Belt conveyors are the most efficient means of transporting bulk materials in a mining, minerals or metals environment. They can take many forms, including short plant or long overland conveyors, tripper, pipe, reversible and telescopic conveyors.
But conveyance systems can be dangerous or lead to material losses. This is where sensors play an important role. By law all conveyors must be equipped with an emergency shut-down device with a cable spanning the entire length of the conveyor, such as the XY2CE2A290 emergency stop rope pull switch. Rope pull switches can be mounted side by side to increase the reach of their cable length between the conveyor belt’s head pulley and return pulley.
Steel roller lever limit switches are used to detect a misalignment of the belt. If loads fall more heavily on one side of the belt, the sensor will detect an imbalance and turn off the conveyor. Bulk volumes of materials also have to be measured, and this is achieved with ultrasonic sensors, which, for example, monitor the crush capacity of the materials.
Proximity sensors pick up alterations in slip detection, belt breakage, belt speed, drive shaft gear and overloading, while limit and safety switches can be integrated into conveyor architecture to provide operators with effective solutions.
