Patent · US Active

Wireless conveyor belt condition monitoring system and related apparatus and method

US8618929B2 · kind B2 · utility

13Cited by
89References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 9, 2011
Grant dateDec 31, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 2, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65G43/02
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method includes transmitting first wireless signals towards a conveyor belt having multiple layers of material. The first wireless signals penetrate one or more layers in the conveyor belt. The method also includes receiving second wireless signals that have interacted with the conveyor belt. The method further includes identifying a condition of the conveyor belt using the second wireless signals and outputting an indicator identifying the condition of the conveyor belt. Identifying the condition of the conveyor belt could include identifying a thickness of at least one of the layers in the conveyor belt. This could be done by identifying pulses in the second wireless signals and using time of flight calculations.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.