Rock processing machine having an improved control panel

Abstract

A rock processing machine having functional units and a control panel that switches the rock processing machine, in a starting switching operation and, in a stopping switching operation. The control panel includes a plurality of state switching elements with which, for at least one functional unit, a state transition is associated in such a way that actuation of the state switching element on the functional unit brings about a state transition. A first set of switching elements participates in the starting switching operation, and a second set of switching elements, participates in the stopping switching operation; each set being arranged in a visually perceptible spatial arrangement that corresponds to a predetermined actuation sequence.

Claims

1. A rock processing machine, comprising: a plurality of different functional units that are each activatable at different times from an inactive state into an active state and deactivatable from the active state into the inactive state, the functional units being selected from the group consisting of a track drive unit, an internal combustion engine, a jaw crusher, a delivery chute, a pre-screen, a crusher extractor conveyor and a magnetic separator of the rock processing machine; and a control panel including: a first set of switching elements configured to switch the rock processing machine in a starting switching operation from a less-active operating state into a more-active operating state, more functional units being activated in the more-active operating state than in the less-active operating state, the first set of switching elements including at least one state switching element; and a second set of switching elements configured to switch the rock processing machine in a stopping switching operation from the more-active operating state into another less-active operating state, the second set of switching elements being at least in part different from the first set of switching elements and including at least one state switching element; wherein each of the state switching elements is configured to bring about, beyond an operating state switching operation, only exactly one state transition between the inactive state and the active state for at least one of the functional units, wherein the starting switching operation and the stopping switching operation are each operating state switching operations; and wherein each of the first and second sets of switching elements is arranged on the control panel in a visually perceptible spatial arrangement relationship corresponding to a predetermined actuation sequence of the switching elements of the respective set.

2. The rock processing machine of claim 1, wherein: each of the first and second sets of switching elements is arranged on the control panel in a haptically perceptible spatial arrangement relationship corresponding to the predetermined actuation sequence of the switching elements of the respective set.

3. The rock processing machine of claim 1, wherein: the other less-active operating state associated with the second set of switching elements is identical to the less-active operating state associated with the first set of switching elements.

4. The rock processing machine of claim 1, wherein: the at least one state switching element of the first set of switching elements includes: a first state switching element actuation of which activates a first energy supply system, the first energy supply system being one of the functional units; and a second state switching element actuation of which activates at least one working apparatus, the at least one working apparatus being another of the functional units; and the at least one state switching element of the second set of switching elements includes: a third state switching element actuation of which deactivates the at least one working apparatus; and a fourth state switching element actuation of which deactivates the first energy supply system.

5. The rock processing machine of claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of working apparatuses, the plurality of working apparatuses including the at least one working apparatus; a data memory including stored in the data memory: a starting control instruction sequence configured to activate the plurality of the working apparatuses in a predetermined chronological order; and a stopping control instruction sequence configured to deactivate the plurality of the working apparatuses in a predetermined chronological order; wherein the actuation of the second state switching element brings about execution of the starting control instruction sequence, and the actuation of the third state switching element brings about execution of the stopping control instruction sequence.

6. The rock processing machine of claim 4, wherein: the control panel further includes a special state switching element configured to both activate and deactivate a second energy supply system; and each of the first and second sets of switching elements includes an information symbol providing a pseudo-switching element spatially arranged in accordance with the respective actuation sequence of the respective set of switching elements.

7. The rock processing machine of claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of working apparatuses, the plurality of working apparatuses including the at least one working apparatus; wherein the control panel further includes a multifunction indicating apparatus configured to display, after actuation of at least one of the second and third state switching elements, an information item regarding the active or inactive state of the plurality of working apparatuses.

8. The rock processing machine of claim 1, wherein: each of the first and second sets of switching elements includes a shared control voltage switch configured such that by actuation of the shared voltage control switch a plurality of switching elements of the first set of switching elements and of the second set of switching elements are activatable and deactivatable.

9. The rock processing machine of claim 1, wherein: the first set of switching elements includes a selection switching element configured to select an operating mode from a plurality of operation modes of the rock processing machine.

10. The rock processing machine of claim 9, wherein: the first set of switching elements includes a confirmation switching element actuation of which confirms a setting state of the rock processing machine determined by the selection switching element.

11. The rock processing machine of claim 10, wherein: actuation of the confirmation switching element brings a controller into a predetermined operating state.

12. The rock processing machine of claim 10, wherein: actuation of the confirmation switching element configures a data memory in a predetermined manner.

13. The rock processing machine of claim 10, wherein: actuation of the confirmation switching element confirms an operating mode selection without prior actuation of the selection switching element.

14. The rock processing machine of claim 1, wherein: the control panel further includes a visually perceptible direction-indicating symbol arranged between two switching elements that follow one another in accordance with the predetermined actuation sequence, the symbol pointing toward the respective next switching element in the predetermined actuation sequence.

15. The rock processing machine of claim 14, wherein: the control panel further includes a haptically perceptible direction-indicating symbol arranged between two switching elements that follow one another in accordance with the predetermined actuation sequence, the haptically perceptible direction-indicating symbol pointing toward the respective next switching element in the predetermined actuation sequence.

16. The rock processing machine of claim 14, wherein: the visually perceptible direction-indicating symbols of the first set of switching elements differ from the visually perceptible direction-indicating symbols of the second set of switching elements.

17. The rock processing machine of claim 14, wherein: the switching elements of the first set of switching elements having the visually perceptible direction-indicating symbols of the first set of switching elements arranged between them, and the switching elements of the second set of switching elements having the visually perceptible direction-indicating symbols of the second set of switching elements arranged between them, are arranged along a continuously recirculating actuation sequence path.

18. The rock processing machine of claim 1, wherein: the switching elements are mechanical switching elements each including a respective switch body arranged displaceably relative to a respective switch base for actuation of the respective mechanical switching element.

19. The rock processing machine of claim 1, further comprising: a controller configured to perceptibly indicate, after actuation of a switching element, by either or both of visual and haptic emphasis in relation to the remaining switching elements, the switching element that is to be actuated next in the predetermined actuation sequence.

20. The rock processing machine of claim 1, wherein: the control panel further includes a multifunction indicating apparatus configured to display an information item representing a switching element that is to be actuated next in the predetermined actuation sequence.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be explained in further detail below with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic outline view of an embodiment according to the present invention of a rock processing machine of the present Application; and

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the control area of a control panel of the rock processing machine of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) An exemplifying rock processing machine, as disclosed in WO 2019/081186 A (U.S. 2020/246804), is labeled in FIG. 1 in general with the number 10. Machine 10 encompasses a machine frame 12 that is supported on a supporting substrate U via a track drive unit 14 that is known per se. Machine 10 is consequently a mobile rock processing machine 10 that, with its track drive unit 14 constituting a functional unit, can travel independently to its utilization site at least from a transport apparatus, for example a lowboy trailer.

(5) Machine 10 encompasses as a further functional unit an internal combustion engine 16, for instance a diesel engine, that constitutes a central power plant of machine 10. Internal combustion engine 16 can, for example, drive a hydraulic motor 18 and an electrical generator 20, so that when internal combustion engine 16 is in operation, a predetermined hydraulic pressure level, and an electrical energy supply beyond merely electrical energy stored in batteries, is available on machine 10.

(6) Machine 10 comprises as a further functional unit a determining working apparatus, namely a jaw crusher 22. The right (in FIG. 1) crushing jaw 24 is driven by a cam 26 to move reciprocatingly toward and away from machine-frame-mounted crushing jaw 28, with an oscillating change in crushing gap 29 existing between crushing jaws 24 and 28. The motion of cam 26 is furnished by internal combustion engine 16.

(7) Jaw crusher 22 is loaded via a delivery unit 30 with material 32 to be comminuted in jaw crusher 22. As a functional unit and working apparatus, machine 10 comprises a delivery chute 34 that, constituting a vibratory conveyor, conveys material 32 placed therein to a double-decker prescreen 36. Double-decker prescreen 36 is driven during operation to vibrate circularly, and likewise constitutes a functional unit and working apparatus. A fines component 35 and a component 37 having a medium grain size are separated therein and conveyed separately from the remaining material 32. Fines component 35 can be, for example, directed out of machine 10. Medium grain size component 37 can be conveyed directly onto crusher extractor conveyor 38, which constitutes a further functional unit and working apparatus and which also conveys comminuted material 40, emerging from jaw crusher 22 after passing therethrough, away from jaw crusher 22 to an ejection location 42 from which material 40 that has been comminuted as intended is discharged.

(8) Along the conveying path from crusher gap 29 to ejection location 42, material 37 and 40 is carried past a further functional unit that is also a working apparatus. This is magnetic separator 44, which is operated with electrical energy and which magnetically segregates ferromagnetic components, for instance steel reinforcements, out of comminuted material 37 and 40 and conveys the segregated ferromagnetic material away from machine frame 12 in a direction projecting out from the drawing plane of FIG. 1.

(9) Machine 10 is controlled by a control panel 50, arranged by way of example laterally on machine frame 12, which will be explained in further detail below in conjunction with FIG. 2.

(10) FIG. 2 depicts, in a schematic plan view, control panel 50 that is merely indicated in FIG. 1. Arranged on a control area 52 facing toward an actuating operator are a multifunction indicating apparatus 54, for instance a touchscreen; an emergency shutoff switch 56 known per se; a first set 58 of switching elements; and a second set 60, separate therefrom, having further switching elements.

(11) Control panel 50 furthermore comprises a control apparatus 62 indicated merely with dashed lines, and a data memory 64 also indicated merely with dashed lines. The control apparatus 62 may also be referred to as a controller 62.

(12) Control apparatus 62 is signal-transferringly connected to multifunction indicating apparatus 54, to the switching elements of control area 52, and to a machine control system, and transfers control instructions, inputted by an operator via control area 52, to the machine control system, which applies control to the relevant functional units 14, 16, 22, 34, 36, 38, and 44 on the basis of the transferred control instructions.

(13) First set 58 of switching elements serves for execution of a starting switching operation, by which machine 10 is intended to be switched from a completely shut-down operating state into an operating state that is operationally ready for comminution operation as intended.

(14) Second set 60 of switching elements serves to execute a stopping switching operation, by which machine 10 is intended to be switched from the operationally ready operating state back into the shut-down operating state.

(15) The switching elements of first set 58 and of second set 60 are arranged, successively clockwise (when viewing FIG. 2) in accordance with their actuation sequence, along a continuously recirculating actuation sequence path 66. When the plurality of different functional units disclosed herein are described as being each activatable at different times it is mean that the functional units are activated in sequence one after the other, and not simultaneously.

(16) First set 58 and second set 60 contain a control voltage switch 68 in the form of a key switch, which is the first switching element of first set 58 to be actuated and the last switching element of second set 60 to be actuated. Control voltage switch 68 can be switched between the “on” and “off” states, represented by the symbols “I” for “on” and “O” for “off.” With control voltage switch 68 in the “on” state, control panel 50 is supplied with electrical energy and the switching elements of first set 58 and of second set 60 are activated. The switching of control voltage switch 68 into the “on” state can furthermore result in further activations on machine 10, for example supplying basic electrical energy to control apparatuses.

(17) In the starting switching operation, the switching on of control voltage switch 68 is followed by selection of an operating mode, from among a plurality of operating modes A, B, or C, using selection switching element 70. Selection switching element 70 is preferably likewise configured as a key switch in order to ensure that only a sufficiently authorized operator can modify the operating mode of machine 10.

(18) In the actuation sequence of the starting switching operation, selection switching element 70 is followed by a confirmation switching element 72 in the exemplifying form of a pushbutton. Actuation of confirmation switching element 70 confirms, during a starting switching operation, that an operating mode has been selected and that the switch positions of selection switching element 70 will not be further modified. The actuation of confirmation switching element 72 can additionally bring control apparatus 62 and/or data memory 64 into a predetermined initial state for the selected operating mode. For example, an error memory from a previous, completed operating phase can be deleted or archived, and operating parameters of control apparatus 62 can be initialized.

(19) In the actuation sequence of first set 58 for executing the starting switching operation, actuation of confirmation switching element 72 is followed by actuation of a first state switching element 74, once again in the form of a pushbutton. First state switching element 74 starts diesel engine 16, constituting the basic power plant of machine 10. A first energy supply system is therefore available to machine 10 once first state switching element 74 is actuated, since the energy of the diesel engine, by driving corresponding accessories, makes available hydraulic pressure, optionally pneumatic pressure, and electrical energy beyond that of a battery reservoir.

(20) Along actuation sequence path 66, first state switching element 74 is followed in the actuation sequence by activation of the electrical energy supply of the functional units, and in particular of working apparatuses 14, 22, 34, 36, 38, and 44 of machine 10, by actuation of a special state switching element 76 arranged outside first set 58 and outside second set 60. Special state switching element 76 is preferably likewise arranged on control panel 50, but can also be arranged remotely therefrom. Special state switching element 76 can also be arranged on control panel 50, but not on control area 52 and instead, for instance, on a lateral surface of control panel 50.

(21) For safety reasons, all electrical power switched by special state switching element 76 flows via special state switching element 76 itself, and for that reason it occupies a physical volume that prevents placement in actuation sequence path 66. Because of this power transfer, special state switching element 76 is also referred to among specialists as a “main switch.”

(22) Special state switching element 76 furthermore switches both from “on” to “off” and from “off” to “on.” Special state switching element 76 therefore has two state transitions for the same technical function content (here, electrical energy supply) associated with it, whereas only exactly one state transition is associated with first state switching element 74, and with the subsequent second state switching element 80, for each function unit switchable by switching elements 74 and 80 between an inactive and active state. The electrical energy supply system activated in the starting switching operation must be deactivated again in the stopping switching operation. A realization of these two state transitions using two separate switching elements, however, would not be able to meet, or would meet only with an undesirably high outlay, the requirement (which exists for safety reasons) that the switched electrical power also flow via the switching element that switches it.

(23) Special state switching element 76 is therefore represented both in first set 58 and in second set 60, as a pseudo-switching element 78, merely by a symbol that indicates to the operator at control panel 50 that special state switching element 76 is to be actuated after first state switching element 74 in the actuation sequence. Pseudo-switching element 78 is, however, treated and regarded in the present Application, in the arrangement of the switching elements in first set 58 and in second set 60, as a switching element.

(24) Pseudo-switching element 78, or the actuation of special state switching element 76, is followed in first set 58, as a final switching element, by second state switching element 80, once again in the exemplifying form of a pushbutton. A starting control instruction sequence, which control apparatus 62 executes upon actuation of second state switching element 80, is stored in data memory 64. In that starting control instruction sequence, beyond the starting switching operation, a plurality of functional units and working apparatuses 14, 16, 22, 34, 36, 38, and 44 has associated with it exactly one change of state, usually an activation.

(25) The activation progress of machine 10 can be outputted on multifunction indicating apparatus 54 to accompany the actuation of the switching elements of first set 58, so that the operator at control panel 50 recognizes when the starting switching operation is complete and machine 10 is ready to operate.

(26) In order to make the actuation sequence of switching elements 68 to 80 of first set 58 unequivocally recognizable for the operator, direction-indicating arrow symbols 82 or direction-indicating triangle symbols 84, depending on the space available, are arranged between the switching elements. Direction-indicating symbols 82 and 84 point, from a switching element that is to be actuated earlier, toward the switching element that is to be respectively actuated next, after actuation thereof, along actuation sequence path 66.

(27) In the example depicted, symbols 82 and 84 are additionally embodied as respective haptically perceptible elevated configurations 86 and 88. By casting shadows, elevated configurations 86 and 88 assist not only the visual perceptibility of symbols 82 and 84 but furthermore can be felt even in poor lighting conditions or if control area 52 is heavily soiled.

(28) A further direction-indicating arrow symbol 90, which is simultaneously a haptically perceptible elevated configuration 92, leads from the last switching element 80 of first set 58 to the first switching element 94 of second set 60. Switching element 94 is a third state switching element 94, actuation of which causes a stopping control instruction sequence stored in data memory 64 to be executed by control apparatus 62, with the result that functional units and working apparatuses 14, 16, 22, 34, 36, 38, and 44 that are stored in the stopping control instruction sequence are deactivated in a sequence stored in the stopping control instruction sequence. After complete execution of the stopping control instruction sequence, initiated by the actuation of third state switching element 94, machine 10 as a rule is in the same operating state as before actuation of second state switching element 80. This does not necessarily mean, however, that the stopping control instruction sequence is merely the reverse of the sequence of functional units and working apparatuses 14, 16, 22, 34, 36, 38, and 44 of the starting control instruction sequence, with a respectively associated opposite change of state.

(29) After third state switching element 94 in the actuation sequence of the stopping switching operation, special state switching element 76, indicated on control area 52 by pseudo-switching element 78 in second set 60, must again be actuated. Because it is in the “on” state after the starting switching operation, the actuation of switching element 76 signifies a switching actuation into the “off” state.

(30) The actuation of special state switching element 76, and thus the deactivation of an electrical power supply to the associated functional units and working apparatuses, is followed, in the actuation sequence along actuation sequence path 66, by a fourth state switching element 96 by which diesel engine 16 becomes deactivated. After the deactivation of diesel engine 16, what remains as the last actuation in the stopping switching operation is the actuation of control voltage switch 68, and withdrawal of the key required for actuation thereof.

(31) The actuation sequence of switching elements 94, 78, 96, and 68 of second set 60 is once again indicated by direction-indicating arrow symbols 98 and direction-indicating triangle symbols 100, depending on available space, between the switching elements of second set 60. Once again, arrow symbols 98 and triangle symbols 100 are also respectively elevated configurations 102, 104 that can still be felt in poor lighting conditions and/or when heavily soiled, even though they might possibly no longer be recognizable by their color alone.

(32) The different cross-hatching in FIG. 2 of direction-indicating symbols and configurations 82 to 88 of first set 58 on the one hand, and of direction-indicating symbols 98 to 104 of second set 60 on the other hand, indicates that direction-indicating symbols and configurations 82 to 88 of first set 58 have, for better differentiation, a different color and/or a different haptically detectable texture than direction-indicating symbols and configurations 98 to 104 of second set 60. Direction-indicating symbol 90, which at the same time is a direction-indicating configuration 92, likewise differs from the symbols and configurations of first and second set 58, 60 in terms of color and/or texture, since symbol 90 or configuration 92 does not belong only to first set 58 or only to second set 60.

(33) If the operation of machine 10 as intended is firstly terminated by way of emergency shutoff switch 56, a resumption of the operation of machine 10 does not require another actuation of control voltage switch 68 or, as a rule, an actuation of selection switching element 70. In that case, after release of emergency shutoff switch 56, which is usually mechanically immobilized after actuation, operation of the machine is reestablished using a starting procedure that begins with confirmation switching element 72 as the first switching element to be actuated.

(34) Control apparatus 62 is embodied to emphasize the respective switching element to be actuated next in an operating state switching operation, and indicate it to the operator, by illuminating that switching element.

(35) For better clarity and thus in order to further reduce incorrect operation, state switching elements 80 and 94 on the one hand and 74 and 96 on the other hand, which are respectively associated with the same functional units but with opposite changes of state, are arranged on control area 52 in columnar fashion below one another, while all switching elements 70 to 80 of the starting switching operation and all switching elements 94, 78, and 96 of the stopping switching operation (with the exception of control voltage switch 68) are arranged in different rows next to another in rows. This arrangement can of course be interchanged as to rows and columns.

(36) The risk of incorrect operation of machine 10 is considerably reduced with control panel 50 of FIG. 2.