MultiPort Configuration

Concept

Both the FusionPort™ and VersaPort™ can have multiple ports placed side by side. This allows operators to work with multiple bins simultaneously, as each port functions independently. In some use cases, the WMS may prefer to treat two ports as a single logical port. For example, if the WMS wants to use both ports for picking but handle only one task group at a time, the MultiPort feature can be used.

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The MultiPort has a separate port_id from the two connected physical ports. When not in used, the MultiPort has the port mode DISABLED.

Activate MultiPort

To start using the MultiPort, the WMS must:

• Close both physical ports by calling the closeport method on each physical port.

<!-- Close Port 10 -->
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<methodcall>
    <name>closeport</name>
    <params>
        <port_id>10</port_id>
    </params>
</methodcall>

<!-- Close Port 11 -->
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<methodcall>
    <name>closeport</name>
    <params>
        <port_id>11</port_id>
    </params>
</methodcall>

• Empty the physical ports of bins by calling the flushport method on each physical port.

<!-- Flush Port 10 -->
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<methodcall>
  <name>flushport</name>
  <params>
    <port_id>10</port_id>
  </params>
</methodcall>

<!-- Flush Port 11 -->
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<methodcall>
  <name>flushport</name>
  <params>
    <port_id>11</port_id>
  </params>
</methodcall>

• Optional: Call the method getportstatus on each ports and verify that is_empty is set to True, indicating that no bins are left in the ports.
• Call the method enablemultiport and wait until it is accepted. If error code 1078 is returned, something went wrong and some bins are still being flushed from the ports. The WMS must wait and retry.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<methodcall>
  <name>enablemultiport</name>
  <params>
    <port_id>12</port_id>
  </params>
</methodcall>

• Once enablemultiport is accepted, the port mode of the physical ports will change from CLOSED to MULTIPORT_PUPPET and the MultiPort will have port mode CLOSED. The MultiPort can now be used as a any other port by using the standard port methods through the API.

Deactivate MultiPort

If the WMS wants to change back to use the two physical ports, the WMS must:

• Close the MultiPort by calling the closeport method.

<!-- Close MultiPort 12 -->
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<methodcall>
    <name>closeport</name>
    <params>
        <port_id>12</port_id>
    </params>
</methodcall>

• Optional: Call the method getportstatus and verify that in the response is_empty is set to True, indicating that no bins are left in the MultiPort.
• Empty the MultiPort of bins by calling the flushport method on the MultiPort.

<!-- Flush MultiPort 12 -->
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<methodcall>
  <name>flushport</name>
  <params>
    <port_id>12</port_id>
  </params>
</methodcall>

• Call the method disablemultiport and wait until it is accepted. If the error code 1078 is returned, something went wrong and some bins are still being flushed from the MultiPort. The WMS must wait and retry.

<!-- Disable MultiPort 12 (separate port_id) -->
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<methodcall>
  <name>disablemultiport</name>
  <params>
    <port_id>12</port_id>
  </params>
</methodcall>

Once disablemultiport is accepted, the port mode of the physical ports will change from MULTIPORT_PUPPET to CLOSED and the MultiPort will have port mode DISABLED. The two physical ports can now be used as normal again.

FusionPort™

In the default configuration of a FusionPort™, two physical Ports (four for the FusionPort™ Staging) share the same furniture hardware and HMI but have separate port_ids. There is also a defined MultiPort, that can be used if the WMS only wants to pick from one task group at a time.

Enabling the MultiPort on a FusionPort™ Staging affects only the source port modules. The two target ports continue to operate as two separate ports.

VersaPort™

When two to four VersaPort™ units are placed side-by-side on the Wide Side of the grid, they can be linked and work as a MultiPort. This allows the WMS to decide whether the operator should pick from two separate task groups or, if the MultiPort is enabled, from a single task group.

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If two to four VersaPort™ are positioned next to each other on the Narrow Side, MultiPort functionality will not be enabled.

Robotic Piece Picking (RPP)

When picking from a MultiPort is done with a robot arm, the arm needs to know which of the two ports to pick from. This information is provided in the HS segment on the Log Publisher, where the port_index value indicates whether the open bin is in the left or right port. The segment also indicates when the hatch is Open, so that a clear picture of the bin can be taken.