Abstract: To enable an increase in a service life of a modular safety relay circuit, a modular safety relay circuit is provided for the safe switching on and/or off of at least one machine comprising at least one relay module to which the at least one machine is connected, wherein the relay module comprises at least two relay contacts that are connected in series and that can be brought from a first position into a second position and vice versa; and wherein one relay contact switches in advance by a delay of the other relay contact; and a control unit controlling the relay contacts that alternatingly controls the relay contacts in accordance with a state detection of the relay contacts with the delay.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a driverless transport system for transporting goods and/or persons that comprises a plurality of driverless vehicles and at least one stationary monitoring device for monitoring a respective travel path zone, wherein the monitoring device comprises at least one sensor that is configured to detect the presence of objects in the travel path zone and to output a detection signal when an object is located in the travel path zone and a control unit that is connected to the sensor and that is configured to receive the detection signal from the sensor and to generate a control signal for the at least one driverless vehicle based at least on the detection signal.

Abstract: To enable an increase in a service life of a modular safety relay circuit, a modular safety relay circuit is provided for the safe switching on and/or off of at least one machine comprising at least one relay module to which the at least one machine is connected, wherein the relay module comprises at least two relay contacts that are connected in series and that can be brought from a first position into a second position and vice versa; and wherein one relay contact switches in advance by a delay of the other relay contact; and a control unit controlling the relay contacts that alternatingly controls the relay contacts in accordance with a state detection of the relay contacts with the delay.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a driverless transport system for transporting goods and/or persons that comprises a plurality of driverless vehicles and at least one stationary monitoring device for monitoring a respective travel path zone, wherein the monitoring device comprises at least one sensor that is configured to detect the presence of objects in the travel path zone and to output a detection signal when an object is located in the travel path zone and a control unit that is connected to the sensor and that is configured to receive the detection signal from the sensor and to generate a control signal for the at least one driverless vehicle based at least on the detection signal.

Abstract: To avoid additional costs, in particular by replacing a switching element too early or by expensive monitoring measures thereof, a control apparatus for controlling a switching element is provided. The control apparatus has an operating unit for setting a load stage at which the switching element can be operated, a control unit for calculating a first numerical value which reflects expected switching cycles of the switching element estimated on the basis of the set load stage and which corresponds to an expected service life of the switching element in dependence on the set load stage, and for determining a second numerical value which reflects effected switching cycles of the switching element. Information from a difference between the first and second numerical values or from a quotient from the second numerical value to the first numerical value during operation of the switching element is provided to a user.

Abstract: To avoid additional costs, in particular by replacing a switching element too early or by expensive monitoring measures thereof, a control apparatus for controlling a switching element is provided. The control apparatus has an operating unit for setting a load stage at which the switching element can be operated, a control unit for calculating a first numerical value which reflects expected switching cycles of the switching element estimated on the basis of the set load stage and which corresponds to an expected service life of the switching element in dependence on the set load stage, and for determining a second numerical value which reflects effected switching cycles of the switching element. Information from a difference between the first and second numerical values or from a quotient from the second numerical value to the first numerical value during operation of the switching element is provided to a user.

Abstract: For the safe check of a state of an automation system using a simple, safe data transfer, a method is provided for a secure checking of a state of a first device and of a second device which are connected to one another via a first line and via a second line, wherein the first device transmits a signal characterizing the first device to the second device and receives the signal characterizing the first device back via the second line and the second device transmits a signal characterizing the second device via a second line to the first device and receives the signal characterizing the second device back via the first line, and wherein a defect case is determined on a change of one of the two signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for process control, wherein at least one process device to be controlled is controlled by at least one process module and at least one safety module in that process signals of the process module not relevant to safety and safety signals of the safety module relating to process safety are logically linked to one another and at least one local safety signal of a local safety sensor is supplied directly to at least one control output of a local control unit associated with the process device while bypassing this logical linking operation in order to effect a fast change in state at the process device to be controlled which is connected to the control output, wherein the fast switching path includes a fast switching function with which the result of the logical linking operation and the local safety signal are evaluated together and wherein a fast change in state at the process device to be controlled effected via the fast changing path is changed again, and is in partic

Abstract: The invention relates to a control system, in particular to a safety control system, comprising at least one sensor, at least one control module for the reading out of the at least one sensor and for the generation of a control signal, wherein the at least one control module has at least one connection for a cable which can be connected to the control module. The control system in accordance with the invention furthermore has a data memory module which is mechanically connected to the cable to be connected to the connection and a data memory unit for the storage of configuration data of the control. A communications path is provided for the transfer of configuration data between the at east one control module and the at least one data memory module, wherein the cable is not provided, or is not only provided, for the data transfer between the data memory unit of the at least one data memory module and the at least one control module.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for process control, wherein at least one process device to be controlled is controlled by at least one process module and by at least one safety module, in that process signals not relevant to safety are transmitted to a local control unit associated with the process device by the process module and safety signals relating to the process safety are transmitted by the safety module, wherein the process signals and the safety signals are logically linked to one another in the control unit and the result of the logical link is made available at a control output of the control unit to which the process device to be controlled is connected. The invention moreover relates to a system for process control, in particular for the carrying out of the method in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for process control, wherein at least one process device to be controlled is controlled by at least one process module and at least one safety module in that process signals of the process module not relevant to safety and safety signals of the safety module relating to process safety are logically linked to one another and at least one local safety signal of a local safety sensor is supplied directly to at least one control output of a local control unit associated with the process device while bypassing this logical linking operation in order to effect a fast change in state at the process device to be controlled which is connected to the control output, wherein the fast switching path includes a fast switching function with which the result of the logical linking operation and the local safety signal are evaluated together and wherein a fast change in state at the process device to be controlled effected via the fast changing path is changed again, and is in partic

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for process control, wherein at least one process device to be controlled is controlled by at least one process module and by at least one safety module, in that process signals not relevant to safety are transmitted to a local control unit associated with the process device by the process module and safety signals relating to the process safety are transmitted by the safety module, wherein the process signals and the safety signals are logically linked to one another in the control unit and the result of the logical link is made available at a control output of the control unit to which the process device to be controlled is connected. The invention moreover relates to a system for process control, in particular for the carrying out of the method in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: An apparatus for the monitoring of a protection region which comprises a monitoring unit for the detection of an object penetrating into the protection region is described. The monitoring unit has at least one output at which a control signal for the excitation of a device to be monitored, in particular a switching signal for the switching off of the device, can be produced when an object penetrates into the protection region. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises at least one connection for a switch, in particular for an emergency off switch, through which the device can be excited, in particular switched off. The connection is designed as input of the monitoring unit, with it being possible to generate the control signal for the device to be monitored at the output of the monitoring unit through actuation of a switch which is connected to the input.