Accumulation Roller Conveyor

Where an accumulation conveyor is used

A buffer conveyor is needed wherever two machines do not run at exactly the same rate, or one of them stops for a moment. Typical positions are

• between washing line stages, for example between washing and drying or between the dryer and the stacker
• at the infeed of a destacker, where stacks waiting in the queue keep the feed steady
• before merging and dosing points, where the line collects crates before releasing them.

The conveyor is used on food, beverage, bakery and logistics lines where the same crates circulate between washing and use.

How the accumulation roller conveyor works

The rollers have friction reduction. When the leading crate is stopped, the rollers keep turning underneath it and the following crates stop in turn behind it. The motor does not have to stop and restart for every hold, which simplifies the buffer logic and the controls. Low friction also keeps the pushing force on the queue small, which is gentle on crates and stacks.

When the next stage is ready again, the queue releases and the crates move on. Speed is set with a frequency converter, so the roller conveyor runs in step with the neighbouring conveyors and machines.

Construction and technical data

• Standard size L2900 × W420, fits standard washing line configurations directly
• Low-friction rollers: buffering without stopping the motor
• Stainless steel frame that meets food industry hygiene requirements
• Frequency converter speed control, power supply 50 Hz, 400 V

The position of the conveyor and its connections to neighbouring equipment are designed to suit the line layout.

Part of the conveyor line

The accumulation roller conveyor connects to other Pohjaranta conveyors, such as curve conveyors, side transfers and the stack feeding conveyor, and to washing lines, stackers and destackers. Pohjaranta designs the line, builds the conveyors at its Säkylä factory and programs the automation in-house, so the buffers are sized to the rate of the whole line.