Type: Mod
Name: SmartLoader
Description: Adds a couple of buildings to simplify setting up supply trains.
License: CC BY 3.0
Version: 0.3.6
Tested-With-Factorio-Version: 0.12.30, 0.14.13
Category: Item
Tags: Inserter, Rail transportation

Long description

Loading a single wagon of such supply train with a variety of items might become a hassle since a single inserter is prone to jam if the item stack size is not divisible by the inserter grab size or if the supplies flow is irregular. The goal of this mod is to simplify the outpost supplying so that player could focus on things other that hauling bullets to a dozen of remote bases.

This mod introduces a new inserter, smart loader, which is capable of detecting the situation when it's trying to shove in the items which wagon won't take (i.e. the remainder of item stack which was used to fulfill the limit of requested item). When such situation occurs, it rotates backwards to put the offending item to where it came from and continues the loading process.

This new inserter can be connected to circuit network (without connection it always on) but doesn't have filter in it as it's designed for loading the entities that have.
The smart loader recipe is unlocked by low tier research which comes after rail transportation.

Addition

This mod also introduces smart unloader addon, which is placed atop of any inserter capable of filtering (well, it can be placed atop of everything, but does nothing,). After placed, it can be selected by its top left corner. Clicking on it brings up the constant combinator gui. There you can set the desired amounts of items. The smart unloading controller will poll the drop target of inserter and if some of the items is below the threshold it will be added to inserter filter.

The unloader was added before the same functionality became easily achievable with ingame circuitry, so for now it is still in mod, but it may become obsoleted later on.

Pictures