PLC circuits
Box Sorter with a PLC
What is a box sorter with a PLC?
It is a PLC application in which boxes passing on a conveyor are counted by a sensor and, after a set number, pushed onto a second conveyor by a cylinder. When counting and sorting are done the system starts over; an operator panel shows the count and machine status.
Where is it used?
It is used to build cartons on packaging lines, on distribution and shipping lines, and to route products to different stations on production lines.
PLC wiring and ladder program
The conveyor motors run through contactors, the cylinder valve directly from a PLC output; the capacitive sensor goes to a PLC input. The program uses counters (CTU) and a timer together. The reset conditions of the counters are an important lesson of this application.
What it teaches
Using counters, tracking products and monitoring with an operator panel are core parts of modern production lines.
Parts used
- Motor protection breaker
- Q1, Q2
- Motor 3~
- M1, M2
- PLC
- PLC1
- Contactor coil
- K1, K2
Run it in the simulator.
This circuit is ready in the CoilPath library. Open it, press the buttons and follow the current. It also comes with a wiring view and a panel layout.