Abstract
Continuous conveyors with a dynamic merge were developed with adaptable control equipment to differentiate these merges from competing Stop-and-Go merges. With a dynamic merge, the partial flows are manipulated by influencing speeds so that transport units need not stop for the merge. This leads to a more uniform flow of materials, which is qualitatively observable and verifiable in long-term measurements. And although this type of merge is visually mesmerizing, does it lead to advantages from the view of material flow technology? Our study with real data indicates that a dynamic merge shows a 24% increase in performance, but only for symmetric or nearly symmetric flows. This performance advantage decreases as the flows become less symmetric, approaching the throughput of traditional Stop-and-Go merges. And with a cost premium for a continuous merge of approximately 10% due to the additional technical components (belt conveyor, adjustable drive engines, software, etc.), this restricts their economical use.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-9 |
Journal | Logistics Journal : Reviewed Publications |
Volume | 2012 |
Publication status | Published - 2012 |
Fields of Expertise
- Mobility & Production
Treatment code (Nähere Zuordnung)
- Theoretical