Accumulation & free-flow chain
Product stops, the chain keeps running. Buffering between machines with no back-pressure, no crushing and no jams.
Product that has to wait, without being crushed
Packaging lines are chains of machines, and machines fall out of step. When a downstream machine pauses, the product arriving behind it has to buffer somewhere, and on an ordinary conveyor, that means product piling into product, with back-pressure marking cartons and jamming the line.
Accumulation (Double-Plus) chain solves it mechanically. A large outer roller rides on a smaller inner roller, so when a stopper halts the product, the chain keeps running underneath while the outer rollers rotate freely. The product sits still on a moving chain, with no back-pressure and no crushing, and moves off again the moment the stopper lifts.
The same geometry makes the product travel at roughly 2.5 times the chain speed when it is running, which is why it is also called speed-doubling chain: the conveyor moves product faster than the chain itself is turning.
Sizes & construction
Available with polymer bushes (PNB, lighter and quieter) or solid bushes (SBR, for higher loads).
| Chain | Pitch (mm) | Roller Ø — outer / inner (mm) | Avg. ultimate strength (kgf) | Weight (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C2040PNB-JDS | 25.40 | 24.60 / 15.88 | 1,750 | 0.75 |
| C2050PNB-JDS | 31.75 | 30.60 / 19.05 | 2,800 | 1.16 |
| C2050SBR-L-JDS | 31.75 | 30.60 / 19.05 | 3,000 | 1.43 |
| C2060HPNB-JDS | 38.10 | 36.50 / 22.50 | 4,100 | 1.99 |
| C2060HPNB-TDS | 38.10 | 37.00 / 17.80 | 4,100 | 1.69 |
| C2060HSBR-L-JDS | 38.10 | 36.50 / 22.50 | 4,200 | 2.04 |
Electro-conductive versions available where static build-up is a concern. Dust covers are available on the C2050 sizes, a patented cover that stops screws, chips and small parts dropping into the conveyor and jamming the line. Supplied to order — contact us for current lead time.
Buffering between machines
Accumulation chain earns its money anywhere product must queue without damage:
- Buffer zones between filler, capper, labeller and case packer
- Free-flow lines feeding a machine that cycles
- Delicate or printed packaging that back-pressure would mark
- Assembly and test lines where parts index through stations
- Long transport runs where 2.5× product speed cuts chain wear
On assembly lines with loose fixings, the patented dust cover is worth specifying. A single dropped screw in an accumulation conveyor can stop the whole line.
Straight answers
What is accumulation (Double-Plus) chain?
A conveyor chain with a large outer roller running on a smaller inner roller. When product is stopped by a gate, the chain keeps moving underneath while the outer rollers spin freely, so product accumulates without back-pressure, crushing or jamming.
Why is it called speed-doubling chain?
Because of the roller-on-roller geometry, product carried on the outer rollers travels at roughly 2.5 times the speed of the chain itself. The conveyor moves product quickly while the chain runs slowly, which also reduces chain wear.
Can it be used where static is a problem?
Yes. Electro-conductive versions are available. Dust covers are also available on the C2050 sizes to stop dropped screws and swarf jamming the conveyor.
Product backing up on your line?
Tell us the product, the buffer length and the cycle, and we will specify the accumulation chain to suit.