Sensor Monitoring of the Conveyor Working Operation with Oscillating Trough Movement

The paper presents measured vibration magnitudes on the trough surface and on the frame of a laboratory model of a vibrating conveyor, detected by acceleration sensors. The vibration source is a DC asynchronous vibration motor with two discs with unbalanced masses mechanically attached to the end parts of the rotor. The trough of the vibrating conveyor is supported by four rubber springs of two types, which are characterized by considerable spring stiffness. Digital signals measured by the sensors, which carry information about the magnitude of acting vibrations, can be remotely transmitted from their place of action via a WI-FI router to the operating station, where they are subjected to the deailed computer based analysis. The highest mean magnitude of the effective vibration velocity (4.8 mm·s-1) in the vertical direction was measured on a model vibrating conveyor, with rubber springs of stiffness of 54 N·mm-1, with the unloaded trough without the conveyed material. The lowest mean magnitude of the effective vibration velocity (1.2 mm·s-1) in the vertical direction with a weight of 5.099 kg of conveyed material on the trough. Rubber springs, of optimum stiffness, dampen the vibrations transmitted to the machine frame. From their sizes, it is possible to remotely monitor the working operation of the vibrating conveyor or to obtain information about the failure of one or several used rubber springs. The paper provides guidance on how to design an optimum spring stiffness, which has a major impact on the magnitude of vibrations transmitted to the frame or foundations of a particular vibratory machine design. Measured signals from acceleration sensors detecting the magnitude of the vibration allow remote monitoring of the optimum operating condition of the vibration equipment depending on predetermined parameters, namely the trough inclination angle, the throw angle, the rotor speed of the vibration motor, the spring stiffness and the amount of material on the trough surface.