Welcome to Package This — your guide to packaging machinery and materials. Today, we look at accumulators -- the unsung heroes of bottling, filling and other packaging lines.

The ultimate buffers, accumulation systems are designed to help during slowdowns or stoppage on the line, keeping products flowing by preventing jams. They also help prevent breakage or damage of bottles, cans, and more in every size and shape, from wobbly bottles to non-round containers and beyond.

Accumulation tables

First, let’s look at accumulation tables. These workhorses accumulate and offload containers and packages on a horizontal level. Examples include a bi-directional accumulation table for aluminum cans or a surge table that single files products like wine bottles, soda cans, or vials for pharmaceuticals.

But when products are larger, such as cartons or cases at the end of the line, a different horizontal solution may be needed, as we see with this system from Span Tech.

Blurring the lines between accumulation tables and conveyors, Span Tech’s accumulation options maximize space and allow continuous operation even if downstream processes slow or stop. Accumulation options from Span Tech help packaging operations optimize efficiency by feeding products into subsequent processes at the right time and rate.

As we see here, the system holds items temporarily until they can move to the next phase, managing the flow of items, matching production stages' pace, and minimizing bottlenecks. By absorbing production rate fluctuations, the accumulator aids in maintaining a steady supply to downstream processes and improves production line reliability.

Rotary accumulators

Now, let’s spin over to rotary accumulators, also known as turntable accumulators, accumulating rotary tables, rotary overflow tables and other names. These machines store containers or packages on a flat rotating disk. For example, rotary accumulation systems might be used to handle filled pharmaceutical vials spinning their way through the process. Whether they're unscrambling bottles before filling or handling them afterward, rotary accumulators ensure everything stays on track.

Spiral/Helical accumulators

Let’s move onward and upward to our next type of accumulator: spiral and helical accumulators. Like the name suggests, these machines elevate containers or packages in a spiral or helical manner. Think of them as the circulating escalators of the production line, reducing stops and protecting product from damage along the way. These systems could be used on high-volume bottle filling lines, keeping packages safely buffered between machines.

Vertical accumulators

Finally, we have a highly unique accumulation system: vertical accumulators. First, they align rows of cartons horizontally and then stack them vertically, one row at a time. Ideal for high-volume lines and delicate products, they step in when there's a downstream hiccup, holding rows of cartons until everything's back on track. Then, they gently release the cartons back onto the conveyor to wherever they need to go next.

So, there you have it—an overview of accumulators. These machines may differ in approach, but all do a fantastic job of keeping products flowing smoothly and safely throughout the line.

We hope you enjoyed our take on the world of accumulations systems used in today’s packaging operations.

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