Overview of Peanut Deep Processing Flow
Peanut deep processing refers to converting raw peanuts into high value-added products through multiple stages including raw material reception and cleaning, grading and screening, roasting and baking, dehulling and red skin removal, grinding and paste making, frying and seasoning, and packaging and sterilization, throughout which belt conveyors function as core continuous conveying equipment connecting all processing stages and enabling stable, efficient material flow across the entire production line. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Role of Belt Conveyors in Peanut Processing Lines
Belt conveyors are the backbone of peanut deep-processing lines, ensuring continuous, hygienic, and controlled material transfer between processes, reducing manual handling, minimizing product damage, improving line automation, and supporting high-capacity industrial production.
Application of Different Conveyor Belt Types in Peanut Processing
Rubber Belt Conveyors in Peanut Processing
Rubber belt conveyors are widely applied for horizontal and inclined conveying of bulk peanuts and packaged products, commonly used in raw material intake, preprocessing inspection, and finished product packaging stages, requiring food-grade rubber materials with working surface thickness typically between 3–6 mm and non-working surface thickness of 1–3 mm to ensure wear resistance, hygiene, and compliance with food safety standards.
Plastic Belt Conveyors in Peanut Processing
Plastic belts made from polyvinyl chloride offer excellent oil and corrosion resistance and are easy to clean, making them particularly suitable for conveying fried peanuts, peanut butter, and other high-oil-content products, where long-term exposure to oil would otherwise degrade rubber belts and increase maintenance frequency.
Slat Belt Conveyors in Peanut Processing
Slat belt conveyors, driven by articulated chains and supported by fixed guide plates, are primarily used in canned peanut and peanut beverage production lines as well as packaging box conveying, providing stable transport for containers and enabling precise positioning during filling and sealing operations, with optional baffles added for steep-angle conveying to prevent material slippage.
Canvas Belt Conveyors in Peanut Processing
Canvas belts feature high tensile strength, flexibility, and breathability, making them suitable for conveying dough sheets, biscuit blanks, and baked peanut product bases during lamination, rolling, and forming processes, while offering adjustable length and speed to accommodate diverse product sizes and production capacities.
Wire Mesh Belt Conveyors in Peanut Processing
Wire mesh belts provide high-temperature resistance and excellent permeability, enabling simultaneous conveying and liquid drainage, and are widely used in peanut cleaning, frying, roasting, and cooling processes, where mesh openings allow water, oil, or heat to pass through, thereby improving processing efficiency.
Steel Belt Conveyors in Peanut Processing
Steel belts manufactured from stainless steel are designed for high-temperature environments exceeding 200°C and are commonly used in continuous peanut roasting and baking ovens. They offer superior hygiene, thermal stability, and mechanical strength, but require precise installation, larger drum diameters, and regular monitoring due to their higher rigidity and cost.
Comparative Analysis of Conveyor Belt Applications in Peanut Deep Processing
Different conveyor belt types offer distinct advantages depending on process requirements, with rubber belts providing versatility for general conveying, plastic belts excelling in oily environments, slat belts ensuring stable container transport, canvas belts supporting dough-based products, wire mesh belts enabling heat and liquid transfer, and steel belts meeting the demands of high-temperature roasting and baking operations.
Key Technologies in Peanut Processing Conveying Systems
Drive Unit Design and Selection
Drive units composed of motors, reducers, and drive drums or sprockets must meet specific peanut processing requirements, including anti-slip drum surfaces to handle oily materials, variable frequency speed control to match process timing, such as roasting duration, and hygienic designs that prevent oil and residue accumulation.
Frame and Idler Roller Optimization
Conveyor frames constructed from channel steel, angle steel, or stainless steel provide structural support, while idler rollers are selected based on material form, with trough idlers used for bulk peanut kernels and flat idlers for packaged products, and designs emphasizing dust prevention, corrosion resistance, and ease of cleaning in humid or oily processing environments.
Tensioning Device Configuration
To compensate for belt elongation resulting from continuous operation, temperature variations, and load changes, peanut-processing conveyors employ counterweights or automatic tensioning devices that maintain constant friction, accommodate thermal expansion, and reduce manual adjustments while ensuring hygienic accessibility.
Design Recommendations for Peanut Deep Processing Conveying Systems
Effective peanut-processing conveying systems should adopt a systematic, line-wide design approach; prioritize food hygiene and cleanability; maintain flexibility to accommodate diverse peanut products; integrate energy-saving technologies, such as variable-frequency drives; implement comprehensive safety protections; and ensure easy maintenance to minimize downtime and support long-term, stable operation.
Summary
Belt conveyors are indispensable to modern peanut deep-processing lines, and through proper belt selection, optimized drive and support systems, hygienic structural design, and intelligent configuration, they significantly enhance production efficiency, product quality consistency, and operational reliability, thereby providing strong technical support for the continuous development of the peanut processing industry.
