Method for self-synchronizing a conveyor belt sensor system

• US 7,740,128 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2005
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ContiTech USA, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Veyance Technologies Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Wallace, Jack Bruce, Gartland, John James
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARP, WILLIAM RAY
• Application Number:
  US11/269,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20070102264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 198/618, 198/810.01, 198/810.02, 198/502.1, 198/810.03, 340/676
• US Class Current: 198/618
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/02 detecting dangerous physical condition of load carriers, e.g. for interrupting the drive in the event of overheating

Abstract

A self-synchronizing system and method for conveyor belt sensor operation is disclosed based on the address of an RFID tag in the belt and the location of that tag in the system memory. A moving conveyor belt system has a plurality of sensors spaced along the belt and a sensor reader for detecting and identifying the presence of a sensor passing by the sensor reader. The belt further includes a plurality of identification tags spaced along the belt and a tag reader for detecting and identifying the presence of a tag passing by the tag reader. Associated time and distance target values are acquired from a calibration table for a next sensor (S1) based upon a detected and identified functional tag. Time and distance counters are initiated. The conveyor belt may be stopped in the event that the next sensor (S1) is not detected before the time and distance target values are exceeded.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing sensor detection in a moving conveyor belt system of the system type having a plurality of sensors spaced along the belt and a sensor reader for detecting and identifying the presence of a sensor passing by the sensor reader, and a plurality of identification tags spaced along the belt and a tag reader for detecting and identifying the presence of a tag passing by the tag reader, the sensor reader configured for detecting and identifying the presence of a sensor independent of the functionality of an identification tag, and a control unit for recording and monitoring time and distance data, the method comprising:

calibrating the system by determining associated sensor separations in time and distance data relative to each of the identification tags, continuing this process until a repeating pattern of identification tags is detected and identified by the control unit;

acquiring associated time and distance target values from a calibration table for a first sensor (S1) based upon a detected and identified functional tag;

initiating time and distance counters;

determining whether the first sensor (S1) is detected within the time and distance target values, further comprising;

wherein said control unit automatically updates time and distance values in the event that the first sensor (S1) is not detected, based on the next detected functioning tag, thus automatically updating said calibration table.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting and identifying a functioning tag; and

acquiring associated time and distance target values for a second sensor (S2) from the identified functioning tag in the event that the first sensor (S1) is detected and identified within the time and distance target values.

3. A self-synchronizing sensor system for a moving conveyor belt of the belt type having a plurality of sensors spaced along the belt and a sensor reader for detecting and identifying the presence of a sensor passing by the sensor reader, the system comprising:

a plurality of identification tags spaced along the belt;

a tag reader for detecting and identifying the presence of a tag passing by the tag reader, wherein the sensor reader is configured for detecting and identifying the presence of a sensor independent of the functionality of an identification tag;

a control unit configured for determining associated sensor separations in time and distance data relative to each of the identification tags during calibration of the system;

acquiring associated time and distance target values from a calibration table for a first sensor (S1);

initiating time and distance counters;

determining whether the first sensor (S1) is detected within the time and distance target values; and

stopping the conveyor belt in the event that the first sensor (S1) is detected after the time and distance target values are exceeded; and

,

wherein the control unit is further configured for detecting and identifying a functioning tag; and

acquiring associated time and distance target values for a second sensor (S2) as measured from the identified functioning tag in the event that the first sensor (S1) is not detected and identified within the time and distance target values.

4. A self-synchronizing sensor system for a moving conveyor belt of the belt type having a plurality of sensors spaced along the belt and a sensor reader for detecting and identifying the presence of a sensor passing by the sensor reader, the system comprising:

a plurality of identification tags spaced along the belt;

a tag reader for detecting and identifying the presence of a tag passing by the tag reader, wherein the sensor reader is configured for detecting and identifying the presence of a sensor independent of the functionality of an identification tag;

a control unit configured for determining associated sensor separations in time and distance data relative to each of the identification tags during calibration of the system;

acquiring associated time and distance target values from a calibration table for a first sensor (S1);

initiating time and distance counters;

determining whether the first sensor (S1) is detected within the time and distance target values; and

stopping the conveyor belt in the event that the first sensor (S1) is detected after the time and distance target values are exceeded; and

,

wherein the control unit is further configured for detecting and identifying a functioning tag;

acquiring associated time and distance target values for a second sensor (S2) as measured from the identified functioning tag in the event that the first sensor (S1) is detected and identified within the time and distance target values; and

acquiring associated time and distance target values for a second sensor (S2) as measured from the identified functioning tag in the event that the first sensor (S1) is not detected and identified within the time and distance target values without stopping the belt when the control unit is set to skip one non-functioning sensor.