Factorio Forums

I know this is just insane but I would still like to propose it.

Behold the new concept of a loader This would be able to load, unload and switch direction while staying inline with belt.
This one might be limited to a certain load/unload speed (instead of consuming/providing whole belt) so you might need to stack them to reach certain throughput. This one would compress the belt and prioritize unloaded items to incoming belt forcing one to back up to unload items.
Here we have all compression problems solved

And yes this one is OP and would replace inserter in most cases and blah blah blah. But I still wanted to share

I like the graphics, but I must point out that as far as I know, they're inline, and can't turn corners.

bobingabout wrote:I like the graphics, but I must point out that as far as I know, they're inline, and can't turn corners.

The point was not replacing graphics of existing loader but to introduce another implementation of one.
The thing is that this loader would load/unload items on a belt going along assembler (perpendicular to the loading direction) and is inline for a belt.
This loader/unloader would effectively replace inserters for the purpose of feeding machines or outputting the product while solving compression problems and not being able to feed at the speed of full belt.

PacifyerGrey wrote:This would be able to load, unload and switch direction while staying inline with belt.

Related threads about dynamically switching direction of belts/inserters (but no talk about loaders):

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=45550 Stack inserters with negative stack size
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=39571 Reversible Inserters

Tekky wrote:

PacifyerGrey wrote:This would be able to load, unload and switch direction while staying inline with belt.

Related thread about dynamically switching direction of belts/inserters (but no talk about loaders):

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=45550 Stack inserters with negative stack size
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=39571 Reversible Inserters

I meant switching direction not dynamically but staticly like current loader does. Just look at the design. Items come from east and are loaded on the belt to the west. Currently belt direction is from north to south. You can't just rotate this entity to reverse belt direction as in this case input will rotate as well. So you need a post-placement rotation (like current loaders have) which will only switch belt direction after entity is placed.

Mode of operation (loading/unloading, filters) will be set through item interface window like every other item has.