Rockwell Automation Arena Packaging Users Guide - Manual (Page 40)

A RENA P ACKAGING T EMPLATE U SER ’ S G UIDE
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As an example, suppose a palletizer has a Nom. Run Speed of 3 layers per minute and the
Units/Layer is 150. Assume the speed factor of the palletizer is 1. When filling a layer, the
palletizer takes units off the conveyor at a rate of 450 units per minute (i.e., 3 layers/min *
150 units/layer). Therefore, if enough units are available on the conveyor, it takes 20
seconds to fill a layer.
After a layer is filled, the palletizer can delay for a specified amount of time (i.e., the Time
Between Layers). Normally, this period represents the time required to sweep the layer of
units onto the pallet. It can also represent any other type of time required before the next
layer is filled.
The Time Between Layers is defined in the Run Parameters section of the Palletizer main
dialog box. It can be a constant or sampled from a random distribution. Note that the input
rate of the palletizer is zero during the Time Between Layers. A palletizer only accepts
units from the upstream conveyor when it is filling a layer.
After Time Between Layers, the palletizer checks whether the pallet is full. The Layers/
Pallet parameter defines the pallet size. If the number of layers on the pallet is fewer than
Layers/Pallet, then the palletizer starts filling another layer. If the number of layers on the
pallet is equal to Layers/Pallet (i.e., the pallet is full), then the palletizer tries to place the
completed pallet into storage.
The Storage Name operand in General Information specifies the location where pallets are
stored. This operand may or may not reference the name of a Storage module. If Storage
Name does not reference a Storage module, the palletizer assumes an infinite pallet
capacity for the storage. In this case, the pallet is automatically added to the storage. The
palletizer can also create a discrete entity when a pallet is added.
If Storage Name does reference a Storage module, then the palletizer must check whether
the storage is full before adding the pallet. Storage modules have a pallet capacity. If the
storage is full, then the palletizer cannot add the pallet and it is blocked. It remains
blocked until space is available in the storage. Note that in Discrete Entity Logic you can
create a discrete entity when a palletizer is blocked.
After a pallet is stored, the palletizer can delay for a specified amount of time (i.e., the
Time Between Pallets). Normally, this period represents the time required to store the pallet
and then setup the next one. It can also represent any other type of time required before the
first layer of the next pallet is filled.
The Time Between Pallets is defined in the Run Parameters section of the Palletizer main
dialog box. It can be a constant or sampled from a random distribution. Note that the input
rate of the palletizer is still zero during the Time Between Pallets. A palletizer only
accepts units from the upstream conveyor when it is filling a layer.