A zero-pressure accumulation conveyor holds cartons in independent zones so they never touch, eliminating the back pressure that causes jams and product damage. Photo-electric sensors detect each case, and the motor in that zone stops or starts to control flow. Product accumulates and releases without collision, even when the line downstream is stopped.

Key facts

•   Holds cases in zones with no case-to-case contact (zero pressure)

•   Two modes: singulation (gap between cases) and slug (no separation, higher throughput)

•   24-volt motor per zone, no belts, chains, or lineshafts

•   Adjustable speed 25 to 125 FPM; capacity 75 lbs

•   Sleep feature stops empty zones to cut noise and roller wear

•   Slug mode jam protection accumulates upstream after a 6-second stall

How does a zero-pressure accumulation conveyor work?

A zero-pressure accumulation conveyor divides the line into individually controlled zones, each with a photo-electric sensor and its own drive. When a case stops at the discharge end, its sensor signals the zone behind it to stop too, and so on up the line, so cases queue in separate zones without pushing against each other. As the discharge clears, zones release one at a time. Hytrol's EZLogic system runs this logic with photo-electronic sensing and discrete electronic control rather than a central PLC, and the 24-volt motor in each zone turns off when no product is present. The result is accumulation with no back pressure, no crushing, and no jams from pile-up.

Zero-pressure accumulation specifications

 

Where is zero-pressure accumulation used?

•   Buffering cases ahead of sortation, packing, or palletizing

•   Decoupling upstream and downstream processes that run at different rates

•   Protecting fragile or delicate product from back-pressure damage

•   Staging cartons before a merge or shipping lane

•   High-throughput distribution and e-commerce lines

•   Any line where product must wait without stopping the whole conveyor

Why use zero-pressure accumulation instead of standard accumulation?

Minimum-pressure and contact accumulation let cases touch, so weight builds up against the lead case and can crush product, jam the line, or stall restart. Zero-pressure accumulation holds each case in its own zone with no contact, which protects fragile goods, prevents jams, and lets the line restart smoothly under full load. The sleep feature also stops empty zones, cutting energy use, noise, and roller wear.

Plan an accumulation conveyor system

HOJ engineers and integrates zero-pressure accumulation as a Hytrol partner, configuring EZLogic zones, singulation or slug mode, and speed to match your case mix and downstream process. Talk to a conveyor specialist.