Conveyor system comprising a friction coefficient measuring device

Abstract

In a conveyor system a conveyor (2) having a conveyor surface (3) transports items. An optional lubricant dispensing device (5) dispenses a lubricant composition on the conveyor surface. A friction coefficient measuring device (6) measures a quantity proportional to the friction coefficient of said conveyor surface and provides a signal indicative for said measured quantity proportional to the friction coefficient. The friction coefficient measuring device comprises a contact portion (11) for contacting the conveyor surface. A control means (7) receives the signal indicative for said measured quantity. The control means can be arranged for providing a further signal when said measured quantity exceeds a threshold value or for regulating the lubricant amount to be dispensed based on the measured quantity in order to maintain the measured quantity proportional to the friction coefficient within a predetermined range. The measuring device comprises a replacement device for automatically replacing the contact portion of the friction coefficient measuring device.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to conveyors and lubrication systems comprising: [0002] a conveyor having a conveyor surface arranged for transporting items on the conveyor surface along a conveyor path; [0003] lubricant spreading equipment for spreading a lubricant composition onto the conveyor surface; [0004] a coefficient of friction measuring device for measuring a quantity proportional to the coefficient of friction of the conveyor surface and providing a signal representative of the measured quantity proportional to the coefficient of friction, said coefficient of friction measuring device comprising a in contact with the conveyor surface; and [0005] a control device for controlling said lubricant dispensing device, said measuring device being operatively connectable to said control device for supplying said signal representative of the measured quantity proportional to the coefficient of friction to said The control device is arranged for...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

While the actual friction, or coefficient of friction, between the item and the conveyor in this system is measured based on instantaneous operating conditions and used to apply the desired amount of lubricant to the conveyor surface, the small housing that keeps the measurement item The use significantly interferes with the "normal" transport of items on the conveyor along the conveyor path, which results in a reduction in throughput time

Also, it has been found in practice, however, that the measurements are based on instantaneous operating conditions in some cases, for example, where bottles transported on conveyors can tip over and cannot even overcome small inclinations

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