Conveyor Limit Question

[mdemalia]

[ FlexSim 21.2.3 ]

Attached is a simple model that receives items on a conveyor and then distributes the boxes to side conveyors. I added an operator to remove the boxes from the conveyor. I want the boxes to not be allowed to go on either side conveyor if the quantity on the side conveyor is larger than say 3. This would essentially create a re-circulation loop. Conveyor Round Robin Example.fsm

Any suggestions?

[joerg_vogel_HsH · Accepted solution]

If you can’t get the conveyor.subnodes.length as a property than you create a counting section by a photo eye at entry to increment a label and in exit transfer you decrement this label value. Then in a decision point you evaluate this label to divert items.

[mdemalia]

Hi @Joerg Vogel thank you for the response. I have seen references to conveyor.subnodes.length but I am not sure how to make it so the main conveyor continues to run. Would you be able to show me a quick example model or edit mine showing how you would apply either technique above? Thanks in advance!

[joerg_vogel_HsH]

conveyor_round_robin_example_jv.fsm

I extracted the out object port diversion into a local variable in source code called port.

condition:

current.outObjects[port].as(Conveyor.DecisionPoint).conveyor.subnodes.length < 3

current.outObjects[port] references a decision point. I cast it directly as Conveyor.DecisionPoint to get the property conveyor of this class. From this conveyor I evaluate the subnodes length. The comparison < 3 is an empirical result, because the convey time falsifies the condition < 4.

[joerg_vogel_HsH]

if you want to get an independent result of the items on involved conveyors, you can increment labels for both destination points and decrement them on exit of items. You decide on the value of both labels, if you divert items. Then the convey time is not relevant anymore.