| PITMAN, NJ (May 22, 2001)—Utilizing off-the-shelf hardware, K-Tron SmartConnex feeder controls can use both infrared and radio frequency technology for wireless communication with gravimetric feeders. At the Powder and Bulk Solids Trade show in Chicago, May 8-10, trade show visitors witnessed the ability to monitor feeder controls via a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or laptop computer. Three Ethernet networked K-Tron loss-in-weight feeders with Smart Control Modules (SCM) communicated to two K-Tron Smart Commander (KSC) operator interfaces. |
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While one KSC was hard wired to the Ethernet, the other KSC residing on a laptop computer communicated with a wireless link using radio frequency technology. K-Tron also used PDA’s to demonstrate feeder communication via the Infrared port on the feeder’s SCM. Typical uses for such wireless applications in a processing plant include monitoring operation, changing feed rate, troubleshooting at the feeder when controls are mounted in a remote location or downloading software. Use of wireless technology is quickly becoming commonplace in today’s modern processing plant. | |