CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20070135964A1
• Filed: 12/11/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hytrol Conveyor Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hytrol Conveyor Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Rogers, Wendell, Palmer, Chuck, Bonham, Boyce, Potter, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,387,195 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/230
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41845 characterised by system universality, reconfigurability, modularity
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31009 Connector between AGV and station
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45047 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45054 Handling, conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A conveyor system for sorting objects is provided. The conveyor system includes a plurality of lanes arranged in series with one another, wherein each of the lanes is operable to convey and sort a plurality of objects therealong. The conveyor system also includes at least one peripheral device associated with at least one of the lanes that is operable to facilitate the conveying and sorting of the objects. The system also includes logic circuitry in communication with the at least one peripheral device, as well as at least one distribution device in communication with the logic circuitry and the at least one peripheral device. Each distribution device includes a plurality of ports for receiving respective cables therein, and at least one cable couples the logic circuitry and the distribution device and at least one cable couples each peripheral device and the distribution device, wherein each of the cables are coupled without hard wiring.

Claims

1. A conveyor control system for controlling a conveyor having an elongated movement surface for transporting a plurality of objects, said conveyor control system comprising:

a programmable logic controller configured to at least partially control operation of the conveyor movement surface, said programmable logic controller having a housing and at least one connector supported by said housing;

at least one primary cable comprising at least one power line and a plurality of communication lines bundled together and having a first connector on one end configured to releasably connect to the connector of the programmable logic controller and a second connector on another end;

at least one distribution device having a housing, said housing supporting a primary connector and a plurality of peripheral connectors, said primary connector configured to releasably connect to the second connector of the at least one primary cable, said peripheral connectors connected within the housing to the primary connector and configured to be in communication with the primary connector; and

a plurality of peripheral devices configured to facilitate control of the conveyor movement surface by the programmable logic controller, each of the peripheral devices having a peripheral cable and a connector on one end configured to releasably connect to the peripheral connectors of the distribution device, said peripheral cable comprising at least one power line and at least one communication line bundled together;

wherein the connectors allow easy, releasable connection of the peripheral devices via the peripheral cables to the distribution device and the distribution device via the primary cable to the programmable logic controller for communication of conveyor state data from the peripheral devices to the programmable logic controller and communication of operational commands from the programmable logic controller to the peripheral devices.

2. The conveyor control system of claim 1 further comprising a main movement surface for transporting the plurality of objects along a general pathway, a plurality of lanes arranged in series with one another for receiving objects from the main movement surface and transporting the objects received to a plurality of endpoints, and at least one diverter for diverting objects from the main movement surface to at least one of the lanes.

3. The conveyor control system of claim 2 wherein each of the peripheral devices is associated with at least one of the lanes.

4. The conveyor control system of claim 1 wherein the distribution system housing supports eight peripheral connectors for connecting to the peripheral cables of the peripheral devices.

5. The conveyor control system of claim 1 further comprising at least one splitter having a first connecting end configured to connect to one of the peripheral connectors of the distribution devices and a second connecting end configured to connect to two peripheral cables, whereby said splitter facilitates the communication of two peripheral devices with the programmable logic controller through one of the peripheral connectors of the distribution device.

6. The conveyor control system of claim 1 further comprising a trough secured proximate to the elongated movement surface and supporting each of the at least one distribution device, said trough forming a channel and defining a plurality of openings therein, wherein the at least one primary cable and the peripheral cables are extendable along the channel of the trough and are capable of entering and exiting the channel through the openings.

7. The conveyor control system of claim 6 wherein the trough includes a protective cover configured to engage the channel and form a housing for the cables extending within the channel.

8. The conveyor control system of claim 1 wherein each of the peripheral devices is a sensor, an encoder, a sorter, or a solenoid.

9. A conveyor system for sorting a plurality of objects comprising:

a main line comprising at least one conveyor for transporting the plurality of objects along the main line;

at least one diverter for diverting objects off of the main line and to a predetermined location;

a plurality of lanes arranged in series with one another and capable of receiving objects from the diverter;

a plurality of peripheral devices associated with at least one of the lanes and operable to facilitate the conveying and sorting of the objects;

a programmable logic controller in communication with the plurality of peripheral devices; and

a plurality of distribution devices in communication with the programmable logic controller and at least one peripheral device, each distribution device including a plurality of ports for receiving respective cables therein, wherein at least one cable couples the programmable logic controller and each distribution device, and at least one cable couples each peripheral device to a respective distribution device, and wherein each of the cables are releasably coupled.

10. The conveyor system of claim 9 further comprising a trough secured proximate to at least one of the lanes, each trough comprising a channel for carrying the cables therein, wherein each trough comprises a plurality of openings defined therein, wherein each cable is capable of extending through a respective opening and into the channel, and wherein each of the distribution devices is secured to the trough.

11. The conveyor system of claim 9 wherein each of the cables comprises at least one power line and at least one communication line bundled together.

12. The conveyor system of claim 9 further comprising at least one splitter having a first end and a second end, said first end capable of being received by one of the ports of the distribution device and in communication with the programmable logic controller, said second end configured to couple with two peripheral cables and in communication with two peripheral devices.

13. A method of controlling a conveyor system comprising:

providing an elongated movement surface and a plurality of lanes, said lanes intersecting said elongated movement surface and arranged in series for transporting goods from a start point to a plurality of end points corresponding to each of the lanes;

installing at least one peripheral device proximate to at least one of the lanes;

connecting at least one peripheral cable from the at least one peripheral device to a distribution device;

connecting a primary cable from a programmable logic controller to the distribution device;

detecting a conveyor state of at least one lane through the at least one peripheral device;

transmitting the conveyor state data from the at least one peripheral device to the programmable logic controller through the distribution device;

processing an operational command in the programmable logic controller in response to the conveyor state data received from the at least one peripheral device;

transmitting the operational command from the programmable logic controller to the at least one peripheral device through the distribution device; and

performing an operation on the at least one lane to facilitate the transportation of the goods corresponding to the at least one lane to the respective end point.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising securing the distribution device to a trough, said trough extending from the start point to at least one of the end points.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

threading the at least one peripheral cable from the at least one peripheral device into a channel formed within the trough through a first opening in the trough;

extending the at least one peripheral cable along the channel;

threading the at least one peripheral cable out of the channel through a second opening in the trough to connect the at least one peripheral cable to the distribution device;

threading the primary cable from the programmable logic controller into the channel through a third opening in the trough;

extending the primary cable along the channel; and

threading the primary cable out of the channel through a fourth opening in the trough to connect the primary cable to the distribution device.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising installing a splitter onto a peripheral connector of the distribution device to allow two peripheral cables to be in communication with the programmable logic controller through the one peripheral connector.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising changing the configuration of the conveyor system, including the step of disconnecting one of the at least one peripheral cable from the distribution device.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising connecting at least one different peripheral cable from at least one different peripheral device to the distribution device.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising performing maintenance on the programmable logic controller, including:

providing a back-up controller;

connecting a back-up primary cable of the back-up controller to the distribution device; and

disconnecting the primary cable of the programmable logic controller from the distribution device to allow maintenance work to be done on the programmable logic controller without ceasing operation of the conveyor system.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising transmitting the operational command from the programmable logic controller to a plurality of peripheral devices in response to receiving the conveyor state data from the at least one peripheral device, whereby operation of the conveyor system is adjusted accordingly.