Conveyor system, belt, and method using accelerometers
First Claim
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1. A conveyor system comprising:
- a conveyor including a conveyor belt conveying articles in a conveying direction along a conveying path;
an accelerometer embedded in the conveyor belt to make measurements of accelerations of the conveyor belt in multiple directions including the conveying direction;
a controller processing the measurements;
a damper controlled by the controller to damp accelerations of the conveyor belt in the conveying direction in response to the measurements of the acceleration of the conveyor belt in the conveying direction.
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Abstract
Conveying systems and method for measuring accelerations in a conveyor advancing through process equipment and taking remedial and prophylactic action in response. The conveyor system includes a conveyor with embedded accelerometers making measurements conveyor accelerations. A controller uses the measurements to control the speed of the conveyor to compensate for unwanted accelerations or to damp the unwanted accelerations. The controller can also use the measurements to warn of unwanted accelerations or to predict the failure of associated or nearby equipment so that maintenance can be scheduled and to detect imminent failures and shut down the process.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A conveyor system comprising:
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a conveyor including a conveyor belt conveying articles in a conveying direction along a conveying path; an accelerometer embedded in the conveyor belt to make measurements of accelerations of the conveyor belt in multiple directions including the conveying direction; a controller processing the measurements; a damper controlled by the controller to damp accelerations of the conveyor belt in the conveying direction in response to the measurements of the acceleration of the conveyor belt in the conveying direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for measuring the acceleration of a conveyor belt, comprising:
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driving a conveyor belt having at least one embedded accelerometer in a conveying direction along a conveyor carryway; making measurements of the acceleration of the conveyor belt in multiple directions including the conveying direction with the at least one embedded accelerometer; controlling the motion of the conveyor belt in the conveying direction in response to the measurements of the acceleration. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification