"Integrated apparatus for use in industrial machinery"
The present invention has as its object an integrated apparatus for use in industrial machinery.
Many remote controls for industrial use, in particular for actuating from a distance various types of machinery, including for example units for lifting or moving other machinery, are known. The purpose of the present invention is that of grouping together in a single apparatus all of the command, control and safety functions in he field of industrial machinery. A further purpose of the present invention is that of realising an apparatus equipped with a flexible and modular structure according to the needs of the user. Another purpose of the present invention is that of realising an apparatus which contributes to safety in the workplace. Such purposes are accomplished by an integrated apparatus for use in industrial machinery, according to claim 1, to which we refer for the sake of brevity.
The invention is described in detail hereafter, as an example and not for limiting purposes, with reference
to the attached drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a general diagram of the integrated apparatus for use in industrial machinery, according to the present invention; - figure 2 shows a block diagram of the control unit belonging to the integrated apparatus of the invention; figure 3 shows a block diagram of the actuation unit of the integrated apparatus of the invention; figure 4 shows a block diagram of the supervision unit of the integrated apparatus of the invention; and
The integrated apparatus for use in industrial machinery, according to the present invention, is globally indicated in figure 1 with reference numeral
10.
The integrated apparatus 10 is made up of three main parts: a control unit 13, an actuation unit 14, in turn forming a functional subset 11, and a supervision unit 15.
The control unit 13 is connected via radio to the actuation unit 14, through the antennae 17, 18. The actuation unit 14 is connected to the supervision unit 15 with cable connection 16.
The control unit 13 is the part of the system with which the operator controls the movements of the machinery on which he is operating. Of course, the operator can either be a physical person (who operates through a keypad, joy stick ) or else another electronic apparatus which interacts through digital signals (PLC) .
The actuation unit 14 is the part of the apparatus which carries out the functions requested by the control unit 13, directly, through the actuation of relays or indirectly through the emission of analogue or digital signals (sometimes known as proportional system) destined for another electronic apparatus (Inverter, PLC) . The supervision unit 15 is the part of the apparatus 10 which collects, through sensors, the work state or state of wear of the machinery on which the control units 13 and actuation units 14 are operating. When the safety or maintenance parameters are reached, the supervision unit 15 sends the intervention requests to the control unit 13 and interacts directly on the actuation unit 14 preventing those operations which have reached the operating limits. As shown in the block diagram, the control unit 13 consists of a modular structure, in which one or more
functions can be associated with a central logic unit .
The central logic unit 20 mainly consists of one or more microprocessors the task of which is that of coordinating all of the input and output activities of the commands and of controlling all of the parameters of radio reception-transmission 21. An interface 22, equipped with a modular structure, is able to manage, according to requirements, all or part of the functions shown hereafter.
Manual controls 23 are foreseen, i.e. a manual command entry interface for actuating the machinery- through buttons and/or analogue signals (joy stick) . The unit 13 also comprises logic controls 24, i.e. an automatic command entry interface through digital signals coming from other electronic apparatuses like PLC.
Access to the apparatus takes place through an electronic access key 25, an electronic device with over 200,000 billion combinations to enable the actuation of the machinery. There can also be different levels of enabling for use of the machinery associated with many available keys. Moreover, an indicator LED warns the user that an intervention request is requested by the supervision system.
To improve its flexibility of use, the unit 13 foresees a serial programming module 26 which offers the possibility of personalisation of the system through serial communication with a pocket PC or personal computer 27 via RS232, RS485, or other.
The unit 13 can be personalised through infrared programming 28 through IRDA infrared communication with a pocket PC or personal computer 29. To make the commands being carried out clear directly to the user or to indicate critical events
(preventative maintenance, safety ...) at the supervision unit 15 a display 30 is foreseen.
As shown in the block diagram of figure 3, the actuation unit 14 consists of a modular structure, in which one or more important functions can be associated with a central logic unit 31. The central logic unit 31 mainly consists of one or more microprocessors the task of which is that of coordinating all of the input and output activities of the commands received and of controlling all of the parameters of radio reception-transmission 32. A serial connection 33 with the supervision unit 15 allows all of the information necessary for correct operation of the machinery to be acquired and in
particular to warn the user when preventative maintenance is necessary.
An industrial bus connection 34 allows a direct exchange of information and/or actuations with other electronic apparatuses 35.
The unit 14 foresees a series programming module 36 which offers the possibility of personalisation of the system through serial communication with a pocket PC or personal computer 37 via RS232, RS485, or other.
Thanks to the modular structure, an interface 38 thereof is able to manage, according to needs, all or part of the actuation modules shown hereafter. Firstly there is a direct actuation module 39, i.e. an interface between the functional subset 11, made up of the control unit 13 and the actuation unit 14, and the machinery to be controlled consisting of a series of electromechanical relays or a series of solid state switches which actuate the movements of the machine or other special functions thereof.
The communication between the central unit and the actuation modules is carried out through an owner serial protocol . The number of modules which can be inserted in the system depends upon the requirements
of the user; in figure 3 as an example modules 40 and 41 are represented.
Moreover, a digital actuation module 42 id foreseen, which acts as an interface between the system and the machinery to be controlled, consisting of a series of digital-analogue converters which actuate the movements of the machine or other special functions thereof. The communication between the central unit and the actuation modules is carried out through an owner serial protocol. The number of modules which can be inserted in the system depends upon the requirements of the user; in figure 3 as an example modules 43 and 44 are represented. As shown in the block diagram of figure 4, the supervision unit 15 also consists of a modular structure, in which many sensors capable of detecting the operating parameters of the machinery (operating time of the motors, overcharge, overheating, switch limit, or other) can be associated with the central logic unit 50.
This happens thanks to an interface 57, which can receive the data from both analogue sensors 58-60 and digital sensors 61-63.
All of this data is inserted in the memory 51 of the
unit 15, and is compared with the parameters of correct use set by the user.
When these parameters do not fall within the ranges of correct operation, the unit 15 intervenes blocking
some actuations and/or activating some others . Each actuation can be selected by the installer.
The ways with which these interventions can be carried out depend upon the type of communication selected by the user.
Firstly a direct serial communication 52 is foreseen, with connection 16, to the subset 11 of unit 12 and
13.
Secondly, an industrial bus communication 53 is foreseen with other external electronic apparatuses
54.
Thirdly, a serial communication 55 to the telephone line is foreseen.
Basically, the invention stems from the need to group together in a single apparatus all of the command, control and safety functions in the field of industrial machinery and lifting machines whilst still maintaining a flexible and modular structure according to the needs of the user.
From that which has been described, it is clear that
the inventive concepts expressed are not limited to the illustrated example of application, but can advantageously be adapted to other applications. The present invention is therefore susceptible to numerous modifications and variants all covered by the inventive concept expressed in the attached claims, whereas the technical details can vary according to requirements .