Wireless software for Crane scales

Purpose

Software program with wireless communication is designed for various crane scales applications at industrial enterprise. Range of these applications is wide, beginning from weight indication to operational planning and material flow management in workshop.

Composition and structure

Each enterprise is unique, it has own strategic profile and level of business logic and production processes automation. To meet various requirements to functions and scale of accounting problems, crane scales software is divided into several levels or packages:

• Basic. Weighing indicator and digital lad cell monitoring
• Standard. Weighing registration, documents composing and synchronization with personal computer
• Extended. Crane scales network with ability to synchronize weighing processes and account documents in real time.
• Custom. Operational control of material flow in scales network with wireless access.

Add-ins and extensions

Every following software level includes functionality and components of previous level, and adds new features and additional service functions. You can transfer from one level to the higher one by means of service pack. In rare case if none of offered typical packages provides required functionality, custom arrangement of required software package on the basis of various-level software modules is possible.

Design basis

Crane scales software with wireless communication is based on Microsoft.NET platform (Framework 2.0 and CompactFramework 2.0). This feature provides developed software independence from hardware platform and equipment.

Basic

Basic software set is designed for scales management and digital load cell monitoring. It does not have any weight recording or stock-taking functions, thus it can be recommended only as initial set for small department with 1-2 scales. This set allows saving some money at initial stage, if you do not have PC for accounting, or if you plan to introduce information system later.

This set provides operation “in old manner” – similar to common electronic or mechanical scales. Weigher sees weight on digital indicator and records weighing result to paper log (stock book). Basic software level includes PocketScale software module, which supports all functions required for weighing operation.

PocketScale PocketScale module supports wireless Bluetooth connection with required digital load cell, weight and tare values reading and indication. In addition to typical digital scales functions, including zero adjustment and tare weight deduction, software indicates load cell status (weighing range, operating temperature, battery charge and communication signal quality). If load cell fails or its parameters go outside operating range (for example, at critical battery discharge), software module indicates warning messages and advices on further operation.
		The PocketScale window (indication of stable weight)

Standard

Standard delivery set is designed for weighing station, which includes several crane scales (1 – 10). In addition to scales management and monitoring, this software level allows recording weighing results, composing stock-tacking documents and transferring them from weighing station to PC.

In addition to PocketScale, standard delivery package includes the following software modules:

• PocketRegister – software for weighing results registration and stock-taking documents composition.
• PocketSync and HostSync modules, that provide weighing data transmission, freight and partner directories synchronization between weighing station and PC.

PocketRegister

Module records weighing process to internal database. Together with Netto and Tare, the following characteristics are also recorded: operation date and time, type and title of product, operator’s personal information, order code and scales title/code. Registration takes minimal time and does not require special personnel skills.

Choising of weight type using PocketRegister programm		Creating the shipping document on preliminarily fitted demand

The module also generates stock-taking documents (invoices), it allows to work on preliminary applications (orders). 3 document types (shipment, acceptance and stock-taking) are supported as a standard, but user can add his own document types, for example, product movement from one storehouse to another. Document adding procedure is described in detail in delivered documents.

PocketSync и HostSync These modules provide data exchange between weighing station (palmtop) and personal computer (PC) as XML files. PC transfers directories of freights and partners, and palmtop transfers composed accounting documents (invoices). Then, these documents can be uploaded to enterprise information system for further processing.
		The data exchange process indication with PocketSync programm

Integration

Standard package includes tools that allow to integrate crane scales software in automated accounting system of the enterprise. Integration layout is given in the picture below: Integraction of basic software and enterprise accounting system. It is easy to include weighing registration in enterprise accounting system. One should just develop special integration module or gateway. IT-department, which maintains corporate accounting system, can carry out this procedure. It is described in detail in documents included in standard delivery package.

Extended

Extended software package is designed for automation of production department, which includes large number of crane scales and weighing stations. This level allows to unit all weighing equipment in a network, which provides data transmission and stock-taking documents transfer in real-time mode. Various structures of such network are given in the picture below:

Add-ins and extensions Every following software level includes functionality and components of previous level, and adds new features and additional service functions. You can transfer from one level to the higher one by means of service pack. In rare case if none of offered typical packages provides required functionality, custom arrangement of required software package on the basis of various-level software modules is possible.

In addition to standard package, extended software package includes the following components and software modules:

• database server for weighing network
• HostServer and PocketServer – data exchange module in real-time
• Gateway1C – software gateway for standard 1C-Predprijatie8.0 configuration
• ComConnector – programmer’s set (SDK) for development of integration modules (gateways) and access to weighing network.

Moreover, this delivery set includes a programmer’s set, which includes a number of libraries for weighing database access and gateways development for various accounting systems.

This software level allows to organize weighing data collection, orders delivery and stock-taking documents composition in real-time via wireless WiFi network. It also allows to easily integrate weight accounting to general information system of the enterprise.

Corporative

This software level allows to automate material flow stock-taking activity completely.

In addition to Extended package, Corporative package includes several automated workplaces for the following categories of workers:

• Weigher: PC can be connected to several scales simultaneously via Bluetooth and compose stock-taking documents.
• Shipping coordinator: he can form and distribute orders between weighers (weighing stations) and control orders execution in real-time.
• Director: he can form various reports for workshop material flow analysis and planning.
• Weighing database manager: he can control software and equipment (scales and weighing stations) operation, enrich and update directories.

	Levels and composition of crane scales software Scales model Software level Software composition Functions Expert-B Basic PocketScale Provides wireless Bluetooth connection with selected digital load cell, weight and tare values reading and indication. Expert-S Standard PocketSync, HotSync, PocketRegister Module records weighing results to internal database. It also forms stock-taking documents (invoices), it can work on preliminary applications (orders). 3 document types (shipment, acceptance and stock-taking) are supported as a standard, but user can add his own document types, for example, product movement from one storehouse to another. Expert-E Extended PocketSync, HotSync, PocketRegister, Weighing network server, ON-LINE module, gateway program This software level allows to organize weighing data collection, orders delivery and stock-taking documents composition in real-time via wireless WiFi network. It also allows to easily integrate weight accounting to general information system of the enterprise. Expert-C Corporative PocketSync, HotSync, PocketRegister, Weighing network server, ON-LINE module, gateway program, automated workplaces In addition to extended package, this level is developed on customer’s order, it includes automated workplaces and allows to completely automate material flow stock-taking activity in the enterprise’s workshop.