Direct access without risk
For economical reasons plant operators in bulk ingredient processing industries demand a maximum degree of automation of the process including the gravimetric loss-in-weight or weigh-belt feeders used. To meet the requirement, suppliers of automation systems (PLC, automation software) offer integral solutions for direct control of the feeding process within the scope of their system-wide control solutions. Here, however, functional guaranteed do well cover all control-related operations but not the dependable performance of the gravimetric metering feeders with their complicated interaction of metering, weighing, control and regulation functions. Understandably enough, feeder suppliers therefore refuse to guarantee failurefree feeder performance unless perfectly suited and tested proprietary control technology is used. Hence, it is the plant operator who bears the risk.
As a solution to the problem, Brabender Technologie are now offering a newly developed successor generation to their fully digital control and regulation modules ISC (Intelligent Signal Conditioner) under their new designations ISC-CM plus (feeder control module) and ISC-FC plus (speed control module with frequency converter). With all feeder-specific parameters set, these modules are integrated in Brabender weigh-feeders, combining with them to form "intelligent" mechatronic units. In Ethernet or field bus interconnection they can be interfaced with almost each and every automation system. This is made possible by a broad variety of interfaces available, including Ethernet Modbus TCP, Profibus DP, Siemens RK512, Modbus RTU, Data Highway plus, Profinet, EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, etc. Special loadable function blocks (software blocks) allow easy plug and play integration with PLC modules like Siemens S7 and Rockwell Control-Logix. The advantage: all actual weigh feeder control and regulation tasks are taken over by the supplier's optimally suited control electronics.
Brabender Technologie KG, Duisburg (D), Tel. +49 203 9984-0, www.brabender-technologie.com
