US 2018/0203438 A1 · METHOD FOR REPLACING A CONTROL UNIT IN A CONVEYING DEVICE

Abstract

A method is disclosed for replacing a defective control unit in a conveying device interconnected by a bus. Conveying devices are used in logistics processes for fully automated and semi-automated conveying of goods by means of conveyor segments. These conveyor segments are controlled and monitored by control units. In order to minimise the downtimes of the conveyor device, the described method for replacing a defective control unit in a conveying device interconnected by a bus can be used to ensure that a control unit can be replaced promptly and reliably. The method according to the invention allows automatic detection of a defect in a control unit, as well as initial configuration of a replacement control unit with an individual bus address or additional parameters.

Claims49

Dependent claims

-48. (canceled)

A method for replacing a defective control unit in a conveying device interconnected by a bus, said conveying device comprising a first control unit having a first bus address and at least one second control unit having a second bus address,

wherein the first control unit controls a first conveyor segment and the second control unit controls a second conveyor segment,
and the first control unit and the second control unit are interconnected via bus communication,
said method comprising the steps of:
(i) detecting the defect in the second control unit by means of the first control unit;
(ii) switching the first control unit into a configuration mode when the first control unit detects a defect in the second control unit;
(iii) integrating a third control unit into the bus communication after the first control unit has been put into the configuration mode;
(iv) transferring a configuration from the first control unit to the third control unit or from the third control unit to the first control unit;
and
(v) storing the configuration transferred from the first control unit in the third control unit, or storing the configuration transferred from the third control unit in the first control unit.

6 more elements

The method pursuant to 50, wherein the third control unit transmits a presence signal after being integrated into the bus communication, and the first control unit is put into the configuration mode by receiving the presence signal from the third control unit.

A conveying device, comprising a first control unit having a first bus address and at least a second control unit having a second bus address, wherein the first control unit monitors and controls a first conveyor segment and the second control unit monitors and controls a second conveyor segment, the first control unit and the second control unit being interconnected via bus communication, wherein:

(i) the first control unit is adapted to detect a defect in the second control unit;
(ii) the first control unit is adapted to switch into a configuration mode when the first control unit detects the defect in the second control unit;
(iii) the first control unit is adapted to be put into a configuration mode;
(iv) the first control unit is adapted to transfer a configuration from the first control unit to a third control unit, and the third control unit is adapted to transfer a configuration to the first control unit;
and
(v) the third control unit is adapted to store the configuration transferred from the first control unit, and the first control unit is adapted to store the configuration transferred from the third control unit.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/567,734Filed 20 Apr 2016

Priority

DE 10 2015 106 026.420 Apr 2015

Published

19 Jul 2018

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

G05B 19/41845
Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible…:…
B65G 13/07
Roller driving means: having endless driving elements
B65G 23/08
Drums, rollers, or wheels: with self-contained driving mechanisms, e.g. motors and associated gearing
B65G 43/10
Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting: sequence control of conveyors operating in combination

Method for replacing a control unit in a conveying device

Life of this patent

Method for replacing a control unit in a conveying device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims49