Syftet med arbetet var att undersöka möjligheten för optimering av produktflödet. Företagets produkter transporteras på ett transportband till en gemensam process. Det nuvarande flödet till processen är inte optimerat vilket resulterar i att processen körs ineffektivt. Ackumulering av produkter innan processen ska därför undersökas som en lösning till problemet. Fyra olika ackumuleringsförslag har analyserats och jämförts: hängande bansystem, palleteringssystem, depalleteringssystem och kombination av bansystem och palleteringssystem. Förslagen har blivit bedömda och jämförda utifrån följande parametrar: yta, investeringskostnad, flexibilitet, arbetsbelastning, arbetsmiljö och tid. Hängande bansystem fick det högsta snittvärdet och valdes därför för fortsatt analys med stöd av simulering. Simuleringen gjordes i ExtendSim 7. Två simuleringsmodeller jämfördes, en med ackumulering av produkter i bansystem och en utan. Resultatet var att ackumulering av produkter kan ge en besparing på 16 procent i driftkostnader per år. Simulering av övriga förslag kan göras för att få en tydligare jämförelse mellan förslagen. Rekommendationen till företaget är att ackumulera produkter i ett bansystem. Det baseras på analys av jämförelsen. Analysen och diskussionen visar också att robothantering inte är en passande lösning på problemet, eftersom rörelserna skulle skaka om produkterna för mycket. En vidare undersökning av utformningen av bansystemet bör göras för att få fram den optimala utformningen. / The purpose of the work was to investigate possibilities for optimization of the material flow. The different products of the company are being transported by a conveyor belt to a common process. The current flow to the process is not optimized with the result that the process runs inefficiently. Accumulation of products before the process should therefore be investigated as a solution. Four different accumulating systems have been analyzed and compared: hanging conveyor belts, palletizing, depalletizing and a combination of conveyor belts and palletizing. The systems have been assessed and compared according to six parameters: area, investment cost, flexibility, work load, work environment and time. The hanging conveyor belt yielded the highest average score and was therefore chosen for further analysis with the support of simulation. The simulation was made in ExtendSim 7. Two simulation models were compared, one with accumulation of product in conveyor belts and one without. The result of the simulation part was that accumulation of product results in savings of running costs with 16 percent per year. To get a better comparison between the accumulation systems simulations of all systems can be done. The recommendation to the company is to accumulate products in a conveyor system. This is based on the analysis of the comparison. The analysis and discussion also shows that robot handling is not an appropriate solution to the problem, because the movements would shake the products too much. A further investigation of the layout should be done in order to find the optimal layout.

As an engineering student, the most natural way of summarizing this thesis project is by relating it to a mathematical equation. The solution to this equation is given, and it is in the form of a racking concept that enables the use of robots. The other side of the equation is however a bit more complex. This side contains several undefined variables, which can only be solved by delving into various theoretical fields and exploring unchartered depths of the creative space.The project’s main objective is to design a concept rack for Gestamp HardTech in Luleå, Sweden, for storage and in-house transport of the beams which are produced at the HardTech facility. The rack is meant to be loaded both into and out of by robots and should suit an as wide array of beams as possible. To determine the possibilities and limitations of the rack’s robot-user, several automation aspects are researched, centered on industrial robots and machine vision. The beams which are produced at the Gestamp HardTech Luleå production plant today are analyzed, whereby twelve of them are ultimately chosen for the rack’s design to be focused on. What follows this is a creative process consisting of a creative idea-generating phase, an evaluative phase focused on implementation of the ideas, and a refinement phase where the rack concept is finalized. The process includes various methods of idea generating, a great deal of sketching, physical testing of the concepts, and finally CAD-modeling. The result, named 4.0-Rack, is in the form of a modular rack-concept which balances the aspects of flexibility, by suiting ten of the reviewed beams, with a high packing-grade, providing a mean packing-grade of 83% in relation to the way the beams are currently packed.

The main subject of the thesis was the logistics, savings of the expenditure of material, materials handling and stock-keeping in consequence of consumer package.This thesis is solved in theoretical way with many know-how from practise. The product portfolio and production process were described on the base of local examination.

The aim of this study is to present the advantages and disadvantages of automation in warehouses. The goal is to introduce a way of approaching when implementing a new technology. The following research question are thus stated:     RQ1. What are the advantages with automation in warehouse companies?    RQ2. What are the disadvantages with automation in warehouse companies?    RQ3. How can automation be implemented within a warehouse company?    The research questions worked as a guideline to build the theoretical framework and result section. The analysis and conclusion section were then formulated, and the research questions were answered. To answer the research questions, the approach of the systematic literature review has been used. Which means the information gathered was done in a systematic way.     It can be said that there are both advantages and disadvantages when it comes to automation in warehouses. The automated systems that were introduced in this thesis was AGVs and palletizing robots. Both these systems require more investigation and do not fully fulfil the customer demand. Yet, it can be said that automation in warehouses can have many positive effects on for example productivity, effectivity, and employees phycological and physical aspect.     For implementation of automation a guiding principle of three head phases was introduced with several steps. The head phases are the pre-project phase, implementation phase and post-project phase. The pre-project phase is about analysing the current company state and deciding if the implementation is possible with the resources available. The implementation phase is about the importance of structuring the planning and reducing the uncertainty during the project. Lastly, post-project phase is about adjusting after the automation and reflecting about the implementation. Reflecting the processes that occurred during the project is valuable experience, therefore it is important to think over the whole process and how to keep improving processes within the organization.    There are both advantages and disadvantages with the use of automation within warehouse companies. It is believed that implementation of automation in a warehouse is strongly dependent on the individuals involved. In this study the key individuals that were discussed were managers and employees. A framework for implementation of new technology was introduced as a guiding principle for managers. The framework is aimed to work for warehouse companies and presents the risks of not following the recommended procedure.     In future studies, the programming field within palletizing and AGVs can be further researched, which can reduce the disadvantages with the usage of automation within warehouse companies.

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This master thesis deals with the design of an automated solution for egg palletizing line. The first part analyzes the current production method together with possible ways of automating the palletization process. In the second part, based on this information, the concept of the line is created. The concept includes design of the gripping mechanism, selection of a suitable manipulator and description of all elements. The third part describes complete electrical project. The fourth part describes the control system and the user program including visualization. Finally, commissioning is described.

This diploma thesis is dealt with the virtual commissioning of a palletizing line, which is palletized using an industrial robot. In the theoretical part I describe the applications, divisions and effectors of the industrial robots and the reasons and the benefits of palletizing. Furthermore, the issue of virtual commissioning is described, including sensors, that are served for the proper operation of the workplace and the virtual simulation. In the practical part I describe the future workplace, creating a simulation and the program in the RobotStudio software.

The master's thesis deals with a robotic palletizing controlled by PLC. The first part provides examples of palletizing machines. The second part shows how ABB robot is controlled by B&R Automation PLC. The third part introduces selected approaches for automated pallet pattern generation. The fourth part designs library that allows pallet patterns to be generated using B&R Automation PLC. Fifth part covers creation of virtual palleziting cell, which is used to test library for automated pallet pattern generation.

This thesis deals with construction of a cheap robotic manipulator, which should be used for exhibitions and educational purposes. This project is a teamwork of two students. A robotic arm with four degrees of freedom was developed. Control and power electronics were installed for whole robot. The software’s aim is to develop a software that can control the robot by visual feedback, obtained from image processing of an image from 3D camera. Lastly, a graphic user interface for robot movement control is presented.

The diploma thesis is about the design of an automatic application system of edge protection corners to palletized material. As the first the diploma thesis briefly discusses actual principles and solutions in area of palletization. After that, there are 4 potential solutions described and measured by multicriteria evaluation method where the most suitable solution is being chosen. Then the actual act of designing of the chosen solution is described and also there are solved necessary calculations. In the end there is risk analysis of new workplace and the drawing documentation of selected nodes is attached. The diploma thesis’ assignment has been made in cooperation with company PHATEC s.r.o. in Litomyšl.