N Soft. Robot T200 SOLAS Pallet/Container Weighing Solution. How does it work? Integration with external systems for live weight updates

Transcription

1 N Soft Automation via smart software Robot T200 SOLAS Pallet/Container Weighing Solution NoSoft, in partnership with Radical Electronic Systems, provides a solution comprising hardware and software, to integrate weight readings from scales with pallet or container records. The whole idea is to eliminate manual capturing of weight readings. Now you can let our robot listen to the scale and instantly and accurately update your pallets or containers with the real measured gross weight. The need for this solution was proactively identified by Lambert van der Westhuizen, Logistics manager of Unifrutti SA, as a proper way to ensure adherence to SOLAS for their main citrus packhouse. How does it work? The robot and the software running inside it bring everything together. Basically, you connect the scale and a handheld scanner to the robot with cables. Once a pallet or container (truck) is positioned on the scale, you scan a barcode on the pallet or container. The robot will associate the scanned pallet number with a stabilised weight reading from the scale and transfer the information to an external system for a live update of the pallet or container record s gross weight. Integration with external systems for live weight updates There are many ways that the transfer (integration) of the weighing information to an external system can be achieved: The robot can periodically upload a list (typically csv files) of pallets or containers with their measured weights to an FTP site. Existing external (those currently in use at packhouses or coldstores) software systems can then poll the FTP site for new weight readings for pallets/containers and update such records on their systems. The robot can make a direct web (HTTP GET request) call to an external system, passing on the pallet/container number and weight reading for a live update by the external system. For facilities that have no formal information system in place, or where an existing vendor cannot, for whatever reason, do the integration on their side, we can provide software, free of charge, that can be installed on any existing computer. The robot will then send the weighing information to this software, from where users can view or export the lists of pallets and containers with their measured gross weights. Note: The SOLAS weighing solution is already in operation at Unifrutti s packhouse in the Eastern Cape. The external system, in this case, is NoSoft s full packhouse software system.

2 The robot screen up close on completion of a successful pallet weighing. Note: The screen and robot lights (red, green or yellow) provide visual feedback to the user. With live integration to external systems, an external system can send error messages back to the robot (e.g. Pallet not found or Pallet already shipped ). The robot will also pick up and display error messages from the scale itself. Installation Constraints or Factors The following factors can influence, or potentially even constrain, the installation of the SOLAS robot solution at a particular site: Scale make and model Although we have drivers for most scales, we may need to create a driver for an as yet unsupported scale. Ability of the scale to communicate with connected devices Again, this is not usually an issue, but some older scales may potentially need a serial connection card, so that our robot can connect to the scale via a serial (RS232) cable. Such a card may simply be purchased. Some very old scale heads may not even have the ability to be connected serially. In this case, one would have to replace the scale head with one that does support serial connections. Length of serial cable In order for the weight reading to be reliable, the serial cable connecting the robot to the scale cannot exceed 5 metres in length. Networking constraints Normally we would recommend connecting the robot to a local network, so that it can integrate with existing external systems and pallets/containers maintained by such systems can instantly be updated. For this to work, the robot must be connected via a LAN Ethernet cable or via WiFi to the local network (router or switch). LAN/Ethernet cable connections Depending on the type of Ethernet cable, there is a limit on the length of the cable (for CAT, 6 it is 100 metres, but for a good safety margin, work on 50 meters).

3 Wifi Connection The robot can be connected wirelessly to a WiFi router. For this to work, we would need to install a WiFi adapter on the robot. Obviously, the robot would need to be within range of a WiFi access point. Poor or unstable local network It is very important that the Local Area Network is stable and functioning properly in order for the robot to integrate with external systems for live, instant updates of pallets or containers. Over the years, we have often found unstable and poorly functioning networks at sites due to a host of possible reasons, e.g. poor or lengthy Ethernet cables, poor internal routing or dysfunctional switches, etc. Such problems can be fixed, and they must be fixed in order for a live integration solution to function properly. However, should the robot not be within range of a local network or if the local network is functioning poorly, the robot itself can keep a list of weighed pallets or containers. Such a list can be exported by connecting a USB storage device to the robot and pressing a button on the robot. Even without networking and live integration with external systems, this still provides a much better solution than manually capturing weights. How much does it cost? The robot needs to be purchased from NoSoft at a once-off price of R Additionally, a handheld scanner must be purchased via NoSoft. We will not levy a surcharge on our purchasing cost of any scanner, but we do need to change the connector of the cable to connect to the robot. This we ll do free of charge. A typical short-range scanner costs approximately R1300. Long-range scanners cost more, but are rarely needed for this solution. The only other cost is our labour to do the actual installation. We charge an hourly rate of R 650/hour. Typically, two hours should be enough for installation, but this could vary. So, in summary: Robot T200 SOLAS Pallet/Container weighing Solution: Typical Cost Purchase price (hardware and software) R Handheld Scanner R Labour (installation cost) R (guide) Total R Note: Although it is technically possible to use a regular computer, instead of a device such as our robot, it is not a good idea to use a computer for an industrial application of this kind. The robot is far more robust, since it is made to do one job only, and for extended periods, without human assistance. Normal computers are generalists, not specialists. They are also vulnerable to constant changes in software and security threats, and need constant attention and maintenance. Alternate version: The robot needs to be purchased from NoSoft for a once-off price. Additionally, a handheld scanner must be purchased via NoSoft. We will not levy a surcharge on our purchasing cost of any scanner, but we do need to change the connector of the cable to connect to the robot.

4 This we ll do free of charge. Long-range scanners cost more than short-range scanners, but are rarely needed for this solution. The only other cost is our labour to do the actual installation. Typically, two hours should be enough for installation, but this could vary. So, in summary: Cost components of the Robot T200 SOLAS Pallet/Container weighing solution: Purchase price (hardware and software) Handheld scanner Labour (installation cost) Note: Although it is technically possible to use a regular computer, instead of a device such as our robot, it is not a good idea to use a computer for an industrial application of this kind. The robot is far more robust, since it is made to do one job only, and for extended periods, without human assistance. Normal computers are generalists, not specialists. They are also vulnerable to constant changes in software and security threats, and need constant attention and maintenance. Other Industrial Uses Of The Robot We have deployed a number of other industrial applications at various big packhouses in SA, all centred around the robot. The most notable of these are: (also see our website at nosoft.biz) Carton Labelling Print-and-apply (automated) labelling has not worked well in South Africa for high-volume printing. Many lower volume sites still rely on the cumbersome process of pre-printing labels. The robot carton labelling solution solves a number of problems related to these traditional approaches to labelling, by: Avoiding pre-printing of labels Robots are deployed to packing points or groups of packing points. The buttons on the robot are associated with fruit specifications during a run set-up stage. Each button can represent a fruitspec, an alternative language label or even a command to print multiple copies of a label. When a button is pressed by a packer, the robot will print (on demand) a label calculated from the associated fruit specification, to an affordable industrial printer. Avoiding downstream printing bottlenecks Since the robot and its printers are deployed upstream in the line at the packing tables/stations and labels are printed on the fly, there is no need for a single high-performance downstream printer to manage fast moving streams of cartons. Accurately measuring packer performance Every packer or packer group logs onto the robot via special USB devices that represent their packer number. The robot maintains (via our set-up software) a list of carton records as the labels are printed and stores the logged-on packer or group on every carton record. These facts form the essential measurement of who packed what for bonus systems. Our robot labelling solution is live at many big South African sites, such as Kromco, SRCC, Unifrutti Dunbrody, Goedehoop Citrus and Ceres Fruit Growers.

5 Pallet movement The robot can be mounted on a forklift, along with a handheld scanner, in order to scan pallets into locations. An operator, seated inside the forklift, simply scans the pallet label from the pallet mounted in front of him, and then scans a location barcode on the deck, bay or storage room. Pallets (or bins) are thus scanned into locations in real time, as the forklift driver performs the actual movement. Robots and printers deployed on a packing line for upstream labelling Robots and printers deployed on a packing line for upstream labelling Robot deployed on a forklift for pallet movement

6 Other Solutions By NoSoft Visit our website at nosoft.biz Industrial Solutions We have a process control software layer called MesScada that enables us to direct and collect information from physical equipment, such as probes (for temperature measurement), sizers, pre-sorting plants and fruit quality instruments such as pressure meters, etc. This allows us to build ready-made industrial applications for the fruit industry, such as bin-tipping, staging, palletising, re-binning, labelling and others. Complete, Integrated Packhouse Solution Some packhouses, such as Kromco and Unifrutti SA (Dunbrody), use our end-to-end Packhouse solution. Unique to our system is that it provides a single integrated solution, with a single database. Facts are stored once in this system and everything is integrated, from raw material processing to finished goods handling. We provide a one-stop solution that includes every conceivable feature and any device type, whether mobile, physical equipment (e.g. scale or pressure meter), web, EDI, reporting or other. Complete Exporter Solution We offer a reliable, comprehensive, integrated, web-based information system. The system includes modules for Forecasting, Procurement, Market Planning, Logistics, Quality Assurance, Shipping and Finance. Designed to solve some of the persistent, real-world challenges affecting logistics and financial operations of fruit exporters in particular, this system represents a complete rethink of fruit exporting software. The logistics and financial modules emphasise accuracy of information. The logistics module includes user-friendly tools to proactively manage stock data discrepancies and implement controls to ensure that various export market requirements are being met. While the system allows for fine-grained integration with stock data from any source via various EDI data flows, it also provides reverse engineering options that allow sourcing of stock from suppliers who use non-standard EDI formats, or may not even have any EDI data formats.