Sensor Monitoring of Conveyor Working Operation with Oscillating Trough Movement

This 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 characterised by considerable spring stiffness. Digital signals were recorded using the DEWESoft SIRIUSi measuring apparatus, which carries information about the magnitude of acting vibrations, which can be remotely transmitted from their place of action via a WI-FI router to the operating station, where they are subjected to a detailed computer-based analysis. From the identification and deeper analysis of the measured signals it is possible to monitor the optimum operating conditions 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. 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 with a stiffness of 54 N·mm−1, with the unloaded trough without the conveyed material. The lowest mean magnitude of the effective vibration velocity was 1.2 mm·s−1 in the vertical direction with a weight of 5.099 kg of conveyed material on the trough. Suitably designed 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.