FR2500651A1 - De-centralised programmable sequence controller - has front panel status display, control buttons and connector for programming terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The controller has a front facia diagram sheet (14) that indicates in lines the operations included in a specific sequence step. A side symbol (17) illustrates the type of operation involved. Indicators (16) identify the step in progress and a separate indicator bank (12,20) provide a statics display of all inputs and outputs. The keyboard facility provides a stop button (3), manual mode selector (5), and automatic mode selector (4). Additional keys (6,12) provide step by step incrementing. The system is based upon an eight bit microprocessor which is programmed by a terminal which can be plugged into a connector socket (18) also mounted on the front panel.

Description

 The present invention relates to the field of industrial equipment control, in particular the decentralized control of a workstation, and relates to a programmable electronic control.

Currently, the ordering of industrial equipment is generally carried out centrally by means of a control cabinet placed, for example, at the end of a production line, containing all the control programs for all the workstations and connected to these by its own wiring, and provided with a device for displaying the various
Work phases.

 However, such a centralized control is of a very complex constitution, and determining the cause of a failure, causing the control to stop, requires the intervention of highly qualified personnel. In addition, each workstation being controlled individually by the central cabinet, round-trip cabling for each process inside a workstation is necessary, these commands having to be doubled by manual control and display devices. , so that such an installation is very expensive. In addition, since each manufacturing step within a cycle requires scanning of the entire cycle before proceeding to the next step, the scanning time existing with such a control mode is relatively long and penalizes the productivity of a chain thus ordered.

 The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks.

 Its purpose is in fact an electronic programmable control essentially constituted by a sealed box provided with an opening front panel, on which are arranged the emergency stop buttons, automatic cycle control and manual cycle control. , and the step-by-step advance button, and which is further provided, on one side, with an on-off switch, an electrical supply, sealed cable glands for the connection of the control cables, and a connector for the connection of a programming terminal, characterized in that it is provided with a device for displaying the sequences of the work cycle, and with a step-by-step reverse control button arranged on the front opening panel, which is provided with a transparent wall allowing the visual control of the display device.

 In accordance with a characteristic of the invention, the display device consists of a removable diagram, the ordinate of which corresponds to distinct movements each represented by an indicator associated with a schematic symbol, and the abscissa of which represents the state of the inputs and outputs controlled by other LEDs.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, behind the display diagram is placed the input-output card in the form of a printed circuit for controlling the cycle, this circuit carrying the x-axis and ordinate lights in the form of diodes electroluminescent.

 In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the reverse step control button is associated with software, the program of which is inverse to that of the automatic cycle and takes account of the irreversible phenomena generated at during said cycle.

 The invention will be better understood thanks to the description below, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of nonlimiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of an order according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a plan view of a display diagram.

 In accordance with the invention, and as shown more particularly, by way of example, FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, the electronic programmable control, essentially constituted by a sealed box 1 provided with an opening front panel 2, on which are arranged the emergency stop buttons 3, automatic cycle control 4, manual cycle control 5, and the step-by-step advance button 6, and which is further provided on one side, of a stop switch 7, of an electrical supply 8, of tight cable glands 9 for the connection of the control cables, and of a connector 10 for the connection of a programming terminal, is characterized in that it is provided with a display device 11 for the sequences of the work cycle, and with a step-by-step reverse control button 12 arranged on the opening front panel 2, which is provided with a transparent wall 13 allowing visual control of the display device 11.

 The latter is constituted by a removable diagram 14 whose ordinate 15 corresponds to movements distinct from the cycle executed, which are each represented by an indicator 16 associated with a schematic symbol 17 (FIG. 2). The abscissa 18 of this diagram represents, by means of indicator 19 and 20, the state of the controlled inputs and outputs. This diagram is placed in front of the printed circuit forming the input-output card for controlling the cycle, and this circuit carries the indicator lights of abscissa 19 and 20 and ordinate 15, preferably in the form of light-emitting diodes.

 The command according to the invention also contains: in a known manner a central unit card comprising a withdrawable memory, a known 8-bit microprocessor and a translator, and which can be programmed by means of a pocket terminal connected to the connector 10 .

 If, during the working cycle, and in the event of a failure, either mechanical, electrical or electronic, the automatic cycle is interrupted at the stage of the cycle in question, the command stops and the operator can switch to manual control to intervene in the cycle. These positions are displayed in a known manner by means of indicator lights incorporated into buttons 4 and 5. Buttons 6 and 12 also have built-in indicators making it possible to check whether the corresponding movement is executed.

 The step-by-step forward button 6 makes it possible to directly carry out the program contained in the memory, while the button 12 thanks to suitable software allows the reverse execution of the cycle and takes account of the irreversible phenomena generated during said cycle.

 Due to the preliminary programming of the cycle, in direct cycle diagram and in separate reverse cycle diagram, it is impossible, under manual control, for the operator to exit from the physical states provided, and the control of dangerous movements which can cause accidents is avoided.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the indicator lights for the step-by-step 6 and reverse step-by-step 12 buttons do not light until the execution of the controlled movements and the passage at a next stage in the cycle is only possible after these warning lights come on.

Thanks to this embodiment, it is possible to know at any time, in manual operation, whether a movement is executed or still being executed.

 Thanks to the control according to the invention, and in particular to its diagram, it is possible to have at each work station a "guide-operator" forming valuable assistance for said operator.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the diagram 14 is provided, parallel to its abscissa 18, with a line 21 carrying opposite each input and output group an indication 22 in plain language for locating the sensor of input and corresponding output actuator or receiver so as to further facilitate the determination of a faulty circuit.

 The control according to the invention preferably has a relatively small number of inputs and outputs sufficient for controlling a work station, so that the scan time of a cycle is as short as possible and so that the productivity of the post is maximum.

 In addition, according to another characteristic of the invention, the connector 10 for connecting a terminal can also be used for a serial link by telephone pair between several commands, or even between such a command and a central monitoring and control computer. management of an automatic production line.

 Thanks to the control in accordance with the invention, it is possible for a monitoring operator of a work station to intervene quickly and efficiently in the event of a mechanical incident without risking damage to the equipment by false operation, as well as to carry out safely mechanical adjustment of the devices or release of a cycle interrupted mechanically or physically. In addition, the operator can very quickly determine the cause of a malfunction or non-functioning without external assistance, and in most cases carry out the necessary intervention. In the case of internal faults in the order, these can easily be remedied by simply replacing the box with an identical box with transplanting the memory and the cycle diagram.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements, or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (7)

-RENDENDATIONS-  1. Electronic programmable control, essentially constituted by a sealed box (1) provided with an opening front panel (2), on which are arranged the emergency stop buttons (3), of automatic cycle control (4) , manual cycle control (5), and the step-by-step advance button (6), and which is further provided on one side with an on-off switch (7), a power supply (8), sealed cable glands (9) for the connection of control cables, and a connector (10) for the connection of a programming terminal, characterized in that it is provided with '' a display device (11) for the sequences of the work cycle, and a button (12) for step-by-step reverse control arranged on the opening front panel (2), which is provided with a wall transparent (13) allowing visual control of the display device (11).  2. Control according to claim 1, characterized in that the display device (11) consists of a removable diagram (14), the ordinate (15) of which corresponds to distinct movements each represented by an indicator (16) associated with a schematic symbol (17), and whose abscissa (18) represents the state of the inputs and outputs controlled by means of other indicators (19, 20).  3. Control according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that behind the display diagram (14) is arranged the input-output card in the form of a printed circuit for controlling the cycle, this circuit carrying the abscissa (19, 20) and ordinate (16) indicator lights in the form of light-emitting diodes.  4. Control according to claim 1, characterized in that the step-by-step advance button (6) allows the program contained in the memory to be carried out directly, while the step-by-step control button (12) - no reverse, thanks to suitable software, allows the reverse execution of the cycle and takes account of the irreversible phenomena generated during said cycle.  5. Control according to any one of claims 1 and 4, characterized in that the LEDs of the step-by-step forward (6) and reverse step-by-step (12) buttons do not light up. that at the end of execution of the controlled movements and the passage to a next stage of the cycle is only possible after the lighting of these indicators.  6. Control according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the diagram (14) is provided, parallel to its abscissa (18), with a line (21) bearing opposite each group of input and output, an indication (22) in plain language for locating the input sensor and the corresponding output actuator or receiver so as to further facilitate the determination of a faulty circuit.  7. Control according to claim 1, characterized in that the connector (10) for connection of a terminal is used for a serial link by telephone pair between several commands, or between a command and a central monitoring and control computer management of an automatic production line.