PickMaster Load Balancing [PickMaster 3]

PickMaster
1

Hello,

based on my knowledge on Load Balance, when I use the LB functionality (e.g. 2 robots 50 % each one), If the first robot loose some products, these are not added to the second one. So if I’ve 50% each robot, and the first one can pick up only 45%, a 5% is completely lost : is true ?

If so why is not possible to forward this item to the second robot or to the other robots in the line ?

Regards, Davide

2

Hello Davide,

By combining ATC and load balancing functionality you can resolve the limitations that would otherwise exist as you mentioned.

By setting it up as illustrated in the image you will ensure the following

  • Conveyor Work Area 2 will receive at least 50% of all items
  • The ATC-group will be greedy, thus Conveyor Work Area 1 will pick as many of the items as possible (max 50% according to load balancing). However, if Conveyor Work Area 1 for some reason do not succeed with picking 50% of all items, Conveyor Work Area 2 will finish off the remaining items as it is member of the same ATC-group as Conveyor Work Area 1.

Another way to work around this problem is to load balance the outfeed (if common) and then setup an ATC group on the infeed.

If you are planning to use ATC with strict sorting in a container combined with selection data/sort data, please read the note in PickMaster 3.0 User’s Guide, page 69.

Kind Regards,

Erik