Conveyor belt system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a conveyor belt system (1) with an endlessly closed conveyor belt (10) and with a drive drum (11) and a deflection drum (12) around which the conveyor belt (10) is endlessly closed, wherein the drive drum (11) is designed to drive the conveyor belt (10) in a conveying direction (A). The conveyor belt system (1) is characterized by a monitoring unit (14) which is directed towards at least one drum (11, 12) and is designed to optically detect the outside of the drum (11, 12), wherein the conveyor belt system (1), preferably the monitoring unit (14) and / or a control unit of the conveyor belt system (1), is designed to detect damage (3) to the outside of the drum (11, 12) in the optically detected data.

Description

The present invention relates to a conveyor belt installation.For transporting, in particular, loose material to be conveyed, such as bulk material, such as in the form of stones, ore, coal, cereals, granules and the like, in mining, in industry and on the transport paths, conveyor belts are frequently used, which can also be referred to as transport belts. Such conveyor belts are used continuously closed in a conveyor belt installation or in a conveyor belt installation. The conveyor belts usually consist at least substantially of a flexible material, such as an elastomeric material, such as vulcanized rubber, also called rubber, in which tensile carriers or reinforcing carriers running in the direction of tension, transport direction or movement direction are embedded for transmitting the tensile forces. Such tension members can be in conveyor belts which have to convey comparatively large or heavy loads, in particular steel cables.Likewise, conveyor belts are known which are suitable for smaller applications and have textile fabrics as tension carriers. Such applications can likewise convey loose goods.In any case, such conveying installations, which can also be referred to as conveyors, usually extend at least substantially in the horizontal plane, such that the individual components or installation parts of the conveying installation are arranged on a base. The components of a conveying installation, which can also be referred to as installation parts, usually include at least one drive drum, which can be operated in a rotary manner by means of a drive, and at least one deflecting roller at the opposite end of the conveying installation. The conveyor belt is continuously closed and placed tautly around the drive drum and around the deflection roller, so that the upper region of the conveyor belt, which can also be referred to as upper strand, can be moved in the one direction by means of the drive of the drive drum and the lower region of the conveyor belt, which can also be referred to as lower strand, can be moved in the opposite direction.Between the drive drum and the deflection roller, numerous rollers are usually arranged, which support the upper strand and the lower strand of the conveyor belt from below in the vertical direction. Such rollers can also be referred to as carrying rollers. Usually, in the upper run of the conveyor belt, a plurality of, and in particular three, rollers are arranged next to one another in the transverse direction, and the outer rollers are set at an angle to the horizontal plane. This results in a troughed shape of the upper run of the conveyor belt, so that the loose bulk material can be held laterally in the transverse direction to a certain extent on the surface of the upper side of the conveyor belt.Since such conveyed goods are frequently formed pointed and sharp-edged, these conveyed goods can lead to damage to the flexible material of the conveyor belt at the feed point thereof during transport and in particular due to their impact on the surface of the upper side of the conveyor belt. As a result, the elastomeric material of the conveyor belt can be removed at points and thereby weakened. Apertures can even occur as far as the underside of the conveyor belt. In this case, increasing damage can extend as far as the tension members and also damage them. As a result of such damage, the tension members can also be severed in the longitudinal direction. The tension members as steel cables can also be damaged by corrosion if the flexible material can no longer protect the tension members from external influences such as weather influences such as moisture. This applies to textile tensile supports.Such damage can lead to a failure of the conveyor system, for example, due to tearing of the conveyor belt in the transverse direction and or through slots extending in the longitudinal direction through the flexible material of the conveyor belt. This can lead to a loss of the material to be conveyed, which is located on the upper run of the conveyor belt at this time, and to corresponding environmental damage. Also, the purchase and assembly of a new conveyor belt can cause expense and costs. In particular, however, due to the standstill of the conveying installation and, if appropriate, due to the standstill caused thereby, for example, of the entire mine, the entire production installation, the entire port terminal, the entire railway station and the like, very high costs can arise due to the failure of the corresponding production or transport capacities. It should also be noted that such conveyor belts are usually produced segment by segment over a longer period of time, transported to the place of use and must be closed there in an endless manner, which requires a corresponding chronological advance or time requirement.For monitoring such conveyor belts for damage and in particular for longitudinal slots, it is therefore known to use methods and devices for monitoring which automatically and as early as possible detect such damage and in particular a longitudinal slot and can react to it, for example, by stopping the conveyor belt, in order to avoid further damage or enlarging the damage.For this purpose, conductor loops, transponders and the like can be embedded in the cover plate of the conveyor belt and detected from outside the conveyor belt by the conveyor belt installation. From the absence of an expected conductor loop, it is then possible to infer damage at this point. Such devices and methods are known, for example, from DE 196 43 997 A1, from DE 197 21 916 A1, from DE 199 02 508 A1 or from EP 0 753 472 A1.It is also known to monitor the outer surface of a conveyor belt for damage optically, magnetically or by means of X-ray radiation.The drive drums, deflection rollers and rollers already mentioned above usually have a steel drum with a rubber covering, which increases the friction between the roller or drum and the conveyor belt.The lining of these rollers or drums wears over time during normal operation. In addition to wear, the lining may be damaged by trapped material. Grooves or notches can lead to failure of the conveyor belt and thus to unscheduled stops of the entire conveyor belt installation.An object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor belt installation of the type described at the beginning, so that the possibilities for detecting damage to the rollers can be improved. At least, an alternative to the known possibilities is to be created.The object is achieved according to the invention by a conveyor belt installation having the features according to claim 1. Advantageous refinements are described in the dependent claims.Thus, the present invention relates to a conveyor belt installation having an endlessly closed conveyor belt and having a drive drum and a deflection drum around which the conveyor belt is endlessly closed, wherein the drive drum is designed to drive the conveyor belt in a conveying direction.The conveyor belt installation according to the invention is characterized by a monitoring unit which is directed at a drum and is designed to optically detect the outer side of the drum, wherein the conveyor belt installation, preferably the monitoring unit and or a control unit of the conveyor belt installation, is designed to detect damage to the outer side of the drum in the optically detected data.Thus, according to the invention, monitoring of the conveyor belt installation can take place precisely at the movable elements of the conveyor belt installation. Accordingly, damage can be automatically detected there and reacted to this, as will be described in more detail below. In this case, damage to the drum covering, which can usually be a rubber covering, can be detected in particular. The rubber covering then represents the outer side of the drum.According to one aspect of the invention, the conveyor belt installation, preferably the monitoring unit and or a control unit of the conveyor belt installation, is further configured to stop the drive drum on the basis of the optically detected damage. This can represent a possible reaction to optically recognized damage. In the stopped state of the conveyor belt installation, the corresponding drum can be repaired or replaced for this purpose and the conveyor belt installation can subsequently be put back into operation.According to a further aspect of the invention, the conveyor belt installation, preferably the monitoring unit and or a control unit of the conveyor belt installation, is further configured to output a warning, preferably to a user, on the basis of the optically detected damage. This can be done additionally or alternatively to stopping the conveyor belt installation. This can excite the attention of a person who operates the conveyor system, so that the conveyor belt system can then be repaired and put back into operation by the person.According to a further aspect of the invention, the conveyor belt has an elastomeric material, in which reinforcing members running at least in the conveying direction are embedded. This can represent a possibility of the specific implementation of the conveyor belt.According to a further aspect of the invention, the monitoring unit is designed to transmit the optically captured data wirelessly, preferably to a control unit of the conveyor belt installation. This can avoid or save cabling in this region of the conveyor belt installation.According to a further aspect of the invention, the optical detection of the outer side of the drum by means of the monitoring unit comprises:• Detection by means of radio waves (RADAR),• Detection by means of laser beams (LIDAR) and or• Acquisition by means of optical images.This allows the corresponding technical possibilities and their properties or advantages to be applied to the present task.According to a further aspect of the invention, the optical detection of the outer side of the drum by means of the monitoring unit is effected by means of laser cutting. Thus, a line-by-line scanning of the moving surface of the drum can be carried out by means of laser section, so that the movement of the object to be detected can be used to generate, in combination with the two-dimensional laser beam, a three-dimensional and in particular height information of the surface of the drum and to detect damage from the deviations in height.According to a further aspect of the invention, the drum is the drive drum and or the deflection drum. This can represent a specific possibility of implementation in order to detect damage, in particular where the movement of the conveyor belt is generated or substantially takes place.In other words, the invention thus relates to a condition monitoring system of the drums and in particular of the drive drum and or the deflection drum of a conveyor belt installation, which can monitor the drum surface profile during normal operation of the conveyor belt installation. The profile can preferably be scanned using line laser technology. Deviations such as excessive wear and local deceleration damage (gooves) can be detected and measured.The data can be analyzed and if a critical damage (according to severity, size) is detected, the state monitoring system or the monitoring unit can provide the data or the signal to the conveyor PLC as a control unit of the conveyor belt installation, so that the conveyor belt or its drive can be stopped immediately in order to avoid further damage and thus repair the damage can be carried out. Systematic wear can also be detected.Taking into account additional parameters such as belt tension, belt speed, load, etc., a life prediction of the lining (based on wear development) can be performed. Industry Standard (CEMA) thresholds may be considered to evaluate the criticality of wear and damage for recommended actions.The system is thus an additional monitoring system for conveyor belt systems for automatically monitoring the state of the rollers or drums.An exemplary embodiment and further advantages of the invention are explained below in conjunction with the following figure. The following shows: FIG. 1 shows a schematic lateral illustration of a conveyor belt installation according to the invention.The description of the above. Figure is made in Cartesian coordinates with a longitudinal direction X, a transverse direction (not shown) oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction X and a vertical direction Z oriented perpendicularly both to the longitudinal direction X and to the transverse direction, which corresponds to the direction of gravity. The longitudinal direction X can also be referred to as depth X, the transverse direction can also be referred to as width, and the vertical direction Z can also be referred to as height Z. The longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction together form the horizontal, which can also be referred to as the horizontal plane. The longitudinal direction X, the transverse direction and the vertical direction Z can also be collectively referred to as spatial directions or as Cartesian spatial directions.FIG. 1 shows a schematic lateral illustration of a conveyor belt installation 1 according to the invention.The conveyor belt system 1 according to the invention has a conveyor belt 10 which is closed continuously in a conveying direction A and substantially consists of an elastomeric material in which tension members (not shown) are embedded as reinforcing members. The tension members may be steel cables or a woven fabric. In any case, the tension carriers extend in the conveying direction A, which can also be referred to as the running direction A or the movement direction A.In the upper region of the conveyor belt installation 1, the conveyor belt 10 forms an upper strand 10 aon which a material 2 to be conveyed can be transported as material to be conveyed 2, in particular as loose bulk material 2, and a lower strand 10 bwhich is free of the material to be conveyed 2.The conveyor belt 10 is supported in the region of the upper strand 10 aby supporting rollers (not shown). The conveyor belt 10 runs at its ends on one side around a drive drum 11 and on the other side around a deflection drum 12, which can also be referred to as a reversal drum 12 or as a deflection roller 12. A drive (not shown) of the drive drum 11 can be controlled or operated by a control unit (not shown).According to the invention, the conveyor belt installation 1 has a monitoring unit 14, which is directed onto at least one drum or roller and, in the example under consideration, onto the deflecting drum 12 and is designed to optically detect the outer side or the surface of the deflecting drum 12 by means of laser cutting. The monitoring unit 14 is further configured to wirelessly transmit the optically captured data to the control unit of the conveyor belt installation 1.The control unit of the conveyor belt installation 1 is designed to detect damage 3 to a rubber covering of the deflection drum 12 in the optically recorded data. In response, the driving drum 11 may be stopped by the control unit, so that a person can repair the reversing drum 12. For this purpose, a corresponding warning can be output by the control unit of the conveyor belt installation 1.List of Reference Numerals (part of the description)X longitudinal direction; depth Z vertical direction; height A conveying direction; running direction; movement direction B rotational direction 1 conveyor belt installation 10 conveyor belt 10 aovertral of the conveyor belt 13 10 bundertral of the conveyor belt 13 11 drive drum 12 deflection drum; reversal drum; deflection roller 14 monitoring unit 2 material; material to be conveyed; loose bulk material 3 damage; break-out from the outside of the deflection drum 12References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 196 43 997 A1

[0009] DE 197 21 916 A1

[0009] DE 199 02 508 A1

[0009] EP 0 753 472 A1

[0009]

Claims

Conveyor belt installation (1) having an endlessly closed conveyor belt (10) and having a drive drum (11) and a deflection drum (12) around which the conveyor belt (10) is endlessly closed, wherein the drive drum (11) is designed to drive the conveyor belt (10) in a conveying direction (A), characterized a monitoring unit (14) which is directed at at least one drum (11, 12) and is designed to optically detect the outer side of the drum (11, 12), wherein the conveyor belt system (1), preferably the monitoring unit (14) and / or a control unit of the conveyor belt system (1), is designed to detect damage (3) to the outer side of the drum (11, 12) in the optically detected data.The conveyor belt installation (1) according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt installation (1), preferably the monitoring unit (14) and / or a control unit of the conveyor belt installation (1), is further configured to stop the drive drum (11) on the basis of the optically detected damage (3).Conveyor belt installation (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conveyor belt installation (1), preferably the monitoring unit (14) and / or a control unit of the conveyor belt installation (1), is further configured to output a warning, preferably to a user, on the basis of the optically detected damage (3).Conveyor belt installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyor belt (10) has an elastomeric material, in which reinforcing members running at least in the conveying direction (A) are embedded.Conveyor belt installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the monitoring unit (14) is designed to transmit the optically captured data wirelessly, preferably to a control unit of the conveyor belt installation (1).Conveyor belt installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the optical detection of the outer side of the drum (11, 12) by means of the monitoring unit (14) comprises: • detection by means of radio waves (RADAR), • detection by means of laser beams (LIDAR) and / or • detection by means of optical images.Conveyor belt installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the optical detection of the outer side of the drum (11, 12) by means of the monitoring unit (14) is effected by means of laser cutting.Conveyor belt installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drum (11, 12) is the drive drum (11) and / or the deflection drum (12).

Images