Hi everyone, today we're going to be looking at how to program a sorting station with CLICK PLCs
The sorting station box collection, or panel management and distribution, is just one of
many machines in the Easy PLC Machine Simulator, or MS. This sorting station will read barcodes from the boxes and send them to different exit limits
The CLICK programming software will be used to program the CLICK PLC
Modbus TCP Ethernet will connect the CLICK to the Easy PLC Simulator
The three inputs, outputs, and registers will be controlled from the Easy PLC Simulator
or client, to the CLICK PLC server. Using the five steps of programming development, we will show you how this sorting station
is programmed. Let's get started. Detailed information contained in the video can be found at accautomation.ca
A link has been put in the description below. If you have not watched the other videos yet, there will be a link in the description below
that will start you with video one. There are links to the rest of the videos in the series as well
Step one, to find the task. Select the Easy PLC Machine Simulator software
Press the start button on the main screen, or select machines from the main menu
All sample programs you can practice your PLC program will be listed
Click on 03, Box Selection Machine. There is a written version of the sequence on the left-hand side of the machine
Panel Management and Distribution, Box Selection Sorting Station, will use photos and cameras
These are located in each selection section, and will read the barcodes of the boxes
The box will be sent down the corresponding acre grant. Box ID 1 will be sent to the first exit
ID 2 to the second exit, and ID 3 to the third exit
The number of boxes sent down each exit will be displayed on the control panel
The machine simulator has a demo mode for this built-in machine. Select the demo mode
This will allow you to watch the operation of the box sorting station
This will help you see what has to be done. Move around the 3D environment
The icons on the top of the window will allow you to move around the 3D environment
The first icon is the default selection. This will enable you to move around without bumping into the components
The first person will mirror a person in the 3D mirroring world
The third person will show you the operator's relationship to the machine
The last icon will automatically move you around the virtual environment. Once you have an understanding of what must be done
you can move on to the next step in our QLC program development
Step 2, define the input network. While filling the demo mode of the machine simulator
you can select the view I.O. at the bottom menu. This will show you the digital outputs on the left-hand side of the screen
and the digital inputs on the right-hand side of the screen. You can watch how the I.O. relates to the demo program
Select the exit button to stop the demo mode of the machine simulator
Start the box selection sorting station in start mode. Select the view I.O. to display the inputs and outputs required for this machine
Select the analog inputs and outputs to view them. The EasyQLC sorting box station machine simulator
will require 10 digital outputs and 15 digital inputs. It will also require 3 analog in and out
The analog outputs are for the exit panel. Analog inputs for each camera are on the exit rail
to read the code on the box. Click the digital output to activate it
You can move around in the 3D environment and see the I.O. and items from different angles
The machine simulator will communicate to the QLC. Communication will be done with Modbus
You can look at the address type by using the QLC software to determine the Modbus address used prior for the program
Step 3. Develop a logical sequence of operations. A flowchart or sequence table is used to understand
the process that needs to be controlled thoroughly. It must also answer questions like the following
If an electrical power or pneumatic error is lost, what happens when input and output fail
Do we need redundancy? This step is where you can save yourself a lot of work
by understanding everything about the operation and will help you for continuously rewriting the PLC program logic
Knowing all these answers up front is vital in the development of the PLC program. The control panel of the EasyQLC box selection sorting station program
will show the operator information. When the gate is open, the red light will flash
In the stop mode, the green LED will be on, indicating this is how to start the line
When the line runs, the red LED will tell you how to stop the machine. An emergency stop will turn off all of the LEDs
The item simulator count will show how many boxes have been diverted to it. When the machine stops, the box counters are greater than zero
so reset LED will be on. Pressing reset will reset the count and turn off the LEDs
Our EasyBox sorting station can be seen at three independent exit conveyor operations
A box will pass and the camera and photo will read the barcode. If the barcode is for this conveyor, the item will activate
diverting the box. When the exit photo is on, this will reset the item
A programmer must know everything about the sequence and operation of the machine before programming
Ask questions or view existing documentation to ensure you know the logical steps in the machine's operation
Step 4 – Develop the PLC Program Writing the logic code for a CRIC PLC
sorting station example will be the next step in our program development. We will use the CRIC PLC programming software
and the CRIC Plus QLC. We will use our information on the CRIC QLC to
found in our CRIC QLC series. Our program will be written in ladder logic or ladder diagram
The first lines of code will set the conveyor belt running for our box selection program
This is done when the set and reset instructions. The conveyor reset will happen when the stop
machine door, or emergency button is selected. The start light will be on when the machine is ready
The stop light will be on when the machine is running. A flashing stop light will indicate
that the door is open to the machine. The reset button will reset when the machine is stopped
and any exit conveyor has a greater than zero count. The reset button will reset the count
for each exit conveyor for the box selection program. Exit 1 conveyor
If the conveyors are running and the camera is turned on, the result is compared to the exit number
and the camera end is seen. If this matches, then set the selection arm for the exit
Once the photo cell on the exit is seen, reset the arm selection and increment
the exit count by one for our box selection. Exit 2 conveyor
If the conveyors are running and the camera is turned on, the result is compared to the exit number
and the camera end is seen. If this matches, then set the selection arm for the exit
Once the photo cell on the exit is seen, reset the selection arm and increment the exit count by one
for our box selection. Exit 3 conveyor. If the conveyors are running and the camera is turned on
the result is compared to the exit number when the camera is seen
If this matches, then set the selection arm for the exit. Once the photo cell on the exit is seen
reset the selection arm and increment the exit count by one for our box selection
This is our complete program. We will communicate to the ECPLC machine simulator
using Modbus TCP via Ethernet or wireless. Use the IP address for the machine simulator
or Modbus client and find the Modbus server. Select Modbus TCP from the communication port
on the function tab of the navigation window. You can also use the main menu, setup, com port
The com port setup window will now be displayed. Click on the setup button to import one
You can now set the static IP address on the com port setup detail window
Set Modbus TCP setup on the main menu, setup. Ensure the available Modbus TCP server
is checked for our port. Save and transfer the coding station program
to the QuickPlux PLC. Ensure that the PLC is in run mode
Check status to see the active status of the input and output on the line of logic
Step 5, test the program. We will communicate Modbus TCP on our QuickPlux PLC
to communicate with the machine simulator. Call up the O3 box selection
and select start mode. The status of the machine simulator will be at the bottom of the screen
Currently you have no PLC connected. Select I0 on the bottom middle of the screen
The EasyPLC driver window will now be displayed. This will show you the machine simulator I0 number
Ensure you have enough digital and analog numbers for our QuickPLC starting station
If not, change the values and select the update I0 number button. Under the driver name pull down menu
select Modbus driver. This driver will communicate Modbus TCP Ethernet and Modbus RTU serial
Select the configure button. You can now enter the information for our Modbus driver
Select TCP IP. This means the computer's Ethernet port will communicate to the PLC
The drill inputs from MS to the QuickPLC will start at C101. This will start at address 16484
due to the offset of 1. Digital output from MS to the QuickPLC will start at C201
This will begin at address 16584 due to the offset of 1
Analog inputs DF1 will start at address 0 and address DF101 will begin at address 100
This is due to the offset of 1. Click the ticker and a quick programming cycle will help determine the Modbus address
The analog scale value is 1. This is used to divide and multiply photos
Modbus analog values can be read and written into the simulator. The analog to shock factor is 0
This is used with the analog to obtain negative values within the Modbus analog registers
Select the OK button. You can now see the inputs and outputs specified for the Modbus driver
You can now manually assign the driver outputs to the QLC inputs and the driver inputs to the
QLC outputs. However, an automatic assignment will do this if the I.O. is in the same order in the
QLC and EasyQLC machine simulator. Select automatic assignment from the driver option in the main menu. This will automatically
assign the QLC I.O. to the machine simulator I.O. Select start driver and
exit from the main menu under exit. You will see that the driver is operating
on the bottom left side of the window. Select UIO to know the input and output status of the machine simulator
Move around to the control panel. Ensure that the QLC is in run mode
You can now operate the machine simulator through the control panel. Run in the monitor to ensure that your program works
as expected. Using the data view window with Qwik programming software we can also watch the inputs and outputs operate
Using the machine simulator MS to test the program will ensure that our program works. Publishing is easily done
without damage to any physical hardware. The machine simulator has a time frame that you can speed up or
slow down the process to help you publish it. If you enjoyed this video please hit the like button below
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