Modular machine-automation system and client module

A modular machine-automation system comprising:

• a server module, and
• a plurality of client modules,
• wherein the server module comprises a server module housing having a server module connection face comprising a server signal transfer unit having a server signal transmitting unit and a server signal receiving unit, and a server signal processing unit,
• wherein a signal output interface of the server signal processing unit is connected to the server signal transmitting unit and a signal input interface of the server signal processing unit is connected to the server signal receiving unit in order to transmit signals, and
• wherein each client module comprises a client module housing having a first client module connection face comprising a first client signal transfer unit having a first client signal transmitting unit and a first client signal receiving unit, a second client module connection face comprising a second client signal transfer unit having a second client signal transmitting unit and a second client signal receiving unit, and a client bus switch-on unit having a client signal coupling unit and a client signal processing unit;
• wherein a signal processing input interface and a signal processing output interface of the client signal processing unit are connected to the client signal coupling unit, the client signal coupling unit being connected to the first client signal transmitting unit, the first client signal receiving unit, the second client signal transmitting unit and the second client signal receiving unit;
• wherein, in a first mode of operation, the client signal coupling unit connects the first client signal receiving unit to a signal processing input interface of the client signal processing unit and the second client signal transmitting unit to a signal processing output interface of the client signal processing unit, and, in a second mode of operation, couples the second client signal receiving unit to the signal processing input interface of the client signal processing unit and the first client signal transmitting unit to the signal processing output interface of the client signal processing unit in order to transmit signals,
• wherein the first and second client module connection faces of each client module being respectively connectable to the server module connection face or the first and second client module connection faces of a further client module, in order to couple the client signal transfer unit of the client module connection face of the client module to the server signal transfer unit of the server module connection face or to the client signal transfer unit of the connected client module connection face of the further client module in order to transmit signals;
• and
• wherein, in an initialization mode, the client signal coupling unit in the client bus switch-on unit of the client module is configured to determine which client module connection face is connected to the server module connection face directly or via one or a plurality of such further client modules, in order to switch to the first operating mode when the first client module connection face is coupled directly or via the one or plurality of further client modules to the server module connection face, and to switch to the second operating mode when the second client module connection face is coupled directly or via the one or plurality of further client modules to the server module connection face so that a ring-shaped transmission path having two channels is configured in which telegrams are processed on one channel with the aid of the client signal processing unit in the client module.