Autostore's Material Flow Control (MFC) module is a suite of project specific processes that communicate with your crane and conveyor programmable logic controllers (PLCs) via TCP/IP sockets and Autostore's high-level processes using standard IPC messages.
MFC integrates the automated equipment in any logistics plant into one single, efficient transport system that provides the optimum throughput for any system capacity and loading.
Standard MFC rules include:
Basic Decision Point Check
At every conveyor decision point, MFC will check the routes to the ultimate conveyor destination and carry out the following checks:
- Are all conveyor sections on the route in service?
- Are all conveyor sections on the route working?
If the answer to either of these questions is 'no' then MFC will find the next available route.
Rerouting to another Aisle
When the destination is an automated crane input, then MFC performs the following checks at a decision point:
- Is the route completely in service with no faults?
- Is the destination aisle in service?
- When about to enter the final output spur to the automated crane, are there any spaces on the spur?
If the answer to any of these questions is 'no' then MFC will select an alternative aisle.
Conveyor Merge
When two pallets on separate conveyors are about to merge to one location, the merge location must be empty before a move for one of the pallets is sent. The choice of which pallet is moved is based on a percentage bias defined for each merge location.
Cross Roads Management
No pallet is allowed on to a crossroads section of conveyor if its exit is not clear.
Lift Pallet Pairing
Single pallets wait before moving on to a lift platform for another pallet - when the second pallet destined for the lift is not blocked and is a defined number of conveyor sections back from the lift.
Blockage Alarms
MFC will raise an alarm if blockages are caused by spurs leading to the load correction stations. Alarms will also be raised if the feed to a final output spur becomes full for the sections under MFC jurisdiction.
Load Correction Carousel Operation
To avoid lockups, no pallet may enter a load correction carousel if the defined maximum number of pallets is already on the carousel. The maximum values selected allow a route from load correction to the reject spur.
For more information about the Autostore MFC Module, please contact us.