Software Designing Simulator for Controlling Multiple-Mechanism Carrier System

This paper presents a software design simulation method for controlling multiple mechanism carrier system (MMCS), which is mainly used in a wrapping machine or a case packing machine. This method uses a mechanical tool-work interactive model proposed in this paper, in order to represent the interactive behaviors between some tools and a work driven by their tools, in which low effect states of a work are defined. Based on this method, a 3-D simulation system has been built. It consists of shape modeling of each device, behavior definitions of tools, and control logic using if-then expression. By applying it to a ase packing machine having about 30 mechanical devices and 100 inputs/outputs for control, the effectiveness of this method has been shown in general verification of control logic specification in an early software design phase and the possibility of smooth communication tool between mechanical and software designers.