Every industry, regardless of type, faces fierce competition. To remain relevant and competitive, they must use the right machinery, tools, and equipment. Take the different industries that process products and materials, for example. It’s imperative they meet operational goals. One way to accomplish that is by learning about and using the accumulation conveyor.
What Is an Accumulation Conveyor?
This type of material handling conveyor, retractable conveyor, or transfer conveyor has a unique design. It allows products to collect or stop at will. For that reason, they’re commonly used to keep or buffer products in various areas along the journey. That includes palletizers, sortation areas, and merges.
Especially when it comes to material handling, using a transfer accumulation conveyor is essential. Not only is it ideal for providing buffer zones that hold products until downstream operations become available, but it can also accommodate challenging items.
For example, accumulation transfer conveyors accommodate products of varying sizes, shapes, and weights with ease. At the same time, the system never compromises a product’s integrity. Many processing industries would struggle to meet operational goals without an accumulation conveyor.
To better understand, consider a conventional belt style conveyor. These move constantly and usually at a fast pace. That creates the risk of products bumping into each other or even falling off the system. The result: damaged goods. With that, production comes to a halt so someone can clean up the mess.
Even a minute of downtime can have a devastating impact on a processing or material handling company. During the cleanup process, other workers stand around waiting. Also, this leads to broken items, spilled contents, and other issues that delay a customer’s order. With everything combined, a company can expect unhappy customers and a loss of revenue. The right transfer conveyor prevents these problems from occurring.
Types of Accumulation Transfer Conveyors
Another exciting aspect of using this particular material handling conveyor is the different types available. Each of these regulates the flow of products as they make their way through different automated systems. As a result, operations run smoother and meet goals.
These include medium-pressure, zero-pressure, and zero contact.
Medium-pressure
The medium-pressure type is one of the more popular conveyor transfer systems. Usually, this consists of a flat drive belt that applies adjustable pressures to the rollers.
So, if products begin to accumulate, the drive keeps operating and applying slight pressure to the rollers. In turn, that causes the conveyor to apply greater pressure on accumulated products. The technology of this retractable conveyor balances enough drive pressure to ensure the heaviest item moves. At the same time, it uses only slight pressure to avoid compromising the smooth flow of products.
Of the different material handling conveyor systems, the medium-pressure design is the most effective for products of the same or similar size. The reason is that the pressure applied to products of different sizes toward the back causes them to pivot around smaller products. As imagined, that results in operational issues downstream if used with unevenly sized products.
Zero-pressure
Next is the zero-pressure transfer accumulation conveyor. For this, rollers divide the conveyor into zones. As products accumulate, those zones drop in sequence. Even the design of this material handling conveyor is different from the medium-pressure type. It has a drive mechanism that consists of a flat and narrow belt.
To apply the required pressure to move products, pneumatic actuators raise or lower the belt by releasing air. With this transfer conveyor, the actuators perform before any products begin to move. Then, as pressure releases on the drive, the items slowly come to a stop.
When investing in this type of system, you want to go with a top brand. For example, a Spantech conveyor is an ideal choice. Here’s why: The better brands of zero-pressure material handling conveyor systems stop the driving pressure to the rollers early. That prevents products from ending up side-by-side or jamming, which can cause damage.
For a low-pressure system, timing is critical for this action. So, while a Spantech conveyor stops drive pressure early, it also doesn’t stop it too late. Removing the air gaps too late would lead to a host of additional problems.
Zero-contact
The third option is a zero-contact transfer accumulation conveyor. Just as with a medium-pressure and zero-pressure system, zero-contact Spantech conveyors rank among the best. This system leaves space between the products after receiving a signal to queue for accumulation.
It accomplishes that is by dividing the transfer conveyor into zones. Within each of those is just one product, the size of which is always smaller than the designated zone. The primary benefit of this is to prevent products from colliding. That’s why it’s a popular solution for material handling companies that deal with glass products or those filled with liquid.
Zero-contact conveyor transfer systems dramatically improve operational efficiency. They also reduce the risk of wear and tear on the belt. Simply put, controlling the zones prevents products from coming into contact with one another, thereby enhancing the accumulation process.
We Supply Superior Material Handling Conveyor Systems
Whether you’re interested in a Spantech conveyor or another reputable brand, we can help. We match our customers to the right material handling conveyor systems to ensure they can meet operational goals. Contact us today to learn more about the products we supply.
