GB2287809A

GB2287809A - Transferring data between a weighing indicator and a central data processing unit

Info

Publication number: GB2287809A
Application number: GB9505561A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruno Beltramini; Georges Evesque
Original assignee: MASTER K
Current assignee: MASTER K
Priority date: 1994-03-24
Filing date: 1995-03-20
Publication date: 1995-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 2015-03-20
Also published as: GB2287809B; FR2717922B1; DE19510292A1; GB9505561D0; FR2717922A1; DE19510292B4; DE19510292C5

Description

2287809 1 A PROCESS AND A DEVICE FOR DATA TRANSFER BETWEEN A WEIGHING

INDICATOR AND A CENTRAL DATA PROCESSING UNIT The present invention relates to a process for data transfer between a weighing indicator associated with a load receiver, and a central data processing unit, the weighing indicator being independent of the central processing unit.

It also relates to a device for using this transfer of data between a weighing indicator, associated with a load receiver, and a central data processing unit, the weighing indicator being independent of the central processing unit.

is In automatised weighing installations the weighing stations essentially comprise an indicator which displays and records the data regarding the operation of the load receiver. This indicator normally comprises parameter assignment means, i.e. devices which enable parameters specific to each station to be introduced. These parameters are of two types. They are either specific to the load receiver and define the bearing surface and graduation, the cancellation of the unladen weight and the gain of the amplifiers, or are specific to the use and relate to the definition of the environment (peripheral units connected to the indicator) and the weighing cycle (one- or two-speed filling, tabulation of information relating to a lorry at the time of its entry or exit). The introduction of these parameters is indispensable before an automatised weighing stand is used 30 at all.

In the first stations of this type, the parameter assignment specific to the load receiver was performed manually. For this purpose a load standard was placed on the load receiver and the load indicator was set by means of appropriate commutators or potentiometers with which the indicator was equipped.

2 This purely manual regulation was subsequently replaced by an integral numerical control. For this purpose, regulation was performed by a microprocessor, integrated into the appliance, directly controlling the commutators or potentiometers. However, during maintenance, the positioning of a standard mass in order to enable the regulation of the gain of the indicator to be ensured remains an indispensable operation in the case of maintenance, even if the information relating to "the operation of the station could then be transferred to a central processing unit by any connection, in particular by the minitel network ".

Document EP-A-0 510 312 describes a computerized weighing installation in which several electronic scales are connected directly to a central computer and communicate therewith, in order to be able to transmit weighing data in numerical f orm to it in real time, with a view to its display, adjustment and subsequent processing. Should the central computer break down, the data is lost and the adjustments have to be repeated.

The object of the present invention is to remove all the drawbacks of the prior art by offering a data transfer process which enables regulations to be omitted, during maintenance, and the parameter assignment of the indicator on the automatised weighing station by memorising the parameters in a central data processing unit and by transferring them by means of an independent random-access memory to any weighing indicator which integrates them.

The consequence of the process is to allow the simplified and convivial use of standard indicators, and to organise centralised maintenance and storage of all the data relating to a dispersed network of automatized weighing stations.

1 3 This object is achieved by the process of the invention characterised in that this transfer is performed by transcribing a first set of information coming from the said central processing unit onto an independent static memory with semi-conductor for its storage and/or its processing, then by transcribing this first set of information from the static memory into the weighing indicator; and/or by transcribing a second set of information coming from the said weighing indicator onto the said independent static memory for its storage and/or its processing, then' by transcribing this information into the said central processing unit.

It is also achieved by the device of the invention characterised in that it comprises an independent static memory with semi-conductor, first means for transcribing a first set of information coming from the said central processing unit onto this static memory for its storage and/or its processing, second means for transcribing this first set of information into the said weighing indicator, third means for transcribing a second set of information coming from the weighing indicator onto the said static memory for its storage and/or its treatment, and fourth means for transcribing this second set of information into the said central processing unit.

The said means for transcribing the said first set of information from the central processing unit onto the static memory and the said means for transcribing the said second set of information from the static memory into the central processing unit are preferably disposed in a transmission sink connected to the central processing unit.

In the preferred embodiment of the device, t-he said means for transcribing the said first set of information from L-he static memory into the weighing indicator and the said neans for transcribing the said second set of information from the 4 weighing indicator onto the said static memory are disposed in the weighing indicator.

The present invention will be better understood with 5 reference to the description of an embodiment of the device above and to the attached drawing in which:

Figure 1 represents a general view of the device according to the invention, and Figure 2 represents a view of a block diagram of the transmission sink of the device according to the invention.

With reference to Figure 1, the data transfer device 15 essentially comprises an independent static memory with semi-conductor 10, means Ila for transcribing a first set of information from a central processing unit 12, means 13a for transcribing the first set of information onto an independent weighing indicator 14 coupled to a load receiver 15, and also means 13b for transcribing a second set of information coming from the weighing indicator 14 onto the static memory 10, and means lib for transcribing this second set of information into the central processing unit 12. The means lla and the means ilb are regrouped in a piece of equipment called the transmission sink 11 which is coupled to the central processing unit 12 formed for example by a computer. The means 13a and 13b are housed in the housing for the weighing indicator 14 and are regrouped in the form of an interface or intermediate system designed to read the said first set of information for its transcription from the static memory onto the weighing indicator and to write the said second set of information for its transcription onto the said static memory.

The use of the independent static memory 10 enables data relating to the operation of a weighing, metering, grading station, etc, comprising a weighbridge, a hopper, an c emptying vat or similar f orming the load receiver, to be protected in a 128 ko memory and resources such as metrological parameters, configuration parameters, system parameters, an application program and application data relative to the f iles and to the parameters of use to be immediately restored.

In the transmission sink 11, the static memory may be charged with or relieved of information to be transmitted or received respectively from the weighing indicator concerfied. These sets of information are stored in the computer, or central processing unit, with a view to their storage or any processing. The central processing unit offers a management menu for the static memory which includes in particular the is transfer from the weighing indicator to the static memory and transfer from the static memory to the weighing indicator.

The transf er from the weighing indicator to the static memory includes the following sub-menus:

"Program blocks" which allow the application program to be protected if it can be down-loaded.

"Metrological parameters" which allow the metrological parameters (range, graduation), the configuration of the indicator (regulated mode) and also the system parameters (unladen weight, gain) to be protected.

"Data in memory" which enables all the data of the application (standard files, application parameters) to be protected.

The transfer from the static memory to the indicator comprises the following sub-menus "program blocks" %etrological parameters" 35 - "data in memory" 6 which correspond to functions identical with those defined for the transfer from the weighing indicator to the static memory.

Recourse to the independent static memory allows optimal management of a weighing station and in particular the maintenance of the weighing indicator to be ensured. In fact, if such an apparatus breaks down and if the electronic card has to be replaced, the immediate transfer of data from the static memory onto the indicator allows a new regulation to be dispensed with, which is a considerable simplification and gain in time for the user.

If the application program is modified, the introduction of the new program may be performed quickly via the static memory. A same central processing unit may control a unit, and even a network of weighing indicators. The working languages may be different. The static memories enable the indicators to communicate between one another and with the central processing unit.

By this central processing unit, a operations supervisor may define formulas of use and transmit them via independent static memories to different weighing indicators in question. The unit may operate with maximum flexibility.

The static memories with semi-conductor used are known and, for example, available under the denomination 1ICYBER CARD", reference DS 6417 from the American company "Dallas semi- conductors".

The transmission bin advantageously comprises a housing 20 provided with a receptacle for an independent static memory. The heart of this apparatus is a microprocessor 21, for example of the type IC 68 H C 05 C8, an intermediate system 22 or interface RS 232 C and an intermediate system 23 or communication interface, for exanple of the interface type 7 PCMCIA. The connection with the computer is performed via the interface 22 and the connection with the static memory is performed via the communication interface 23.

other embodiments are possible and the present invention is not restricted to the structure described.

1 8

Claims

1. A process for transfer of data between a weighing indicator associated with a load receiver and a central data processing unit, the weighing indicator being independent of the central processing unit, characterised in that this transfer if performed by transcribing a first set of information coming from the said central processing unit onto an independent static memory with semi-conductor for its storage and/or its processing, then by transcribing this first set of information from the static memory into the weighing indicator; and/or by transcribing a second set of information coming from the said weighing indicator onto the said independent static memory for its storage and/or its processing, then by transcribing this information into the said central processing unit.

2. A data transfer device between a weighing indicato associated with a load receiver, and a central data processing unit, the weighing indicator being independent of the central processing unit, 'characterised in that it comprises an independent static memory with semi-conductor, of information first means for transcribing a first set coming from the said central processing unit onto this static memory for its storage and/or its processing, second means for transcribing this first set of information into the said weighting indicator, third means for transcribing a second set of information coming from the weighing indicator onto the said static memory 1 9 for its storage and/or processing, and fourth means for transcribing this second set of information into the said said f irst means information from is central processing unit.

3. A device according to Claim 2, characterised in that for transcribing the said first set of the central processing unit onto the static memory and the f ourth means f or transcribing the said second set of information from the static memory into the central processing unit are disposed in a transmission sink coupled to the central processing unit.

4. A device according to Claim 2, characterised in that the said second means for transcribing the said first set of information from the static memory into the weighing indicator and said third means for transcribing the said second set of information from the weighing indicator onto the said static memory are disposed in the weighing indicator.

5. A process, or device, for transfer of data substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.