Modular system and method for controlling a material handling system
First Claim
1. A control system for a material handling system, said control system having a first control module, a second control module, and a third control module, said first control module comprising:
- a first control cabinet for providing primary control to said first control module and said control system;
a first external component for controlling an equipment component of the material handling system;
a modular interconnectivity component for interconnecting said first control cabinet and said first external component for control of said first external component by said first control cabinet;
a first internal component for operating said first control cabinet, said first internal component being disposed within said first control cabinet; and
a modular interconnectivity component for interconnecting said first control cabinet and said first internal external component for communication between said first internal component and said first control cabinet, said first control module having primary control of said second control module and said third control module, said first control module being interconnectable and interoperable with said second control module and said third control module such that said second control module may assume operational control of said third control module in the event that said first control module is removed from said control system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system (60) controls a material handling system and has a first control module (120), a second control module (140), and a third control module (160). The first module (120) includes a first control cabinet (12) for providing primary control to the first module (120), a first external component (20) for controlling an equipment component of the material handling system, and a modular interconnectivity component (30) for interconnecting the first control cabinet (12) and the first external component (20) for control of the first external component (20). The control system (60) further includes a first internal component (20) for operating the first control cabinet (12) and a modular interconnectivity component (30). The first module (120) has primary control of the second module (140) and the third module (160). The first module (120) is interconnectable and interoperable with the second module (140) and the third module (160) such that the second module (140) may assume operational control of the third module (160) in the event that the first module (120) is removed from the control system (60).
25 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A control system for a material handling system, said control system having a first control module, a second control module, and a third control module, said first control module comprising:
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a first control cabinet for providing primary control to said first control module and said control system;
a first external component for controlling an equipment component of the material handling system;
a modular interconnectivity component for interconnecting said first control cabinet and said first external component for control of said first external component by said first control cabinet;
a first internal component for operating said first control cabinet, said first internal component being disposed within said first control cabinet; and
a modular interconnectivity component for interconnecting said first control cabinet and said first internal external component for communication between said first internal component and said first control cabinet, said first control module having primary control of said second control module and said third control module, said first control module being interconnectable and interoperable with said second control module and said third control module such that said second control module may assume operational control of said third control module in the event that said first control module is removed from said control system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for controlling a material handling system, said method comprising the steps of:
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defining a control system architecture for said method, the architecture including off the shelf parts;
providing a predetermined quantity of control modules for controlling respective parts of the material handling system;
adding an additional part to the material handling system for increasing capacity of the material handling system;
adding an additional control module to the control system architecture for controlling the additional part of the material handling system and interfacing with the predetermined quantity of control modules, said step of adding the additional control module including the inputting of rudimentary data to the control system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for controlling a material handling system, said apparatus comprising:
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a first means for controlling said apparatus, said first means comprising a cell coordination cabinet, an associated external component, and a modular interconnectivity component; and
a second means for controlling a part of said apparatus, said second means comprising a main control cabinet, an associated external component, and a modular interconnectivity component, said second means assuming control of said apparatus in the event said first means is removed from said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification