Low cost control system with hierarchy architecture for sequencer

A low cost control system with hierarchy architecture for sequencer is designed in this paper. A touch screen computer is used as master computer to realize Human Machine Interface (HMI). A programmable logic controller (PLC) works as slave computer to receive sequence file and instructions from the master computer. It controls the component arranging, component inspecting, and component taping processes. Manipulating microprocessors work as the slave computers of the PLC. They receive commands from the PLC and control the amplifiers to drive the rotary electromagnets, which are used to cut off components. A sequence algorithm realized in the PLC is proposed to track the identification (ID) numbers of pallets on the chain. The ID numbers of the pallets are recorded in the PLC at the beginning of sequence procedure, and shifted as long as the movement of the chain. All the ID numbers of the pallets are compared with the ID numbers of component feeders over them. A component is fed into the pallet if its feeder has the same ID number as the pallet. Experimental results verify the validity of the designed control system and the proposed sequence algorithm.