Materials handling from the desktop

Wittmann continues to innovate in the plastics materials handling area with new innovations to its M7 Teachbox materials handling control system. The system allows a single point of control of all the materials distribution through a typical plastics processing operation; ie through conveying, vacuum pumps, hopper loaders, alarm units and other devices.

'We believe the M7 system offers a superior alternative to anything a PLC (programmeable logic controller) can offer,' says Barry Hill, Wittmann UK managing director. 'And putting the management of the system onto a CanBus cabling network, typically laid around the factory walls, makes for a much more flexible and versatile production. It also deletes the need to wire up each injection moulding machine. We have quotes in preparation with a number of customers and are looking forward to sharing some client stories later this summer.'

The M7 now includes control logic for administration of up to 30 hopper loaders and 30 purge valves linked by a CANBUS system. Some of the new features of the control include acoustic and optical alarm modules; throughput measuring; silo content measurement. error recording, hopper loader level visualisation. The new graphics display features for pumps, filters, hopper loader and purging valves.Simple clicking on the graphic for any of these devices will show the detail of their configuration. Up to eight pumps are free to be defined for any given hopper loader and up to 240 purging valves in similar fashion.
The new material administration allows free selection of material at the hopper loader. Parameters for this include material listing (up to 20 characters); residence time (minutes) and bulk density (kg). The error recording allows for 1000 error messages of the last 100 days to be stored in the control system and these can be downloaded via a serial interface.

Innovations to the new materials control system are complemented by step changes to various pieces of Wittmann materials handling equipment. Wittmann's Feedmax hopper loaders, for example, now deploy welded stainless steel materials inlets and pneumatic actuated positive shut-off valves for materials conveying systems and proportional material loading. 'There is nothing more annoying to a processor,' says Barry Hill 'than a loader flap that gets stuck or clogged with material. We expect a good demand for our new positive discharge switches.'
The M7 network will be also able to interface with WittLink; a Wittmann-developed system for monitoring automation and auxillary equipment via an array of embedded web servers.

The introduction of embedded web controls to auxiliary equipment via WittLink has increased both their importance and ability to be monitored as part of the entire process. Also, it delimits the number of pieces of equipment that can be added as part of the system since the internet is providing the communication channel.

Embedded web servers duplicate and expand the information that is present on a device's standard interface - say, for a robot, dryer, granualtor or temperature controller, - and then represent this information on a network. The data is then organised and stored in an electronic library, and includes such features as teach programmes and general programme management. The equipment details that have been uploaded are then stored into virtual factories and cells that correspond to their actual deployment.

By this means robots, dryers, hopper loaders and many other pieces of equipment can be remotely programmed and monitored from any location in the world. An additional part of the WittLink sales appeal is that its WebOpen Module allows WittLink to connect to all kinds of plastics ancillary equipment from other suppliers. Web cameras in the production place also integrate into WittLink, thus allowing the user to view the production processes via webcams from any location in the world.

Wittmann is currently working on a series of further modifications to M7 system and to WittLink that will be ready in time for the K 2004 Plastics Exhibition in Dusseldorf Germany from October 20th.

Further details from Barry Hill at Wittmann UK. Tel. 01933 275 777. www.wittmann.co.uk