US 5,984,498 A · Device controller with intracontroller communication capability, conveying system using such controllers for controlling conveying sections and methods related thereto

Abstract

Featured is a device controller in a system having a multiplicity of such controllers and a conveying system and method for controlling a multiplicity of devices using such controllers. Each controller includes a plurality of bi-directional communications ports, a processor that processes information and provides outputs, where at least one output controls the device, and an applications program for execution within the processor that includes instructions and criteria for processing the information and providing the processor outputs. Specifically, the applications program includes instructions and criteria for communicating information between and among controllers; instructions and criteria for processing information received by a controller; and instructions and criteria for modifying the operation of a device responsive to the communicated information. For a conveying system having a multiplicity of conveying sections, a controller is provided for each section. Preferably, the applications program for a conveying system controller also includes the instructions and criteria needed to operate any one of a number of different conveying section types. Further, the conveying system controller includes a memory for storing parameters that are used so the corresponding conveying system section operates in the desired fashion.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A conveying system comprising a multiplicity of conveying sections, each section being provided with a local controller and wherein the controller for each corresponding conveying section, comprises:

at least one bi-directional inflow port;
at least one bi-directional outflow port, wherein a communications link is established between controllers of respective conveying sections by interconnecting one bi-directional outflow port of one controller to one bi-directional inflow port of the downstream controller;
a processor that processes information and provides outputs, where at least one output controls the operation of the corresponding conveying section;
an applications program for execution within the processor, wherein the applications program includes instructions and criteria for processing information and providing the processor outputs;
and
wherein the instructions and criteria of the applications program includes:
instructions and criteria for communicating information among and between each controller of the multiplicity of conveying sections,
instructions and criteria for processing information received by the controller for the corresponding conveying section,
instructions and criteria to control the operation of the corresponding conveying section, and
instructions and criteria for modifying the operation of the corresponding conveying section responsive to information communicated from another controller of another conveying section.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device controller with intracontroller communication capability, conveying system using such controllers for controlling conveying sections and methods related thereto

Life of this patent

Device controller with intracontroller communication capability, conveying system using such controllers for controlling conveying sections and methods related thereto

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15