Belts & Conveyors - Specific Objects

Overview

In addition to the general properties provided by the Belts & Conveyors catalog described in Belts & Conveyors - General Information, this chapter describes the additional properties that are provided by the following objects.

Divert / Merge

Divert conveyors are designed to allow separation of loads by diverting them from the main conveyor line.

Merge conveyors are designed to insert loads from another line of conveyors to the main conveyor line.

The following parameter is provided in addition to the general Properties described in Belts & Conveyors - General Information.

Parameter

Description

Orientation

RotZ: Enter the angle (in °) to fit the Divert / Merge conveyor to the main conveyor line.

Surface

  • Connection Edge: Select from the list the side of the Divert / Merge conveyor that is to be longer (seen from the start of indicated by the red triangle):

    • Left

    • Right

  • Flow Direction: Select the direction of loads in which loads are moved:

    • Infeed: Loads are moved towards the main conveyor line. The moving direction of the belt is reversed. It is opposed to the red triangle.

    • Outfeed: Loads are moved away from the main conveyor line. The moving direction of the belt is as indicated by the red triangle.

Transfer Conveyor: Basic Vector Motor

As the Transfer Conveyor is designed to lift loads upward and downward, it is equipped with a Basic Vector Motor to execute the vertical movement. You can configure the following parameters in addition to the general Properties described in Motors:

Parameter

Description

PLC Input Signal

Configure input signals sending status information to a connected controller.

  • Mechanical Switch: Select this check box if the motor is equipped with a mechanical switch. When this check box is selected, the additional signal Ready is provided.

  • Running: Signal indicating that the Basic Vector Motor has been started and is moving.

  • Max. Position: Signal indicating that the transfer conveyor has been lifted upward and has reached the maximum position configured with the parameter Movement > Max. Limit.

  • Mid. Position: Signal indicating that the transfer conveyor is within the middle range configured with the parameters Movement > Middle: Max. (Distance) and Min. (Distance).

  • Min. Position: Signal indicating that the transfer conveyor has been moved downward and has reached the minimum position configured with the parameter Movement > Min. Limit.

Movement

Parameters to configure the vertical movement of the transfer conveyor:

  • OffSet: Enter an offset.

  • Max. Limit: Enter the maximum position (in mm) the transfer conveyor is lifted to.

  • Middle: Enter a Max. (Distance) value and a Min. (Distance) value (in mm) to configure a range for the transfer conveyor. It can be indicated as status information to the controller with the PLC Input Signal > Mid. Position.

  • Min. Limit: Enter the minimum position (in mm) the transfer conveyor is moved to.

  • Limit Type: Select the behavior of the transfer conveyor when reaching the maximum or minimum position:

    • Stop: The transfer conveyor stops moving.

    • Eccentric: The transfer conveyor continues moving in the opposite direction.

  • Reset Position: Select the default position of the transfer conveyor from the list:

    • Down

    • Middle

    • Up

Alignment Conveyor

The Alignment Conveyor is a special type of Roller Conveyors designed to align the loads on one side of the conveyor providing the following specific parameter in the Surface section:

Parameter

Description

Direction Offset Angle

Enter the angle (in °) within the range of 5...20° to align the loads to the right side of the conveyor or within the range of -20...-5° to align the loads to the left side of the conveyor (seen from the start of the belt indicated by the red triangle).

Switch Sorter

Miscellaneous objects of type Switch Sorter are designed to sort loads by diverting them from the main conveyor line to the right or to the left depending on controller signals. You can configure the following Properties in addition to the general Properties described in Belts & Conveyors - General Information:

Parameter

Description

PLC Input Signals

Configure input signals sending status information to a connected controller.

  • Right Position: Signal indicating that the load is diverted to the right.

  • Left Position: Signal indicating that the load is diverted to the left.

  • Center Position: Signal indicating that the load is not diverted. The load remains on the main conveyor line.

PLC Output Signals

Configure output signals from the controller for diverting loads:

  • Activate Right Diverting: Configure the controller signal for diverting a load to the right of the conveyor.

  • Activate Left Diverting: Configure the controller signal for diverting a load to the left of the conveyor.

Pusher Unit / Vertical Blade Stopper

Miscellaneous objects of type Pusher Unit and Vertical Blade Stopper both consist of a cylinder with a shield at one end. The cylinder is ejected by pneumatic forces upon a controller input. Both objects are designed in a similar way with the difference that the pusher unit is moving a plate in horizontal direction whereas the vertical blade stopper is moving a plate in vertical direction. You can configure the following specific Properties:

In the Size section, configure the dimensions of the plate with the parameters Length, Width, Height (in mm).

The Pneumatic > Parameters section provides the following parameters:

Parameter

Description

Speed

Enter the velocity (in m/s) the plate is pushed forward by the pusher or upward by the vertical blade stopper.

Travel

Enter the distance (in mm) the plate is pushed forward or upward.

Valve

Select the type of pneumatic valve from the list:

  • MonoStable: With a monostable valve, the plate remains in forward or upward position as long as a signal is applied. When the signal becomes invalid, the plate returns to its initial position.

  • Bistable: With a bistable valve, the plate remains in forward or upward position even if the signal is no longer applied. The controller output signal Inject Cylinder is required to return the plate to the initial position.

Injected

Configure a controller input signal indicating that the plate of the pusher or stopper is injected.

Ejected

Configure a controller input signal indicating that the plate of the pusher or stopper is ejected by the distance defined with the parameter Travel.

Inject Cylinder

Configure a controller output signal for bistable valves: As the cylinder is not injected automatically when using bistable valves, this signal is required. Once it becomes TRUE, the cylinder of the pusher or vertical blade stopper is injected.

Eject Cylinder

Configure a controller output signal: Once this signal becomes TRUE, the cylinder of the pusher or vertical blade stopper is ejected by the distance defined with the parameter Travel and the velocity defined with the parameter Speed.