科尔的新SmartFLX™ conveying controlintroduces a new system architecture with a more powerful PLC processor, lightning-fast and crystal-clear data communications. New operating software manages continuous status updates and reports and includes a configurator that maintains a constant, complete record of every setting, every connection, and every piece of equipment in the conveying system.

SmartFLX Home Screen

Let’s consider for a moment how advances like these might benefit you, as a plastics processor.

闪电快速,无噪音传达通信和控制

新的SmartFlx体系结构没有将控制和数据通信拥挤和数据通信分开两个通道.

Conair设备的控制和诊断信号​​传导在建立在闪电速度的超低噪声PowerLink™标准的通道上。这个新标准是为了支持嘈杂的工业环境中的清晰数据通信开发的新标准,其运行速度比旧通信协议快6,000倍(例如,0.00045毫秒vs 3.0毫秒)。

第二个数据通信渠道上携带任何其他非信号设备以及系统报告功能,该渠道使用多功能和经过验证的Modbus协议运行。

System self-configuration

Every SmartFLX conveying control is custom-configured at the factory to match up with the facility, equipment, features, and capacity requirements established by the processor and Conair.

This custom configuration becomes a permanent part of the SmartFLX system, which maintains a set of current, complete, and revision-controlled files that can be used for everything from generating a bill of materials for initial installation – or system modifications – to electrical schematics and “point to point” I/O maps that guide the installation and wiring of the system and attached devices.

When system growth or modifications are needed, the SmartFLX configurator can query itself to identify available panel and I/O capacity, then show the location of that capacity to the customer using a graphic display. This “self-configuration” capability also enables the SmartFLX control to assess whether the available capacity will be sufficient to meet the specified change or addition, and if requested, provide the customer with updated schematics and I/O maps to support installation. Upon completion of the change, the configurator automatically updates itself to maintain a complete, current record of the system.

改进的数据报告和诊断

SMARTFLX系统利用功能更大的PLC,更大的CPU和高级控制软件的功能提供了高级的自我诊断和系统健康监控功能。例如,SMARTFLX控制“查询”每200毫秒传送系统上的所有连接。

SmartFlx使用这些查询来评估:

  1. CPU and memory usage,
  2. The health of its Powerlink and Modbus data communications channels, and
  3. The health of each piece of connected equipment, per the I/O map stored in the system configuration file.

然后,根据需要,该控件使用户可以“放大”单个设备。例如,如果SMARTFLX系统控制20个接收器,则可以在单个屏幕上查看所有接收器的状态,或者选择和“放大”每个单独的接收器的状态。

为了使系统用户了解传送系统的状况和状态,SmartFlx自动存储一个小时的运行状态数据,以可以通过任何SmartFlx HMI立即查看的报告形式可用,或保存到USB驱动器或内部。记忆以进行以后的检索和审查。这些报告包括:

  • 维护报告that log the usage of all devices in the past hour.
  • Alarm logs可能的设备issu细节es for the past hour.
  • 连续的密钥日志that stores recent user logins, navigation, and modifications made to the SmartFLX system.
  • Optional receiver usage logging这显示了每个接收器填充周期的数量或时间的结果。

SmartFlx关键警报屏幕

节省成本的远程诊断和故障排除

In many current conveying systems, the first indication of a problem is a low material alarm. But such an alarm only points to a symptom, and is of little help in pinpointing and resolving the actual cause of the problem.

Could it be a hiccup in data communications caused by noise?

可能是断开或断开的电缆或接收器填充或清除时间的操作员调整吗?

Or could it be a hardware problem, such as a vacuum leak or stuck valve?

通常,除了开始艰苦的搜索以希望找到问题外,没有办法知道。如果在合理的时间内找不到明显的原因,则现场支持通常是获得确定诊断的唯一方法。

For example, if a data communications problem is suspected, diagnosis often requires a skilled service tech to travel to the customer site, connect a computer running third-party software to the processor’s network, and analyze conveying system signals to understand if, and why, conveying signal packets are being lost. The diagnostics required to identify such failures in older conveying systems are impossible to perform by phone.

However, the added “smart” features of the SmartFLX system can help eliminate these calls by offering much more comprehensive information about the nature and location of possible problems.

SmartFLX Contextual Help

This is possible because the SmartFLX system “knows” its own configuration – which device or equipment is controlled by which I/O slot and circuit – so if a device fails to reply properly to a query from the control, the system knows. Then, a diagnostic display immediately reports the status of all I/O panels and identify which wire and which device are affected by the fault. This detailed diagnostic also saves enormous time in tracing and locating a physical fault, such as a worn or broken wire. If a changed setting is the cause, the SmartFLX key log provides a list of recent user logins and changes.

如果内部人员无法使用诊断显示,密钥日志和其他功能识别问题,则可以向Conair寻求三种类型的远程帮助:

  • Via Telephone call
    Conair支持人员要求用户拉起特定的诊断屏幕,然后阅读值或发送“屏幕截图”显示值。通过这些,Conair人员确定了故障并建议进行系统设置的更改。
  • 通过虚拟网络访问
    Conair人员利用虚拟网络访问可直接登录到SmartFlx控件中,其中,他们与操作员一起查看诊断,确定故障并建议设置更改。
  • Via remote system simulation
    一个完整的系统配置文件可以emailed to Conair, where it can be used to create an exact replica of the current system (faults and all) so that likely runtime issues can be diagnosed. Then, if needed, Conair can also use a separate automation platform to simulate the performance of a current system configuration, or to test the performance of proposed modifications to the system configuration before the user decides to implement them.

通过这样的功能,SMARTFLX控件可大大提高诊断和故障排除功能,并大大减少对现场服务昂贵的需求。

与Conair SmartServices™协同作用

SMARTFLX系统提供的数据收集和报告功能本身就是强大的,因为它们添加的价值显示了详细的系统状态信息。如前所述,它们还可以帮助用户迅速识别和解决输送系统问题或问题,同时最大程度地减少对现场服务电话的需求。

All of these SmartFLX conveying control features take on greater value when they are seamlessly integrated into SmartServices™, Conair’s Industry 4.0 platform.SmartServices™为塑料处理器提供强大的设备监控和可视化功能,这些功能跨越了整个范围plastics auxiliary equipmentfunctions – conveying, drying, blending and feeding, temperature control, and more – with advanced cloud-based data storage and analytics. For example, while the SmartFLX system can store and report key data and events for an hour of operations, SmartServices™ can collect, analyze, and display trending data over multiple hours or days.

Learn more about the new SmartFLX

SMARTFLX™ - “智能”输送控制的演变

了解更多