Abstract: A belt monitoring system for an agricultural belt arrangement, the monitoring system including an agricultural belt having a magnetic element embedded therein and a sensor. The agricultural belt arrangement defines a proper belt alignment for the belt and moves the belt. The magnetic element is polarized so as to output a magnetic signal. The sensor is configured to detect, at a reference position, the magnetic signal outputted by the magnetic element. The monitoring system further includes a circuit configured to output a signal if, for example, the agricultural belt moves more than a predetermined amount through the agricultural belt arrangement without the sensor arrangement detecting the magnetic signal outputted by the magnetic element, a predetermined amount of time passes without the sensor detecting the magnetic signal, and the circuit determines the position of the magnetic element to be outside of a permissible positional range.

Abstract: A conveyor belt (8) and method for monitoring a moving conveyor belt (8), the conveyor belt (8) having a first edge region (2), a second edge region (4), and a load carrying region (6). The method functions to detect belt edge damage, changes in belt width, and changes in belt tracking by monitoring a magnetic field associated with a plurality of edge detection inserts (1,3) embedded within the conveyor belt (8). In one embodiment this is achieved by monitoring images of the magnetic field associated with the edge detection inserts (1,3) embedded within the conveyor belt (8). The method may utilize a magnetic sensor system to detect magnetic images of the edge detection inserts (1,3) where the edge detection inserts (1,3) are positioned longitudinally along the length of the conveyor belt (8) in the first edge region (2) and the second edge region (4) of the conveyor belt (8).

Abstract: A conveyor belt (8) and method for monitoring a moving conveyor belt (8), the conveyor belt (8) having a first edge region (2), a second edge region (4), and a load carrying region (6). The method functions to detect belt edge damage, changes in belt width, and changes in belt tracking by monitoring a magnetic field associated with a plurality of edge detection inserts (1,3) embedded within the conveyor belt (8). In one embodiment this is achieved by monitoring images of the magnetic field associated with the edge detection inserts (1,3) embedded within the conveyor belt (8). The method may utilize a magnetic sensor system to detect magnetic images of the edge detection inserts (1,3) where the edge detection inserts (1,3) are positioned longitudinally along the length of the conveyor belt (8) in the first edge region (2) and the second edge region (4) of the conveyor belt (8).

Abstract: A belt monitoring system for an agricultural belt arrangement, the monitoring system including an agricultural belt having a magnetic element embedded therein and a sensor. The agricultural belt arrangement defines a proper belt alignment for the belt and moves the belt. The magnetic element is polarized so as to output a magnetic signal. The sensor is configured to detect, at a reference position, the magnetic signal outputted by the magnetic element. The monitoring system further includes a circuit configured to output a signal if, for example, the agricultural belt moves more than a predetermined amount through the agricultural belt arrangement without the sensor arrangement detecting the magnetic signal outputted by the magnetic element, a predetermined amount of time passes without the sensor detecting the magnetic signal, and the circuit determines the position of the magnetic element to be outside of a permissible positional range.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the condition of a rip detection insert embedded in a conveyor belt, the rip detection insert having a plurality of rip detection wires comprised of a magnetically permeable material; the method including the steps of: inducing a magnetic field within the rip detection wires of the rip detection insert; measuring at least one magnetic characteristic of the rip detection insert; monitoring the at least one magnetic characteristic of the rip detection insert for changes in the magnetic characteristic; determining the rip detection insert has been damaged when a change in at least one magnetic characteristic of the rip detection insert deviates beyond a predetermined threshold for the rip detection insert; and, filtering out a region of the rip detection insert containing the damage to the rip detection insert.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the condition of a rip detection insert embedded in a conveyor belt, the rip detection insert having a plurality of rip detection wires comprised of a magnetically permeable material; the method including the steps of: inducing a magnetic field within the rip detection wires of the rip detection insert; measuring at least one magnetic characteristic of the rip detection insert; monitoring the at least one magnetic characteristic of the rip detection insert for changes in the magnetic characteristic; determining the rip detection insert has been damaged when a change in at least one magnetic characteristic of the rip detection insert deviates beyond a predetermined threshold for the rip detection insert; and, filtering out a region of the rip detection insert containing the damage to the rip detection insert.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the condition of a conveyor belt having magnetically permeable cords, has a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field to magnetize the cords, in use, a magnetic field sensing unit for sensing the magnetic field provided, in use, by the cords and for providing signals representative of the magnetic field, and a processor for performing a discrete wavelet transform on the signals. The wavelet may be a Morlet waveform. The sensing unit comprises an array of spaced magnetic field sensors, the transform being performed on signals supplied by the sensors.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a conveyor belt having magnetically permeable cords, has an AC magnetic field generator for generating an alternating magnetic field to magnetize the cords, in use; a magnetic field sensing unit for sensing the alternating magnetic field provided, in use, by the cords and for providing signals representative of the alternating magnetic field; arid a processor for processing the signals to monitor continuous parts of the cords. The system further has a DC magnetic field generator for erasing an AC field previously generated by the AC magnetic field generator, the AC magnetic field generator being positioned between the DC magnetic field generator and the magnetic field sensing unit. The processor also determines the speed of travel of the belt, and the position in space of a lateral edge of the belt.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the condition of a conveyor belt having magnetically permeable cords, has a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field to magnetize the cords, in use, a magnetic field sensing unit for sensing the magnetic field provided, in use, by the cords, the sensing unit comprising an array of spaced magnetic field sensors, the spacing of the sensors being sufficiently close to discriminate between adjacent cords. The spacing of the sensors depends on the spacing of the cords, and may be less than half the spacing between cords of a conveyor belt. The sensors may be direction sensitive and the sensors may be oriented in more than one direction, to sense the perpendicular and other components of the magnetic field.