A rotational speed measurement system includes a video device configured to obtain a video of a pulley of a conveyor belt system. The rotational speed measurement system also includes a strobe configured to generate a stroboscopic effect on the obtained video. The rotational speed measurement system also includes a memory device. The rotational speed measurement system also includes a network interface. The rotational speed measurement system also includes one or more processors configured to: generate a stroboscopic window using the strobe and the obtained video, synchronize the strobe with the obtained video using the stroboscopic window, determine a measured rotational speed for the pulley based on the synchronized strobe, and determine belt slippage based on the measured rotational speed.

A system for determining volume and flow characteristics for material on a conveyer belt is disclosed. The system includes an emitter, a sensor, and circuitry. The emitter is configured to generate radiation and direct the radiation toward a conveyer belt according to a field of view. The sensor is configured to measure reflected radiation from the conveyor belt and based on the generated radiation at a high framerate of about 20 to 30 Hertz and a high resolution of greater than about 4000 pixels and generate time of flight measurements. The circuitry is configured to generate time of flight measurements, determine three dimensional volume characteristics and flow characteristics for material conveyed by the conveyor belt using light detection and ranging based on the measured reflected radiation.

An apparatus for vertical transfer of whole nuts from a first elevation to a second, lower elevation includes a run extending between an entrance and an exit, and having a plurality of alternatingly arranged conveying panels between the entrance and the exit. Each conveying panel is inclined at approximately 30 degrees to horizontal and has a variable effective conveying width. The apparatus further includes arcuate turn-arounds disposed between respective conveying panels to facilitate transferring the nuts from one conveying panel to the next lower conveying panel. The variable effective conveying width is selected based on a predetermined mass flow rate of nuts such that whole nuts move along the run in a continuous stream without tumbling, and wherein each nut is in contact with adjacent nuts in its respective layer.

A conveyor mechanism conveys a powder along a path. A first camera device arranged above the conveyor mechanism detects movement of a recognizable feature on an upper surface of the powder over a period of time. A velocity of the powder can be determined based on the movement of the recognizable feature over the period of time. A device can be used to generate the recognizable feature. A first light-emitting device can illuminate the upper surface to aid detection of the recognizable feature. A second light-emitting device can project a contour line on the upper surface, and a second camera device can be used to detect a position of the contour line. A cross sectional area of the powder can be correlated based on the position of the contour line.

A radiometric measuring device for determining a mass flow of a bulk material on a conveyor belt including, at least one detector which is configured to detect at least part of radiation of at least one radiation source the emits the radiation in a direction of the bulk material on the conveyor belt, the radiation having at least partially passed through the bulk material and the conveyor belt, at least one evaluation circuit which is configured to determine the mass flow of the bulk material based on the detected radiation; at least one storage means which is set up to store at least one measured value equation, the measured value equation mapping a relationship between the detected radiation and the mass flow, at least one electronic calculation means which is set up to determine, based on at least one calibration measurement without bulk material on the conveyor belt, a correction equation with which the measured value equation is corrected.

A transfer conveyor for food process lines has an endless conveyor belt characterized by an upper, food-product carrying run and a lower, return run. The upper, food-product carrying run defines a transit plane. The upper, food-product carrying run also extends between an intake end and a discharge end. The upper, food-product carrying run furthermore has a first pleat below the transit plane proximate the intake end and a second spaced-away pleat below the transit plane proximate the discharge end. These spaced-away pleats partitioning the upper, food-product carrying run into an intake-end span and a discharge-end span cooperatively flanking a mid-span. Wherein the transfer conveyor additionally includes one scale servicing the intake-end span of the upper, food-product carrying run and another scale servicing the discharge-end span.

An image forming apparatus and method for determining a toner level and providing a notification are provided. The method of operating an image forming apparatus includes counting a number of times a lower toner hopper receives toner from an in-situ refillable upper toner hopper, calculating an estimate of toner volume transferred from the lower toner hopper to a surface of a photosensitive drum, determining an amount of toner consumed from the in-situ refillable upper toner hopper based on the number of times the lower toner hopper receives toner from the in-situ refillable upper toner hopper and the estimate of toner volume transferred from the lower toner hopper to the surface of the photosensitive drum, and generating an upper toner hopper refill notification when the amount of toner consumed from the in-situ refillable upper toner hopper is determined to exceed a threshold value.

A measuring arrangement having a first dual conductor field device with a first sensor and a first dual conductor interface for the power supply of the first dual conductor field device and for the transmission of data from the dual conductor field device to a superordinate unit, wherein the first dual conductor field device has at least one second dual conductor interface suitably designed to receive data from at least one second dual conductor field device.

Disclosed is a detector for detecting a product flow on a conveyor, including a base, to be fixed at a side of the conveyor, a pendulum, fixed to the based with a rotation to an axis, the pendulum rotating when products are pushed against it, a sensor, for detecting the position of the pendulum. The pendulum includes at an end thereof a contact unit having a flat plate shape, with a non-metallic surface for contacting the products.

An image forming apparatus and method for determining a toner level and providing a notification are provided. The method of operating an image forming apparatus includes counting a number of times a lower toner hopper receives toner from an in-situ refillable upper toner hopper, calculating an estimate of toner volume transferred from the lower toner hopper to a surface of a photosensitive drum, determining an amount of toner consumed from the in-situ refillable upper toner hopper based on the number of times the lower toner hopper receives toner from the in-situ refillable upper toner hopper and the estimate of toner volume transferred from the lower toner hopper to the surface of the photosensitive drum, and generating an upper toner hopper refill notification when the amount of toner consumed from the in-situ refillable upper toner hopper is determined to exceed a threshold value.