Conveyor Motor Roller Controller Wireless Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor systems face complexities and errors in merging and diverting products due to wiring constraints and serial communication bus limitations, which hinder direct communication between controllers, making the process error-prone and difficult to manage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a conveyor system with both wired and wireless communication interfaces between motor roller controllers and a dedicated merger/diverter controller, allowing for direct wireless communication between controllers to facilitate seamless merging and diverting operations, reducing the need for central control and enhancing communication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wired communication and serial communication bus are used between controllers, then stable communication can be achieved, but the system complexity increases and direct communication between controllers becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the wired mechanical communication system with a wireless communication system. The merger/diverter controller and motor roller controllers communicate wirelessly, eliminating the need for physical wiring between these components while maintaining communication stability. This substitution reduces wiring complexity and allows direct peer-to-peer communication between controllers.
2Reliability
If centralized control is used to manage merging and diverting operations, then coordination can be achieved, but the control logic becomes complex and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control function by giving the merger/diverter controller independent decision-making capability. Instead of centralized control where all decisions flow through a central system, the merger/diverter controller can autonomously determine when to merge or divert products based on direct wireless communication with motor roller controllers, simplifying the overall control logic while maintaining coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The merger/diverter controller performs self-service by independently managing merging and diverting operations without requiring complex centralized coordination. It directly communicates with motor roller controllers to execute operations based on product flow requirements, reducing control logic complexity and potential errors.
3Ease of operation
If direct communication channel between controllers is established, then merging and diverting operations become more intuitive, but additional communication interfaces are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality in the communication system by using a wireless communication interface that serves multiple purposes: it enables direct communication between the merger/diverter controller and motor roller controllers for merging/diverting operations, and also maintains compatibility with existing wired communication infrastructure. This universal interface approach simplifies operation while managing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Conveyor system, for instance for conveying goods, packages and the like including at least two wired motor-roller controllers, each wired motor-roller controller having at least one motor-roller control port and at least one wired signal bus port, at least two wireless motor-roller controllers, each wireless motor-roller controller having at least one motor-roller control port and a wireless port, and the two wired motor-roller controllers being connected in series along the signal bus via the signal bus port, characterized in that at each wired motor-roller controller senses a signal strength of wireless signals of the wireless motor-roller controllers, and the wired motor-roller controllers exchange information about the sensed signal strengths.