Abstract: A method and apparatus to be used with a motor controller generating firing pulses to control an inverter, the inverter providing exciting voltage to a motor corresponding to the firing pulses, the voltage having a maximum intended amplitude, the method for substantially eliminating exciting voltage overvoltage by modifying the firing pulses, the method comprising the steps of identifying characteristics of an initial firing pulse, comparing the initial pulse characteristics to an overvoltage characteristic set known to cause overvoltage, where the initial pulse characteristics match the overvoltage characteristic set, altering the initial firing pulse such that the altered firing pulse does not cause overvoltage, identifying an accumulated error corresponding to the altered firing pulse, modifying the firing pulse following the altered firing pulse as a function of the accumulated error to generate a composite firing pulse; and repeating the identifying, comparing, altering, identifying and modifying process

Abstract: A system and method is provided for testing industrial control modules. Input and output stimulus signals, communication lines, measurement device lines and relay contacts are provided at a tester interface panel. This allows for a test developer to configure the relay contacts in any way that the developer desires to provide appropriate connections of stimulus, communications and measurements for a given industrial control module. The switching of the relays between a normally closed position and a normally open position can be controlled by output modules coupled to a computer. The relays can be insertable and releasable in a socket for easy fault isolation and replacement. Furthermore, the same relays or similar relays can be employed for both low current measurements and high power stimulus.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for removably coupling a shaft and hub to one another. The hub includes a pair of tapered regions near ends of its inner peripheral surface. The shaft may be tapered in a region designed to contact one of the tapered surfaces, or a tapered bushing arrangement may be used on the same end. On an opposite end, a tapered bushing is inserted between the shaft and the hub, and interfaces with the tapered portion of the hub to draw the shaft into tight engagement with the hub, with the bushing wedged between, during assembly. A retaining plate abuts a retaining ring, within the bushing, and a fastener through the retaining plate draws the hub and shaft tightly together during assembly. The retaining plate may receive removal fasteners which urge disengagement of the tapered bushing and shaft for easy and controlled disassembly of the hub and shaft from one another for servicing.

Abstract: A method and control system are provided for controlling a modular conveyor system, which may be networked together with other such systems in order to implement a control strategy for a modular conveyor system. The control system comprises a communications port for interconnection of the control system with a network for sending outgoing addressed data to other devices on the address-based network and for receiving incoming addressed data from other devices. The control system further comprises a logic system, which may receive a signal from an object sensor and provide a control signal or output adapted to control activation of a motorized roller assembly, based on an input signal from the object sensor or the communications port. The logic system may provide for single step operation whereby system troubleshooting may be facilitated, and in addition may provide situation aware and output value source selection functionality.

Abstract: A programmable logic controller (PLC) assembly. The PLC assembly has a PLC and a protective enclosure having a through-panel connector. The PLC is housed within the protective enclosure and electrically coupleable to the through-panel connector. The through-panel connector has a connector portion. The connector portion is configured for mating engagement with an electrical cable. The electrical cable is electrically coupleable to a PLC input device or a PLC output device.

Abstract: A capacitance comparison circuit determines the relative value of two capacitors, such as may be sensor elements, by monitoring voltage changes caused by charge redistribution between the capacitors when they are series connected and then connected alternately in a first and second polarity across a voltage. The direction of change of voltage at the junction of the capacitors with respect to the switching of polarity of their connection precisely reveals which capacitor is larger. Disconnecting the voltage monitor during the switching reduces switching induced errors.

Abstract: An operating system for distributed industrial controllers ensures the completion of enrolled application programs within a predetermined time span as is required for robust industrial control by preallocating dynamic and static hardware resources on a per application basis and in a manner that ensures execution of the application within the necessary time constraints. Portions of the distributed operating system may be distributed at particular hardware resources to provide necessary modeling for those hardware resources in making the commitments to resource bandwidths.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for developing speed and rotation count profiles for controlling the spindle drive on a towel winder system for winding rolls of paper, such as tissue or towel. The system and method monitors accumulated paper sheet length metered onto the winding spindle to control desired sheet count and finished roll dimension data. The system and method utilizes the accumulated paper sheet length and the desired finished roll data to calculate an instantaneous diameter. The instantaneous diameter calculation includes determining an effective thickness of the roll based on two forms of calculating finished roll cross-sectional area. The system and method also includes monitoring the actual line surface speed. The instantaneous diameter and the actual line surface speed are used to generate a speed reference signal and an inertia compensation signal. An outer compensation loop can be employed to trim the speed reference signal so that the revolution count can be controlled.

Abstract: Insulating slot liners for insertion into stator core winding slots are formed from a narrow-width reel of insulating material. The width of the material is determined by the inner circumferential surface of the winding slot that must be insulated, instead of being based on the axial length of the stator core as has been the practice in the past. As a result, slot liners may be easily produced for stator cores of different axial lengths by simply adjusting the length of material cut from the reel. Preferably, the cutting mechanism used to cut the length of material is adapted to form a pair of opposed cuffs when the material is cut. An insulator blank formed in this manner is pushed into a die, thereby forming a U-shaped slot liner. A transfer mechanism functions to move the slot liner into a respective winding slot. The slot liner preferably passes through a reduced diameter guideway defined in a guide element as it is moved into the winding slot.

Abstract: A movable contact assembly for contactors and similar devices includes a movable spanner or conductive element biased toward a conducting position by a biasing element. A housing partially surrounds the conductive element and the biasing element. The biasing element and exerts compressive forces against the housing and the conductive element. The assembly may be installed as a modular unit on a carrier which is displaced during operation of the contactor. The housing shields the biasing element from plasma, arcs and debris during operation of the device. Multiple conductive elements and corresponding biasing elements may be includes in each assembly.

Abstract: A core configuration for use with an electromagnetic machine including first and second pluralities of laminations, each of the first and second pluralities having different properties and/or operating characteristics, the first and second pluralities interleaved together to form a core having desired core properties which are a combination of the properties of the first and second pluralities.

Abstract: An industrial control system associates an autonomous control unit with each piece of equipment in an industrial process, the autonomous control units having a model of the equipment's operation and data indicating constraints on the equipment's operation. A product to be produced is abstracted as a set of machine independent steps and performance of these steps bid upon by the autonomous control units according constraints models and internal goals. Bids having conflicting requirements may generate counterbids until a completed plan for the production of the product is generated.