Simplifying electrical system building.A switch to motion control components compatible with the real-time Ethernet Powerlink ETHERNET Powerlink (EPL) is a deterministic real-time protocol for standard Ethernet. It is an open protocol managed by the ETHERNET Powerlink Standardization Group (EPSG). It was introduced by Austrian automation company Bernecker + Rainer Industrie-Elektronik in 2001. protocol is simplifying electrical system building for Harland Machine Systems, the manufacturer of ultra-high-speed linear labelling machines.Ethernet Powerlink compatible hardware has substantially reduced the hardware and wiring on a new variant of Harland's Mercury labelling system--a system designed to apply front and back pressure-sensitive labels, with a throughput of up to 275 products per minute. Harland's linear machines are built from two main elements: the core machine which has six servo An electromechanical device that uses feedback to provide precise starts and stops for such functions as the motors on a tape drive or the moving of an access arm on a disk. motor axes axes [L., Gr.] plural of axis. The straight lines which intersect at right angles and on which graphs are drawn. Usually the horizontal axis is the x-axis and the vertical one the y-axis. Called also axes of reference. for feeding, positioning and stabilising products on a conveyor Conveyor A horizontal, inclined, declined, or vertical machine for moving or transporting bulk materials, packages, or objects in a path predetermined by the design of the device and having points of loading and discharge fixed or selective. ; plus a modular labelling head with a pair of stepper motor A motor that rotates in small, fixed increments and is used to control the movement of the access arm on a disk drive. Contrast with voice coil. (hardware) stepper motor axes--for applying labels to both front and back of a bottle. Four labelling heads are typically fitted, with auto-change facility for continuous throughput, which allows reel changeovers to take place without stopping the line. The high speed of the Mercury machine, combined with its programmability for different product types, places great real-time demands on the motion control hardware. Firstly, both the main controller and the labelling heads each require several high-speed inputs for product registration. The main controller must also dynamically change the cam motion profiles required for the centering and label 'wipe-down beams', which centre, stabilise and complete label wipe-down on the product. This enables a quick changeover (programming) changeover - The time when a new system has been tested successfully and replaces the old system. between product types. Tec Wright, product development manager at Harland, said: "Ethernet Powerlink technology has helped us to make our electrical system both simpler, and more modular. It means that we can build systems for clients more quickly. "The high speed Ethernet network has so much bandwidth that we now have much more flexibility to customise labelling machines, and incorporate additional features that are invariably in·var·i·a·ble adj. Not changing or subject to change; constant. in·var  i·a·bil required at
commissioning stage, and after installation."
Contact PFM Packaging Machinery on tel 0113 239 3401 or visit www.pfmuk.com |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion