镀锌线钢卷吊运装置的自动化控制

介绍了镀锌线上钢卷吊运装置自动化控制的功能、构成、工作流程，提供了一种起重运输设备自动化控制设计的范例。     

Design of a material handling equipment selection model using analytic hierarchy process

Selection of suitable material handling equipment for typical conditions and handling environment is found to be a multi-criteria decision making problem. The selection procedure is found to be unstructured, characterised by extensive domain dependent knowledge and requiring the application of an effective and efficient multi-criteria decision making tool, such as the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The AHP technique breaks down decision making problems into finer parts to allow for easier and more logical selections. The following paper focuses on the application of the AHP technique in selecting the optimal material handling equipment under a specific handling environment. The relative importance of each criteria, subcriteria and sub-subcriteria is measured using pairwise comparison matrices and the overall ranking of each alternative equipment is then determined. Sensitivity analysis is performed to identify the most critical and robust criteria in the material handling equipment selection process.     

An inter-machine material handling system for micro-manufacturing based on using a standard carrier

Lack of standardization is often a key problem area limiting the applications of any new automated micro-handling technology, due to that equipment makers may have to spend an excessive amount of time and resources to customize automation solutions. Carrier-based material handling systems provide product-independent solutions. Product independency is an essential requirement for re-using material handling systems, because they allow product change without mechanical changes in the transport devices. This paper describes a new automated inter-machine material handling system for micro-manufacturing integration, based on the standard carrier DIN-32561. The main task of the system is to transport (full/empty) carriers between different stations/machines in a micro-manufacturing plant, to integrate assembly and manufacturing. The authors designed a conveyor belt and an automated guided vehicle system to fit into a linear pick-and-place micro-manufacturing plant. Prototypes of the different components were then developed and tested.     

Design of Components and Layout of Machines for Material Handling

Efficient material handling can reduce the amount of work in manufacturing operations. This paper discusses the design of components and the layout of machines from a material handling perspective. A way to reduce the material handling cost without compromising the component functionality is to choose satisfactory design options. The relationships between the design of the components and material handling are analysed to reduce the flow of material in a manufacturing system. In Model I, component routes are selected for a potential manufacturing system when only limited information regarding the layout of the machines is available. The selection of component routes is integrated with the determination of machine locations, the layout of single-row machines, and the layout of multi-row machines with equal areas, respectively, in Model II. Each problem is mathematically formulated and two algorithms are presented with illustrative examples.     

Vehicle Travel Time Models for AGV Systems under Various Dispatching Rules

The design and evaluation of AGV-based material handling systems are highly complex because of the randomness and the large number of variables involved. Vehicle travel time is a fundamental parameter for solving various flexible manufacturing system (FMS) design problems. This article presents stochastic vehicle travel time models for AGV-based material handling systems with emphasis on the empty travel times of vehicles. Various vehicle dispatching rules examined here include the nearest vehicle selection rule and the longest idle vehicle selection rule. A simulation experiment is used to evaluate and demonstrate the presented models.     

A flexible packaging station for micro-bulk-forming applications based on a standard carrier

Machine material handling is complicated in micromanufacturing since standards are not applied and existing handling systems are not flexible. Usually, machine handling systems are highly dependent of microcomponent properties. If the microcomponent is changed, the handling system is also changed. The aim of this paper is to propose a packaging station based on a standard carrier to provide a product-independent inter-machine handling system. Microcomponents are arranged into standard carriers for unifying transport systems. This packaging station was designed to accomplish micro-bulk-forming requirements, but its modular design and its low microcomponent dependencies permit to easily adapt the station to new applications.     

联合储库用自动运行物料搬运系统

对联合储库用自动运行物料搬运系统进行了概述,概述联合储库的存储方式,主要介绍了自动运行物料搬运系统的组成和功能,简单介绍了系统的应用情况。联合储库用自动运行物料搬运系统,采用新式机械构造设计、新型自动控制系统,使联合储库用物料搬运系统自动化程度有了质的提高,不同于普通的物料搬运系统,自动运行物料搬运系统主要在于能够结合厂内其他设备,根据运行指令自动运行,大大减少了操作人员数量,降低了操作人员成本,提高了物料搬运系统自动化水平,推动工厂自动化发展。     

500m长轨条多支点平移装置单元架型选择

介绍了500m长轨条生产线改造工程中采用的3套新型平移装置,详细论述了非标多支点底顶式起重设备装置单元架型的选择,给出了从规划到实施过程的设计思路。     

Selecting the suitable material handling equipment in the presence of vagueness

Selection of the suitable material handling equipment (MHE) is a very difficult task for the manufacturing companies because of the considerable capital investment required. There are many tangible and intangible factors for choosing the suitable MHE. Multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) has been found to be a useful approach to analyze these conflicting factors. The evaluation of MHE alternatives within the frame of various subjective criteria and the weights of the criteria are usually expressed in linguistic terms. This makes fuzzy logic a more natural approach to this kind of problems. This paper proposes a combined MCDM methodology for evaluation and selection of MHE types for a company in the steel construction industry in Istanbul, Turkey. Fuzzy analytic network process (FANP) is utilized for assigning weights of the criteria for MHE selection and fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) is used to determine the most proper system alternative using the criteria weights attained by FANP. The selection is based on the compatibility between MHE and production characteristics. Objective is to select the most efficient MHE considering also the cost efficiency. The study was followed by the sensitivity analyses of the results.     

The control of a flexible manufacturing system by short-term goal identification

The control of manufacturing systems is characterised by the need to make a compromise between conflicting goals. Traditional research concentrates on steady-state optimisation of single objectives that are not necessarily relevant to decision making in a production environment. The advent of flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) with automated material handling and limited buffer space highlights the need to provide computationally-efficient solutions to work out scheduling and dispatch problems for real-time applications. The authors have adopted a knowledge-based approach to achieve effective real-time FMS control. In the context of the current system status and planned system activities, short-term goals are identified which lead to appropriate jobdispatch decisions. This approach has been implemented in a prototype control system written in Prolog. To obtain knowledge in this area of scarce expertise, a “define-build-learn” cycle was adopted. First, functional concepts are defined and built into the control system, then the corresponding system characteristics are studied and the results used for further cycles of concept definition and building. This paper describes the development of this operational system.     

An new approach for the automatic analysis and control of material handling systems: integrated layout flow analysis (ILFA)

In the majority of small and medium sized enterprises (SEMs), the direct costs of material handling cannot be clearly measured. There are several reasons for this, including the large number of product types, complexity of their production cycle, and continuous change in markets. Therefore, production managers require flexible tools to create a suitable material handling system model which explicitly and rapidly calculates the indices required as these are traditionally neglected or laboriously approximated, (i.e., time and cost in material flow inside the factory, storage area requirements, and MH utilization percentage). This paper proposes an integrated approach to analyzing and controlling material handling operations in an industrial manufacturing plant from a “full quantitative” point of view. The model presented unites quite different fields of research into a unique methodology. This material handling model rapidly and automatically provides production managers with extensive and significant information. As a result, integrated layout flow analysis interrelates systematic layout planning with operational research algorithms and visual interactive simulation, using a complete software platform to implement them. This integrated layout flow analysis approach focuses on determining the space requirement for manufacturing department buffers, the transportation system requirements, the performance indices, and the time and cost of material flows spent in the layout and in MH traffic jams.     

A knowledge-based system for the selection of fluid film journal bearings

This paper describes a knowledge-based system developed for the selection of fluid film journal bearings. The system consists of three major parts which are a knowledge base, an inference engine and a user interface. The system is implemented on HyperCard on a Macintosh computer. The knowledge base is constructed by the method of production rules with weight numbers. A new reasoning mathematical model based on the production rules makes the reasoning much faster. The system operation shows that the system makes intelligent and appropriate bearing selections which are suitable for a user's application.     

A Hybrid Intelligent Systems Approach for Die Design in Sheet Metal Forming

Die design is heavily experience based and the die design process is an iterative procedure of trial and error in order to obtain a final die design for the successful manufacture of stampings. Most automotive industries use internal guidelines and past experience for die design. Even though powerful computer-aided design systems are being used in automotive industry, the lack of adequate analysis tools at the initial die geometry design stage hinders the die manufacturing process, and also necessitates lead times of the order of 5–30 weeks [1]. At the concept design stage, and during the initial die development process, the variations in geometry and process conditions are so large that it is prohibitively expensive to use 3D finite element analysis. The complexity of die design heuristic knowledge hinders the development and application of knowledge-based systems. Hybrid intelligent systems are computer programs in which at least one of the constituent models simulates intelligent behaviour [2]. These models could be knowledge-based systems, artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic systems, etc. In this approach both artificial neural networks, knowledge-based systems and finite-element analysis (FEA) for modelling the design process are used. A simulation-based design approach [3] for the die design process is followed. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are preliminary design tools which indicate the formability of the component geometry, for the selected process and material conditions. The ANN module is trained from FEA results for a generic set of component geometries, process conditions, and material properties. The final die design validation is carried out by FEA. The intelligent frame-work incorporates rules for material selection, process parameter selection and their modification. Component geometry is a critical parameter which affects the manufacturability of the given part. Hence, an intelligent geometry handling module, which automatically modifies and optimises the geometry of the designed die, is implemented in the present system. Knowledge-based blackboard architecture is used for the integration of various analysis models such as CAD, FEA, and ANN, as an intelligent framework for die design [4]. The hybrid intelligent system provides an integrated decision support environment for simulation and analysis of the forming process, both during the initial die design phase and during the die tryout phase. The hybrid intelligent systems approach supports the capability for automatic evaluation of prospective die design for manufacturability, and performs automatic modification of design inputs. Applications of the hybrid intelligent system for die design are described together with a comparison with shop floor data.     

A knowledge-based design advisory system for collaborative design for micromanufacturing

The manufacture of microproducts differs from that of conventional products in many ways, not only in the sizes, but also in issues concerning the effects of material properties, tools, and manufacturing equipment. There was a need for a new design methodology and associated design tools to aid designers in assessing the design of their microproducts by considering new micromanufacturing capabilities and constraints. A knowledge-based design advisory system (DAS) was, therefore, developed in MASMICRO in which the knowledge-based system with dedicated assessment modules and knowledge representatives based on the ontology was created to implement the distributed design and manufacturing assessment for micromanufacturing. The modules address the assessment on geometrical features relating to manufacturability, manufacturing processes, selection of materials, tools, and machines, as well as manufacturing cost. The Microsoft C# programming language, ASP.NET web technology, Prolog, and Microsoft Access database were used to develop the DAS. The test on the DAS prototype system was found to provide an increase of design efficiency due to more efficient use of design and manufacturing knowledge and afforded a web-based collaborative design environment.     

机械式停车设备搬运器举升机构研究

机械式停车设备搬运器作为机械停车设备的重要组成部分,能够实现汽车的水平搬运,大部分搬运器需要通过举升机构将汽车抬离地面。由于举升重量大、频次高、冲击大等原因,致使搬运器举升机构成为影响搬运器性能的核心因素。文中通过对现有搬运器的研究,详细阐述了搬运器举升机构的特点与性能。     

起重运输车辆发动机进排气系统的设计计算

对起重运输车辆发动机进排气系统的设计计算方法进行了探讨,介绍了进排气系统的设计及设备选型原则,给出了工程应用的设计计算实例,对起重运输车辆发动机进排气系统的初步设计计算具有一定的参考价值。     

流程程序分析与布置经路分析在生产物料搬运中的应用研究

对生产设施布置和生产物料搬运中突出的问题进行了研究,并结合某企业的实际情况,应用流程程序分析和布置经路分析方法,分析了企业中所存的主要问题,提出了改善方案和措施。通过改善前后的物料搬运距离、物料搬运、耗用工时等相关指标的对比,改善方案主要零部件加工时间减少近1/3,物料搬运量和距离减少近1/2,并解决了企业新增设备布置问题,降低了企业生产成本,提高了生产率。     

Dynamic analysis of a PDP exhaust hole processing equipment considering glass substrate interaction

Exhaust hole drilling is one of the PDP (Plasma Display Panel) manufacturing processes to make about 1mm diameter holes for sucking out air in order to generate vacuum between two PDP glass substrates. In the drilling process, bigsized glasses about the size of a queen size bed are loaded, aligned, drilled, and unloaded, during which the dynamic interactions between glass and the handling equipment are very significant. To analyze exhaust hole drilling equipment dynamics, interaction with glass substrates that have somewhat different material properties from general glasses should be considered. The Young’s modulus and Poisson ratios of the substrates have been determined experimentally and verified via computation that simulates a well-known three-point bending test. Dynamic interaction of the glass with the handling equipment is modeled using a flexible glass and rigid body handling equipment models. The velocity profile by which the glasses are driven and the material properties of the handling equipment components contacting with the glasses are evaluated in view of the structural integrity of the glass and the operational efficiency of the equipment. The dynamic model is demonstrated to be an effective design tool for an exhaust hole drilling machine. This paper was presented at the 4th Asian Conference on Multibody Dynamics(ACMD2008), Jeju, Korea, August 20–23, 2008. Tae Oh Tak received his B.S. and M.S degree in Mechanical Design and Production Engineering from the Seoul National University in Korea in 1982 and 1984, respectively. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from the University of Iowa, USA in 1990. He is currently a professor at the Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering at the Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, Korea. His research interests are multibody dynamics and sensitivity analysis.     

A web-based advisory system for process and material selection in concurrent product design for a manufacturing environment

This paper reports the work of selecting suitable manufacturing processes and materials in concurrent design for manufacturing environment. In the paper, a fuzzy knowledge-based decision support method is proposed for multi-criteria decision-making in evaluating and selecting possible manufacturing process/material combinations in terms of the total production cost. Based on the proposed method, a prototype Web-based knowledge-intensive manufacturing consulting service system (WebMCSS) with the client-knowledge server architecture is developed to help designers/users find good processes and materials while still at the conceptual level of design. The system, as one of the important parts of an advanced design for manufacturing tool, is a concept level process and material selection tool that can be used as both a standalone application and a Java applet freely available via the Web. Interlinked with Web pages of tutorials, and reference pages explaining the facets, fabrication processes and material choices, the system performs reasoning and calculations using the process capability and material property data from the remote Web-based database and knowledge base that can be maintained and updated via the Internet. The use of the system is illustrated with an example.     

A constructive heuristic for the integrated scheduling of machines and multiple-load material handling equipment in job shops

This paper extends the traditional job shop scheduling problem (JSP) by incorporating the routing and scheduling decisions of the material handling equipment. It provides a generic definition and a mixed integer linear programming model for the problem considering the case of heterogeneous multiple-load material handling equipment. A constructive heuristic is developed for solving the problem. This heuristic is based on the well-known Giffler and Thompson’s algorithm for the JSP with modifications that account for the routing decisions of the material handling equipment and their effect on the start times of the manufacturing operations. Different dispatching rules are integrated into the heuristic, and experiments are conducted to study their effect on the makespan along with the determination of the computational time requirements of the developed heuristic.