Mesh pallet box

An ultrasonic sensor continuously measures the fill level of the mesh stillage and passes it to the ifm IIoT platform moneo as a process value from 0 to 100 per cent. When the container is full, moneo automatically creates a ticket, emails the staff responsible and orders an empty container. After the swap the ticket is closed, so the process remains fully digital.

With a pallet scale underneath the stillage. In the ifm example, it consists of four strain gauge sensors connected in parallel. A matching strain gauge amplifier supplies a current signal from 4 mA with the scale empty to 20 mA at a full load of 600 kg. The scale is connected to free ports on the AL2301 IO-Link module, to which the fill level sensors are already attached.

When fill level or weight shows the actual need, not according to a fixed schedule. If the disposal company comes too early, costs are wasted; if it comes too late, the container overflows. At ifm it turned out that fill level alone triggers too early with metal scrap, because it piles up in a cone. Only the combination with weight provides a reliable basis for decisions.

Via Bluetooth Mesh adapters that send the sensor signals wirelessly to a base station. At ifm, they transmit fill level and weight to the moneo Bluetooth Base, which integrates up to 50 adapters. From there the data reaches the IIoT platform moneo. This removes the wiring effort that otherwise makes monitoring expensive where cable runs are long.