Analysis of experience in optimizing the operation of an automated production line for folding cardboard boxes

The object of research is an automated system for controlling the bending mechanisms of the folding-gluing line for cardboard packaging products. In the work, the ways of optimization and the development of an automated control system for the bending mechanisms of the folding and gluing line, which makes it possible to fold various structures and standard sizes of cardboard boxes using modern automation tools based on programmable logic controllers, were carried out in the work. A mathematical model has been proposed to describe operations on the folding-gluing line. Based on the model, a methodology has been developed for calculating the parameters of the automated control system for the box folding production line, depending on the technical parameters of the line and the parameters of the boxes to be bent. This will make it possible to choose optimal technological modes of the production process and obtain high quality parameters of cardboard packaging products. To verify the mathematical model of the production line, software has been developed in the Delphi development environment, which was applied with the developed automated production process control system based on a programmable logic controller (PLC) and an operator panel. This produced a number of results, in particular, controlling the speed of the hook bend in proportion to the speed of the line. And also provided an opportunity to increase line speed and, accordingly, production productivity. It has been possible to change the mutual location of system elements, which made it possible to reduce the distance between workpieces and increase the capacity of the line tape by 30 %. The obtained research results were implemented at the production enterprise of typographic products «Dinas» (Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine), which contributed to the improvement and optimization of production processes. Conducting further research will provide an opportunity to expand the proposed methodology for use on all types of folding and gluing lines.