Inspection device for conveyor belt

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10746541-B2
Application number	US-201716071465-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2017
Priority date	Jan 19, 2016
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

An inspection device is provided in which X-rays are radiated in a fan-like shape with respect to an extension direction of steel cords, are transmitted through a conveyor belt, and reach an X-ray line sensor. A control device makes an X-ray generator and the X-ray line sensor move in a fixed relative position at a certain speed within a certain movement range in a direction parallel with a plane and orthogonal to an extension direction of the steel cords. The control device generates two-dimensional image information on the basis of an X-ray transmission signal obtained each time the X-ray generator and the X-ray line sensor move a unit amount equal to a pixel pitch of the X-ray line sensor. The control device detects measurement information relating to the conveyor belt and the steel cords on the basis of the obtained two-dimensional image information.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An inspection device for a conveyor belt comprising a reinforcing layer that comprises a plurality of steel cords aligned at intervals and a rubber layer covering the reinforcing layer, the inspection device comprising:
an X-ray generator disposed on one side of the conveyor belt in a direction orthogonal to a plane comprising the plurality of steel cords, the X-ray generator being configured to radiate X-rays toward the plane;
an X-ray line sensor disposed on another side of the conveyor belt in the direction orthogonal to the plane and extending in an extension direction of the plurality of steel cords, the X-ray line sensor being configured to detect X-rays transmitted through the conveyor belt and generate an X-ray transmission signal;
a movement portion configured to move the X-ray generator and the X-ray line sensor synchronously in a fixed relative position between the X-ray generator and the X-ray line sensor at a certain speed within a certain movement range in a direction parallel with the plane of the steel cords and orthogonal to the extension direction of the plurality of steel cords;
a two-dimensional image information generating unit configured to generate two-dimensional image information from the X-ray transmission signal generated by the X-ray line sensor; and
a measurement information detecting unit configured to detect measurement information relating to the conveyor belt and the plurality of steel cords based on the two-dimensional image information.

2. The inspection device for a conveyor belt according to claim 1 , wherein
the two-dimensional image information generating unit is configured to generate the two-dimensional image information based on the X-ray transmission signal obtained each time the X-ray generator and the X-ray line sensor move a unit amount equal to a pixel pitch of the X-ray line sensor.

3. The inspection device for a conveyor belt according to claim 1 , wherein
the measurement information comprises: cord pitch, which is an interval between the plurality of steel cords; distance between end cords, which is an interval between steel cords of the plurality of steel cords positioned at both ends of the conveyor belt in a width direction; edge rubber width, which is a distance from an end surface of the conveyor belt in the width direction to an outer circumferential surface of a steel cord of the plurality of steel cords located adjacent to the end surface; and belt width, which is a distance between end surfaces on both ends of the conveyor belt in the width direction.

4. The inspection device for a conveyor belt according to claim 1 , wherein
the X-ray generator comprises an X-ray source configured to generate the X-rays and a case configured to house the X-ray source and shield against X-rays generated from the X-ray source; and
the case comprises a slit through which the X-rays generated from the X-ray source radiate toward the conveyor belt in a band-like manner conforming with the extension direction of the plurality of steel cords.

5. The inspection device for a conveyor belt according to claim 4 , wherein
the slit is formed with a length dimension such that a length of a band-like irradiation region of X-rays radiated from the slit at the conveyor belt is equal to or less than a length of the X-ray line sensor in an extension direction of pixels.

6. The inspection device for a conveyor belt according to claim 2 , wherein
the measurement information comprises at least one of cord pitch, which is an interval between the plurality of steel cords; distance between end cords, which is an interval between steel cords of the plurality of steel cords positioned at both ends of the conveyor belt in a width direction; edge rubber width, which is a distance from an end surface of the conveyor belt in the width direction to an outer circumferential surface of a steel cord of the plurality of steel cords located adjacent to the end surface; or belt width, which is a distance between end surfaces on both ends of the conveyor belt in the width direction.

7. The inspection device for a conveyor belt according to claim 6 , wherein
the X-ray generator comprises an X-ray source configured to generate the X-rays and a case configured to house the X-ray source and shield against X-rays generated from the X-ray source; and
the case comprises a slit through which the X-rays generated from the X-ray source radiate toward the conveyor belt in a band-like manner conforming with the extension direction of the plurality of steel cords.

8. The inspection device for a conveyor belt according to claim 7 , wherein
the slit is formed with a length dimension such that a length of a band-like irradiation region of X-rays radiated from the slit at the conveyor belt is equal to or less than a length of the X-ray line sensor in an extension direction of pixels.

Assignees

• Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd

Inventors

• Masuda Mitsutaka
• Urabe Koji
• Inoue Tsutomu

Classifications

• B65G15/36

  the layers incorporating ropes, chains, or rolled steel sections · CPC title

• G01N2223/642

  moving sheet, web · CPC title

• G01B15/00

  Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of electromagnetic waves or particle radiation, e.g. by the use of microwaves, X-rays, gamma rays or electrons (characterised by the use of optical techniques G01B9/00, G01B11/00) · CPC title

• G01N2223/615

  composite materials, multilayer laminates · CPC title

• G01N2223/633

  thickness, density, surface weight (unit area) · CPC title