Application Spotlight Easily Replace Error-Prone Barcoding on an Industrial Network with IO-Link RFID

Incorporating an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system into a bus network can be daunting, time consuming, and expensive. Even though RFID is a more reliable method, these factors often prevent RFID from being used over barcoding. Imagine, however, if connecting an RFID system to a network was just as easy as connecting discrete I/O without adding any additional cost. Balluffs new IO-Link based RFID systems do just that. The IO-Link protocol allows the user to connect a complex device, such as an RFID processor, to an industrial network via a gateway using standard discrete sensor wiring its a simple plug and play operation. Benefits of using IO-Link RFID over barcoding n Simplified network topology with IO-Link Expansion Module, which treats the RFID data like standard I/O n Easy establishment of RFID raw data into input/output buffer similar to standard I/O n Simplified wiring with standard, shielded 3-conductor sensor cables to connect RFID to bus network n Reduced costs (typical savings of 12% per ID point) by running multiple RFID readers off one Expansion Module

PROFIBUS/ PROFINET

Enclosure

Serial Output: - Barcode number

Expansion Module

30 minute installation

PS

Nine Conductors

RFID vs. Barcoding Saves Money and Installation Time

IO-Link Expansion Module

1 minute installation PROFIBUS/ PROFINET

IO-Link Output: - ID number - parameterization - diagnostics

Three Conductors

Barcodes are often used in industrial applications such as pallet assembly. RS232 barcode applications typically carry high installation costs, due to the price of the shielded RS232 cables and an RS232 communication module for the PLC. Because of cable length limitations of serial communication, there can also be additional cost for an I/O enclosure placed between the barcode readers and the PLC. The Balluff IO-Link solution utilizes cost-equivalent IO-Link-based RFID heads and processors, and offers 100% data reliability that the barcode readers do not. In addition, the Balluff solution can replace the I/O enclosure, four shielded cordsets, and a 4-port RS232 PLC module with a single IO-Link Expansion Module and four 3-conductor, shielded cordsets. The installation is simplified, the cost reduced, and the data reliability improved with the Balluff solution, and any unused IO-Link ports are available to add additional RFID units, analog devices, discrete sensors, etc. or a combination of these.

Order Code
BNI000C

Part Number
BNI-PBS-501-000-Z001

Description
IO-Link Expansion module - 4 IOLink ports, 12 Input ports IO-Link Expansion module - 4 IO-Link ports, 12 Input/Output configurable Read-only processor for IO-Link with integrated head M12x1 Male/Female, straight, doubleended, shielded, 4-wire, 5 m length 1 1 2

BNI000E

BNI-PBS-502-000-Z001

BIS00CZ BCC015N

BIS L-409-045-001-07-S4 BKS-S220-14/S222-PU-05

2 3 3

www.balluff.com/RFID
Balluff, Inc. n 8125 Holton Drive Florence, KY 41042 n 1-800-543-8390 n www.balluff.com

PS_048 Easily Replace Error-Prone Barcoding on an Industrial Network with IO-Link RFID 2010-10