When installed, ConveyLinx modules can be configured as one of the following 6 basic modes:
Full ZPA Mode
n this mode, ConveyLinx works as a one or two zone ZPA controller. When communicating with module in this mode, the S7-300 PLC can control mainly material handling properties such as accumulation, release, wake-up/full stop, read/write tracking, MDR parameters (speed, acceleration and deceleration), and ConveyStop. In this mode the PLC does not have access to directly control start/stop of MDRs because internal ZPA logic is operating the module. When communicating with ConveyLinx in ZPA mode, the PLC does not require fast reaction time as would be expected for a remote I/O device. Typically, 32 ms to 256 ms is the range of response time utilized between the PLC and a ConveyLinx module in ZPA mode. The data array instance lengths for input and output data mode are 64 bytes.
Reduced ZPA Mode
In this mode, the ConveyLinx modules operates as a one or two zone ZPA controller just like the Full ZPA Mode. However, the instance data presented to the S7-300 PLC is limited to basic material handling properties such as accumulation, release, wake-up/full stop, and MDR speed. In this mode, because the instances length is reduced to 30 bytes; the PLC may be able to accommodate more modules especially in applications where all ZPA features (such as tracking) are not required. Similarly to the Full ZPA Mode, the 32 ms to 256 ms response time is typical for this mode.
Merger Mode
In this mode, the module is running in ZPA mode and exchanging 64 bytes of data with the PLC. In addition to the ZPA logic, the module now runs the Merger task on one of their zones. Configuring the Merger zone, differs between the two configuration methods (see Configuration methods chapter). Similarly to the Full ZPA Mode, the 32 ms to 256 ms response time is typical for this mode. The exchanged data is the same as for the Full ZPA mode.
Full PLC Controlled Mode
In this mode, the ConveyLinx module is placed into PLC I/O mode with the EasyRoll software tool. When the module is in PLC I/O mode, all internal ZPA logic is suspended and the module requires an external PLC to read port inputs and run/stop MDRs connected to the module. The PLC contains any and all logic to process inputs from sensor/control ports, run stop MDRs, set direction/speed/accel/decel of MDRs, and more. Also, in this mode the PLC has access to registers in the PLC I/O module that can interface to neighboring ZPA modules for material handling control and tracking data support. A ConveyLinx module in PLC I/O mode is also capable of Servo functions that are made available to the PLC. In this mode, the ConveyLinx module responds as would be expected for a remote I/O device. ConveyLinx will connect to the PLC with a 4 ms communication response time. The data array instance lengths for input and output data in this mode are 64 bytes.
Reduced PLC Controlled Mode
In this mode, the ConveyLinx module is configured and operates without ZPA logic the same as it does in Full PLC Controlled Mode. However in this mode, only port I/O and MDR run/stop/speed functions are available to the PLC. In this mode, because the instances length is reduced; the PLC may be able to accommodate more modules especially in applications where all the features in Full PLC Controlled Mode are not required. ConveyLinx modules in this mode communicate at the same 4 ms response time as the Full PLC Controlled Mode. The data array instance lengths for input and output data in this mode are 16 bytes
PLC Controlled Mode with ConveyLogix Program
In this mode, the ConveyLinx module has been programmed with ConveyLogix and this program is running inside. ConveyLogix allows you to write your own programs and download it to the ConveyLinx module turning it into a small PLC. The ToPLCArray(WORD [16] ) and FromPLCArray(WORD [16]) are exchanged with the PLC. What data is exchanged in those data arrays, is programmed by the engineer in the ConveyLogix program and in the PLC. The communication response time should be adjusted by the programmer, based on the size and complexity of the ConveyLogix program. The bigger it is, the higher update speeds should be selected.