JP2000315102A - Process controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily execute I/0 module extension work. SOLUTION: A storing box 14 is arranged adjacently to an I/O box 14 and a connector 1A of the box 14 is connected to a connector 4N of a communication cable 4. A termination circuit 13 for electrically terminating the cable 4 is connected to the connector 4N so that the cable 4 is electrically connected to the circuit 13. Unused (for extension) connectors 4A to 4M out of the connectors of the cable 4 and cable parts attached to these unused connectors are stored in a cable storing part 15 built in the box 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process controller, and more particularly, to an I / O module for inputting and outputting signals to and from various sensors and measuring instruments, and a control unit for controlling the entire system, which is connected to a bus via a communication cable. The present invention relates to a process control controller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a process controller of this type, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of I / O modules 12 for inputting / outputting signals to / from various sensors and measuring instruments, and via these I / O modules 12, A control unit 11 that controls the entire system by exchanging signals with various sensors and measuring devices is connected to a bus via a communication cable 2.

For example, in FIG. 7A, six connectors 21 are connected to a communication cable 2 in parallel by a bus.
A terminal circuit 13 is provided at the end point. And
These connectors 21 are the connectors 1 of the control unit 11,
And by connecting to each connector 1 of the five I / O modules, the control unit 11 and each I / O module as a whole are connected.
The configuration is such that the module 12 is connected to the bus.

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 7A, when a new I / O module 12A is added to a process controller already connected by a communication cable 2, as shown in FIG. 7B. Next, a new communication cable 3 in which eight connectors 31 are connected in parallel by bus is prepared. Then, the connector 31 of the communication cable 3, the control unit 11, and all the I / O modules 12, 12A
And the connector 1 of each.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional process controller, it is necessary to prepare and connect a new communication cable every time the number of connected I / O modules changes due to expansion or the like. However, there is a problem that the load required for the extension work is large, and the extension cannot be easily performed. The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a process control controller capable of easily performing an extension work.

[0006]

In order to achieve such an object, a process controller according to the present invention comprises:
A communication cable electrically connected in parallel and provided with a plurality of connectors spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the cable, and a bus connecting the control unit and each I / O module via these connectors; A storage box disposed adjacent to the I / O module, wherein the storage box has a termination circuit for electrically terminating the communication cable;
A connector that is connected to the connector of the communication cable to electrically connect the communication cable and the terminating circuit; and a cable storage portion that internally stores unused connectors among the connectors of the communication cable and a cable portion provided with these connectors. Are provided. Therefore, when the I / O unit is added, the unused connector housed is taken out of the storage box and connected to the I / O unit to be added.

In addition, instead of the connector and the terminating circuit, a first connector connected to a connector of a communication cable and a second connector electrically connected in parallel to the connector are provided in the storage box. Things. Therefore, by connecting the extension communication cable to the second connector, the communication cable is extended via the storage box.

Further, the terminal circuit and the connector of the storage box and the first and second connectors are supported in the storage box so as to be exchangeable with each other. Therefore, by exchanging these, it is possible to select the use of the storage box, that is, either the communication cable termination or the communication cable extension.

[0009]

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a process control controller according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Shows the state before the expansion and (b) shows the state after the expansion. In the figure, a plurality of I / O modules 12 for inputting and outputting signals to and from various sensors and measuring instruments, and these I / O modules 1
A control unit 11 that controls the entire system by exchanging signals with various sensors and measurement devices via the communication cable 2 is connected to the control unit 11 via a communication cable 4.

The communication cable 4 has six connectors 41 for connecting the control unit 11 and the five I / O modules 12, and an I / O module 12 to be added in the future.
Connectors A for connecting A are provided. These additional connectors 4A to 4N are housed inside a storage box 14 provided alongside the I / O modules 12, 12A.

The storage box 14 has an additional connector 4
A cable storage unit 15 for storing A to 4N, a termination circuit 13 connected to an end point of the communication cable 4, and one of the extension connectors 4A to 4N, for example, the extension connector 4N and the termination circuit 13 are connected. 1A is provided. Note that the termination circuit 13 includes a resistor, a combination of a resistor and a capacitor, and the like.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a configuration example of the storage box. The storage box 14 includes a box-shaped case 60 made of a plastic resin and a cover 65.
Inside the case 60, two spaces are formed by a partition 61, one of which is used as a cable storage section 15 for storing the additional connectors 4A to 4N, and the other is for mounting the termination circuit 13 and the connector 1A. It is used as a substrate storage section 16 for storing the substrate 14A.

In particular, a guide groove 62 for supporting the substrate 14A is provided on an inner wall of the case 60 where the board housing portion 16 is formed, and a wall portion of the case 60 where the cable housing portion 15 is formed. A cable hole 63 for taking out an extension cable to be described later from the case 60 is provided.
Is provided. Further, a concave portion 69 for locking the case 60 to a DIN rail (not shown) to be described later is provided at the bottom of the case 60.

On the side of the cover 65, a locking piece 66 having a locking claw 67 at its tip is provided. The cover 65 is engaged with the case 60. The terminal circuit 13 and the connector 1A are mounted on the board 14A,
A connector of the communication cable 4, for example, a connector 4N is connected to the connector 1A, and the communication cable 4 and the terminating circuit 13 are electrically connected via the connectors 1A and 4N.

In this case, in an actual process control controller, communication means for connecting the control unit 11 and each I / O module are duplicated in consideration of improvement in reliability. Therefore, in FIG. 3, two terminating circuits 13 and two connectors 1A are mounted for the two communication cables 4 respectively. The substrate 17A is used in a second embodiment described later, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the storage box 14 having such a configuration is mounted together with each I / O module 12 in a cabinet 75. Here, each I / N is fixed to a DIN rail (not shown) fixed to the support member 71.
The O module 12 and the storage box 14 are closely mounted in a line, and the support member 71
5 is implemented.

Note that a tubular cable duct 72 is arranged on the support member 71 in parallel with each I / O module 12. A hole 73 is provided on the side of the cable duct 72.
A terminal plate (not shown) provided on the side of the corresponding I / O module 12 to which wiring from sensors and control devices is provided via the internal space of the cable duct 72 and the hole 73. Connected to.

The communication cable 4 is connected to each I / O module 1
2, the connector 41 of the communication cable 4 is connected to the connector 1 provided inside each I / O module 12. The connector 41 provided at the end of the communication cable 4 is connected to the cabinet 7.
5 is connected to the connector 1 of the control unit 11 mounted therein.

On the other hand, the additional connectors 4A to 4M provided on the communication cable 4 and the cable portion in the section where the connectors 4A to 4M are provided are accommodated in the cable accommodating portion 15 inside the accommodating box 14. A connector 4N provided at the rear end of the communication cable 4 is connected to the connector 1A in the storage box 14.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the mounting structure of the storage box. An engaging claw (not shown) is provided in the concave portion 69 at the bottom of the case 60, and the DIN rail 1 fixed to the support member 71 (see FIG. 4) by the engaging claw.
8 locked. Further, the case 60 includes a fastener 86 screwed to the DIN rail 18 and the I / O module 1.
2 and sandwiched.

The I / O module 12 is provided with a lid 81 which is supported so as to be openable and closable. The lid 81 has cutouts on the adjacent I / O module 12 and storage box 14 sides. 82 are provided. Also, I
In the case side portion of the I / O module 12, the adjacent I / O
Holes 83 are provided on the O module 12 side and the storage box 14 side.
Are provided, and these notches 82 and holes 83
I / O module 1 to which communication cable 4 is adjacent via
2 and the storage box 14.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
The cover 65 has a slit 65A at a position facing the hole 83 of the I / O module 12 on the side surface on the side of the adjacent I / O module 12, and communication is performed through the slit 65A. Cable 4 is storage box 1
4 is led inside.

Therefore, before the expansion of the I / O module 12A, the expansion connector 4A provided on the communication cable 4, as shown in FIG. ~ 4M accommodation box 14
The connector 4N at the rear end of the communication cable 4 is housed in the housing box 14 while being housed in the internal cable housing 15.
It is connected to the internal connector 1A, and is electrically connected to the terminating circuit 13 in advance.

When adding the I / O module 12A, the extension connectors 4A and 4B stored in the cable storage section 15 are taken out and the I / O module 1A is extracted.
Connect to 2A connector 1. As a result, without preparing a new communication cable, the communication cable used before the extension is used as it is, and the number of I
/ O modules can be added.

Therefore, the load required for the extension work can be greatly reduced, and it is not necessary to separately provide a terminating circuit, so that the I / O module can be easily added. Also,
The extra connector and the communication cable therebetween are not exposed to the outside, so that the appearance inside the cabinet can be prevented from deteriorating, and a connection error or an accidental accident due to the exposure of the communication cable or the additional connector can be prevented.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a process control controller according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and the same reference numerals are used for the same or equivalent parts as in FIG. First Embodiment (see FIG. 1)
However, there is a limit to the number of I / O units that can be added and the number of I / O units that can be added using the same communication cable. In the present embodiment, the number of I / O units can be increased without being restricted by the number of additional connectors and the intervals between the additional connectors.

That is, in the present embodiment, the storage box 17 for extending the connection of the communication cable to another communication cable is provided. The storage box 17 is provided with a cable storage section 15 for storing an additional connector, and a connector 1B for connecting another communication cable instead of the termination circuit 13.

The structure of the storage box 17 is substantially the same as that of FIG. 3 described above, but a board 17A is used as a board on which the connector is mounted. That is, the terminating circuit 13 is mounted on the board 14A used in the first embodiment in addition to the connector 1A, but the board 17A used in the present embodiment is for connecting the original communication cable 4. In addition to the connector 1B, a connector 1C for connecting the extension communication cable 5 is mounted.

In this case, in the actual process control controller, communication means for connecting the control unit 11 and each I / O module are duplicated in consideration of improvement in reliability. Therefore, two connectors 1B and 1C are mounted on the board 17A in correspondence with the two communication cables 4 respectively.

Therefore, before the expansion of the I / O module 12A, the expansion connector 4A provided on the communication cable 4, as shown in FIG. ~ 4M accommodation box 14
The connector 4N at the rear end of the communication cable 4 is housed in the housing box 14 while being housed in the internal cable housing 15.
It is connected to the internal connector 1A, and is electrically connected to the terminating circuit 13 in advance.

Thereafter, when adding the I / O module 12A, as shown in FIG. 2, an extension storage box 17 is disposed in place of the original storage box 14, and the extension storage box 17 is provided in the cable storage section 15. The extension connectors 4A to 4M of the communication cable 4 are housed, and the connector 4N at the rear end of the communication cable 4 is connected to the connector 1B. Next, the connector 51 at the end of the extension communication cable 5 is connected to the connector 1C of the storage box 14, and
The empty connector 51 of the communication cable 5 is connected to the connector 1 of the / O module 12A.

Then, the original (or new) storage box 14 is disposed adjacent to the I / O module 12A, and the unused connector connectors 5A to 5M of the communication cable 5 are used as future expansion connectors. While being stored in the storage section 15, the connector 5N at the rear end of the communication cable 5 is connected to the connector 1A of the storage box 14.

As a result, each I
The / O module 12 and the control unit 11 are connected,
Further, each I / O module 12A and the control unit 11 which are added via the storage box 17 and the communication cable 5
And finally, the termination circuit 13 of the storage box 14
Will be connected.

Therefore, the number of I / O modules can be increased without being limited by the number of extension connectors provided on the original communication cable 4 in advance. Further, a new I / O module can be added to a position distant from the original I / O module to some extent such as another DIN rail, for example, to another DIN rail, and an I / O module can be added to an arbitrary place.

As shown in FIG. 3, the substrate 14A according to the first embodiment and the substrate 1 according to the second embodiment
By supporting the detachable (exchangeable) 7A, it is possible to select the use of the storage box, that is, either the communication cable termination or the communication cable extension, without removing the storage box. The work load when adding modules can be further reduced.

Note that a termination circuit 13 connected to the connector 1C may be provided so as to be connected to the connector 1C of the storage box 17. The termination circuit 1 is provided on the substrate 17A.
3 is mounted, and the termination circuit 1
3 connection / non-connection may be selected. Thus, the same configuration as that of FIG. 1B can be realized, and it is not necessary to prepare the board 14A, and the board 17A can be used as a communication cable termination.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, the I / O
A connector is provided in the storage box disposed adjacent to the module, and the terminal circuit provided in the storage box is electrically connected to the communication cable. Unused connectors and the cables provided with these connectors are housed inside, so the communication cables used before expansion can be used as they are, without preparing new communication cables. I / O modules can be added by the number of connectors.

Accordingly, the load required for the extension work can be greatly reduced, and it is not necessary to separately provide a terminating circuit, so that the I / O module can be easily added. Also,
The extra connector and the communication cable therebetween are not exposed to the outside, so that the appearance inside the cabinet can be prevented from deteriorating, and a connection error or an accidental accident due to the exposure of the communication cable or the additional connector can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a process control controller according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a process control controller according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a storage box.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a mounting mode of an I / O module and a storage box.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a mounting configuration of a storage box.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a wiring form of the storage box.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional process control controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

11: control unit, 12: I / O module, 12A
... I / O module (for expansion), 13 ... Terminal circuit, 14
... Storage box (for termination), 15 ... Cable storage unit, 1
7 ... storage box (for extension), 18, 19 ... DIN rail, 1 ... connector, 1A, 1B, 1C ... connector, 4 ...
Communication cable, 5 ... Communication cable (for extension).

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5H004 GA30 JB29 MA39 5H220 BB07 CC02 CX05 JJ02 JJ04 JJ12

Claims (3)

[Claims] An I / O module for inputting / outputting various signals exchanged with various sensors and measuring instruments, and a control unit for controlling the entire system based on these signals are bus-connected to a process control controller. A communication cable having a plurality of connectors which are connected in parallel and which are provided at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the cable, and which bus-connects the control unit and each I / O module via these connectors; And a storage box disposed adjacent to the storage box. The storage box includes a termination circuit that electrically terminates the communication cable, a connector that is connected to a connector of the communication cable, and electrically connects the communication cable and the termination circuit. Of the communication cable connectors, unused connectors and the cable provided with these connectors A cable accommodating section for accommodating a cable portion therein. 2. The process control controller according to claim 1, wherein the storage box has a first connector connected to a connector of a communication cable instead of the connector and the terminal circuit, and is electrically connected in parallel with the connector. And a second connector. 3. The process controller according to claim 2, wherein the terminal circuit and the connector of the storage box and the first and second connectors are supported by the storage box so as to be interchangeable with each other. Control controller.