SYSTEM LIFTER_MVL

This System Configuration implements the layered Model+View testing architecture for the pallet handling example. The screenshot above shows the result of performing the following actions:

  1. Launching the configuration.
  2. Clicking the RESET button to initialize the system.
  3. Clicking the LOAD button to load a pallet onto the FEED conveyor.
  4. Clicking the RUN button to feed the pallet up to the closed gate.
  5. Clicking the IN button to start the lifter's internal conveyor running in the infeed direction.
  6. Clicking the OPEN GATE button to enable the pallet to be conveyed into the lifter.

HMI
MODEL

The HMI device encapsulates the functionality of the HMI layer of the architecture - specifically the HMI elements needed to read sensor values and write actuator values - while the MODEL device encapsulates both the Model and the View layers.

As in the VIEW device of the LIFTER_VIEWL configuration, the MODEL device contains an instance of the specialized VIEW_PANEL resource type to provide the necessary layout of View elements for the pallet handling example. In addition, an instance of the PANEL_RESOURCE type contains the User Interface (UI) elements necessary for operation of the model, specifically:

The MODEL device also contains five instances of the EMB_RES type, which in turn contain the Model elements for the corresponding Views, as well as logic to simulate the physics of the interactions among Model elements including their sensors and actuators; transfer of workpieces; and simulation of fatal and non-fatal fault conditions:

  1. The CLOCK resource contains the simulation clock, whose events are distributed using the local multicast pattern.
  2. The FEED_MDL resource contains an instance of the CNVG_MDLL type, corresponding to the feed conveyor in the VIEW panel, along with local multicast elements, logic and instances of the LOADLE type to handle pallet transfer to the lifter element as well as display of fault conditions.
  3. The LIFTER_MDL resource contains an instance of the XBAR_MDLL type, corresponding to the lifter element in the VIEW panel, as well as elements to handle pallet transfer and display of fault conditions in a manner similar to the FEED_MDL resource.
  4. The TAKEOFF_MDL resource contains an instance of the CNV_MDLL type, corresponding to the takeoff conveyor in the VIEW panel, as well as elements to handle pallet transfer and display of fault conditions in a manner similar to the FEED_MDL and TAKEOFF_MDL resources.
  5. The XFER_MDL resource contains an instance of the LIFTER_XFER type to model the normal loading and unloading of pallets from the lifter as well as fatal and non-fatal fault conditions.

As shown in the table below, inter- and intra-layer communication is implemented with the local multicast pattern, in particular for the distribution of the simulation clock and the simulation of workpiece transfer with instances of the LOADLE type. The Tagged Data design pattern to ensure consistency of the communicated events and data.

Tag Name Type(s) Description
FAULT BOOL,BOOL,BOOL CRUSHED, DROPPED, FALLEN
FEED_ACT BOOL,BOOL FEED_MOTOR, GATE_DOWN
FEED_SENSE BOOL,BOOL,BOOL PALLET_AT_GATE, GATE_OPEN, GATE_CLOSED
FEED_UI BOOL User input FAULT Condition from MODEL.VIEW.FEED
FEED_UNLD Unload Pallet from FEED conveyor
LIFTER_ACT BOOL,BOOL RAISE, LOWER
LIFTER_SENSE BOOL,BOOL,BOOL BOTTOM, TOP, PALLET_IN_LIFT
LIFTER_UI BOOL User input FAULT Condition from MODEL.VIEW.LIFTER
LIFT_CONVEYOR BOOL,BOOL IN, OUT
MOTORS BOOL FEED + TAKEOFF MOTORS
RESET RESET Command from MODEL.UI
SIM_CLK Simulation Clock
TAKEOFF_LOAD UINT,VSTYLE,COLOR LPOS, STYLE, WKPC from MODEL.XFER_MDL
TAKEOFF_UI BOOL User input FAULT Condition from MODEL.VIEW.TAKEOFF
UNLD UNLOAD Command from MODEL.UI
WARN BOOL,BOOL,BOOL JAM, HALF_IN, HALF_OUT
HMI.CONVEYORS
HMI.FEED_ACTUATORS
HMI.FEED_SENSORS
HMI.LIFT_ACTUATORS
HMI.LIFT_SENSORS
HMI.PALLET_SENSORS
MODEL.CLOCK
MODEL.FEED_MDL
MODEL.LIFTER_MDL
MODEL.TAKEOFF_MDL
MODEL.UI
MODEL.VIEW
MODEL.XFER_MDL