Page 1 of 15

he cane carrier is the moving apron which conveys the cane into the
factory, and which assures the feed to the mill by transporting the cane

from yard to the crusher.

Since effective feeding of the crusher requires an elevated hoper, and the
cane must be raised to this high level from the level of the yard, where the
carrier is generally in a pit, the carrier always include a sloping portion
(fig. 1). We have:
1. The horizontal portion
2. The inclined portion
3. The head, where the cane arrives above the crusher

1. Slope:
The slope of the inclined portion varies from 27% (15o) to a maximum of
40% (22o). Generally a value below 27% is not used. If too low is adopted.
The cost of the installation and the space occupied are increased. A value of
40% is not exceeded, other wise the cane would be liable to slip and the
conveyor would move forward without packing it up. The best and
commonest values are 30% (17o) to 38% (21o).
When the knives are installed, or when the knife set is at the top of the
carrier (which is amount to the same thing), it is advisable to keep the slope
at 33 or 36%. When one or two sets of knives is precede the inclined portion,

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Fig (1): Cane carrier

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or are located at the beginning of the latter, a slope of 38% (21o) may safely
be adopted, and may even attain 40% (22o) if necessary
2. Length of inclined portion
This length will be that necessary to attain, with the inclination adopted, the
desired level above the crusher. Generally, the height from the ground level
at the mills to the heights point of the carrier will be about:
20 -23 ft in case of ordinary (2 roller) crusher, located above the first
13 16 ft. in case of a mill crusher (3 roller).
Assuming the floor-level of the horizontal portion of the carrier, in the yard
to be 3 ft bellow the ground level at the mills, and basing our figures on
aslope of 36% the inclined portion of the carrier will have a length of:
(a) With an ordinary crusher:

L=

(23 26) = 56 64 ft.

0.36

(1)

(b) With a 3-roller crusher:

L=

(16 20) = 45 56 ft.

0.36

(2)

3. Length of horizontal portion

When there are no drays to be unloaded, and in the absence of any other
special consideration, we may take for example:

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(3)

LH = 16 3 A

LH = length of horizontal portion of the carrier

A = crushing rate of the factory (TCH)
When the space for feeder table and bullock carts is considered, equation (3)
becomes:

L H = 1 .2 5 3 A + x + y

(4)

LH = length of the horizontal portion of the carrier

A = crushing rate of the factory, in (TCH)
x = space for feeder table (m)
y = space for bullock carts (m)

4. Width
The width of the carrier is always made equal to the length of the roller.
A wider carrier would not feed the crusher uniformly over its width, since it
would necessitate a feed hopper in a form of a pyramid, converging towards
the crusher; the ends of the roller will thus receive a heaver feed than the
centre. A narrower carrier would have the opposite disadvantage, which,
however, would be less marked on account of the spreading of the cut canes
in the chute.

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5. Speed
The speed of the carrier is not fixed in any absolute. However, it is advisable
that it be related to the peripheral speed of the mills. For example half of the
latter:
u=

v
2

(5)

u = mean speed of the carrier (m/min)

v = mean peripheral speed of the mills (m/min)

6. Capacity
The capacity of the carrier is given by the basic formula:
1000A = 60 u d h l

(6)

A = crushing rate of the factory (TCH)

u = Average speed of carrier (m/min)
d = density of cane (kg/m3) , taken as 300 kg/m3
h = height of the cane layer (m)
L = width of the carrier (m)
The weight of cane on the carrier (Q) is given by:
Q = zu d h l

(7)

Q = weight of cane on the carrier (kg)

zu = length of the upper run of the carrier
From equation (6):
d .h.l =

1000 A
A
= 16.6
60u
u

(8)

From equation (7) & (8) the weight of cane on the carrier is given by:
Q = z u 16.6

A
u

(9)

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7. Power Requirement:
The mean power absorbed by the cane carrier consist of two terms, the
power necessary to overcome friction in h.p, and the power required to
elevate the cane:
Pa = Pf + Pe

(10)

Pa = power absorbed by the carrier in h.p.

Pf = power necessary to overcome friction in h.p.
Pe = the power required to elevate the cane in h.p.
The power installed to the cane carrier is considered as twice the power
absorbed by the carrier:
Pi = 2Pa

(11)

Pi = the power installed in h.p.

Pa = the power absorbed by the cane carrier in h.p.
The power necessary to overcome friction is given by:

Pf =

(Q + K ) f

+ Kf
u
4500

(12)

Q = weight of the cane on the carrier (given by equation (9)) in kg.

f = coefficient of friction for the upper run of the cane carrier, in the order
of (0.2 0.3)
f = coefficient of friction for the lower run of the cane carrier, in the order

of (0.1- 0.18)
= Gearing factor , taken as 1.4

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u = speed of the carrier given by:

u=

1
= DN
v

(13)

u = speed of the cane carrier (m/min)

N = r.p.m of the mill roller
D = diameter of the roller (m)
K = weight of the cane carrier upper run = the weight of the lower run in kg.

K=

zt
(2 wc + ws )
2

(14)

K = weight of the cane carrier (kg)

zt = total length of the cane carrier (m)
zt = zu + zl

(15)

zu = upper length of the cane carrier (m)

zl = lower length of the cane carrier (m)
wc = weight of chain per meter length of the cane carrier, in the order of 30
100 kg/m
wc = weight of links + weight of pins + weight roller
ws = weight of cane carrier slats, in the order of 50 100 kg/m
2 = number of chain strand, for three strand chain K is given by:
K=

zt
(3 wc + ws )
2

The power required to elevate cane is given by:

(16)

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Pe =

1000 AH

60 4500

(17)

Pe = power required to elevate cane in h.p.

A = crushing rate of the factory (TCH)
H = height of the cane elevation, in the order of 7 9 m
= gearing factor, taken as 1.4

From equation (10) ,(12) & (17), the power absorbed by the cane carrier is:

Pa =

(Q + K ) f

+ Kf
1000 AH
u +

4500
60 4500

(18)

8. Method of drive:
An independent drive is now always used for the cane carrier. There are two
principal methods of drive:
(a) by steam engine
(b) by electric motor
In spite of its archaic character and of the rather barbarous models of vertical
engine adopted, the steam engine had even recently been favored to some
extent, an account of its flexibility in range of speeds obtainable, unlike the
small speed range offered by most electric motors. The electric motor,
however, has now completely taken first place since it can be used in
conjunction with coupling providing a complete range of speed variation.

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9. Tension
The free end of the carrier is fitted with an adjustment permitting the tension
of the conveyor to be adjusted. Since the drive is located at the head of the
carrier, and resistance to the movement is produced by the loaded upper run
of the carrier, it is the lower run which will be slack. Care is necessary to
ensure that this slack is neither too much, nor too little. The tension
moreover need not be great; the lower run is allowed to form fairly
pronounced curves between the idler pulleys
10. Form of head of the carrier
The knives always leave a certain proportion of uncut sticks at the bottom of
the cane layer. These sticks form a kind of grating the bottom of the layer,
which supports the chips and pieces of cut cane prevents them from falling
continuously from the top of the carrier.
If the carrier were to terminate abruptly, the inclined portion finishing right
at the top sprockets, the cane reaching the upper end of the carrier in this
way would first jut out beyond the carrier and then fall in batches into the
feed hopper of the crusher (fig. 2). The feed of the crusher would be
irregular, jerky and defective.

Fig (2): Effect of shape of carrier head.

Straight head

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To avoid this disadvantage, the head of the carrier is designed with gradual
curve, tangential to the sloping portion, so that the surface of the carrier
becomes first horizontal, then slopes downwards until it almost reaches the
angle of the repose of cane (or cut pieces of cane). And the intervals between
them more uniform, the cane may even form a continuous blanket from the
carrier to the crusher (fig. 3).
It is necessary therefore to give careful attention to the form of the head of
the carrier.

Fig. (3): Effect of shape of carrier head. Curved head

11. Accessories of the cane carrier

11.1. Cane elevators
When space is restricted, the inclined portion of the cane carrier may be
replaced by cane elevator. This is a similar piece of equipment, but designed
to lift the cane at much steeper angle (fig. 4). It operates on cut canes, since
the elevator is always located after at least the first set of knives and
generally after both set of knives.

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The slope may thus be increased up to 60o. In it is maintained between 35

and 40o. However, above 22o, the conveyor is no longer an ordinary and it is
desirable to make provisions for preventing slip of pieces of cane: angle
irons, spikes, or hooks placed on the slats to give appositive grip on cane.
Such elevators have, almost inevitably, the disadvantage described above:
they end abruptly, and it would be difficult to give them a suitable curved
form at the top.

Fig: Cane Elevator

11.1.1 Speed
The elevators are generally given a speed of 18 30 ft/min, a value will be
chosen:
u = 0.3 0.5 v

(19)

u = speed of the elevator

v = speed of the mill
11.1.2 Power
The power required is calculated for elevators as for carriers. Since the
inclination is no longer negligible, the term Pf in equation (12) should,

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however, be multiplied by the cosine of the angle elevation and will

consequently be reduced proportionately.
11.2. Equalizer
The equalizer is the term used to describe an apparatus designed to even
out the distribution of cane on the carrier, and to level the layer of cane to a
certain extent (fig 5), this must not be confused with the leveler, which is a
set of knives, and which evens out the layer of cane while cutting it.

Fig. (5): Equalizer

11.2.1 Description.
An equalizer consists of a shaft placed a cross the carrier, carrying curved
arms, and rotating in such a direction that the arms passing nearest the
carrier boards move in opposite direction to the latter. Thus the direction of
rotation of the equalizer is such as to throw the pieces of cane forward
11.2.2 Use:
An equalizer is installed when the cane is very tangled on the carrier and
when the leveling knives, set fairly low, would themselves be unable to level
the cane adequately. The equalizer is thus a secondary and inexpensive piece

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of equipment, placed after the knives, and designed to lighten their duty. It is
not often found since the use of second set of knives has become general.
11.2.3 Speed
An equalizer should rotate at about 40 50 r.p.m.
11.2.4 Power
A motor of power
P = 0.2 A

(20)

P = h.p. of the driving motor

A = crushing rate, in TCH
Will generally suffice to cope with the frequent overloads caused by the
passage of compact bundles of cane deposited on the carrier by the crane
12. Splitting of the cane carrier
The advantages of splitting the cane carrier are:
1. bulk density increases as the cane being dropped from first carrier to
second carrier at height about 3 m
2. speed of the carrier is easily controlled for different sections
3. uniform layer of prepared cane and constant load on mill is achieved
4. the space saving is achieved by rake carrier
5. the bottom layer of cane is moved upside down
Thus homogeneous dense mat is obtained in splitting due to the above
mentioned reasons.

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13. Construction of the cane carrier

Fig. (6) below show a side view of the cane carrier, a cross section y y of
the cane carrier is shown in fig. (7).

Gearbox & motor

Adjustable
device

y
3- 5 m

y
30 m

Fig. (6)side view of the cane carrier

Horizontal length: 30 m
Inclined length: 20 m
Distance between columns: 3 5 m
Rollers CI pulley of 200 mm , shaft diameter 50 mm
Columns of angle iron

20 m

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Inclined plate

800 mm
5 mm thick

GL

Wear pads
6 mm thick

Fig. (7): cross section y y