Innovations in Monitoring Conveyor Belts with Implemented RFID Technology

Abstract

Belt conveyors are used as efficient conveyance systems for the continuous transportation of materials. However, they are also used for a wide range of applications in the transport of ores and non-metallic materials. The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system represents a key technology in many industries due to its ability of automatic data processing. The purpose of the present article is to discuss the implementation of RFID tags into fabric conveyor belts as carriers of the information on conveyor belts (ozone-induced ageing or accelerated thermal ageing, damage to cover layers and the carcass, and ignition). During the monitoring, it is important to record conveyor belt failures and damage causes, as well as other problems arising during the use of belt conveyors. The article presents the results of the experimental research on RFID tags and the analysis of their behaviour in accelerated thermal ageing. This facilitates simulating the conditions of hot vulcanisation of conveyor belts, especially when splicing (as well as producing) them, and of ozone-induced ageing of conveyor belts. The output of the article is the verification of the possibility to implement the RFID technology in the transport of mineral materials by belt conveyance systems in real operations.

Experimental Study of the Influence of the Interaction of a Conveyor Belt Support System on Belt Damage Using Video Analysis

“…An analysis of conveyor belt (CB) faults was carried out using various evaluation methods, including the visualization of CB damage. During monitoring, it is important to record the failures and causes of CB damage and other problems that arise from the use of conveyor belts [4]. Fedorko [5] presented a methodology for performing failure analysis with the support of virtual reality.…”