Lasers continuously scan belts for wear and damage

A new laser-based system continuously monitors the surface of flat fabric or steel cord conveyor belts in industrial and mining applications. The system automatically and constantly scans for damage to the belt to reduce the risk of catastrophic belt failure and minimize downtime. It evaluates the belt for cuts, gouges, or large impact damage events and surface adhesion issues. The data is continually analyzed and reported, alerting operators to the exact position and size of any damage, even for di cult-to-access conveyors.

The Conti SurfaceProtect system from Continental provides an early warning when belt maintenance or replacement will be required. This allows for planned, orderly belt service, which is faster and less costly than repairing belts after a catastrophic failure.

“With the Conti SurfaceProtect system, industrial and mining belt conveying applications can be monitored on a constant basis, reducing the need for manual reviews of the belt condition,” said Anthony DiGiacobbe, communications manager for North America at Continental. “The belt profile information can be used to determine the remaining life of the belt and identify the exact location and severity of wear and damage. The system is especially useful in applications where conveyor belts are di cult to access or inspect, allowing for remote examinations of the belt condition. By monitoring over the entire belt life cycle, operators can maximize belt life.”

The top cover monitoring unit projects a laser line on the running conveyor belt surface. An optical sensor records the shape and position of the laser line to create a digital map of the belt cover surface topography. This digital profile is analyzed in real time with user-defined thresholds for damage detection. The software reports on large impact defects, slits, cuts, gouge events, edge damage, misalignment, splice surface control, and abnormal abrasion.

The bottom cover monitoring unit provides overall belt shape monitoring and optical monitoring for longitudinal belt rips without the need for rip detection inserts in the belt. The bottom unit includes automatic alarm and belt stop functions. DW