain discs, drive wheel, tail wheel, feeding inlet, discharge outlet, drive unit, and tensioning device. Its modular structure allows flexible installation according to different production layouts, including horizontal, inclined, and vertical conveying applications.

During operation, the chain discs move materials forward through friction and pushing force. For horizontal conveying, the material moves continuously when internal material friction is greater than the friction between the material and tube wall. For vertical conveying, the chain discs provide upward pushing force while increasing internal material pressure, allowing stable vertical transportation.

With its compact structure, low energy consumption, dust-free operation, and gentle material handling performance, the tube chain conveyor provides an ideal solution for modern automated production lines.

Working Principle

The Tube Chain Conveyor works through a continuous chain and disc conveying mechanism installed inside a sealed tube.

• The motor drives the chain system through the drive wheel.
• Conveying discs attached to the chain move continuously inside the tubular casing.
• Materials entering from the feeding inlet are pushed forward by the moving discs.
• The enclosed tube maintains a stable material flow while preventing dust leakage.
• Materials are discharged through the designated outlet.

For horizontal conveying, the pushing force generated by the chain discs moves materials along the tube. When the internal friction between material particles exceeds the friction between the material and tube wall, a stable material stream is formed.

For vertical conveying, the chain discs create upward pressure on the material column, allowing powders and granules to move upward without slipping.

Technical Specifications

Parameter	Specification
Conveyor Type	Tubular Drag Conveyor
Tube Diameter	108 mm
Conveying Capacity	2–8 TPH
Conveying Distance	Up to 60 m
Conveying Layout	Vertical, L Type, Z Type
Material Type	Powder, Granule and Bulk Material
Application	Food, Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Industrial Material Handling
Conveyor Structure	Fully Enclosed Tubular Design
Drive System	Motor Driven
Material Contact Parts	Stainless Steel Optional

Main Features

1. Fully Enclosed Dust-Free Design

The sealed tubular structure prevents material leakage and minimizes dust emission during conveying. No additional dust collection system is required in many applications.

2. Gentle Material Transfer

The slow and smooth conveying movement reduces impact on products, helping prevent particle breakage, crushing, and quality loss.

3. Flexible Horizontal and Vertical Conveying

The system can transport materials horizontally, vertically, or through complex layouts, providing flexible installation options for different factories.

4. Compact Structure and Space Saving

The compact design requires limited installation space and allows easy integration into existing production lines.

5. Low Energy Consumption

A single drive system powers the conveyor operation, reducing energy consumption and lowering operating costs.

6. Wide Material Compatibility

The tube chain conveyor can handle various bulk materials, including powders, granules, pellets, and small particles.

7. Stable Continuous Operation

The continuous chain movement provides reliable and consistent material transportation for automated production processes.

8. Reduced Material Damage

The gentle conveying method maintains particle size distribution and helps preserve the original characteristics of the product.

9. Easy Installation and Maintenance

The modular structure simplifies installation, cleaning, inspection, and maintenance.

10. Multiple Feeding and Discharge Options

The conveyor can be customized with different inlet and outlet positions to meet different production requirements.

Application Areas

1. Food Processing Industry

The tube chain conveyor is widely used for transporting flour, sugar, cereals, grains, starch, spices, and other food ingredients while maintaining hygiene and preventing contamination.

2. Pharmaceutical Industry

It provides clean and enclosed conveying of pharmaceutical powders, granules, and raw materials, meeting the requirements for controlled and dust-free production environments.

3. Chemical Industry

The conveyor is suitable for transferring chemical powders, additives, pigments, and other bulk materials with reduced dust generation and improved operator safety.

4. Grain and Cereal Processing

It efficiently handles wheat, rice, corn, seeds, and cereal products in milling, storage, and processing lines with reliable continuous conveying performance.

5. Plastic and Polymer Industry

The system is ideal for transporting plastic pellets, resin granules, and polymer materials while minimizing particle damage and maintaining material quality.

6. Feed Manufacturing Industry

It can convey animal feed ingredients, grain powder, and pellet materials between processing equipment to improve automation and production efficiency.

7. Battery and New Energy Industry

The enclosed conveying structure helps transfer fine powders and sensitive materials used in battery and advanced material production processes.

8. Industrial Bulk Material Handling

The tube chain conveyor provides flexible transportation solutions for various dry bulk materials in factories, warehouses, and automated production systems.

Advantages of Tube Chain Conveyor

Dust-Free Material Handling

The sealed conveying path prevents airborne dust and improves production cleanliness.

Better Product Protection

The low-speed chain movement minimizes mechanical impact and maintains material quality.

Flexible Layout Design

The conveyor can adapt to limited factory space with horizontal and vertical conveying routes.

Lower Operating Cost

Energy-efficient operation reduces power consumption compared with some traditional conveying methods.

Improved Production Efficiency

Automatic continuous conveying reduces manual handling and improves production line automation.

Suitable Materials

The Tube Chain Conveyor can transport:

• powder material
• granular material
• bulk solid
• grain product
• food ingredient
• chemical powder
• plastic pellet
• pharmaceutical material
• agricultural product

Customizable Configurations

Conveyor Layout

Available configurations:

• horizontal conveying
• vertical conveying
• inclined conveying
• multi-point discharge
• multi-point feeding

Material Options

Depending on application requirements:

• stainless steel construction
• food-grade design
• industrial-grade structure

System Options

Available customization:

• different tube diameters
• customized conveying distance
• special inlet and outlet design
• automatic control system

FAQ

1. What is a Tube Chain Conveyor?

A Tube Chain Conveyor is an enclosed conveying system that uses a moving chain with discs inside a tube to transport powders, granules, and bulk materials.

2. What materials can a tube chain conveyor handle?

It can transport powders, granules, pellets, and small bulk materials used in food, pharmaceutical, chemical, agricultural, and industrial applications.

3. Can the conveyor transport materials vertically?

Yes. The chain disc system provides sufficient pushing force for stable vertical conveying.

4. Does the tube chain conveyor create dust?

The enclosed tubular design greatly reduces dust leakage and provides cleaner operation compared with open conveyors.

5. Can it handle fragile materials?

Yes. The gentle low-speed conveying process helps minimize particle breakage and maintains product quality.

6. What are the advantages compared with screw conveyors?

Tube chain conveyors provide enclosed transportation, flexible routing, lower dust generation, and better protection for sensitive materials.

7. Can the conveying system be customized?

Yes. The tube diameter, conveying distance, inlet and outlet positions, materials, and control system can be customized according to production requirements.

8. Is the equipment suitable for food production?

Yes. Stainless steel and hygienic configurations can be provided for food processing applications.

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