Method and arrangement for producing consolidated lines of products

Abstract

A method and an arrangement for producing consolidated lines having a predetermined content of products of a plurality of product types, each line being produced in a sequence of alternating steps including the steps of conveying the line to be consolidated and of adding products to the line to be consolidated. A consolidating field includes consolidating stations interconnected by conveying paths and an outlet path connecting a consolidating station to an outlet. A control unit includes a consolidation data storage device for receiving and storing consolidation data regarding the consolidating field and regarding an allocation of product types to consolidating stations. Products of at least one product type are supplied to each consolidating station. Lines to be consolidated are conveyed and product groups are added to lines to be consolidated simultaneously on different conveying paths and consolidating stations, and consolidated lines exit the consolidating field through the outlet all according to a specific clocked cycle. For each line to be consolidated, control sequences for the above steps are determined according to an optimization process using line data inputted into the control unit, the data regarding the consolidating field and the data regarding the allocation of product types to consolidating stations. The steps of conveying lines to be consolidated, adding product groups and conveying consolidated lines are based on control data generated according to the control sequences and to the specific clocked cycle.