accumulation-conveyor

Accumulation Conveyor: Functions and Benefits

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Organizing the internal transportation of pallets to the processing and shipping areas is much simpler with systems such as accumulation conveyors.

What is an accumulation conveyor?

An accumulation conveyor is a system consisting of rollers or chains designed to transport, accumulate or distribute goods to different points as required by warehouse and/or factory operations. These conveyors aim to maximise efficiency in receiving, shipping and handling unit loads.

Incorporating an internal transport system for pallets or boxes optimises typically repetitive and similar routes, eliminating the need for manual handling by an operator. Accumulation conveyors are becoming increasingly common in all kinds of facilities. They’re versatile and easy to assemble — when installed by the right manufacturer.

Functions of accumulation conveyors

Common applications of accumulation conveyors include:

  • Creating product queues for subsequent sorting.
  • Moving goods for shipment in distribution centres.
  • Starting, stopping and restarting the flow of boxes and pallets.
  • Supplying items to workstations.

Before deciding on a particular accumulation conveyor model or manufacturer, consider which products they’ll be transporting. Take into account their size, weight and the durability of their packaging. It’s also advisable to anticipate the expected accumulation density and the performance rate requirements for downstream processes. To do this, you’ll want to follow the example of companies like Konya Şeker and consult with an intralogistics expert.

Types of accumulation conveyors

Common applications of accumulation conveyors include:

  • Powered accumulation conveyors. Designed to transport pallets or boxes, these can comprise a roller or chain system. The main feature of powered conveyors is that the goods never touch, making them suitable for moving delicate items. Thus, they’re considered zero-pressure accumulation conveyors.
  • Gravity conveyors. As with gravity flow racking systems, pallets slide forward on rollers made of electro-welded steel tubes. The components of these conveyors are configured according to the type and weight of the pallets they’re designed to hold. Although loads in these gravity-driven systems may touch slightly, the movement speed is controlled. These devices are also known as minimum-pressure accumulation conveyors since products may come into contact with each other.

Pallet conveyor systems can have mechanical or sequential accumulation:

  • Conveyors with mechanical accumulation. These roller systems with brakes enable multiple pallets to accumulate. They have lower material and maintenance costs than their sequential accumulation counterparts due to fewer motors and sensors. These conveyors move unit loads and can transport 4 to 16 pallets on a single line driven by one motor or on 4 parallel lines of up to 4 unit loads each. As a rule, they’re adaptable to different temperatures and travel at speeds of up to 7 m per minute.
  • Conveyors with sequential accumulation. These straight conveyors with rollers or chains enable lengthwise flows, covering long distances within a facility. Each pallet’s position is controlled by photocells, which maintain a small gap between loads. These conveyors generally operate at speeds of about 8 m per minute. They can act as a storage buffer and be combined with standalone conveyors for infeed and outfeed operations. Some models can also be used in sub-zero temperatures.

Benefits of accumulation conveyors

Incorporating accumulation conveyors into intralogistics operations offers numerous advantages. They can:

  • Increase throughput rates by grouping items, ensuring that no equipment remains idle.
  • Adapt to specific product types using either roller or chain configurations and customisable elements.
  • Create a buffer between different processes for continuous, controlled workflows.
  • Allow time for products to cool or dry in production environments.
  • Prevent damage to goods.
  • Merge lines.

Streamline your intralogistics setup

Are you looking to sort or move products using accumulation conveyors? Or perhaps you want to increase the efficiency of your intralogistics operations. At SBI, we have the expertise to assist you. With 20 years of experience in intralogistics and as storage solutions experts, we specialize in automating internal pallet and box flows in warehouses and production centres. Contact us, and we will analyze your company’s specific needs.