APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IN-BELT CONVEYOR IDLER CONDITION MONITORING
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- sensing a characteristic of a support structure of a conveyor belt using a sensor mechanically coupled to the conveyor belt;
wirelessly transmitting a signal corresponding to the sensed characteristic; and
determining a condition of the support structure based upon the transmitted signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system are provided for in-belt conveyor idler condition monitoring. A sensor is mechanically coupled to a conveyor belt and senses a characteristic of a support structure associated with the conveyor belt. The sensor wirelessly transmits a corresponding signal to a monitor system. The monitor system determines a condition of the support structure based upon the transmitted signal.
The support structure may be one of a plurality of support structures and characteristics of each of the support structures may be sensed, associated with identifiers for the support structures, and transmitted to the monitor system. The support structure may include a plurality of elements and a characteristic of each element may be sensed and transmitted by one of a corresponding plurality of sensors.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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sensing a characteristic of a support structure of a conveyor belt using a sensor mechanically coupled to the conveyor belt; wirelessly transmitting a signal corresponding to the sensed characteristic; and determining a condition of the support structure based upon the transmitted signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system comprising:
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a conveyor belt; a support structure associated with the conveyor belt; a sensor mechanically coupled to the conveyor belt; and a monitor system; wherein; the sensor is operable to sense a characteristic of the support structure and to wirelessly transmit a signal corresponding to the sensed characteristic to the monitor system; and the monitor system is operable to determine a condition of the support structure based upon the transmitted signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising:
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a sensor mechanically coupled to a conveyor belt and operable to; detect a characteristic of a support structure associated with the conveyor belt; and produce a first signal responsive to the detected characteristic; a controller operable to; receive the first signal from the sensor; store the first signal; and produce a second signal according to the stored first signal; and a wireless interface operable to receive the second signal and wirelessly transmit the second signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification