Multipolar connection valve island and configuration method

Abstract

It is the object of the present invention a multipolar connection valve island 500, comprising one or more valve modules 100, in which each valve module 100 comprises a base 400 where channels are present for an under pressure fluid or vacuum, one or more pneumatic valves 200, 200' mounted on said base 400 and connected to the channels, and a solenoid or a pair of solenoids 300, 301, 300', 301' for each pneumatic valve 200, 200' mounted on said base 400 and connected to the channels, wherein the multipolar connection valve island 500 comprises a main electronic board 550 and at least one multipolar connector 560, for example a multipolar connection socket or plug, connected to said main electronic board 550, in which the main electronic board 550 comprises a processor, in which each of said valve modules 100 comprises a second-level electronic board 110 having a respective processor, in which each second-level electronic board 110 is configured to detect the presence and position of the solenoids 300, 301, 300', 301' of the respective valve module 100, in which each second-level electronic board 110 is configured to control the solenoids 300, 301, 300', 301' of the respective valve module 100, in which the second- level electronic board 110 of a valve module 100 is connected to the main electronic board 550, either directly or by means of a second-level electronic board 110 of an adjacent valve module 100, in which the main electronic board 550 is configured to receive, for example from a programmable logic controller, a solenoid command signal for commanding one or more of said solenoids 300, 301, 300', 301', wherein the main electronic board 550 is configured to electrically power each second-level board 110, without an external power supply other than said solenoid command signal, and to serially communicate with each second-level board 110.

Description

"Multipolar connection valve island and configuration method"***DESCRIPTION

[0001] . Field of the invention

[0002] . It is the object of the present invention a multipolar connection valve island or valve island with electrical command interface of the multipolar type, and a configuration method for said multipolar connection valve island.

[0003] . In particular, the multipolar connection valve island may be a modular valve island and / or a quick configuration valve island.

[0004] . Background art

[0005] . Valve islands with multipolar connections are known, i.e., a set of a plurality of pneumatic valves for controlling devices, provided with a centralized energy power and air supply and connected to a programmable control unit. Valve islands are used to manage a given number of valves and to process the signals thereof. This allows, for example, actuators to be commanded using compressed air.Valve islands are designed to manage groups of pneumatic valves which, connected to actuators, allow them to be commanded with compressed air. The opening or closing of the valve mainly occurs by means of an electric command which powers a coil or solenoid of a solenoid pilot valve or solenoid electro-pilot electromechanically acting to allow or prevent a flow of compressed air to operate a respective pneumatic valve, which, in turn, will distribute, or not, compressed air to actuators.

[0006] . Usually, each pneumatic valve of a valve island, which may be monostable or bistable, for example 3 / 2, 5 / 2 or 5 / 3, is controlled by one or two solenoids, which receive an electrical signal to actuate the pneumatic valve associated therewith.

[0007] . The pneumatic valve controls the direction of the flow of compressed air which operates an actuator or mobile element, such as, for example, a pneumatic cylinder.

[0008] . Valve islands are connected to a pneumatic power supply line which supplies compressed air or to a vacuum generator, an electrical power supply line to supply power to the solenoids of the solenoid pilot valves, and an electrical communication line to control the operation of the valve island, where the electrical power supply line and the electrical communication line are two separate electrical lines.

[0009] . In valve islands of the known type, the electrical signal between a main electronic board of the island and each of the solenoids occurs by means of physical wiring,according to a wiring diagram which is defined during the step of designing the island. Once the island has been structured and assembled, therefore, it is no longer possible to modify the wiring diagram thereof.

[0010] . The electrical signal is transmitted to each of the solenoids of the solenoid pilot valves by means of physical electrical wiring with an interface conventionally consisting of a multipolar connector. For the command, wiring which is purely physically point to point connected by means of wired electrical conductors or by means of conductors on a printed circuit, or with electronic communication systems with conventionally serial technology, may be provided.

[0011] . In any case, the configuration is established during the step of designing the island, following which, once created, it is no longer possible to modify the wiring diagram thereof between each command electrical contact or pin of the multipolar connector and the solenoids of the valve island, statically determining the one-to-one correspondence of a command to the solenoid of the solenoid pilot valve of the corresponding pneumatic valve. Consequently, the connections between the positions of the solenoids and command pins of the multipolar connector or multipolar plug or multipolar socket, statically determined, limit the rearrangement of the modules of a valve island.

[0012] . The need to provide multipolar valve islands with greater versatility and ease of mounting, while at the same time allowing for simplified maintenance and configuration of the multipolar valve island, is therefore strongly felt in the sector.

[0001] . Solution

[0002] . It is an object of the present invention to obviate the drawbacks complained of with reference to the prior art and suggest a solution to the needs mentioned above.

[0003] . This and other objects are achieved with a multipolar connection valve island, a kit and a configuration method according to the independent claims.

[0004] . Other advantageous embodiments are the object of the dependent claims.

[0005] . According to one aspect, the multipolar valve island comprises one or more modules, each consisting of a base in which there are the channels intended to distribute the fluid under pressure or vacuum, power supplied by the head or heads to the possible connected modules and to the pneumatic valves. The base allows the installation of up to two pneumatic valves, independent of each other and with specific functions, as described above, and up to two solenoids for each pneumatic valve for the electromechanical command of the pneumatic valves themselves by, for example, opening or closing a flow of compressed air. In the same base, an electronic microprocessor board is integrated,defined as secondary or second level, which has the following functions:

[0006] . - recognizing the presence of solenoid pilot valves, or of the solenoids or coils of the solenoid pilot valves, for piloting the pneumatic valves,

[0007] . - powering the solenoid pilot valves, or the solenoids of the solenoid pilot valves, based on the command given by a main, or first-level, electronic board mounted on the head, and communicating with the main electronic board and the second-level electronic boards by means of specific electrical connections available on the electronic boards themselves with serial technology.

[0008] . According to one aspect, the multipolar connection valve island comprises one or more valve modules, each in turn comprising a base, in which the channels of the fluid under pressure or vacuum are present, and one or more pneumatic valves, for example two, with the relative solenoids mounted on said base and connected to said channels.

[0009] . In the present description, solenoid means a solenoid pilot valve or solenoid electro-pilot valve which, as it is known, comprises an electrically powered coil to actuate a movement of a mobile core to open or close a flow of compressed air towards the respective pneumatic valve. Thereby, the group of solenoid or solenoid pilot valve and the respective pneumatic valve is an indirectly operated solenoid valve.

[0010] . According to one aspect, the multipolar connection valve island comprises at least one head with connections for supplying fluid under pressure or to a vacuum generator.

[0011] . According to one aspect, the multipolar valve island comprises a microprocessor unit or main electronic board with processor, mounted on said at least one head with a multipolar connector or a multipolar connection socket for controlling said solenoids and for supplying power to the island.

[0012] . According to one aspect, the multipolar valve island comprises a main electronic board with microprocessor technology mounted on a housing made in said head, the main electronic board is connected to an output interface or connector, specific for being connected to the second-level electronic boards and to an input interface or multipolar connector with standard multipolar connection, such as, for example, a connector of the “D-SLIB” type for receiving serial communication commands or signals. The serial communication commands or signals are organized according to the numbering of the multipolar connector used. If the multipolar connector has, for example, 25 electrical contacts, 24 electrical commands will be available, configured to communicate serialcommunication signals. The 25th contact has the function of negative reference voltage, i.e., a return signal. In general with an n-pin connector, n-1 command signals will be available.

[0013] . According to one aspect, the main electronic board does not include an external electrical power supply, but it is directly powered by the command electrical voltage or command signal or solenoid command signal to command a respective solenoid or solenoid pilot valve, provided by an external command unit, such as, for example, a programmable logic controller, more commonly known as “PLC”. The main electronic board also powers the second-level electronic boards of each valve module, by means of the command electrical voltage.

[0014] . According to one aspect, each of said pneumatic valves is mounted in a removable manner and each of said solenoids or solenoid pilot valves is mounted in a removable manner on the relative base, and where each pneumatic valve is separable from relative one or more solenoids or solenoid pilot valves, such that all said pneumatic valves and all said solenoids or solenoid pilot valves of a respective valve module are selectively removable independently of the other ones from the respective valve module base.

[0015] . By virtue of such feature, it will be possible to selectively replace a single pneumatic valve and / or a single solenoid or solenoid pilot valve or a pair of solenoids or solenoid pilot valves, independently of the other ones, or to vary the configuration of the valve island without having to modify the overall architecture of the island.

[0016] . It is further provided that, in the case where the valve island comprises two or more of said valve modules, one or more of them may be selectively removed, or that one or more of said valve modules may be selectively added.

[0017] . According to one aspect, the multipolar connection valve island is fully customizable without requiring any pre-established wiring diagram, since there is no physical connection by means of cables or tracks between each solenoid or solenoid pilot valve and a pin of the multipolar connector or multipolar socket or plug, nor any uniquely determined logical association between the pins of the multipolar connector and the possible solenoids of the valve modules.

[0018] . According to one aspect, said microprocessor unit comprises at least one main electronic board with microprocessor, male pins or male connector for the electrical connection to one of said valve modules. Each valve module comprises a second-level electronic board with a relative processor, in turn comprising male pins or a male moduleconnector for the connection to the second-level electronic board of an adjacent valve module and a module socket for the pins or male connector of said main electronic board or pins or male module connector of the electronic board of a second adjacent module.

[0019] . According to one aspect, each second-level electronic board of each module controls the solenoids or solenoid pilot valves of the module itself, which may, for example, be from 1 to 4, while said main electronic board of the multipolar valve island controls in series said second-level electronic boards of the modules, depending on the number of pins of the multipolar connector, or of the multipolar socket or plug. By way of explanation, with a socket of the d-sub type, for example with 25 pins, where 1 pin is used for the return signal, the remaining available pins connect and communicate in series with the solenoids present in the island, which may be a maximum of 24 for a 25 pin d-sub, or in general n-1 pin for an n pin d-sub.

[0020] . According to one aspect, the multipolar connection valve island can be configured using a configuration procedure that allows sequentially associating one pin at a time of the multipolar connector or the multipolar socket or plug to the first available solenoid, or in any case according to a sequence that is independent of the actual presence and electrical connection of the solenoids.

[0021] . According to one aspect, the multipolar island is progressively configurable, by associating the pin or electrical contact or command number 1 of the multipolar connector with the first electromechanical command, i.e., the first solenoid or first solenoid pilot valve, available starting from the valve module closest to the head which supports the main electronic board, and the pin or electrical contact or command number 2 of the multipolar connector with the second electromechanical command, i.e., the second solenoid pilot valve, available following the first solenoid or first solenoid pilot valve and so on, thus making the sequence dependent exclusively on the electromechanical commands alone, i.e., the solenoids or solenoid pilot valves, installed in the valve modules.

[0022] . In other words, the multipolar connector pins are connected only to the solenoids which have been installed, while no multipolar connector pin is assigned to the empty stations, i.e., to the positions where the solenoid has not been detected. The unconnected multipolar connector pins will therefore remain unused. In contrast to what happens in known solutions, in which all the pins are connected according to a diagram established during the design step and which may not be modified, and therefore even in the absence of some solenoids with respect to the diagram established during the design step, the multipolar connector pins associated with the absent solenoids will still be used.

[0023] . With a specific operating sequence called auto-configuration, the second- level electronics of the module acquires the number or presence and position of the solenoids or solenoid pilot valves mounted in the respective valve module, the main electronic board in the head acquires the consistency of each module, i.e., the number of solenoids or solenoid pilot valves installed and the relative position, and performs, according to the above criterion, the assignment of the electrical contact or pin or command of the multipolar connector of the head to a specific solenoid or solenoid pilot valve present in the modules. Thereby, it is possible to overcome the pre-established electrical configuration of the known type which associates each position to which a solenoid or solenoid pilot valve is connectable or connected, with an electrical contact or pin or command of the multipolar connector or multipolar socket or plug coupled to the main electronic board housed in the head.

[0024] . Essentially, the processor of the main electronic board of the island communicates with the processors of the second-level boards of the modules with a dedicated serial communication signal, which activates and communicates only with the solenoid to be used.

[0025] . A pre-configured wiring diagram with pin-to-pin connection cables or tracks between the multipolar connector and the solenoids is therefore lacking.

[0026] . If the configuration changes, for example due to the addition or removal of a solenoid to or from a module, a reset and a new auto-configuration may be performed.

[0027] . Following said auto-configuration, the configuration will be saved, i.e., the sequence of stations and solenoids present will be saved.

[0028] . The main electronic board of the island will therefore be automatically reconfigured in a correct manner. It is also possible to reconfigure the island in the event of changes thereto.

[0029] . Such feature therefore allows the island to be assembled in a completely customizable manner, thus being able to add / remove pneumatic valves and solenoids and valve modules both during the initial first assembly step as well as during the subsequent steps of restructuring the island, without having to physically modify the electrical contacts of the island itself in any manner.

[0030] . Brief description of the figures

[0031] . Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting indication, with reference to the accompanying drawings which are briefly described below.

[0032] . Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a valve module 100 partially exploded in a constructional example according to an embodiment, where the base 400, two valves 200, 200', a solenoid or pair of solenoids 300, 301 , 300', 301 ' for each valve 200, 200', a second-level electronic board 110, with a control processor for the solenoids of the module 100, and the cover 120 of the solenoids 300, 301 , 300', 301 ' are shown.

[0033] . Figure 2 shows the same module 100 of Figure 1 in an assembled configuration and from another angle.

[0034] . Figure 3 shows a section of the module 100 of Figure 1 , without the solenoids 300, 310, 300', 301 ', where the compressed air channels 410 and the pilot channels 451 , 454 made in the base 400, as well as the channels 230, 241 -245 made in the valve body 210 are visible.

[0035] . Figure 4 shows a fully assembled island 500 in an explanatory example.

[0036] . Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional view of a partially disassembled island500' in a second example.

[0037] . Figure 6 shows in a diagrammatic manner, in an example, the configuration step in the situation in which the solenoids of four valves 1 , 2, 3, 4, of which three 1 , 3, 4 are bistable with two solenoids each A1 , B1 , A3, B3, A4, B4 and one 2 is monostable with a single solenoid A2, are connected to a socket SUB-D 25 with 25 pins, in which, as shown in the diagram, the first 7 pins P1 , P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7 of the multipolar connector are sequentially connected to the 7 solenoids present A1 , B1 , A2, A3, B3, A4, B4, thus ignoring the empty station of the absent solenoid.

[0038] . Figure 7 shows a reset and learning device configured to be connected to the multipolar connector of the multipolar island so as to reset the pre-existing configuration in the main electronic board and proceed to a new configuration of the multipolar valve island, where the pins P1 , P2, of the multipolar connector 560 of the island 500 will be sequentially reconnected to each of the solenoids present in the island, thus ignoring possible empty stations.

[0039] . Detailed description of some embodiments

[0040] . In accordance with a general embodiment, a multipolar connection valve island 500 is provided which comprises one or more valve modules 100, 100’. Each valve module 100, 100' comprises one or two pneumatic valves 200, 200', a solenoid pilot valve or a pair of solenoid pilot valves, also referred to herein as a solenoid or several solenoids 300, 310, 300', 301 ', for each pneumatic valve 200, 200', and a second-level electronic board 1 10 comprising a respective solenoid control processor of the respective valvemodule 100. The multipolar connection valve island 550 comprises at least one main electronic board with processor 550, and a multipolar connector or multipolar connection socket or plug 560. In one embodiment, the multipolar connector 560 is configured for controlling the solenoids 300, 310, 300', 301 ' of the valves 200, 200' and for the electrical power supply of the island 500. The multipolar connector 560 is connected to said main electronic board 550. The main electronic board 550 comprises a processor or microprocessor. In the present description, the main or second-level electronic board configured for may mean that the processor of the main or second-level electronic board, is configured for or programmed for.

[0041] . Advantageously, each second-level electronic board 110 is configured to detect the presence and position of the solenoids 300, 301 , 300', 301 ' of the respective valve module 100. Each second-level electronic board 1 10 is configured to control the solenoids 300, 301 , 300’, 30T of the respective valve module 100.

[0042] . The second-level electronic board 110 of a valve module 100 is connected to the main electronic board 550, either directly or by means of a second-level electronic board 1 10 of an adjacent valve module 100.

[0043] . The main electronic board 550 is configured to receive, for example from a programmable logic controller, a solenoid command signal for commanding one or more of said solenoids 300, 301 , 300’, 30T.

[0044] . In one embodiment, advantageously, the main electronic board 550 is configured to electrically power each second-level board 1 10, without an external power supply other than the solenoid command signal, and to serially communicate with each second-level board 1 10. Thereby, it is possible to simplify the solutions with respect to what is known where a continuous power supply of the multipolar connection valve island is provided, by virtue of the provision of an activation of the valve island, only when it receives a solenoid command signal, and in absence of the solenoid command signal, the multipolar connection valve island is turned off and does not consume electricity.

[0045] . In one embodiment, the multipolar connector 560 comprises a plurality of command electrical contacts or pins and a return electrical contact or pin.

[0046] . In one embodiment, to configure the multipolar connection valve island 500, the main electronic board 550 is configured to communicate with each second-level electronic board 1 10 to receive from each second-level electronic board 110 the position of each solenoid 300, 301 , 300', 301 ', the presence of which has been detected in the respective valve module 100, and the main electronic board 550 is configured tosequentially associate each position of each solenoid 300, 301 , 300', 301 ', the presence of which has been detected, to a respective command electrical contact or pin P1 , P2, ... of said multipolar connector 560.

[0047] . In one embodiment, the multipolar connection valve island 500 comprises a communication module comprising said main electronic board 550 and said multipolar connector 560. In one embodiment, the main electronic board 550 is mechanically and electrically connected in series to each second-level electronic board 110 according to a progressive mounting sequence of the one or more valve modules 100 with respect to the communication module.

[0048] . In one embodiment, the main electronic board 550 is configured to communicate with each second-level electronic board 110 according to the progressive mounting sequence to receive from each second-level electronic board 1 10 the position of each solenoid 300, 301 , 300', 301 ', the presence of which has been detected in the respective valve module 100.

[0049] . In one embodiment, the main electronic board 550 is configured to save the position of each solenoid 300, 301, 300’, 30T received from each second-level electronic board 1 10 in a sequence of present solenoid positions.

[0050] . In one embodiment, the main electronic board 550 is configured to associate in sequence each position of each solenoid 300, 301 , 300', 301 ', the presence of which has been detected, with a respective command electrical contact or pin P1 , P2, ... of said multipolar connector 560 according to the sequence of present solenoid positions.

[0051] . In one embodiment, the main electronic board 550 is configured to avoid associating to the command electrical contacts or pins P1 , P2, ... of said multipolar connector 560 the positions of said solenoids 300, 301 , 300', 301 ', the presence of which has not been detected.

[0052] . In one embodiment, said main electronic board 550 is configured to detect, by means of serial configuration communication signals between said main electronic board 550 and each of said second-level electronic boards 1 10 of the valve modules 100, the position of each solenoid 300, 301 , 300', 301 ' present in each valve module 100, and each valve module 100 present, according to a progressive mounting sequence according to which each second-level electronic board 110 is connected in series to the main electrical board 550 and / or according to which the valve modules 100 are connected with respect to the main electronic board 550.

[0053] . In one embodiment, said main electronic board 550 is configured toassociate, by means of configuration serial communication signals between said main electronic board 550 and each of said second-level electronic boards 110 of said valve modules 100, in sequence, a command electrical contact or pin P1 , P2, ... of said multipolar connector 560 to the position of the solenoid of said solenoids 300, 301 , 300’, 301’ which was firstly detected and available, i.e., not already logically associated with another of said command electrical contacts or pins P1 , P2, ... , until all detected and available solenoids300, 301 , 300’, 30T have been sequentially associated with the command electrical contacts or pins P1, P2, ... of said multipolar connector 560.

[0054] . In one embodiment, said main electronic board 550 is configured to transform the solenoid command signal received from the programmable logic controller into serial command communication signals to be transmitted to the second-level electronic boards 1 10 to selectively control one or more of said solenoids 300, 301 , 300’, 301’ associated with the command electrical contacts or pins P1 , P2, ... of said multipolar connector 560.

[0055] . In one embodiment, said main electronic board 550 is configured to receive a reset and configuration signal from a reset and learning device 600 to dissociate the positions of the solenoids 300, 301 , 300’, 301’ the presence of which has been detected by the command electrical contacts or pins P1 , P2,... of said multipolar connector 560 associated therewith, for example following a rearrangement of said multipolar connection valve island 500, for example following a removal or addition of one or more of said valve modules 100, and / or a removal or addition of one or more of said pneumatic valves 200, and / or a removal or addition of one or more of said solenoids 300, 301 , 300’, 30T.

[0056] . In one embodiment, said main electronic board 550 is configured to receive the reset and configuration signal from said reset and learning device 600 following the rearrangement of said multipolar connection valve island 500, to detect each valve module 100 present and the position of each solenoid 300, 301 , 300’, 30T present in the respective valve module 100, and to associate in sequence a command electrical contact or pin P1 , P2, ... of said multipolar connector 560 with the position of a solenoid of said solenoids 300,301 , 300’, 30T firstly detected and available, until all solenoids 300, 301 , 300’, 301’, the presence of which has been detected and which are available, have been sequentially and logically associated with the command electrical contacts or pins P1 , P2,... of said multipolar connector 560.

[0057] . In one embodiment, said main electronic board 550 is configured to transform the reset and configuration signal received from the reset and learning device600 into serial configuration communication signals to be transmitted to the second-level electronic boards 1 10 to logically associate the solenoids 300, 301 , 300', 301 ' present and available in the multipolar connection valve island 500 to the command electrical contacts or pins P1, P2,... of said multipolar connector 560.

[0058] . In one embodiment, said main electronic board 550 and said multipolar connector 560 lack an electrical connection exclusively dedicated to an electrical power supply.

[0059] . In one embodiment, said main electronic board 550 is configured to be electrically powered exclusively by means of the solenoid command signal of the programmable logic controller or by means of the reset and configuration signal of the reset and learning device 600.

[0060] . In one embodiment, in the absence of the solenoid command signal or the reset and configuration signal the main electronic board 550 and the second-level electronic boards 1 10 avoid absorbing electrical energy and / or are not electrically powered.

[0061] . In one embodiment, the multipolar valve island 500 comprises two assembly heads 510, 520 on which the connections for the power supply 531 , 532 and for the exhaust 541 , 542 of under pressure fluid or vacuum are present. In one embodiment, the at least one main electronic board with the processor 550 is mounted on at least one of said heads 510.

[0062] . Each module 100 comprises a base 400.

[0063] . In one embodiment, on each base 400, seats 460 for housing said valves 200, 200’ and a seat 470 for housing the second-level electronic board 1 10 for controlling the solenoids of the module 100 are made.

[0064] . In one embodiment, the base 400 further comprises means 480 for the mechanical connection of the solenoids 300, 301 , 300', 301 '. In one embodiment, said base 400 of each valve module 100 comprises a seat 470 in which the respective second- level board 1 10 is housed and in which said means 480 for the mechanical connection of said solenoids 300, 301 , 300', 301 ' are housed.

[0065] . The channels for the fluid under pressure are made in the base 400. In one embodiment, the channels made in the base 400 comprise: at least one base power supply channel 410; at least one base exhaust channel 420, 430; at least two base use channels 441 , 442, 443, 444 for each valve 200, 200', wherein each base use channel 441 , 442, 443, 444 is configured to be connected to external users.

[0066] . In one embodiment, said solenoids 300, 301 , 300', 301 are solenoid pilotvalves or solenoid electro-pilots configured to pilot the respective pneumatic valve 200, 200.

[0067] . Channels for piloting the solenoids 300, 301 , 300', 301 ' are also made in the base 400. In one embodiment, the channels for piloting the solenoids 300, 301 , 300’, 301’ comprise: at least one pair of solenoid power supply channels 451 , 452; at least one pair of solenoid exhaust channels 453, 454.

[0068] . In one embodiment, each of said valves 200, 200’ is mounted in a removable manner on said base 400, independently of the other one. Similarly, each solenoid or pair of solenoids 300, 301 , 300’, 30T is mounted in a removable manner on said base 400, independently of the other one and of the valves 200, 200’. In one embodiment, in each of said valve modules 100, each of said pneumatic valves 200, 200’ is mounted in a removable manner on the respective base 400 and each of said solenoids 300, 301 , 300’, 301’ is mounted in a removable manner on a relative station of said respective base 400 and in a removable manner with respect to the relative pneumatic valve 200, 200’, such that each of said pneumatic valves 200, 200’ and each of said solenoids 300, 301 , 300’, 301’ are selectively removable from the relative base 400 independently of one another. In one embodiment, each of said pneumatic valves 200, 200’ is selectively removable from the relative base 400 independently of another pneumatic valve 200, 200’ mounted on the relative base 400. In one embodiment, each of said solenoids 300, 301 , 300’, 30T is selectively removable from the relative base 400 independently of another solenoid 300, 301 , 300’, 30T mounted on the relative base 400.

[0069] . In one embodiment, each valve 200 comprises a valve body 210 in which a seat 211 is made to house a movable spool 220. In one embodiment, the valve body 210 is the same for each pneumatic valve of the 3 / 2, 5 / 2 or 5 / 3 type, where only the spool 220 is replaced in the same valve body 210 depending on the pneumatic valve of the 3 / 2, 5 / 2 or 5 / 3 type.

[0070] . In one embodiment, in the valve body 210, the solenoid use channels 230 for piloting are made, for the movement of the spool 220 and the power supply channels 241 , exhaust channels 242, 243, and use channels 244, 245, communicating with said base channels 400, when the valve 200, 200' is correctly mounted on the base 400 itself.

[0071] . The present invention further relates to a kit.

[0072] . The kit comprises at least one multipolar connection valve island 500 according to any one of the embodiments described above, in which the multipolar connector 560 comprises a plurality of command electrical contacts or pins and a returnelectrical contact or pin.

[0073] . The kit includes a reset and learning device 600. The reset and learning device 600 is selectively connectable to said multipolar connector 560. The reset and learning device 600 is configured to send a reset and configuration signal to said main electrical board 550 so as to associate each command electrical contact or pin of the multipolar connector 560 to a position of a respective solenoid 300, 301 , 300', 301 ' of the multipolar connection valve island 500, and / or to dissociate each command electrical contact or pin of the multipolar connector 560 from the position of a respective solenoid 300, 301 , 300’, 30T of the multipolar connection valve island 500 to which it was associated, and subsequently to associate each command electrical contact or pin of the multipolar connector 560 to a position of a respective solenoid 300, 301 , 300’, 30T of the multipolar connection valve island 500.

[0074] . The present invention also relates to a method for configuring a multipolar connection valve island according to any one of the embodiments described above.

[0075] . The configuration occurs by means of a signal transmitted in serial communication from said main board 550 of the island 500 to the processors of said second-level electronic boards 110 of said modules 100.

[0076] . Such configuration occurs automatically upon the first activation of the island 500, i.e., when said main electronic board 550 has not yet been programmed or configured.

[0077] . In the event that the island must be reprogrammed or reconfigured following a modification of the architecture thereof, for example by adding / removing one or more valves and / or solenoids and / or modules, the island 500 is configurable by means of the reset and learning device 600 selectively connectable to said multipolar connector 560 of the island and operating in the manner described below.

[0078] . The device 600 comprises a casing 610, with a size and shape allowing for easy portability, an electronic board, optionally with a processor, a power supply battery, preferably rechargeable, a device multipolar connector or socket 620 adapted to connect to said multipolar connector 560 of said island 500 and an activation button 630. An embodiment thereof is shown in Figure 7.

[0079] . To reset and reconfigure the island, it is sufficient to simply connect the device 600 to the multipolar connector 560 of the island and activate the device to activate the main electronic board 550. The latter will reset the pre-existing configuration in the main electronic board 550 and proceed with a new configuration as described above,where the pins P1 , P2, of the multipolar connector 560 of the island 500 will be sequentially reconnected to each of the solenoids present in the island, thus ignoring possible empty stations.

[0080] . During the configuration step, sound and / or light signals may be emitted to indicate the correct progress of the procedure and / or possible error statuses, and / or the completion of the configuration is recognizable by the conclusion of the sequence of sound signal emissions as specified below: duration of approximately 0.5 seconds for each module detected with a frequency of approximately 1 Hz, followed by sound signals lasting approximately 0.2 seconds with a frequency of approximately 1 .2 Hz for each solenoid detected. In case of error, a sound signal will be emitted, lasting approximately 3 seconds.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A multipolar connection valve island (500), comprising one or more valve modules (100), wherein each valve module (100) comprises a base (400) in which channels for a fluid under pressure or vacuum are present, one or more pneumatic valves (200, 200’) mounted on said base (400) and connected to the channels, and a solenoid or a pair of solenoids (300, 301 , 300’, 30T) for each pneumatic valve (200, 200’) mounted on said base (400) and connected to the channels, wherein the multipolar connection valve island (500) comprises a main electronic board (550) and at least one multipolar connector (560), for example a multipolar connection socket or plug, connected to said main electronic board (550), wherein the main electronic board (550) comprises a processor, wherein each of said valve modules (100) comprises a second-level electronic board (1 10) having a respective processor, wherein each second-level electronic board (1 10) is configured to detect the presence and position of the solenoids (300, 301 , 300', 301 ') of the respective valve module (100), wherein each second-level electronic board (110) is configured to control the solenoids (300, 301 , 300', 301 ') of the respective valve module (100), wherein the second-level electronic board (110) of a valve module (100) is connected to the main electronic board (550), either directly or by means of a second-level electronic board (1 10) of an adjacent valve module (100), wherein the main electronic board (550) is configured to receive, for example from a programmable logic controller, a solenoid command signal for commanding one or more of said solenoids (300, 301 , 300', 301 '), wherein the main electronic board (550) is configured to electrically power each second- level board (1 10), without an external power supply other than said solenoid command signal, and to serially communicate with each second-level board (1 10).

2. Multipolar connection valve island (500) according to claim 1 , wherein the multipolar connector (560) comprises a plurality of command electrical contacts or pins and a return electrical contact or pin, wherein, to configure the multipolar connection valve island (500), the main electronic board (550) is configured to communicate with each second-level electronic board (1 10) to receive from each second-level electronic board (1 10) the position of each solenoid (300, 301 , 300', 301 '), the presence of which has been detected, in the respective valvemodule (100), and the main electronic board (550) is configured to sequentially associate each position of each solenoid (300, 301 , 300', 301 '), the presence of which has been detected, to a respective command electrical contact or pin (P1 , P2, ...) of said multipolar connector (560).

3. Multipolar connection valve island (500) according to the preceding claim, wherein the multipolar connection valve island (500) comprises a communication module comprising said main electronic board (550) and said multipolar connector (560), wherein the main electronic board (550) is mechanically and electrically connected in series to each second-level electronic board (1 10) according to a progressive mounting sequence of the one or more valve modules (100) with respect to the communication module, wherein the main electronic board (550) is configured to communicate with each second- level electronic board (110) according to the progressive mounting sequence to receive from each second-level electronic board (110) the position of each solenoid (300, 301 , 300', 301 '), the presence of which has been detected, in the respective valve module (100), wherein the main electronic board (550) is configured to save the position of each solenoid (300, 301 , 300’, 30T) received from each second-level electronic board (110) in a sequence of present solenoid positions, wherein the main electronic board (550) is configured to associate in sequence each position of each solenoid (300, 301 , 300', 301 ') the presence of which has been detected with a respective command electrical contact or pin (P1 , P2, ...) of said multipolar connector (560) according to the sequence of present solenoid positions, wherein the main electronic board (550) is configured to avoid associating to the command electrical contacts or pins (P1 , P2, ...) of said multipolar connector (560), positions of said solenoids (300, 301 , 300', 301 ') the presence of which has not been detected.

4. Multipolar connection valve island (500) according to claim 1 , wherein said main electronic board (550) is configured to detect, by means of serial configuration communication signals between said main electronic board (550) and each of said second-level electronic boards (1 10) of the valve modules (100), the position of each solenoid (300, 301 , 300', 301 ') present in each valve module (100), and each valve module (100) present, according to a progressive mounting sequence according to which each second-level electronic board (1 10) is connected in series to the main electrical board (550) and / or according to which the valve modules (100) are connected with respect to the main electronic board (550),wherein said main electronic board (550) is configured to associate, in sequence, by means of serial configuration communication signals between said main electronic board (550) and each of said second-level electronic boards (1 10) of said valve modules (100), a command electrical contact or pin (P1 , P2, ...) of said multipolar connector (560) to the position of the solenoid of said solenoids (300, 301 , 300’, 301’) which was firstly detected and available, i.e., not already logically associated with another of said command electrical contacts or pins (P1 , P2, ...), until all detected and available solenoids (300, 301 , 300’, 301’) have been sequentially associated with the command electrical contacts or pins (P1 , P2, ...) of said multipolar connector (560), wherein said main electronic board (550) is configured to transform the solenoid command signal received from the programmable logic controller into serial command communication signals to be transmitted to the second-level electronic boards (110) to selectively control one or more of said solenoids (300, 301 , 300’, 30T) associated with the command electrical contacts or pins (P1, P2, ...) of said multipolar connector (560).

5. Multipolar connection valve island (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said main electronic board (550) is configured to receive a reset and configuration signal from a reset and learning device (600) to dissociate the positions of the solenoids (300, 301 , 300’, 30T) the presence of which has been detected by the command electrical contacts or pins (P1 , P2,...) of said multipolar connector (560) associated therewith, for example following a rearrangement of said multipolar connection valve island (500), for example following a removal or addition of one or more of said valve modules (100), and / or a removal or addition of one or more of said pneumatic valves (200), and / or a removal or addition of one or more of said solenoids (300, 301 , 300’, 301’), wherein said main electronic board (550) is configured to receive the reset and configuration signal from said reset and learning device (600) following the rearrangement of said multipolar connection valve island (500), to detect each valve module (100) present and the position of each solenoid (300, 301 , 300’, 30T) present in the respective valve module (100), and to associate in sequence a command electrical contact or pin (P1 , P2, ... ) of said multipolar connector (560) with the position of a solenoid of said solenoids (300, 301 , 300’, 30T) firstly detected and available, until all solenoids (300, 301 , 300’, 301’), the presence of which has been detected and which are available, have been sequentially and logically associated with the command electrical contacts or pins (P1, P2,...) of said multipolar connector (560), wherein said main electronic board (550) is configured to transform the reset andconfiguration signal received from the reset and learning device (600) into serial configuration communication signals to be transmitted to the second-level electronic boards (110) to logically associate the solenoids (300, 301 , 300', 301 ') present and available in the multipolar connection valve island (500) to the command electrical contacts or pins (P1 , P2, ... ) of said multipolar connector (560).

6. Multipolar connection valve island (500) according to the preceding claim, wherein said main electronic board (550) is configured to power each second-level electronic board (110) by means of the solenoid command signal received from the programmable logic controller or by means of the reset and configuration signal received from the reset and learning device (600), and / or wherein said main electronic board (550) and said multipolar connector (560) lack an electrical connection exclusively dedicated to an electrical power supply, or wherein said main electronic board (550) is configured to be electrically powered exclusively by means of the solenoid command signal received from the programmable logic controller or by means of the reset and configuration signal received from the reset and learning device (600), wherein, in the absence of the command signal or the reset and configuration signal, the main electronic board (550) and the second-level electronic boards (1 10) avoid absorbing electrical energy and / or are not electrically powered.

7. Multipolar connection valve island (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second-level electronic board (110) of each valve module (100) comprises pins (11 1 ) configured to connect in series with a second-level electronic board (1 10) of an adjacent first valve module (100), and a socket (112) configured to connect to pins (11 1 ) of a second-level electronic board (100) of an adjacent second valve module (110) or to connect to pins of said main electronic board (550) configured to connect in series with the second-level electronic board (110).

8. Multipolar connection valve island (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising two opposite heads (510, 520) provided with power supply connections (531 , 532) and exhaust connections (541 , 542) for under pressure fluid or vacuum, and where said main electronic board (550) is mounted on one of said heads (510).

9. Multipolar connection valve island (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in each of said valve modules (100), each of said pneumatic valves (200, 200’) is mounted in a removable manner on the respective base (400) and each of saidsolenoids (300, 301 , 300’, 301’) is mounted in a removable manner on a relative station of said respective base (400) and in a removable manner with respect to the relative pneumatic valve (200, 200’), such that each of said pneumatic valves (200, 200’) and each of said solenoids (300, 301 , 300’, 30T) are selectively removable from the relative base (400) independently of one another.

10. Multipolar connection valve island (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each valve module (100) comprises means (480) for the mechanical connection of the respective solenoids (300, 301 , 300', 301 '), wherein said base (400) of each valve module (100) comprises a seat (470) in which the respective second-level board (1 10) is housed and in which said means (480) for the mechanical connection of said solenoids (300, 301 , 300', 301 ') are housed.

11. Multipolar connection valve island (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the channels present in said base (400) of each module (100) comprise: at least one base power supply channel (410); at least one base exhaust channel (420, 430); at least two base use channels (441 , 442, 443, 444) for each pneumatic valve (200, 200’), wherein each base use channel (441 , 442, 443, 444) is configured to be connected to external users.

12. Multipolar connection valve island (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the channels present in said base (400) of each module (100) comprise the following channels for said solenoids (300, 301 , 300', 301 '), wherein said solenoids (300, 301 , 300', 301 ) are solenoid pilot valves or solenoid electro-pilots configured to pilot the respective pneumatic valve (200, 200'):- at least one pair of power supply channels (451 , 452);- at least one pair of exhaust channels (453, 454).

13. Multipolar connection valve island (500) according to claims 11 and 12, wherein each pneumatic valve (200) comprises a spool (220) and a valve body (210) in which a housing seat (21 1 ) is made configured to house the spool (220) in a movable manner, wherein, in said valve body (210), at least one use channel (230) is made for said solenoids (300, 301 , 300', 301 ') so as to pilot a movement of said spool (220), wherein in said valve body (210) at least one valve power supply channel (241 ) is made, configured to connect to a base power supply channel (410) made in a relative base (400) to which the valve body (210) is mechanically connected, wherein in said valve body (210) at least one valve exhaust channel (242, 243) is made, configured to connect to arespective base exhaust channel (420, 430) made in the relative base (400), wherein in said valve body (210) valve use channels (244, 245) are made, configured to connect to respective base use channels (441 , 442, 443, 444) made in the relative base (400).

14. A kit comprising at least one multipolar connection valve island (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the multipolar connector (560) comprises a plurality of command electrical contacts or pins and a return electrical contact or pin, and a reset and learning device (600), wherein the reset and learning device (600) is selectively connectable to said multipolar connector (560), wherein the reset and learning device (600) is configured to send a reset and configuration signal to said main electrical board (550) so as to associate each command electrical contact or pin of the multipolar connector (560) to a position of a respective solenoid (300, 301 , 300', 301 ') of the multipolar connection valve island (500), and / or to dissociate each command electrical contact or pin of the multipolar connector (560) from the position of a respective solenoid (300, 301 , 300’, 30T) of the multipolar connection valve island (500) to which it was associated, and subsequently to associate each command electrical contact or pin of the multipolar connector (560) to a position of a respective solenoid (300, 301 , 300’, 30T) of the multipolar connection valve island (500).

15. A kit according to the preceding claim, wherein the reset and learning device (600) comprises a casing (610), preferably with a size and shape allowing for easy portability, an electronic board, a power supply battery, a multipolar device connector (620) configured to connect with said multipolar connector (560) of said multipolar connection valve island (500) and an activation button (630).

16. A self-configuration method for a multipolar connection valve island (500) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the method comprises the following self-configuration steps: a) connecting a multipolar device connector (620) of a reset and learning device (600) to the multipolar connector (560) of the multipolar connection valve island (500), wherein the reset and learning device (600) is configured to send a reset and configuration signal to said main electrical board (550), powering it, so as to associate each command electrical contact or pin (P1 , P2, ...) of the multipolar connector (560) to a position of a respective solenoid (300, 301 , 300’, 30T) of the multipolar connection valve island (500);b) activating said main electronic board (550) by means of said reset and learning device (600) to start the following steps; c) detecting for each valve module (100) present in the multipolar connection valve island (500) a presence and a position of each solenoid (A1 , B1 , ...), the presence of which has been detected in the respective valve module (100) by means of serial communication signals between said main electronic board (550) and each of said second-level electronic boards (1 10) of the valve modules (100); d) associating in sequence a command electrical contact or pin (P1 , P2, ...) of said multipolar connector (560) to the position of a solenoid of said solenoids (A1 , B1 , ...), the presence of which was firstly detected and available, i.e., not already connected to another of said command electrical contact or pins (P1 , P2, ... ), by means of serial communication signals between said main electronic board (550) and each of said second-level electronic boards (1 10) of said valve modules (100); e) repeating step d) until all the positions of the solenoids, the presence of which was detected (A1 , B1 , ...) and available, have been sequentially connected to the command electrical contacts or pins (P1 , P2, ...) of said multipolar connector (560).

17. A self-configuration method according to the preceding claim, comprising a preliminary reset step for dissociating the detected positions of the solenoids (A1 , B1 , ... ) from the command electrical contacts or pins (P1 , P2, ... ) of said multipolar connector (560) associated therewith, if said multipolar connection valve island (500) has been previously self-configured, by connecting and activating the reset and learning device (600).

18. A self-configuration method according to any one of the preceding claims 16 to 17, wherein during steps a), b), c), d) and e) it is provided to press and hold an activation button (630) of the reset and learning device (600) until the completion of the selfconfiguration recognizable by the conclusion of a sequence of sound signal emissions as follows: duration of about 0.5 seconds for each valve module (100) detected with a frequency of about 1 Hz, followed by sound signals lasting about 0.2 seconds with a frequency of about 1 .2 Hz for each solenoid detected.

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