Complete a process multiple times based on product property

Process Modeling
1

Hi! I need to model a machine tending scenario where products can go through the machine multiple times depending on a product property. I need help understanding where the decision can be implemented whether to take product back for another pass.

Here is an example of this scenario

image
image2061×924 229 KB

  • We have input & output conveyors and a linear machine in the middle (the middle conveyor) with a robot tending the machine placed on a 7th axis.
  • Main goal: products need to go through the linear machine from 1 to 4 times, based on the particular product.
    In this example I created 2 products with a property called MachinePassesNeeded, but in reality there will be more products and each might need 1...4 passes in the machine.
  • Products move continuously and at the MachineOut point the robot should make the decision whether to move forward or move product back into MachineIn for another pass, prioritising this movement.

Question: how to implement the logic to decide where to move the product?
image

The flow editor doesn’t seem to allow for logic decisions. Only idea I can think of at the moment is adding in the MachineOut process an if statement with the comparison and then adding a RunRobotRoutine statement with a custom routine picking and placing product to the beginning of the machine, but not sure if this is the way to go.

VC layout of this example:
Test - multiple passes.vcmx (1.7 MB)

2

@Tilma any ideas about this one? If you don’t know how this could be done, then I’m not sure if anyone does :joy: