Increasing flexibility in material handling

In a flexible transport system, carrier movement can be adapted quickly and easily to different formats, sizes and types of product, and even to seasonal requirements. Flexibility in this context means that transport carriers can be freely fed into and out of a multi-carrier system. Transport carriers can be accelerated, slowed down and positioned freely.

The transport carriers can be deployed independently of one another. It is also possible to mix different carrier and product configurations within a single system. The system also has application-specific holders and adapters for the carriers. Plus, a motion profile can be freely created for each carrier.

This Multi-Carrier-System travels at up to 3 m/sec and offers acceleration of up to 40 m/sec²—jerk-free. It can be started and stopped at any desired position. And it can be freely synchronized with the process.

This system incorporates options relevant for Industry 4.0. These include, the flexible electromechanical design for economic production down to batch sizes of one, as well as the decentralized sensors and intelligence within the work piece carriers and drives.

The modular servo controller and the motion controller also reflect the Industry 4.0 concept. Program data can be generated even from the simulation. The OPC-UA interface enables open integration into Industry 4.0 host environments.

The Multi-Carrier-System complements classic transport solutions. The other transport routes remain unaffected or can be implemented using a low-cost classic transport system or conveyor belt. Linear motors drive the transport carriers and provide precise positioning. Integrated control handles both transport motions and motion-control functions as well as the coordination of further machine modules.

Carriers can be moved toward each other without the risk of collision and are easy to position. In addition, several transport carriers can be grouped together and moved synchronously at fixed distances.

The modular basic mechanical system consists of linear motors, a base profile and a roller conveyor; customer-specific configurations can be created and precisely matched to individual applications. The Siemens controller allows full integration of the control and motion control functions for the overall system.