Controller for a part feed system including a blown fuse indicator circuit

• US 5,561,580 A
• Filed: 04/06/1995
• Issued: 10/01/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FMC Technologies Incorporated (TechnipFMC, plc)
• Original Assignee: FMC Corporation
• Inventors: Baird, Randy K., Pounds, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leja, Ronald W.
• Application Number:
  US08/418,050
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 361/104, 324/537, 324/550, 340/635, 340/638, 198/444, 198/453, 198/459, 198/571-576
• US Class Current: 361/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/046 Signalling the blowing of a fuse detecting non functioning of a lamp H05B47/20

Abstract

There is provided a microcontroller for controlling the activation of a hopper, bowl feeder, and linear feeder. There is further provided a blown fuse circuit which indicates that a fuse has blown for the various components of the part feeder system as well as preventing machines at the load from being powered should the fuse blow.

Claims

1. A blown fuse indicator circuit comprising:

a first diode and a first resister comprising a first series;

a second diode and a second resistor comprising a second series;

a fuse disposed between one end of said first series and one end of said second series;

a zener diode and a light emitting diode comprising a third series, said third series connected to an opposing end of said first series; and

an opto-coupler circuit disposed between one end of said third series, an opposing end of said second series and an opposing end of said third series.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said blown fuse circuitry detects whether a fuse for one of a hopper, bowl feeder, linear feeder, back pressure sensor, and main line has blown.

3. A controller for controlling a part feeder system comprising:

a microcontroller;

a first semiconductor for providing activating power to a bowl feeder; and

blown fuse circuitry, said blown fuse circuitry comprising a first diode and a first resister comprising a first series, a second diode and a second resistor comprising a second series, a fuse disposed between one end of said first series and one end of said second series, a zener diode and a light emitting diode comprising a third series, said third series connected to an opposing end of said first series, and an opto-coupler circuit disposed between one end of said third series, an opposing end of said second series and an opposing end of said third series, said blown fuse circuitry preventing voltage from passing to a load when said fuse associated with said load has blown;

wherein said microcontroller calculates a phase delay relative to a reference signal for activating said first semiconductor.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said blown fuse circuitry detects whether a fuse for one of a hopper, bowl feeder, linear feeder, back pressure sensor, and main line has blown.