Melfi Technologies has created an Allen-Bradley ControlLogix PLC-based control system designed to replace the typical proprietary microprocessor-based control systems currently on the market.

The operator interface consists of an Allen-Bradley RSView32 touchscreen monitor. The standard data logging and trending capabilities of RSView32 will allow you to map belt speed, material loading, infeed hopper level or any other measurable parameter you wish to study. Any historical trend can be restored to troubleshoot an event at a later date.

For more information, please visit:

https://edir.bulk-online.com/profile...chnologies.htm

Regards, Delmar Schmidt

Melfi Technologies Houston

Phone 281-298-8398

dschmidt@melfitechnologies.com ■

We have done something similar.

We can and have used an accurate speed sensor to:

a) record power accurate to within a few percent,

b) conveyor load utilization,

c) zero speed,

d) unacceptable operator misuse of the system,

e) all start up and stopping features to determine, by trending, the health of the system.

f) program PLC for such tasks

Lawrence Nordell

www.conveyor-dynamics.com ■

Dear Rekhawar,

We have built similar systems. You need to be more specific on your exact data acquisition requirements. Then we can formally respond.

I noted the interface to a PLC in the prior posting as a possible if desired.



Lawrence Nordell

www.conveyor-dynamics.com ■

Dear Rekhawar,

What is your current conveyor control system based on, if not a PLC? If you are using a Windows based computer instead of a Process Logic Controller, you can set-up an I/O measuring and control system. Normally, this is done via approriate software such as AllenBradley, Siemens, Mitsubishi, et cetera.

If you do not want to use your control system, you can set-up a direct recorder to a single input device. However, this approach becomes very expensive if you decide to monitor numerous inputs.

Regards, ■

Dear Rekhawar,

Could you please state what you need?

I interpret: you wish to record whether or when the conveyor is in operation with a data logger. Do you wish to indicate rotation by the second, minute, or hour? These can be done with ease using many off the shelf battery operated data loggers.

Boats have simple hour meters to record the time of operation. These can be had for under $100 (USD). A electric switch indicates when the boat rpm signal (pulse counts per minute?) has exceed a setpoint which begins totalization and ends totalization when the signal falls below the setpoint.

If you want it to parse for times of day when operating verse not operating, then it comes at a higher price with logic.

I tried to show that a better speed sensor (much higher pulse) can yield so much more operating info. I guess the point was lost.

Lawrence Nordell

www.conveyor-dynamics.com ■

There are many data loggers that will accept many different types of inputs. Contact your instrumention supplier and explain to him what you want to do and he should be able to come up with a product that will work.

Most data loggers can be used to record events, but keep in mind they do not record continuously. Therefore you need to set your data sample rate. The more often you sample the quicker the data storage media will be full. This means you will need to download your data to a computer more often because the first information recorded is the first information deleted when the logger is full. A long interval between samples is subject to missing short term events such as slow downs or belt slippage.

If you are only interested in recording uptime on a conveyor the data logger could be used to monitor the starter, assuming that your zero speed switch is wired to shut down the conveyor.

Without knowing all the details of how your system is controlled it is difficult for us to give you a better answer. Good luck.

Regards,

Gary Blenkhorn ■