Interfaces
EN
· 30.30.01.02851 · 01 · 03/22
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6
Interfaces
6.1
Basic Principles of IO-Link Communication
The area gripper is operated in IO-Link mode to enable intelligent communication with a controller.
The IO-Link communication takes place using cyclical process data and acyclical ISDU parameters. The ejector’s
parameters can be set remotely using IO-Link mode. In addition, the energy and process control (EPC) feature is
available. The EPC is divided into 3 modules:
•
Condition monitoring (CM): Condition monitoring to increase system availability.
•
Energy monitoring (EM): Energy monitoring to optimize the vacuum system’s energy consumption.
•
Predictive maintenance (PM): Predictive maintenance to increase the performance and quality of the gripping
systems.
6.2
Process Data
The cyclical process data is used to control the area gripper and receive current information reported from the area
gripper. A distinction is made between the input data (Process Data In) and the output data for control (Process Data
Out).
The input data Process Data In is used to report the following information cyclically:
•
The limit values SP1 and SP2
•
The status of SP3
•
Device status of the area gripper in the form of a status traffic light
•
EPC data
•
Warnings from the area gripper
•
Sensor supply voltage
•
Air consumption
The output data Process Data Out is used to control the area gripper cyclically:
EPC Select is used to define which data is sent.
•
To determine the air consumption, the system pressure can be preset.
•
The area gripper is controlled using the suction and blow-off commands.
The exact meaning of the data and functions is described in more detail in the “Description of Functions” chapter. A
detailed description of the process data can be found in the data dictionary.
The corresponding device description file (IODD) is available for integration into a higher-level control unit.
6.3
ISDU Parameter Data
The acyclical communication channel can be used to retrieve what are known as ISDU (Index Service Data Unit)
parameters, which contain further information on the system status.
The ISDU channel can also be used to read or overwrite all the settings, e.g. the limit values, additional leakage, etc.
Further information on the identity of the area gripper, such as the part number and serial number, can be retrieved
using IO-Link. The area gripper also provides space for saving user-specific information here. such as the installation
and storage location.
The exact meaning of the data and functions is described in more detail in the “Description of Functions” chapter.
You can find a detailed diagram of the process data in the data dictionary and IODD. In order for a control unit to
access the ISDU parameters, the necessary system functions must be purchased from the manufacturer of the control
unit and used.
