What is an automatic production line?
It is the route taken in the production process of a product, which starts from the entry of raw materials into the production site and consists of a series of production activities such as processing, transportation, assembly, and inspection. A narrow production line is a form of production organization that is organized according to the principle of objects and completes the product process. It is equipped with various equipment and workers for different types of work required to produce a certain product (parts, components) according to the principle of product specialization, responsible for completing all manufacturing work of a certain product (parts, components) and processing the same labor object with different processes.
General structure of automatic equipment
Automatic equipment typically consists of four systems.
❶Driving system
The power source of automatic equipment. Such as electric drive, hydraulic drive, pneumatic drive, etc.
❷Transmission system
The power of the device is transmitted to each actuator or auxiliary mechanism to complete the specified action process. Such as chain drive, pulley drive, friction drive, gear drive, or commonly used wire rope drive in elevators and lifting platforms.
❸Actuator system
It is a system that enables automated and auxiliary operations. Such as electric actuators, pneumatic actuators, hydraulic actuators, etc.
❹Control system
It is the control of the drive system, transmission system, and actuator of automated equipment, allocating motion to each actuator to coordinate their actions in time and sequence, thereby achieving the process function of automated equipment and completing automated production.
Automatic control systems: Control systems can be divided into two categories based on the sequence of actions: timing control and stroke control systems.
㈠Timing control
A timing control system refers to a control system that issues instructions in chronological order for operation;
The timing control system has the following advantages and disadvantages:
(1) Advantages: It can complete any complex work cycle and adjust normally without interfering with each other. Even if the distribution shaft rotates unevenly, it will not affect the sequence of each action, ensuring strict and reliable completion of the work cycle within the specified time. It is particularly suitable for high-speed automation equipment.
(2) Disadvantages: Poor flexibility and lack of devices to detect whether the execution mechanism has completed its actions, resulting in insufficient safety.
㈡Travel control system
It is a control system that controls the next action based on the travel signal from one action to a specified position.
Advantages and disadvantages of travel control system:
(1) Advantages: Control is carried out in a "command answer execute command" manner, which is safe and reliable;
(2) Disadvantage: The time cycle from output to feedback and then to giving the next command is relatively long. When the first action is not completed, the next action cannot be started, which is not suitable for high-speed automatic equipment.
Definition, Characteristics, and Applications of Automated Production Lines
People refer to the production system formed by connecting specialized automatic equipment and auxiliary equipment through workpiece storage and conveying devices according to the product processing technology process, and having independent control devices, as an automatic production line.
Automatic production lines are suitable for the production of the following products
1) Products that are standardized, produced in large quantities, and have a certain production cycle; Such as automatic box packing machine production line, non-standard production line
2) The structure of the product is convenient for transportation, automatic loading and unloading, positioning and clamping, automatic processing, assembly and testing
3) The product structure is relatively complex, with multiple processing steps and a long process route, resulting in the design of too many automated equipment subsystems, complex structures, large machine bodies, difficult control, and even inability to guarantee the quantity and quality of product processing.
4) The production process mainly involves packaging and assembly techniques. A series of supporting equipment such as folding machines, sealing machines, coding machines, and packing machines.
5) When automated equipment is not suitable for production due to factors such as processing methods, means, and environment, it can be designed as an automated production line.
