Monitoring the speed of a belt

{
  "publication_number": "US10023397B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Monitoring the speed of a belt",
  "abstract": "Systems and methods for controlling belt speed are provided. In one embodiment, a control system includes a driving mechanism configured to move a belt in a longitudinal direction, the belt having support portions separated from each other by gaps. The control system includes a sensing apparatus configured to optically detect the presence of the support portions and gaps when the belt is moved in the longitudinal direction. A processing device is configured to receive a detection signal from the sensing apparatus that is indicative of the presence of the support portions and gaps. The processing device is further configured to monitor belt speed based on a number of gaps detected over a predetermined amount of time. A controller is configured to receive control signals from the processing device and control the operation of the driving mechanism based on the number of gaps detected over the predetermined amount of time.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A control system for controlling the speed of a belt, the control system comprising: a driving mechanism configured to move a belt in a longitudinal direction, the belt comprising a plurality of support portions separated from each other by a plurality of gaps; a sensing apparatus configured to optically detect the presence of the support portions and gaps when the belt is moved in the longitudinal direction; a processing device configured to receive a detection signal from the sensing apparatus, the detection signal being indicative of the presence of the support portions and gaps, the processing device further configured to monitor the speed of the belt based on a number of gaps detected over a predetermined amount of time; and a controller configured to receive control signals from the processing device and to control the operation of the driving mechanism based on the number of gaps detected over the predetermined amount of time.",
    "2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to increase power to the driving mechanism when the number of gaps detected over the predetermined amount of time is below a first preset number of gaps and to decrease power to the driving mechanism when the number of gaps detected over the predetermined amount of time is above a second preset number of gaps.",
    "3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the sensing apparatus comprises a photoelectric emitter and a photoelectric sensor.",
    "4. The control system of claim 3, further comprising a housing that houses the photoelectric emitter and photoelectric sensor.",
    "5. The control system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is configured to provide an alarm signal when the detection signal indicates an irregular pattern of detected support portions and gaps.",
    "6. The control system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to automatically shut off the driving mechanism when the irregular pattern is detected, the irregular pattern being indicative of a belt slip condition or a belt flip condition.",
    "7. The control system of claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a motor and a drum.",
    "8. The control system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the operation of the driving mechanism based on the speed of the belt and a detected speed of the drum.",
    "9. A system for detecting the speed of a belt having a plurality of support portions separated from each other by a plurality of gaps, the system comprising: a sensing apparatus configured to optically detect the presence of the support portions and gaps when the belt is moved in a longitudinal direction; and a processing device configured to receive signals from the sensing apparatus indicative of the presence of the support portions and gaps, the processing device further configured to count the number of gaps detected over a predetermined amount of time; wherein the processing device is further configured to determine the speed of the belt based on the number of gaps detected over the predetermined amount of time.",
    "10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processing device determines the speed of the belt based on the number of gaps detected over the predetermined amount of time and based on known dimensional characteristics of the belt.",
    "11. The system of claim 10, wherein the known dimensional characteristics of the belt include a known width of each gap measured in the longitudinal direction and a known width of each support portion measured in the longitudinal direction.",
    "12. The system of claim 9, wherein the signals received from the sensing apparatus are square-wave signals.",
    "13. The system of claim 9, further comprising: a driving mechanism configured to move the belt in a longitudinal direction; and a controller configured to control the operation of the driving mechanism based on the number of gaps detected over the predetermined amount of time; wherein the controller is configured to increase power to the driving mechanism when the number of gaps detected over the predetermined amount of time is below a first preset number and to decrease power to the driving mechanism when the number of gaps detected over the predetermined amount of time is above a second preset number.",
    "14. The system of claim 9, wherein the sensing apparatus comprises a photoelectric emitter and a photoelectric sensor arranged in one of a through-beam configuration, a reflective configuration, and a presence-detection configuration.",
    "15. A method comprising the steps of: optically detecting the presence of support portions and gaps of a belt when the belt is moved in a longitudinal direction; counting the number of gaps detected over a predetermined amount of time; and determining the speed of the belt based on the number of gaps detected over the predetermined amount of time.",
    "16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining the speed of the belt is further based on a known width of each gap measured in the longitudinal direction and a known width of each support portion measured in the longitudinal direction.",
    "17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of: increasing power to a driving mechanism that drives the belt when the number of gaps detected over the predetermined amount of time is below a first preset number; and decreasing the power to the driving mechanism when the number of gaps detected over the predetermined amount of time is above a second preset number.",
    "18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of: providing an alarm signal when an irregular pattern of support portions and gaps are optically detected.",
    "19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: stopping the movement of the belt when the irregular pattern is detected.",
    "20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of: adjusting an operation of a driving mechanism configured to move the belt, the driving mechanism comprising a motor and a drum; and detecting a speed of the drum; wherein the step of adjusting the operation of the driving mechanism is based on the speed of the belt and the detected speed of the drum."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Food handling facilities utilize many different types of machines to transport food and keep the food at a proper temperature during transport throughout the facility. The food handling facilities may be configured to produce and transport many different types of foods, such as frozen dinners, frozen chicken, pizzas, and other food products.\n\nIn many food handling facilities, spiral conveyor systems may be used. Spiral conveyor systems are designed to freeze/cool/heat-proof many different food items. They may run for many hours every day to keep up with production and may sometimes run 24/7 for weeks at a time. Many companies do not want to shut these machines down unless it is absolutely necessary. In the long run, however, problems with the spiral conveyor system machine may result in the machine being down for days at a time.\n\nMany machines used in these facilities, such as the spiral conveyor systems, may need maintenance on a regular basis since machine down-time can result in a loss of both time and food products. Since machinery is often checked infrequently (e.g., once a month), it may be difficult to predict when machines in the food handling facility may fail and/or when adjustments will be needed. Although more frequent maintenance checks can be made, the added cost to companies may be an obstacle.\n\nSensors and gauges may be installed to sense various parameters of the food handling machinery. Theses sensors and gauges are read manually by a maintenance technician, who can then perform any needed maintenance on the machinery.",
  "cpc": [
    "H04L 67/025",
    "B65G 2203/0291",
    "B65G 43/00",
    "B65G 43/02",
    "B65G 43/06",
    "B65G 43/08",
    "B65G 43/10",
    "G05B 19/4183",
    "G05B 19/41875",
    "H04L 67/125",
    "Y02P 90/02",
    "Y02P 90/80"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65G 43/06",
    "B65G 43/08",
    "B65G 43/10"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Regal Construction Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Terry Michael Brown"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-03-23",
  "publication_date": "2018-07-17",
  "grant_date": "2018-07-17",
  "priority_date": "2017-12-14",
  "application_number": "US-201815934366-A",
  "family_id": "62837372",
  "cited_by_count": 12,
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    "US9776799B2"
  ]
}