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Multi-Conveyor—a manufacturer of standard and custom conveyor systems for end-users, integrators, engineering firms, automation/robotics, AI, OEM's and contract packagers across multiple markets—recently modified the layout of a high-speed canning line by adding intermediate sections and adding a massive stainless-steel bi-directional accumulation table.
The modification included a 51' mass flow transport conveyor section and a 54' long by 10’ wide accumulation table meant to hold backed-up or accumulated product to nearly 14,000 cans at a required rate of 900 cans per minute (CPM).
Accumulation tables are designed to increase line uptime by allowing conveyor systems to store product so that the upstream equipment, in this case a filler, can remain operational at full speed if downstream equipment is stopped. When clear, the table should automatically reintroduce the accumulated product to match down-line equipment surge rate until the table is emptied.
This project incorporated raised rib chain in order to provide a smoother transfer onto and off of the table and a heavy solid stainless-steel floating sweep arm meant to assist in table filling and emptying.
Mass flow to bulk accumulation systems should be easily adaptable to round product, says the company, which would minimize changeover requirements. The amount of increased filler run time is designed to be several hours per day and is expected to provide a full return on investment (ROI) in less than a year's time for this particular project.
Accumulation volume and buffer times are application specific and the company says should be discussed up front with your account manager or Multi-Conveyor regional sales partner.
