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EP-4735962-A1 - CONVEYOR ARRANGEMENT

EP4735962A1EP 4735962 A1EP4735962 A1EP 4735962A1EP-4735962-A1

Abstract

Conveyor arrangement (1), the conveyor arrangement (1) is adapted to convey an object (9), the conveyor arrangement (1) comprises a plurality of conveyor zones (1S) each having a plurality of conveyor rollers (2) comprising at least one motorized conveyor roller (2M), wherein the motorized roller (2M) has a roller tube (22) and a motor (24) located within the roller tube (22), wherein the motor (24) is adapted to set the roller tube (22) into rotation; the conveyor arrangement (1) comprises an operating power supply (51), adapted to provide an operating power at a predetermined operating voltage (U1) to power the motor (24) of the motorized rollers (2M) via a powerline (52, 55), the conveyor arrangement (1) comprises a plurality of controllers (56, 26) controlling the operation of parts of the conveyor arrangement (1); wherein the plurality of controllers (56, 26) are adapted to communicate with each other via the powerline (52, 55).

Inventors

  • EGLSEER, Andreas

Assignees

  • Interroll Holding AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240617

Claims (9)

  1. 1. Conveyor arrangement (1), the conveyor arrangement (1) is adapted to convey an object (9), the conveyor arrangement (1) comprises a plurality of conveyor zones (1S) each having a plurality of conveyor rollers (2) comprising at least one motorized conveyor roller (2M), wherein the motorized roller (2M) has a roller tube (22) and a motor (24) located within the roller tube (22), wherein the motor (24) is adapted to set the roller tube (22) into rotation; the conveyor arrangement (1) comprises an operating power supply (51), adapted to provide an operating power at a predetermined operating voltage (U1) to power the motor (24) of the motorized rollers (2M) via a powerline (52, 55), the conveyor arrangement (1) comprises a plurality of controllers (56, 26) controlling the operation of parts of the conveyor arrangement (1); characterized in that the plurality of controllers (56, 26) are adapted to communicate with each other via the powerline (52, 55).
  2. 2. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the plurality of controllers (56, 26) comprising zone controllers (56) adapted to control the operation of the conveyor zones (1 S), wherein the plurality of zone controllers (56) are adapted to communicate with each other via the powerline (52, 55).
  3. 3. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the plurality of controllers (56, 26) comprising motor controllers (26), each located within a roller tube (22) adapted to control the operation of the motor (24) of the respective motorized roller (2M), wherein each of the motor controllers (26) is adapted to communicate with at least one zone controller (56) via said powerline (52, 55).
  4. 4. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the motor (24) and the controllers (56, 26) are supplied with power at least partly via the same powerline (52, 55).
  5. 5. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the conveyor arrangement (1) is adapted to be transferred from a normal operation mode into an emergency stop mode; wherein in the emergency stop mode - the motors (24) of the motorized rollers (2M) powered via the common operating powerline (52) are not operated due to a reduction of power, in particular power voltage (U1 E), provided via the common operating powerline (52), in particular the motorized rollers are not provided with sufficient power, in particular voltage power voltage (U1E), to drive the roller tube (22); - at least some of the controls (56, 26) are still powered via the common operating powerline (52) with sufficient power, in particular voltage, to keep the control in operating condition.
  6. 6. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein in the emergency stop mode a motor controller (26), controlling operation of the motor (24) is provided with a reduced power voltage (U1 E) enabling the motor controller (26) to maintain communicating via the operating powerline (52) with other controls (56).
  7. 7. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of claims 5 or 6, wherein upon a transfer of the conveyor arrangement (1) from the emergency stop mode into a normal operation mode, the motor controller (26) is in a condition to initiate operation of the motor (24) without the need of reestablishing a communication beforehand.
  8. 8. Method of operating a conveyor arrangement (1), in particular according to any of the preceding claims, the conveyor arrangement (1) is adapted to convey an object (9) in a normal operation mode, the conveyor arrangement (1) comprises a plurality of conveyor zones (1S) each having a plurality of conveyor rollers (2) comprising at least one motorized conveyor roller (2M), wherein the motorized roller (2M) has a roller tube (22) and a motor (24) located within the roller tube (22), wherein the motor (24) is adapted to set the roller tube (22) into rotation during normal operation mode, wherein the operation of the motor (24) is controlled by a motor controller (26) in particular located within the roller tube (22); the conveyor arrangement (1) comprises an operating power supply (51), adapted to provide an operating power at a predetermined operating power voltage (U1) to power the motor (24) of the motorized rollers (2M) via a powerline (52, 55), characterized in that during an emergency stop mode a reduced power voltage (U1E) is provided to said motor controller (26) and the motor controller (26) maintains communicating with other controllers outside via said powerline (52, 55).
  9. 9. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein upon a transfer from the emergency stop mode into a normal operation mode, the motor controller (26) is in a condition to initiate operation of the motor (24) without the need of reestablishing a communication beforehand.

Description

Conveyor arrangement Background of the invention The invention refers to a conveyor arrangement. A typical conveyor arrangement is described in WO 2019/110841 A1, also published as US 2020/387142 A1. A typical conveyor arrangement comprises a plurality of motorized rollers. The conveyor arrangement is divided into several conveyor zones. Based on the determined presence of an object to be conveyed a zone controller controls operation of one of more conveyor zones. Each motorized roller has an integrated motor controller, which controls operation of the motor within the motorized roller. Conventionally, the motor including the motor controller is powered by a first power supply. The zone controls are provided by a second power supply which is different to the first power supply in order to provide the zone controls with power even if the first power supply is shut down in an emergency stop mode. US 2020/387142 A1 discloses a control device for a conveyor, comprising: a control unit adapted to generate control signals for a conveyor device; a data interface adapted for signal transmission of control signals to the control unit; a first energy interface adapted for an energy supply to the control unit; a connection interface adapted to establish a signal control connection and a power supply connection between the control unit and a conveyor unit located outside the control device; a second energy interface adapted for supplying energy to the control unit. The first interface is adapted to receive a power supply in the form of a power supply with a first voltage and the second interface is adapted to receive a power supply in the form of a power supply with a second voltage or, instead of the second voltage, with a third voltage having a level that is different from a level of the second voltage. In the case of an emergency shutdown, the power supply can be interrupted via the power supply line, so that no drive voltage is applied to the power supply line. In this case, the motor-driven conveyor rollers are immediately not supplied with drive voltage, so that they come to an immediate standstill. In this situation, the separate logic voltage line continues to supply voltage so that the control units are continuously provided with power and data loss is avoided. US 2012/0046784 A1 discloses a conveyor system, comprising a number of conveyor motors and at least one control unit that is connected to each conveyor motor for sending data for regulating and/or controlling the conveyor motors. The control unit is connected to a bus line, the conveyor motor said connected to said bus line by way of a modem, preferably connected without electrical contact. Summary of the invention It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved conveyor arrangement having a plurality of conveyor rollers. The invention refers to an arrangement and a method according to the main claims; embodiments are subject of the subclaims and the description. A particular idea of the present invention is to reduce the wiring architecture to a single powerline architecture, by which the amount of cables used for transmitting operating power and data are significantly reduced. This results in easier and cheaper installation. In an embodiment during an emergency stop mode the power supply is thereby merely reduced to a reduced power voltage level, which ensures proper operation of the controls, but hinders the motor of the motorized rollers from operating. As a consequence, the control system may be fully operable, so that the motorized rollers can be brought into operation again as quickly after the power supply is available again. Within the present invention there is made a differentiation between the terms “cable” and “conductive strands”. A cable is an arrangement having at least one or a plurality of conductive strand(s) and a tube-shaped insulation around the strand(s). Brief description of the drawings An example embodiment of the invention is described with respect to the figures; herein show fig. 1 parts of an inventive conveyor arrangement in perspective view; fig. 2 a conveyor zone of the conveyor arrangement according to figure 1 in perspective view; fig. 3 a wiring diagram of a conventional conveyor arrangement; fig. 4 a wiring diagram of an embodiment of an inventive conveyor arrangement; fig. 5 a wiring diagram of another embodiment of an inventive conveyor arrangement; fig. 6 an exemplary cable used within as a powerline in the inventive conveyor arrangement; fig. 7 schematically an emergency stop button and a power supply of the inventive conveyor arrangement in a) normal operation mode b) emergency stop mode. Detailed description of the invention Figure 1 shows parts of an inventive conveyor arrangement 1. The conveyor arrangement 1 comprises a plurality of rollers 2, which are arranged parallel in a manner to provide a conveying tracking along a conveying direction D. The conveyor rollers 2 are mounted on a suppo