Analog-controlled transport device with data read-out
AssigneeInterroll Holding AG
InventorsAndreas Hampe, Herbert Henze
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A conveyor apparatus includes a drive unit, a connection interface which transmits analog signals, and a drive control module which is coupled to the drive unit and to the connection interface via signal technology. The drive control module receives analog control signals via the connection interface in an operating state and controls the drive unit as a function of the analog control signals, outputs digital diagnostic signals via the connection interface in a digital communication state, and switches from the operating state to the digital communication state upon receipt of a switchover command. The switchover command is made up of a predetermined analog control signal or a predetermined sequence of analog control signals.
Claims20
A conveyor apparatus comprising:
- a drive unit;
- a connection interface which is configured for analog signal transmission;
- and
- a drive control module which is coupled to the drive unit and to the connection interface via signal technology, the drive control module being configured:
- to receive analog control signals via the connection interface in an operating state and to control the drive unit as a function of the analog control signals,
- to output digital diagnostic signals via the connection interface in a digital communication state, and
- to switch from the operating state to the digital communication state upon receipt of a switchover command, the switchover command being made up of a predetermined analog control signal or a predetermined sequence of analog control signals.
A diagnostic device for a conveyor apparatus comprising a motor-operated conveyor roller, the diagnostic device comprising:
- an electronic diagnostic unit comprising a control data interface, the electronic diagnostic unit being configured to output an analog switchover command to the control data interface,
- wherein,
- the analog switchover command is outputted by the electronic diagnostic unit via the control data interface as a predetermined analog control signal or as a predetermined sequence of analog control signals,
- after outputting the analog switchover command, a diagnostic data record is received via the control data interface in a digital communication state, and
- the diagnostic data record is received as a sequence of digital, binary-encoded diagnostic data.
A conveyance system comprising:
- a diagnostic device for a conveyor apparatus comprising a motor-operated conveyor roller, the diagnostic device comprising,
- an electronic diagnostic unit comprising a control data interface, the electronic diagnostic unit being configured to output an analog switchover command to the control data interface,
- wherein,
- the analog switchover command is outputted via the control data interface as a predetermined analog control signal or as a predetermined sequence of analog control signals,
- after outputting the analog switchover command, a diagnostic data record is received via the control data interface in a digital communication state, and
- the diagnostic data record is received as a sequence of digital, binary-encoded diagnostic data;
- and
- a conveyor apparatus comprising,
- a drive unit,
- a connection interface which is configured for analog signal transmission, and
- a drive control module which is coupled to the drive unit and to the connection interface via signal technology, the drive control module being configured,
- to receive analog control signals via the connection interface in an operating state and to control the drive unit as a function of the analog control signals,
- to output digital diagnostic signals via the connection interface in a digital communication state, and
- to switch from the operating state to the digital communication state upon receipt of a switchover command, the switchover command being made up of a predetermined analog control signal or a predetermined sequence of analog control signals,
- wherein,
- the control data interface is connected to the connection interface,
- for an analog data transmission in the operating state, and
- for a digital, binary-encoded configuration data in the digital communication state.
A method for outputting configuration data from an analog-controlled conveyor apparatus, the method comprising:
- receiving a switchover command as a predetermined analog control signal or as a predetermined sequence of analog control signals in a drive control module;
- switching, in response to the receipt of the switchover command, the drive control module from an operating state in which the drive control module is connected for receiving analog control signals and for controlling a drive unit as a function of the analog control signals, to a digital communication state in which the drive control module is connected for transmitting and receiving configuration data;
- encoding permanent characteristic information or non-permanent characteristic information about the analog-controlled conveyor apparatus in the drive control module in a sequence of digital, binary-encoded configuration data;
- and
- transmitting the sequence of digital, binary-encoded configuration data via a connection interface of the drive control module.
A method for reading out configuration data of an analog-controlled conveyor apparatus, the method comprising:
- transmitting a switchover command from an electronic diagnostic unit as a predetermined analog control signal or as a predetermined sequence of analog control signals;
- switching the electronic diagnostic unit from an operating state in which the electronic diagnostic unit is connected for transmitting analog control signals, to a digital communication state in which the electronic diagnostic unit is connected for transmitting and receiving configuration data;
- receiving a sequence of digital, binary-encoded configuration data;
- decoding the sequence of digital, binary-encoded configuration data into diagnostic information;
- and
- outputting the diagnostic information via a communication interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.