Machine Control Systems

Benefits

• Open Architecture: Off the Shelf State of the Art Controls Technologies provide High Performance, Reliable Integrated Control throughout the entire MarquipWardUnited Dry End.
  
• Connectivity: Superior MCS Remote Access Tools via the Internet provide live, on-line Troubleshooting Capabilities, Operator/Maintenance Training and MCS Controls Updates to any MCS in the world where an Internet connection can be made.  This leads directly to Maximized Corrugator Uptime.
  
• Machine Information System (MIS): All Machine Manuals, Vendor Manuals, Machine Setup Procedures, Machine Troubleshooting Guides and Machine Schematics specific to each MCS are available on-line with each the MCS.
  
• Flexibility of Design: The design of the MCS Operator Console and the MCS Control Cabinet allow for these two MCS units to be located virtually independent of each other in the customer's factory.  This is primarily due to the controls components used in their design; the MCS Operator Console contains no active components that require any special cooling or vibration protection, these components are located in the MCS control cabinet and are interfaced back to the operator control console through the implementation of state of the art interface technologies.
  
• Simplified Controls: Intuitive and Graphical HMI screens for each machine, combined with a Simplified and Consolidated machine pushbutton interface provide a User Friendly controls system for operators and maintenance personnel.
   

Machine Standards

• Operator Interface: The MCS Human Machine Interface program, or HMI, is a Microsoft .NET based application that runs on a Windows XP based High Grade/High Performance Industrial PC and provides an Intuitive Graphical User Interface to the MCS control system.  All Future Setup, History Setup, Production Total and Configuration information is stored in an SQL database that is automatically backed up at regular and pre-programmed intervals.
  
• Ethernet/Fieldbus Connectivity: All communication and control connections to the MCS are Ethernet or Fieldbus based; DeviceNet and Fiber Optics Fieldbus connections for Real-time machine control and Ethernet for High Speed Data communications. Due to this open communication design, the MCS has the ability to interface with any third party machine controls system or plant computer system.
  
• Real-time Machine Control: The MCS executes the majority of its machine and system level real-time control functions through the use of an off the shelf Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLC system.  Specialized motion control functions, such as MCS Knife cylinder control and RPS robot control are handled by their own dedicated motion controllers that are designed specifically for this purpose; these specialized motion controllers, Allen Bradley PLCs and the MCS HMI are all tightly integrated together to form a high performance, high precision and highly reliable dry end controls system.

Typical Applications

• Full Dry End Machine Controller: The MCS is designed to control a complete corrugated Dry End regardless of the vintage of dry end machines (MWU or Non-MWU) that are present in the customer's line providing that at least one machine is MCS based.
  
• Single Dry End Machine Controller: The MCS has the ability to run a single 'standalone' MCS based machine in a customer's line without  taking over control of the dry end; however, if required, the MCS may take full control of the customer's dry end with only a single MCS machine present in the line.
  
• Single Point of Data Entry for the Dry End: The MCS, when configured as the Dry End Setup Change Controller for a dry end, may also be configured to be the single point of data entry for the dry end; all future setup, current setup, history setup, real-time, production total and run speed history information may be communicated to/from the dry end and plant computer through the MCS.  This optimizes data communications throughput throughout the entire dry end.