CONVEYOR WITH CLAMPING CONNECTION AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A CONVEYOR

Abstract

The present invention relates to conveyors, comprising at least one circulating conveyor strand (7, 8), wherein the conveyor strand has at least one clamping connection (1), wherein at least one sensor (2) is arranged in the clamping connection (1), a transmitter (3) for wirelessly transmitting data is arranged on the conveyor strand (7, 8), the sensor (2) is connected with the transmitter (3), and a receiver (4) for receiving the data transmitted by the transmitter (3) is provided.

Claims

1. A conveyor comprising at least one circulating conveyor strand (7, 8), wherein the conveyor strand has at least one clamping connection (1), characterized in that at least one sensor (2) is arranged in the clamping connection (1), a transmitter (3) for wirelessly transmitting data is arranged on the conveyor strand (7, 8), the sensor (2) is connected to the transmitter (3), and a receiver (4) for receiving the data transmitted by the transmitter (3) is provided.

2. The conveyor according to claim 1, wherein a first data processing unit (5) is arranged on the conveyor strand (7, 8), and wherein the first data processing unit (5) is connected to the sensor (2) and to the transmitter (3).

3. The conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the receiver (4) is arranged stationarily relative to the circulating conveyor strand (7, 8) as a component of the conveyor.

4. The conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor has a second data processing device (6), which is connected to the receiver (4), and which second data processing device (6) is stationarily arranged relative to the circulating conveyor strand (7, 8).

5. The conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor (2) comprises a sensor from the following group: Pressure sensor, Traction sensor, Deformation sensor, Temperature sensor.

6. The conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor strand has at least one belt (7).

7. The conveyor according to claim 6, wherein the clamping connection (1) is formed between ends (7.1, 7.2) of the at least one belt (7).

8. The conveyor according to claim 7, wherein the clamping connection (1) comprises a first clamping jaw (1.1) and a second clamping jaw (1.2), between which the ends (7.1, 7.2) of the at least one belt (7) are arranged, wherein the at least one sensor (2) is arranged between a clamping jaw (1.1, 1.2) and the at least one belt (7).

9. The conveyor according to claim 8, wherein the clamping connection (1) comprises a third clamping jaw (1.3), which is arranged between the ends (7.1, 7.2) of the at least one belt (7), wherein the at least one sensor (2) is arranged between the third clamping jaw (1.3) and the at least one belt (7).

10. The conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor strand comprises a bucket (8).

11. A method for operating a conveyor, comprising at least the following steps: conveying conveyed goods by means of a circulating conveyor strand, measuring a parameter of a clamping connection of the conveyor strand, wirelessly transmitting the measured parameter by means of a transmitter moved with the conveyor strand, and receiving the transmitted parameters by means of a receiver.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the measured parameters are cached in a first data processing unit, and discontinuously transmitted to the receiver during operation by means of the transmitter.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the data received by the receiver are stored in a second data processing unit, and only transmitted to an evaluation unit if needed.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the measured parameters are compared with prescribed extreme values, and a signal is generated if the extreme values are exceeded or dropped below, and/or wherein the measured parameters are analyzed, and a signal is generated if an anomaly is detected.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein in particular a pressure is measured as the measured parameter within a clamping connection, and the chronological progression of the parameter over several days, weeks and months is compared with respective critical extreme values, wherein in particular a chronologically abnormal progression of the parameter is also detected as a critical value.

Description

[0030] The invention along with the technical background will be exemplarily described below based on the figures. Shown schematically on:

[0031] FIG. 1: is a top view of a bucket belt conveyor with a conveyor strand having a self-contained, circulating belt, buckets and a clamping connection, as well as with a receiver,

[0032] FIG. 2: is a view of the clamping connection between the ends of the belt, and

[0033] FIG. 3: is a side view of the conveyor strand.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a conveyor, which has a conveyor strand as well as a receiver 4 connected with a second data processing unit 6.

[0035] The conveyor strand of the conveyor comprises a belt 7, wherein the first end 7.1 and the second end 7.2 of the belt 7 are connected with each other by means of a clamping connection 1. Buckets 8 are fastened to the belt 7 as another component of the conveyor strand (see also FIG. 2).

[0036] As evident in particular from the side view of FIG. 3, the clamping connection 1 comprises a first clamping jaw 1.1, a second clamping jaw 1.2 and a third clamping jaw 1.3. The first end 7.1 of the belt 7 is arranged between the first clamping jaw 1.1 and the third clamping jaw 1.3, while the second end 7.2 of the belt 7 is arranged between the second clamping jaw 1.2 and the third clamping jaw 1.3. The clamping jaws are braced by means of several screws 9, causing a clamping force to act on the ends 7.1 and 7.2 of the belt 7.

[0037] It is now provided that two sensors 2 be arranged between the first clamping jaw 1.1 and the first end 7.1 of the belt 7. The sensors 2 are connected with a transmitter 3 and a first data processing unit 5. The transmitter 3 and the first data processing unit 5 are integrated into a housing, which is fastened to the first clamping jaw 7.1.

[0038] The sensors 2 can be designed as a pressure sensor, deformation sensor or temperature sensor. During operation of the conveyor strand, parameters of the clamping connection 1 can thus be determined continuously, and can be stored on the first data processing unit 5. If the clamping connection 1 runs along the stationary receiver 4 during operation, the data stored on the first data processing unit 5 can be wirelessly transmitted to the receiver 4 by means of the transmitter 3. The data received by the receiver 4 can be stored on the second data processing unit 6. The data stored on the second data processing unit 6 can either be read out locally by a service employee, or be transmitted to a higher-level control unit by means of an undepicted transmitting unit. The measured parameters can in this way be compared with prescribed extreme values, making it possible to infer the state of the clamping connection 1. In this way, it is no longer necessary that the clamping connection 1 be manually checked by a service employee. Instead, a remote diagnosis can be made, and the clamping connection 1 can be serviced if needed.

REFERENCE LIST

[0039] 1 Clamping connection

[0040] 1.1 First clamping jaw

[0041] 1.2 Second clamping jaw

[0042] 1.3 Third clamping jaw

[0043] 2 Sensor

[0044] 3 Transmitter

[0045] 4 Receiver

[0046] 5 First data processing unit

[0047] 6 Second data processing unit

[0048] 7 Belt

[0049] 7.1 First end

[0050] 7.2 Second end

[0051] 8 Bucket

[0052] 9 Screw