Question

Objective:

The objective of this laboratory project is to create a PLC program to simulate a conveyor sorting system for products being manufactured. Choose all required I/O devices as needed to meet the requirements below.
Specifications
1. Main feeder capacity: 20 products
2. Product sizes: small (S) and large (L)
3. Lines
a. Line A: Small
b. Line B: Overflow to collect not required products
c. Line C: Large
4. Line collection point capacity
a. Line A: 5 or 7
b. Line B: unlimited
c. Line C: 9 or 11
5. Time for products to come from the feeder and into the conveyor: 1.25 second
6. Time from main feeder to the diverters: 3.5 seconds.

Answer 1

The student's laboratory project involves designing a PLC program for a conveyor sorting system to manage products by size, requiring proximity sensors, counters, and actuators as I/O devices, considering product capacities and sorting timings.

Step-by-step explanation:

The objective of creating a PLC program for a conveyor sorting system is centered around automating the process of sorting products by size into designated lines. To meet the specifications provided, one would require different input/output (I/O) devices to accurately detect and sort the products. For instance, sensors will be needed to differentiate between small (S) and large (L) products to direct them to either Line A or Line C, respectively. Line B will handle the overflow, capturing any products that are not required in Line A or Line C.

The conveyor system's timing is also crucial. Products would have to be detected and sorted within a specific time frame as they travel along the conveyor belt: they come from the feeder and onto the conveyor every 1.25 seconds and reach the diverter(s) in 3.5 seconds. Detecting the products' sizes in this timeframe should be considered in the programming logic for the PLC. The capacities for Line A and Line C are limited to either 5 or 7 and 9 or 11 products, respectively, while Line B has unlimited capacity.

The I/O devices to consider for this system would include proximity sensors, counters, and actuators for the diverters. The PLC program would need to integrate the timing, sorting logic, and counter limitations to ensure a smooth sorting process.