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In this paper, in order to reduce the indentation rolling resistance of a belt conveyor and improve its operation efficiency, the indentation rolling resistance of a belt conveyor is studied. Firstly, the theoretical calculation of the indentation rolling resistance caused by the contact between a conveyor belt and an idler is studied. Additionally, the expression of the indentation rolling resistance including the multi-element Maxwell relaxation modulus is simplified and deduced using the assumption of small deformation, and the steps of iterative calculation of the indentation rolling resistance through setting the initial values are designed. Then, the multi-component Maxwell relaxation modulus function of the conveyor belt tested in the previous work of the authors is substituted into COMSOL 5.6 finite element software, and the stress distribution caused by the contact between the conveyor belt and the idler under different working conditions is analyzed. Also, a series of measures to reduce the indentation rolling resistance are found through the laws presented by the simulation results. Finally, the experimental study of the indentation rolling resistance is carried out using the indentation rolling resistance testing device from our research group. By comparing the experimental results for the indentation rolling resistance under different working conditions with the theoretical calculation results for the indentation rolling resistance, it was found that the relative error was less than 13%, which proved the feasibility of the indentation rolling resistance and relaxation modulus testing method, as well as the theoretical calculation method for indentation rolling resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of achieving a good maintenance plan is well-known in the modern industry. One of the most promising approaches is predictive maintenance, which schedules interventions based on predictions made by collecting and analyzing data from the process. However, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this approach is still not widespread and known enough, and particularly, the real-case scenarios of its application appear not exhaustive. To contribute to fill this gap, this work proposes a digital twin (DT), which performs a predictive maintenance approach for a conveyor belt within a real-case scenario with the overall goal of predicting faults during normal belt operations. Specifically, the core of the implemented DT is a model that analyzes the data collected by various sensors distributed along the conveyor belt. In turn, this model exploits a machine learning-based algorithm that predicts the insurgence of faults. The tests of the developed solution, conducted within a real scenario, demonstrated good precision and accuracy in identifying the fault status and also in a time deemed acceptable for the involved stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study primarily aimed to trace the linkages between the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt [originating from the North Atlantic] and the “Great” Colonialism [originating from Portugal]. Consequently, the study adopted the qualitative documentary method to observe, scrutinize, and interpret the linkages between the Ocean Conveyor Belt and Colonialism. The findings show that India lies along the North Indian Ocean in South Asia [i.e. right above the point where the conveyor’s lower limb (its subsidiary) first U-turns to loot heat] where the Portuguese first initiated the process after their arrival in 1498, while China lies along the coast of the North Pacific Ocean in East Asia [i.e. the second point where the conveyor’s lower limb later U-turns to loot heat] where the colonizers later extended their expansion to and, then, U-turned to annex lands, loaded ships with goods, and cruised back to Europe. However, the conveyor’s lower and upper limbs deliver, inter alia, processed materials and wars to the South and raw materials and race struggles to the North, respectively. The North–South Conveyor Belt Model, thus, maintains that the conveyor’s upper and lower limbs superimpose positive and negative effects on the Global North and South, respectively.

Conveyor belt is one of the most important transportation equipment in underground coal mines. Anchor rod, channel steel, large gangue, and other foreign objects that are mixed with the conveyor belt during conveying operations cause the belt to tear, clog the coal drop opening, and cause other serious safety incidents. They seriously affect the efficiency of transportation and even threaten the lives of workers. Aiming at the existing conveyor belt foreign object detection algorithm’s problems such as weak characterization of slender objects and poor weak semantic feature extraction, a foreign object detection algorithm based on low-level feature enhancement with Transformer is designed, notated as FET–YOLO. Firstly, to address the problem that existing detection networks have difficulty in extracting features of elongated objects, deformable convolution is introduced to enhance the network’s adaptability to the shape characteristics of elongated foreign objects, and the MobileViT module is used to increase the differentiation between the foreign objects and the background in the image, in order to extract features that are more consistent with the diversity of the elongated foreign objects and to weaken the interference of background noise.Secondly, constructing a low-level feature enhancement module LFEM, to improve the representation of weak semantic features of foreign objects in the detection network in order to reduce the probability of wrong detection.Finally, the introduction of gsconv reduces the information loss due to changes in the size of the feature map and ensures that the network extracts features efficiently while reducing the number of model parameters. The training set and validation set are produced by using the video of conveyor belt work in an underground coal mine. The proposed algorithm is compared to three other conveyor belt detection algorithms, and the experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can better solve the problems of poor detection of elongated objects and difficulty in weak semantic feature extraction in conveyor belt foreign object target detection, with higher detection accuracy. For images with a resolution size of 640×640, the performance metrics mAP@0.5 can be up to 0.875, mAP@0.5:0.95 can be up to 0.543, and the detection speed is 75 fps.

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Copyright of Coal Science & Technology (0253-2336) is the property of Coal Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The key issue for ensuring economic efficiency and continuous operation of conveyor transport is the recognition of the condition of the belt core. Faults in steel cords in the core are not visible during routine visual inspections, but they can be identified using magnetic diagnostic systems such as DiagBelt+. The article presents an analysis of the impact of the sensitivity threshold of the DiagBelt+ system, the diameter of cords in the core, and the belt speed on the quality of signals representing known damage: cutting of cords, their absence, and a reduction in the cross-section of the cord. The study focuses on defects to cords across the belt, as they can weaken the belt's strength and lead to a complete belt failure. The proposed results and analyses contribute to the improvement of the methodology for magnetic examination of the core's condition and the developed diagnostic system DiagBelt+. Consequently, this enhances the reliability and safety of belt conveyors in various industries, including brown coal mines where it has been implemented (PGE GiEK SA KWB O/Bełchatów), as well as in hard coal, limestone, and copper ore mines where it is used to assess the condition of belts with steel cords. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conveyor belts serve as the primary mode of ore transportation in mineral processing plants. Feeders, comprised of shorter conveyors, regulate the material flow from silos to longer conveyor belts by adjusting their velocity. This velocity manipulation is facilitated by automatic controllers that gauge the material weight on the conveyor using scales. However, due to positioning constraints of these scales, a notable delay ensues between measurement and the adjustment of the feeder speed. This dead time poses a significant challenge in control design, aiming to prevent oscillations in material levels on the conveyor belt. This paper contributes in two key areas: firstly, through a simulation-based comparison of various control techniques addressing this issue across diverse scenarios; secondly, by implementing the Smith predictor solution in an operational plant and contrasting its performance with that of a single PID controller. Evaluation spans both the transient flow rate during step change setpoints and a month-long assessment. The experimental results reveal a notable increase in production by 355 t/h and a substantial reduction in flow rate oscillations on the conveyor belt, evidenced by a 55% decrease in the standard deviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, in order to reduce the indentation rolling resistance of a belt conveyor and improve its operation efficiency, the indentation rolling resistance of a belt conveyor is studied. Firstly, the theoretical calculation of the indentation rolling resistance caused by the contact between a conveyor belt and an idler is studied. Additionally, the expression of the indentation rolling resistance including the multi-element Maxwell relaxation modulus is simplified and deduced using the assumption of small deformation, and the steps of iterative calculation of the indentation rolling resistance through setting the initial values are designed. Then, the multi-component Maxwell relaxation modulus function of the conveyor belt tested in the previous work of the authors is substituted into COMSOL 5.6 finite element software, and the stress distribution caused by the contact between the conveyor belt and the idler under different working conditions is analyzed. Also, a series of measures to reduce the indentation rolling resistance are found through the laws presented by the simulation results. Finally, the experimental study of the indentation rolling resistance is carried out using the indentation rolling resistance testing device from our research group. By comparing the experimental results for the indentation rolling resistance under different working conditions with the theoretical calculation results for the indentation rolling resistance, it was found that the relative error was less than 13%, which proved the feasibility of the indentation rolling resistance and relaxation modulus testing method, as well as the theoretical calculation method for indentation rolling resistance.

The development of high-performance rubber composites has always been a research hotspot in the field of conveyor belt manufacturing. In this work, a rubber cover joint composite made of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was prepared using latex mixing and mechanical blending methods, with a steel wire rope conveyor belt as the research object, and the influence of the rGO content on the properties of the rubber composite is discussed. The structure and morphology characterization of the rGO/NR rubber show that the addition of rGO does not change its crystal structure, and 1.2 phr rGO is uniformly dispersed throughout the rubber composite. As more rGO is added, the mechanical properties of the rGO rubber cover joint first improve and then worsen. With the addition of 1.2 phr, the cross-linking density increases by 80.6%, the tensile strength of the rubber composites increases by 49.7%, the elongation at break increases by 23.6%, and the adhesion strength increases by 12.4%. The tensile strength of the rGO rubber cover joint can still maintain 72.5% of its pre-thermal aging value. The wear resistance and thermal conductivity increase as more phr is added. When 3.0 phr is added, the wear resistance of the rubber composites increases by 32.9%, the thermal conductivity increases by 118.8%, and the temperature difference at the completion of vulcanization decreases from 4.5 °C to 1.8 °C. The results show that when 1.2 phr of rGO is added, the rubber conveyor belt joint obtains the best comprehensive performance. These enhanced comprehensive properties allow for the practical application of rGO nanomaterials to conveyor belt rubber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The video game Factorio is a popular real-time strategy game that hosts a variety of gameplay scenarios analogous to real-world problems such as factory building, pipeline optimization, and conveyor belt logistics. It also considers environmental costs such as pollution and energy consumption. This game focuses on automation and resource management within the context of creating and maintaining factories. Players are challenged to design efficient factories, automate production, control energy consumption, and balance resource utilization, all while defending against environmental challenges such as pollution and hostile enemies. Factorio is a complex software; however, studies have demonstrated its ability to enhance student satisfaction when integrated as an educational module at the university level. This paper aims to utilize the power of Petri Net theory and the practical tool GPenSIM to model and simulate several Factorio pipelines and score them against one another, exploring which pipeline configuration is optimal. The primary objective is to make a mathematical model (Petri Net) to better understand the game's complex mechanisms, identify bottlenecks within the system, and explore opportunities for optimization within the network of modules. The insights gained from this paper may find practical applications in real-world scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The initial set of four measurements (scans) captures the failures occurring in the core of steel cable conveyor belt segments used in a lignite coal mine in Poland. These measurements utilize the DiagBelt+ magnetic system, enabling the analysis of averaged damage sizes. The scanning results allowed the analysis of complete changes in the failure sizes to a maximum of six different time intervals from 1 to 19 months. The cumulative increase in the length and width of the failure (their total extent in both directions) is a linear function of time. However, the inclination of the selected lines (growth speed) depends on the age of the belt segment at the time of its first scan. It is possible to find the best regression function of slope coefficients for the age of the belt segment. The obtained results are crucial for rational belt management, including reliable short-term forecasts of belt needs with the flow of time, indications of the best moments for belt segment replacements, and estimating the budget of the belting department. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex environmental influences often complicate the detection of longitudinal tears in conveyor belts, resulting in insufficient detection accuracy, overlooked detection, and elevated false detection rates. In this study, we propose a new depth learning method specifically designed for detecting longitudinal tears in conveyor belts. This method employs a linear Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) camera to capture images of the conveyor belt. These images are subsequently processed with a modified version of You Only Look Once (YOLO)v7 model to identify instances of longitudinal tearing. The modified YOLOv7 model features Efficient Intersection over Union (EIoU) loss function as a substitute for the original loss function. Furthermore, a Simple Parameter-Free Attention Module (SimAM) is introduced in the detection head to improve detection accuracy. In this method, we introduced the SimSPPFCSPC module as a new spatial pyramid pooling model. This module enhances detection speed while maintaining detection accuracy. Experiment results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, achieving an impressive precision of 94.6% and a detection speed of approximately 110 Frames Per Second (FPS). Such accuracy and speed meet the requirements for online detection of longitudinal tearing in belt conveyors.

This article presents an analysis of the transverse profile of belt damage in the context of the proper loading and operation of conveyors. The aim of this study was to identify and understand the characteristic features of damage and their placement that may occur in conveyor belts during operation and indicate abnormalities in any of the components of the conveyor system, especially during loading at chutes. A total of seven different conveyors were examined, and the obtained results allowed for a thorough comparison and investigation of the distribution of belt damage on their cross-sectional profiles. This article discusses factors that may contribute to the occurrence of unevenly distributed belt damage. The conclusions from the conducted research can be of significant importance for conveyor owners and operators as they enable an effective assessment of the conveyor belt's condition, the correctness of the conveyors, and the chutes' designs as well as the implementation of necessary design changes, correct actions, and repairs. Through proper belt monitoring and maintenance, the risk of failure can be minimized, extending the belts' lifespan and ensuring the efficiency of the transportation process. The article presents practical approaches to the analysis of the cross-sectional profile of damage, serving as a valuable source of information for individuals interested in optimizing the transportation process and maintaining efficient and safe conveyor operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conveyor belts (CBs) are widely used for the continuous transport of bulk materials. CBs must be extremely reliable due to the cost associated with their failure in continuous production systems. Thus, it is highly relevant in terms of maintenance and planning to find solutions to reduce the existing stoppages from these assets. In this sense, it is essential to monitor and collect real-time data from this piece of equipment. This work presents a case study, where a model that combines the Lean Philosophy, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), and the enabling technologies of Industry 4.0 is applied to a CB. The proposed model monitors the CB and provides data on its operation, which, using the calculation of indicators, allows a more accurate and thorough view and evaluation, contributing to improving and supporting decision making by those responsible for maintenance. The data collected by the sensor help those responsible for maintenance and production, in the readjustment of more accurate and optimized planning, programming, and execution, supporting decision making in these areas. During the field test of a two-hour monitoring period (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.), the model identified six stoppages, resulting in approximately 88.6% of operational time for the conveyor. The field test showed that this model can result in more accurate maintenance decision making than conventional approaches. This research also contributes to the advancement of electronics and industrial automation sectors by empowering companies to transform maintenance methodologies. The potential of this approach and its implications for enhanced productivity and overall performance are therefore highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foreign object doped in the conveying belt is the most important factor to cause the tearing of the conveying belt. In order to solve the problem of low accuracy and poor real-time performance of foreign object detection, a new method based on improved Nanodet is proposed in this paper. The hardware of conveyor belt foreign object detection system is designed with ARM processor, and the system software is designed based on Android. It uses a conveyor belt foreign object detection system to detect foreign object. In order to detect foreign object images, a better Nanodet model is suggested. In order to increase detection accuracy while preserving processing speed, the model uses SIoU in place of the original position loss function. When the enhanced Nanodet model is applied to the conveyor belt foreign object detection system, the image of the foreign object appearing on the conveyor belt can be identified. The experimental findings indicate that a conveyor belt foreign object detection system based on an ARM processor and an Android operating system is capable of detecting foreign objects on conveyor belts with an average detection accuracy of 94.3%, a detection speed of 30 frames per second. The application of this method in the detection of foreign objects in conveyor belt can solve the shortcomings of existing methods. At the same time meet the requirements of the conveyor belt foreign object detection site environment.

The use of plastic bottles has become a significant environmental concern, and recycling them has become a priority. Small and medium-sized recycling companies must collect and categorize large volumes of plastic bottles and sell them to larger recycling firms, a process that is time-consuming, costly, and labor-intensive. This manual sorting process can pose health risks, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and can affect worker productivity. To address these issues, this study proposes the development of an automated conveyor belt system that can rapidly and accurately separate plastic bottles by type. The system utilizes an opaque and transparent plastic bottle separation platform, which saves time, cost, and manpower. This system design provides recycling SMEs with a competitive advantage by serving as a practical application model and a prototype with an easy-to-use concept. Key tools employed in this research include product design development (PDD), Kansei engineering, manufacturing process design, controlling system, and fault tree analysis (FTA). The light sensors are critical components in the separation process, detecting the opacity or transparency of the bottles’ surfaces. The proposed prototype’s reliability will be assessed by FTA, which considers all potential failures. This study contributes to the body of knowledge surrounding the integration of conveyor systems and provides valuable information for businesses seeking to optimize their sorting processes. The guidelines developed in this study can serve as a starting point for further research on the integration of conveyors in waste sorting plants.

As the global market becomes increasingly competitive and demanding, companies face the challenge of responding swiftly and efficiently to customer needs. To maintain a competitive advantage, organisations must optimise the usage of their assets. This study focuses on the critical role of maintenance management and presents a novel, cost-effective, and easily applicable model that integrates Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) principles to enhance production processes. The proposed model incorporates a real-time monitoring system equipped with sensors, a gateway, and Internet of Things (IoT) services. These components enable data acquisition, transmission, storage, and visualisation through both mobile and fixed devices. The model's effectiveness was validated through its implementation on a conveyor belt in a feed mill. The availability of the conveyor belt was around 89.5% before TPM implementation. After the implementation of TPM, it was possible to observe that the availability of the treadmill increased to 92.7% in a workweek of 105 h. On the other hand, it was possible to observe a considerable improvement in terms of the average time of each intervention, with a reduction of around 53%. Moreover, the model also facilitated improvements in the maintenance plan for the conveyor belt. Operators were trained to effortlessly comply with the new autonomous maintenance plan, enhancing operational efficiency. The joint application of I4.0 and TPM demonstrated significant advancements in maintenance management. The flexibility of the developed model allows for easy adaptation to monitor other condition parameters, enabling real-time decision-making for both the maintenance and production departments. This integrated approach holds the potential to drive process optimisation, ultimately contributing to improved productivity, cost-effectiveness, and competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conveyor belts are widely used in ore transportation in large-scale mines for their long transportation range, high safety, and strong economic applicability. Coal mine belt conveyors are not only traditional, simple mechanical conveying devices but also automatic control system operating devices that integrate safety, stability, and low power consumption. In the process of coal mining, a conveyor belt control system also needs to be closely integrated with modern industrial systems and information systems, which greatly improves its work efficiency. The purpose of this article is to improve the methods for designing automatic control systems for electric motors in order to obtain mechanical characteristics close to a constant power line, which would ensure the reliable operation of belt conveyors. An automatic control system was designed based on the controller Siemens S7-1200; then, a mathematical model of an automated electric drive was developed. Based on the mathematical model, a simulation model of an automatic electric drive was built, and the modes were modeled. After designing, the obtained plots of transients completely corresponded to the required transients, which means that the Siemens frequency converter automatic control system (ACS) parameters were calculated quite accurately and the conveyor electric drive met all requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current background of excessive usage of plastic and rubber materials, hardly degradable, when the pollution level and global warming problems due to industrialization are rising, the world turns to new materials, especially composites, with a low impact on the environment, and to using waste formed from other fabrication processes and which after the termination of their life cycle to be easily recycled and reused in the manufacturing of new products with very good qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the measured values of tensile forces acting on transmission idlers in the upper and lower run of a conveyor belt placed on a laboratory machine designed at the Department of Machine and Industrial Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava. The tensile forces detected by two strain gauge load cells and recorded using DEWESoft software were used to calculate the friction coefficient, which acts on the surface of the driving drum casing and the conveyor belt. The friction coefficient at the slip point, or during the slippage of the conveyor belt on the rubber or steel casing of the driving drum, was determined for two states of the surfaces that are in contact. Experimental measurements on a laboratory machine determined four values of friction coefficients for two types of drum surfaces and for two states of contact surfaces, which were compared with the recommended standard values. The measured values reached higher values in comparison with the values given by the CSN standards. The highest deviation of 273.3% is achieved using a steel wet surface, and the lowest deviation of 106.3% is achieved when using a rubber dry lining for the driving drum casing. On the presented laboratory machine, it is possible to measure tensile forces for different speeds of movement, different belt angles on the driving drum, various types of belt surfaces, different types of drum casing linings, and different sizes of tension forces for the endless loop of the conveyor belt. For these characteristics of the conveyor belt, the magnitude of the friction coefficient acting between the belt and the drum surfaces can be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes, investigates, and validates, by comprehensive experiments, new online automatic diagnostic technology for belt conveyor systems based on motor current signature analysis (MCSA). Motor current signature analysis (MCSA) is a method employed for detecting faults in electric motors by analyzing the current waveforms generated during motor operation. The technology capitalizes on the fact that motor defects, such as mechanical misalignment, bearing damage, and rotor bar defects, cause variations in a motor's current waveforms, which can be discerned and analyzed using advanced signal processing techniques. MCSA is a non-invasive and cost-effective technique that can detect motor faults in real-time without requiring expensive equipment or disassembly of the motor. In this study, the researchers tested the proposed diagnostic technology, which relies on a power feature. The power feature is calculated as the integrated power within a specific frequency range, centered around the fundamental harmonic of the supply frequency. The purpose of the study is to evaluate for the first time the effectiveness of the proposed diagnostic technology for the diagnosis of a tracking of a belt conveyor. The proposed technology's effectiveness is assessed using current signals that are obtained for two different scenarios: the normal belt tracking, and a belt mis-tracking under two different loads of a belt conveyor system. The study's findings indicate that the proposed technology has a high level of diagnostic effectiveness when used for belt mis-tracking. Therefore, it is feasible to recommend this technology for diagnosing tracking issues in belt conveyors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conveyor belt deviation occurs frequently, and it will finally lead to an accident, so its detection has triggered skyrocketing attention from both industry and academia. In this paper, an adaptive segmentation model and a belt offset quantification model are established for continuous online detection of the conveyor belt deviation status. The results show that the degree of the conveyor belt deviation can be quantitatively calculated and its deviation status can be objectively evaluated. This technology has opened the path for a new way to on-line continuously detect the conveyor belt deviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time ever worldwide, this paper proposes, investigates, and validates, by multiple experiments, a new online automatic diagnostic technology for the belt mis-tracking of belt conveyor systems based on motor current signature analysis (MCSA). Three diagnostic technologies were investigated, experimentally evaluated, and compared for conveyor belt mis-tracking diagnosis. The proposed technologies are based on three higher-order spectral diagnostic features: bicoherence, tricoherence, and the cross-correlation of spectral moduli of order 3 (CCSM3). The investigation of the proposed technologies via comprehensive experiments has shown that technology based on the CCSM3 is highly effective for diagnosing a conveyor belt mis-tracking via MCSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubber products generally need to have high resistance to abrasion, tear, and cutting. Filling short fiber with strong mechanical properties and forming a net in the rubber matrix is a good method to realize the above aims. In this article, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) short fibers with a diameter of 20 μm and a length of 2 cm were filled into natural rubber (NR) to improve the tear strength of the NR. The influence of the short fiber mass fraction and vulcanization conditions on the mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. The results show that the milling process and vulcanization conditions are key factors in enhancing tear resistance performance. Double-roll milling and vulcanization at 143 °C for 40 min result in strong interfacial adhesion between the UHMWPE short fibers and the NR. The addition of 2 phr of UHMWPE fiber increases the tear strength of the composite material by up to 150.2% (from 17.1 kN/m to 42.8 kN/m) while also providing excellent comprehensive performance. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging confirmed that the UHMWPE short fibers are dispersed in the NR matrix homogeneously, and the interface is close and compact. As a control experiment, UHMWPE resin powder was directly filled into the NR, and then the composite was vulcanized using the same process as that used for the NR/UHMWPE short fiber composite. The results show that the mechanical strength of the NR/resin powder composite exhibits minor improvement compared with NR. As there is no complicated surface modification of the UHMWPE fiber, the results reported may be helpful in improving the tear resistance of the industrially prepared rubber conveyor belts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents research into the energy balance of stressing conveyor belts by impact processes. Research is described in the areas of measuring the resistance of conveyor belts to puncture, the impact process, and the effect of changes to the impact height on the tensile and impact forces. Measurements were performed on a rubber–textile belt with a polyamide carcass. Hammers with pyramidal and spherical impactors were used to compare the resistance of the examined conveyor. Values were obtained for the maximum energies for the selected impact heights and the residual positional energies for the measured bounce heights. The difference between these energies represents the impact energy. The results confirmed that the impact energy of a hammer with a pyramidal impactor is greater than the impact energy of a hammer with a spherical impactor, while this difference increases with increasing impact height. The shape of the pyramidal impactor simulates sharp-edged materials, which is the cause of greater damage in the tribological interaction with the conveyor belt. This paper provides information for determining the limit conditions for setting appropriate impact heights depending on the weight of the material transported using a given belt conveyor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a laboratory device simulating a section of a conveyor belt on which a diagonal plough is installed. Experimental measurements were carried out in a laboratory belonging to the Department of Machine and Industrial Design at the VSB-Technical University of Ostrava. During the measurements, a plastic storage box, representing a piece load, transported on the surface of a conveyor belt at a constant speed was brought into contact with the front surface of a diagonal conveyor belt plough. The aim of this paper is to determine the amount of resistance generated by the diagonal conveyor belt plough when it is placed at different angles of inclination β [deg] in relation to the longitudinal axis, based on the experimental measurements performed using a laboratory measuring device. Based on the measured values of tensile force required to keep the conveyor belt moving at a constant speed, the resistance to the conveyor belt movement is expressed, with a value of 20.8 ± 0.3 N being attained. Based on the ratio of the measured value of the arithmetic average of the resistance force and the weight of the used length of the conveyor belt, a mean value of the specific movement resistance of the size 0.33 [N·N − 1] is calculated. This paper presents the time records obtained by measuring the tensile forces, on the basis of which it is possible to determine the magnitude of the force. The resistance during the ploughing operation of the diagonal plough when acting on a piece load placed on the working surface of the conveyor belt is presented. From the measured values of tensile forces presented in the tables, this paper reports the calculated values of the friction coefficient obtained during the movement of the diagonal plough when moving a piece of load with the defined weight from the working surface of the relevant conveyor belt. The maximum value of the arithmetic mean for the friction coefficient in motion µ = 0.86 was measured at an inclination angle of the diagonal plough of β = 30 deg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the problem of loose materials, i.e., wheat grain, when transported by belt conveyors with cover belts. For the purpose of further research, experimental measurements of the deflections of a conveyor belt with loose material were carried out on a self-built laboratory test device. The mechanical contact between the wheat and the belt could be suitably approximated using an elastic foundation. The measured data were evaluated and used to obtain functional relationships for the compressibility moduli of the bilateral Winkler elastic foundation. The obtained relationships were further stochastically processed using the Monte Carlo method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conveyor belt is by its structure a textile composite. As a load-supporting element of the conveyor, the belt withstands variable loads during its operations. In order to investigate the influence of the level and variability of loading on the life of the belt, tests were carried out on specimens in laboratory conditions. A testing device was specially designed and made for these tests that enabled precise control and monitoring of the loading as well as number of loading cycles up to fracture. This research provides an overview of the influence of fatigue loading on the fatigue life of the belt. The methodology of the conducted research is explained with a description of important technical parameters of the testing device. A physical experiment and a corresponding numerical simulation using the FEM method were carried out with multiple loading levels of belt specimens. Based on the obtained results, appropriate conclusions were made; at loads less than 70% of the breaking strength, the lifetime of the belt is very long. Attention was drawn to additional influences that could not be covered by the experiment and possible directions for further research were indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the key techniques used in the perception layer of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), radio frequency identification (RFID) has been widely applied for object tracing, smart warehouse management, product line monitoring, etc. In most applications, conveyor belts are prevalently implemented to accelerate the sorting efficiency for goods management. However, in such a system, tags quickly go through the reader's reading range resulting in constant changing of the tag set and limited participating time of moving tags. As a result, it poses more challenges to the tag identification problem in mobile systems than in traditional static applications. In this work, a novel admission-control-based dynamic query tree (ACDQT) protocol is proposed for fast-moving tag identification. In ACDQT, two main strategies are developed, i.e., multi-round admission control (MRAC) and dynamic query tree recognition (DQTR). In MRAC, the reading process of multiple rounds is analyzed, and the number of admitted tags in each round is optimized. Thus, the tag lost ratio is guaranteed, and the identification process can be effectively accelerated. In DQTR, colliding tags are grouped into multiple subsets with the help of consecutive colliding bits in tag responses. By constructing a dynamic query tree, the number of collision slots is greatly reduced, and the identification efficiency in a single round is improved significantly. With MRAC and DQTR, ACDQT can support higher tag flow rate in mobile systems than existing works. Both theoretical analyses and simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of ACDQT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Belt mistracking is one of the most dangerous and costly failures of belt conveyors. This phenomenon can lead to complete damage to the conveyor belt, increased demand for electricity from the drive, accelerated wear of route elements, and poses a fire hazard. The article presents the most important causes and ways to detect belt mistracking. Based on the tests carried out at the laboratory test rig, the mechanical and operating parameters of the electric drive of conveyor operation burdened with the problem of lateral running off for the tested belt were compared. The mistracking causes a sudden, differentiated increase in the resistance to movement of the machine, which directly affects the recorded values of forces in the drive system and tensioning mechanism and increases the electrical energy consumption of the drive motor. Belt run monioring based on these parameters is not precise, because there are many other factors on the conveyor route, potentially responsible for the increase in recorded currents and forces. The paper presents an analysis of the possibility of using three, non-contact methods directly monitoring the lateral run-off of the belt, based on vibration measurements of conveyor pulley bearing, RGB images, thermal imaging and measuring the compressive force on the tensioning device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) detector array is proposed to improve the sub-terahertz imaging resolution for objects in the conveyor belt system. The image resolution is limited to the implemented configuration, such as the wide spacing in the detector array, the high conveyor belt speed, and the slow response of the signal conditioning block. The proposed array can improve the image resolution in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the belt, which is determined by the size and interval of the detector pixel, by configuring the array into two replaceable columns located at the misaligned horizontal positions. Replaceable detector unit pixels are individually attached to the motherboard after measuring and evaluating the detection performance to construct the proposed array. The intensities of 32 detector pixels placed under the conveyor belt with a width of 160 mm were initially calibrated in every image, including the beam pattern of 0.2 THz signals generated from the gyrotron. The image resolution of the perpendicular direction obtained from the proposed array was measured to be approximately 5 mm at a conveyor belt speed of 16 mm/s, demonstrating a 200% improvement in resolution compared to the conventional linear array under the same conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conveyor belt can enhance transportation efficiency and reduce labor intensity, which is extensively applied in material transportation. However, the deviation of conveyor belt commonly leads to malfunctions in the transmission system, affecting routine transportation function. Therefore, it is crucial to accurately identify whether the conveyor belt deviates and rectify anomalies promptly. Previously, the on-site camera have to be arranged in the appropriate position to ensure conducive recognition results for deviation discrimination, which is probably constrained by environmental conditions during implementation. In this paper, a combined method of detection and segmentation with deblurring function (CDSwD) is presented for conveyor belt deviation discrimination, which can avoid the impact of the camera position on the deviation discrimination results by combining roller information and conveyor belt contour information. Initially, the deblurring approach is adopted to remove the motion blur from the images. Subsequently, the object detection technology and the semantic segmentation technique are utilized to generate the detection results along the lower line of the rollers and the segmentation results of the overall conveyor belt contour. Finally, the outcomes will be combined for conveyor belt deviation discrimination. Comparisons have demonstrated that the proposed method can accurately determine the deviation of the conveyor belt, which is beneficial for maintaining the normal transportation and improving work efficiency. • A conveyor belt deviation discrimination method CDSwD is proposed. • The roller information and the conveyor belt contour information are combined. • The proposed method can avoid the effect of camera position deviation. • ER-YOLOv5 and AU-Net are obtained by improving the original network. • Comparative experiments show that the proposed method is accurate and reasonable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is devoted to the modal analysis of a 3D bridge frame subjected to the weight of the materials to be moved during full-capacity transport, where the moving belt rests on suspended hanging roller sets from beams installed mounted in the middle of bridge columns, as an alternative instead of the underlying conveyor belt support frame. The scope of our investigation is limited to the vibration of the frame bridge when the loaded conveyor belt is substituted in the FE model with concentrated forces on the columns. The structure of the bridge frame is reused to assist the path of conveyor belts in the work area. The bridge frame, which consists of various structural steel beams, is modeled as a 3D frame using beam elements with various profiles. The purpose of finite element analysis is to provide a starting point for studies of the transient forced vibrations with the results of modal analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a universal theoretical model of the belt in the transition section of a troughed conveyor, for a steel-cord belt which is divided into cables and layers of rubber, and for a textile belt which is divided into narrow strips. It describes geometrical forces in the transition section of the belt and offers an illustrative analysis of loads acting on the belt. The analysis addresses the influence of the belt type on the non-uniform character of loads in the transition section of the conveyor. It focuses on how the non-uniformity of loads acting on the belt is affected by the length of the transition section, the trough angle, the belt width, and the height difference between the contour of the pulley coat and the coat of the middle idler in the trough. It presents optimal values of the pulley height with respect to the middle idler in the trough, which mitigate this non-uniformity. The use of a belt type different than the original type has been found to affect the belt load non-uniformity in the transition section of the conveyor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined with the Serial Rubber Continuous Mixing Device (SRCMD) and custom‐built rotors, the real continuous regeneration of waste rubber was realized. The upstream mixer effectively solves the problem of pretreatment of waste rubber and realizes its preliminary regeneration. The downstream twin‐screw extruder realizes supplementary regeneration and plasticized extrusion of waste rubber. The optimal process parameters for preparing SRCMD‐reclaimed rubber were explored through orthogonal experiments. Compared to the commercially‐reclaimed rubber produced by the traditional vulcanization tank high‐temperature regeneration method, the SRCMD‐reclaimed rubber well retains the main chain structure of waste rubber and has obvious advantages in various properties. The conveyor belt coverings made by partially replacing styrene butadiene rubber with SRCMD‐reclaimed rubber fully meet the requirements of the national standard in all properties and are better than commercially‐reclaimed rubber, which has good application prospects and provides a guide for promoting the industrial transformation of recycled rubber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Extra virgin olive oil production is strictly influenced by the quality of fruits. The optical selection allows for obtaining high quality oils starting from batches with different qualitative characteristics. This study aims to test a CNN algorithm in order to assess its potential for olive classification into several quality classes for industrial purposes, specifically its potential integration and sorting performance evaluation. (2) Methods: The acquired samples were all subjected to visual analysis by a trained operator for the distinction of the products in five classes related to the state of external veraison and the presence of visible defects. The olive samples were placed at a regular distance and in a fixed position on a conveyor belt that moved at a constant speed of 1 cm/s. The images of the olives were taken every 15 s with a compact industrial RGB camera mounted on the main frame in aluminum to allow overlapping of the images, and to avoid loss of information. (3) Results: The modelling approaches used, all based on AI techniques, showed excellent results for both RGB datasets. (4) Conclusions: The presented approach regarding the qualitative discrimination of olive fruits shows its potential for both sorting machine performance evaluation and for future implementation on machines used for industrial sorting processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite numerous research works on conveyor robots, few works can be found on electropneumatic conveyor belt robots with two separated lines. The unique feature of this study is a combination of various systems to develop an electropneumatic robot. In this work, an automated and intelligent mechatronic conveyor system is designed and developed for transporting and positioning circular objects that can be used in the manufacturing and packaging industries. In addition to moving and positioning, timing can also be controlled on this conveyor belt robot. All control operations are handled by an electrical and programmable relay called a mini programmable logic controller (PLC), color sensor, gripper arm, and electronic switches. An electropneumatic system is used to control the robot for placing objects. The main goal of this study is to develop a novel 3D structural design which make the procedure unique for better efficiency and accuracy. The novelty of this work lies within the 3D design of two belts and assembly of all electropneumatic components which are helpful for manufacturing assembly lines. Also, TCS230 sensor and AVR microcontroller are used to identify the colors within the operation. The results show the accuracy of the developed system is reliable in terms of color and positioning detection. The system is able to work non-stop for more than 1 hour without any issues.

The stone processing and sorting installations are installations with the help of which different geometric dimensions of the processed materials are obtained. Until the final dimensions are obtained, the materials go through different stages of processing. The transfer of material, within the processing and sorting installation, is done with the help of conveyor belts. Depending on the dimensions needed to be processed, different technological routes are established so as to obtain the highest possible productivity of the process.

Industries are rapidly moving toward mitigating errors and manual interventions by automating their process. The same motivation is carried out in this research which targets to study a conveyor system installed in soda ash manufacturing plants. Our aim is to automate the determination of optimal parameters, which are chosen by identifying the flow rate of the materials available on the conveyor belt for maintaining the ratio between raw materials being carried. The ratio is essential to produce 40% pure carbon dioxide gas needed for soda ash production. A visual sensor mounted on the conveyor belt is used to estimate the flow rate of the raw materials. After selecting the region of interest, a segmentation algorithm is defined based on a voting-based technique to segment the most confident region. Moments and contour features are extracted and passed to machine learning algorithms to estimate the flow rate of different experiments. An in-depth analysis is completed on various techniques and convincing results are achieved on the final data split with the best parameters using the Bagging regressor. Each step of the process is made resilient enough to work in a challenging environment even if the belt is placed in an outdoor environment. The proposed solution caters to the current challenges and serves as a practical solution for estimating material flow without manual intervention.

One of the main elements that shape the production process in an underground mining plant is, in the broadest sense of the word, transport. Currently, a large amount of rolling stock from cable cars or suspended railways is maintained in mining plants, along with extensive infrastructure used for transporting crew and materials. The development of conveyor belt transport systems, as well as system process management, is increasing efficiency levels. Mining transport is a complex process, requiring large amounts of energy, which incurs significant production costs. We conduct a comparative analysis of the human transport system using a suspended railway with belt transport at Lubelski Węgiel "Bogdanka" Spółka Akcyjna (the largest hard coal mine in Poland), in terms of energy efficiency levels. We found that the process of transporting the crew in an underground mining plant to the production site using a conveyor belt system was less energy-intensive, and therefore created less emissions than the currently used model based on suspended queues. The analyses for the above project were conducted according to a model that was based on the study and analysis phase of the project through to its implementation and transfer to operational activities. The analysis was carried out based on the created simulation model, taking into account all elements of the crew transport process to and from the mining area. The implementation of the technical solution allowed for nearly a threefold reduction in the level of energy consumption and emissivity. In the analyzed model, the energy consumption in the first phase of production was 3.04 kWh per employee using the diesel rails system and 1.13 per employee using the belt conveyor system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors propose a new method of predictive replacements of belt sections in a conveyor belt loop with their refurbishment based on their condition recognized by specially designed diagnostic devices: DiagBelt and BeltSonic. Selection of the moment for belt replacement is made on the basis of forecasted state of its wear, when steel cable failure density exceeds the selected threshold or the percentage of belt covers abrasion exceeds the permissible level. The use of double belt refurbishment extends the total belt operation time, but without diagnostics, the reconditioning success rate is relatively low. Visual inspection allows only an uncertain assessment of cable condition. New devices give precise assessment of their condition and allow the selection of a non-linear rate of belt condition based on consecutive scans. The assessed condition of the cables is the key factor in successful belt refurbishment and obtained cost savings. Additionally, diagnostics can help extend belt life. Identified failures can be repaired in order to prevent accelerated belt degradation. The use of diagnostics in the current replacement strategy significantly improves the economic efficiency of belt reconditioning. The reuse of the belt core ensures efficient use of resources and reduces the level of waste, which fits into the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust emission can lead to health problems, explosion hazards, and environmental pollution. Therefore, the parameters related to dust generation must be understood to improve emission control techniques. Dust reduction in spraying is the main method to prevent and control dust emission in ore stacking. To analyze the parameters associated with dust generation, tests were carried out with two ores: Sinter Feed and Pellet Feed. A scaled conveyor bench was developed for spray dust suppression testing. The main bench control parameters are the drop height of the material and the spraying of water over the material with spray nozzles. Dust suppression was monitored with particle counters in different positions. The results show that dust generation increased with falling height. The impact region of the material on the stacking surface emits a higher concentration compared to the front region of the flow. After water spraying, the dust concentration was reduced by about 70% for the highest stacking height. It was observed that the Pellet Feed, in relation to the Sinter Feed, has higher critical moisture, higher dust emission, and smaller granulometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermediate linear booster drive can solve many problems of transport by long route conveyors. At the same time, operating costs are significantly reduced. There are solutions using intermediate belt drives, usually involving friction coupling in the carry belt. From a theoretical point of view, it is possible to transmit the friction force on an additional section in the return belt. The article presents a theoretical and experimental analysis of this solution and a comparison with a drive operating in a conventional solution. The transferred forces, the variability of the belt tension as well as the efficiency and stability of the drive for both solutions were compared. The use of additional coupling in the return belt makes it possible to increase the transmitted friction force and achieve a better rate of electricity consumption. The solution can be useful in currently existing intermediate drives, where it is possible to support the return side and transmit power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the measured values of tensile forces acting on transmission idlers in the upper and lower run of a conveyor belt placed on a laboratory machine designed at the Department of Machine and Industrial Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava. The tensile forces detected by two strain gauge load cells and recorded using DEWESoft software were used to calculate the friction coefficient, which acts on the surface of the driving drum casing and the conveyor belt. The friction coefficient at the slip point, or during the slippage of the conveyor belt on the rubber or steel casing of the driving drum, was determined for two states of the surfaces that are in contact. Experimental measurements on a laboratory machine determined four values of friction coefficients for two types of drum surfaces and for two states of contact surfaces, which were compared with the recommended standard values. The measured values reached higher values in comparison with the values given by the CSN standards. The highest deviation of 273.3% is achieved using a steel wet surface, and the lowest deviation of 106.3% is achieved when using a rubber dry lining for the driving drum casing. On the presented laboratory machine, it is possible to measure tensile forces for different speeds of movement, different belt angles on the driving drum, various types of belt surfaces, different types of drum casing linings, and different sizes of tension forces for the endless loop of the conveyor belt. For these characteristics of the conveyor belt, the magnitude of the friction coefficient acting between the belt and the drum surfaces can be determined.

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The article presents the detection of damage to rollers based on the transverse vibration signal measured on the conveyor belt. A solution was proposed for a wireless measuring device that moves with the conveyor belt along of the route, which records the signal of transverse vibrations of the belt. In the first place, the research was conducted in laboratory conditions, where a roller with prepared damage was used. Subsequently, the process of validating the adopted test procedure under real conditions was performed. The approach allowed to verify the correctness of the adopted technical assumptions of the measuring device and to assess the reliability of the acquired test results. In addition, an LSTM neural network algorithm was proposed to automate the process of detecting anomalies of the recorded diagnostic signal based on designated time series. The adopted detection algorithm has proven itself in both laboratory and in-situ tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of Industry 4.0, we tackle the problem of how human operators can interact with a cyber-physical system at run-time. We focus on sporadic interactions where operators, normally occupied with other activities, need to communicate to the system a piece of information relative to a specif part of the plant, such as an anomaly. As a concrete instance of this problem, we consider an automated system composed of a robot loading packages on a conveyor belt that transports and sorts them. We argue that gesture-based interaction modalities offer important advantages for the operators in the considered scenario and can be deployed respecting the IEC 61499 standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]