Conveyors: power-driven – Conveying system having plural power-driven conveying sections – With means controlling the interrelated operation of plural...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-03
2002-06-18
Bidwell, James R. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveying system having plural power-driven conveying sections
With means controlling the interrelated operation of plural...
C198S576000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06405851
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a conveyor controlling device for controlling driving of local zones that are divided along the transferring direction of a conveyor and can be independently driven, and a conveyor apparatus.
Conventionally, this type of conveyor apparatus is provided with a conveyor having respective zones which are divided along the transferring direction of the conveyor and can be independently driven. A sensor and a solenoid valve for controlling transmission of power of a drive motor are disposed in the respective zones. The sensors and solenoid valves are connected to a central control panel via wires. The control panel controls the solenoid valve on the basis of signals from the sensors.
However, a large number of wires are required between the control panel and the solenoid valves and sensors. The wiring is thus complicated, and increases the difficulty of installing the conveyor apparatus at the installation site.
Therefore, as has been described in, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 172549 of 1995, a construction is known, in which a sub-controller internally having a CPU is installed in each respective zone. Each sub-controller includes a sensor and a solenoid valve connected to its respective zone. Each sub-controller is connected to a central controller panel.
However, as has been described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 172549 of 1995, if a central controller panel is provided in addition to a sub-controller, settings should be made both in the central controller panel and sub-controllers. The need for multiple settings increases the difficulty and production cost in using the conveyor.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was developed in view of the above problems, and it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a conveyor controlling device and a conveyor apparatus, which can be simply installed and can reduce production costs.
A conveyor controlling device according to the invention has respective zones which are divided along the transferring direction of a conveyor and can be independently driven, which is disposed in said respective zones, which comprises local load inputting portions each secured corresponding to a local zone, by which whether or not a load to be transferred exists is inputted in said local zone; a plurality of downstream load inputting portions secured corresponding to selected downstream zones, by which whether or not a load to be transferred exists is inputted in said corresponding zone; and a means for controlling so as to stop the drive of a corresponding local zone when a signal instructing that there is a load to be transferred is inputted from all of said local load inputting portions and downstream load inputting portions, and so as to drive the corresponding local zone when a signal is not inputted, which instructs that there is no load to be transferred, in any of the local load inputting portions and downstream load inputting portions.
The conveyor controller device inputs whether or not a load to be placed in a local zone exists into a local load input portion, inputs whether or not loads to be placed in a plurality of selected downstream zones exist in a plurality of downstream load input portions, stops driving the local corresponding zones when a signal is inputted, from all of the local load input portion and downstream load input portions, that a load exits, and drives the local corresponding zone when no signal is inputted, which instructs that no load exists in either the local load input portion and downstream load input portions, whereby it is possible to control the respective zones of a conveyor with only a simple construction.
A conveyor controlling device according to the invention is featured in that, in addition to the conveyor controlling device as set forth above, the controlling means is provided with an OR circuit which generates an output when an output is issued from the local load inputting portion and any one of the downstream load inputting portions, and an operational amplifier which drives a local zone when an output is issued from said OR circuit.
A conveyor controlling device according to the invention includes, respective zones which are divided along the transferring direction of a conveyor and can be independently driven, comprises local load inputting portions each secured corresponding to a local zone, by which whether or not a load to be transferred exists is inputted in said local zone; a plurality of downstream load inputting portions secured corresponding to selected downstream zones one after another, by which whether or not a load to be transferred exists is inputted in said corresponding zone; a downstream load selecting switch for turning on and off the input of a signal from the downstream load inputting portions; and a means for controlling so as to stop the drive of a corresponding local zone when a signal instructing that there is a load to be transferred is inputted from all of said local load inputting portions and downstream load inputting portions selected by said downstream load selecting switch, and so as to drive the corresponding local zone when a signal is inputted, which instructs that there is no load to be transferred, in any of the local load inputting portions and downstream load inputting portions which are selected by said downstream load selecting switch.
The conveyor controller device inputs whether or not a load to be placed in a local zone exists into a local load input portion, inputs whether or not loads to be placed in a plurality of downstream zones selected by the downstream load selecting switch exist into a plurality of downstream load input portions, stops drive of local corresponding zones when a signal is inputted, from all of the local load input portion and downstream load input portions selected by the downstream load selecting switch, that a load exits, and drives the local corresponding zone when no signal is inputted, which instructs that no load exists in either the local load input portion and downstream load input portions selected by the downstream load selecting switch, whereby it is possible to control the respective zones of a conveyor with only a simple construction.
A conveyor controlling device according to the invention, in addition to the conveyor controlling device as set forth in the first paragraph of this section, the controlling means is provided with an OR circuit which generates an output when an output is issued from the local load inputting portion and any one of the downstream load inputting portions selected by said downstream load selecting switch, and an operational amplifier which drives a local zone when an output is issued from said OR circuit, whereby zones of a conveyor can be controlled by OR circuits and operational amplifiers with a simple construction.
A conveyor controlling device according to the invention, in addition to the conveyor controlling device as set forth in the foregoing paragraphs further comprises a plurality of downstream FULL inputting portions which are provided in downstream zones and input FULL from the corresponding zones; wherein said controlling means outputs a FULL signal when a signal instructing that there is a load is inputted from all of the local load inputting portions and downstream FULL inputting portions, wherein by inputting FULL from zones corresponding to the downstream FULL input portions, a FULL signal is outputted when a signal is inputted, from all of the local load input portions and downstream load input portions, which instructs that a load exists, and FULL can be easily detected.
A conveyor controlling device according to the invention which, in addition to the conveyor controlling device as set forth in any one of the first four paragraphs of this section, further includes a plurality of downstream FULL inputting portions which are secured corresponding to the downstream zones one after another and input, from zones corresponding thereto, that the zones are
LandOfFree
Conveyor controlling device and conveyor apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Conveyor controlling device and conveyor apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Conveyor controlling device and conveyor apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2902155