Digitalization of Conveyor Technology

Intralogistics specialist SSI SCHAEFER is digitalizing its conveyor lines with the “Conveyor Control Unit” for controlling CAN roller motors – the technology behind it comes from Turck

Intralogistics specialist SSI SCHAEFER is in the process of digitalizing its conveyor technology end-to-end. Energy efficiency, short time-to-market and maximum availability through predictive maintenance are the driving factors behind this. Turck supports this approach with a Profinet I/O module for the digital, decentralized control and power supply of 48V roller motors via CAN. Besides greater efficiency for assembly and the centralization of the power supply architecture of its conveyor technology, SSI SCHAEFER values the module's ability to offer digital services such as predictive maintenance thanks to the transparent data provided.

CCU “Conveyor Control Unit”, a CAN I/O module for controlling the drum motors & recording the sensor data
TBEN-LL-4RM-4DI-4DXP for the control of CAN roller motors & the digitalization of conveyor line
With the CCU module, conveyor lines can be set up, tested and operated more efficiently
“We wanted an SSI SCHAEFER solution that was really tailored to our needs.” – Christian Steiner
“The module now enables us to collect more sensor data.” – Hansjörg Lerchster

Many people in Germany are regularly in contact with one product from SSI SCHAEFER, because the household waste garbage can they put by the roadside often come from this group of companies. However, the product diversity of the group, which coordinates the many subsidiary companies at its headquarters in Neunkirchen/Siegerland, should not be based on the prominence of its waste garbage alone. With more than 80 companies and around 8,600 employees, the Group generates sales of around 1.9 billion euros and is today one of the world's leading solution providers for intralogistics.

Digitalization of conveyor technology

The next generation of conveyor technology is to be automated and controlled digitally as much as possible. The previously used roller motors with analog control and the associated control modules could no longer meet the increased number of requirements. The next generation of motorized roller drives therefore is to be controlled digitally throughout. The power supply of the new motors also had to be changed from 24 volts to 48. The larger voltage range allows smaller cable cross-sections and longer cables on account of the lower losses, and therefore larger and more efficient power supply units.

No perfect I/O solution on the market

SSI SCHAEFER searched the market for systems that could offer a data connection to the motor rollers with a CAN interface, the required 48 volt power supply and Profinet communication for controlling the systems. The devices were required to have a robust design with protection to IP67 for direct installation on the conveyor belts. After initial contact with Turck at the SPS automation trade fair in Nuremberg, the automation specialist checked whether it was possible to modify its own I/O solutions to meet SSI SCHAEFER's requirements. Long story short – it was.

CCU module saves on separate I/O modules

The TBEN-LL-4RM-4DI-4DXP I/O module for controlling CAN roller motors, which was then further developed by Turck, is known at SSI SCHAEFER as the Conveyor Control Unit or CCU for short. Digital inputs and outputs for external trigger signals or actuators were also required in addition to the 48-volt power supply for the roller motors, 24 volts for conventional actuators, CAN communication to the motor and Profinet communication to the PLC. Besides four conventional I/Os, four DXP ports are provided on the module, which can be used either as inputs or outputs.

Future security and modular

The option of controlling the modules both via Profinet and via I/O signals ensures a high degree of flexibility and backwards compatibility. only can the motors be controlled more precisely via the fieldbus interface, but status data such as the temperature or operating parameters such as operating hours, can be transmitted in parallel with the cyclical process communication of the operating data.

“With the module's new firmware, we can control this not only via Profinet, but also via the I/O signals. This enables us to also use the modules in the context of devices with software that cannot yet work with Profinet,” Steiner adds. Even if not every option is already being used to its fullest extent today, SSI SCHAEFER appreciates the flexibility and future-proof capability that Turck's CCU module offers.

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