Comparing the Functional Safety Ensured by Safety Relays and CIP Safety Communication in Palletizing Machines

Abstract: The authors describe the basics of the CIP protocol, show measures to ensure the CIP protocol safety in transmitting safety-related information, and compare the classic data package with the CIP-Safety information transported over the Ethernet. We propose to use the Ethernet to transfer safety information even at the highest level of safety integrity; in the actual designing of the safety functions, the network does not constitute a bottle neck, which will be demonstrated on palletizing machinery. This paper contains also a calculation of the MTTF d for both discussed scenarios.