Abstract: A control system for mobile transporting units on a transporting line having a plurality of stations is proposed, through at least some of which stations the transporting units (15) travel in succession. A plurality of stationary control modules (21) on the transporting line (10) that are associated with the stations (18, 19, 20) cooperate with the various mobile control modules (22) secured to the transporting units (15) as soon as the mobile control modules (22) are moved past the stationary control modules (21). Stored in each mobile control module (22) is a sequence program arranged in steps, from which the next as-yet-uncompleted step is transmitted, upon the passage of the transporting units (15) past a stationary control module (21), from the mobile control module (22) of the transporting units (15). In accordance with this datum, a work operation at the associated station (18, 19, 20) is then triggered or inhibited.

Abstract: To permit ready change of information on information carriers applied to workpieces which travel along a production line, for example to control further operating, machining or assembly steps, non-contacting sensors, typically inductive elements generating an electromagnetic field, transfer to a pick-up coil on the information carrier binary data. The information carrier includes a non-volatile permanent memory (ROM 25, 41) containing data characterizing the particular workpiece carrier or workpiece thereon, and a re-programmable, preferably non-volatile memory (RAM 27, 42) which contains added at the various operating stations to characterize operations, dimensions and the like of the respective workpiece and/or subsequent operations to be performed.