CONVEYOR TECHNOLOGY
“ With it , conveyor belts can be integrated into the IIoT , ie into seamless communication with other electronically monitored systems . CBGuard provides a complete , detailed knowledge of the condition of the conveyor belt – non-stop and online ,” Küsel said . “ Virtually every cubic millimetre of the conveyor belt is checked during operation . The CBGuard scanner compares the detected values with the target values in real time . Every critical change triggers a reaction . The operating personnel are immediately informed of serious errors via SMS . In addition , the exact thickness of the entire conveyor belt can be measured and outputted as a contour map .”
The CBGuard Life Extender , meanwhile , detects internal damage such as steel cord breakage , corrosion , misplacements and other defects of the tension member . The exact condition of each steel cord can be viewed on a monitor in real time . The same applies to certain belt breakers and conductor loops .
Damage such as holes , foreign bodies , protruding ropes , edge breakage , bubbles , rubber cover abrasion and even insufficient belt cleaning are detected . Each defect automatically generates a predetermined , individual reaction . Information about the findings is additionally available at any time as a photo , video or inspection report , which tells personnel exactly what kind of damage it is , how severe it is and the location of said damage .
The CBGuard scanner also prevents fatal consequences caused by splice defects , Küsel said . As the weakest links in a conveyor belt , splices pose a greater risk to the operation – with potentially devastating consequences .
The CBGuard Life Extender scans all splices . Every single splice is individually assigned in the database and compared with its target state . Any critical deviation generates an alarm or a stop of the system in case of threatening defects . “ No other method available on the market can provide such exact and comprehensive results ,” Küsel said .
The way CBGuard works is similar to that of X-ray machines in the healthcare sector or in airports . The device consists of an X-ray generator with a tube , a receiver module and a control unit . The generator produces artificial X-rays from electricity , with the ionising rays penetrating the moving conveyor belt and then hitting the receiver module – an amorphous silicon imaging field .
It is a process like that of photo diodes in a digital camera . Countless , seamless images are continuously generated and defined by CBGuard ’ s smart software – based on advanced face and palmprint recognition algorithms – checking the condition of the belt , while accounting for the individual structure , size , colour and position of deviations and reporting them as a specific event ( eg damage ).
The compact design and low weight of the CBGuard makes for a quick and easy installation on almost any belt conveyor . The scanner is also almost wear-free , according to Küsel , as it has no moving
Paul Moore spoke to Christopher Simpson , JM Conveyors Product Manager about the JENNMAR Inc company which expanded significantly in 2019 when it added the roller shop division of Classic Conveyor , a division of Fenner Dunlop Americas
Q What has been happening at JM Conveyors since JENNMAR acquired Classic Conveyor ? A JM Conveyors has grown exponentially as a company from several different standpoints because of this acquisition . Classic Conveyor ’ s intellectual property from their years in the industry rocketed us forward in the conveyor field and our capabilities in general . Their knowledgeable staff additions , notably Plant Manager Todd Shearer , added decades of mining and conveyor experience to our staffing . JM Conveyors also saw an increase in market share and outreach capability with the addition a second plant to our production capabilities . As expected , it ’ s been an excellent addition to our portfolio and has opened the range of what we can offer to our customers .
Q Are there any new products or services now available from JM Conveyors that stem from the acquisition ? A We have been focusing on the base needs of our customers and their conveyor requirements . From a product standpoint we have added several guarding options and bearing capabilities which are in the testing phase at several mines in central Pennsylvania and southwest Virginia . We are also starting to expand our labour side through our sister company JENNMAR Services . I have been working closely with their new Vice President Ryan Litwinovich to ensure we can compete globally on conveyor-related labour work as requested by customers . We have had great success over the past year in working hands on with the engineering firms of companies producing coal , salt , gold , silver , copper and soda ash .
Q What are the advantages of working with JM Conveyors in terms of its approach ? A A major one is the open network available in working with a global leader like our parent company JENNMAR Inc . JENNMAR has long been the industry standard in the field of mining . From expert analysis through our engineering firm Keystone Mining Service , LLC to superior roof control solutions where JENNMAR Inc got its start , JM Conveyors continues to add to the catalogue of opportunity and potential while helping to make our customers a success story in the industry . JM Conveyors also works off the same mould when hiring their staff . We aren ’ t hiring salesman to come to your facility without experience or knowledge in the market . JENNMAR hires industry professionals with years of experience already from the field to ensure that our customers ’ needs are met thoroughly and professionally . I have personally worked in mine management for two different industry leaders in coal production . Those years of experience have allowed me to properly analyse , understand , and deliver on the timely needs and unique challenges that our customers face on a daily basis .
parts or contact with the conveyor belt .
All functions of the CBGuard Life Extender can be remotely controlled via TCP / IP , with maintenance or programming work possible from anywhere in the world . The analysis software runs under Windows 7 and 10 , and the program is intuitive and easy to use , he said .
CBGuard has proven its performance in over 300 applications , according to Küsel , noting that large copper mines in Peru and Chile rely on CBGuard . There are many other applications in Australia and Asia in the limestone and coal sectors , he added .
The CBGuard scanner ensures fully automatic , complete monitoring of steel cord conveyor belts making inspections by personnel or devices that only cover a part of the conveyor belt spectrum unnecessary , Küsel says .
The gain in safety , the independence from personnel availability and the reduction of capital expenditure and operating expenditure are convincing arguments for the use of a CBGuard , he explained . On the operation expenditure side , for example , there is no longer a need to employ internal maintenance personnel or outsource external services to inspect the belt . Such inspections , typically carried out weekly , are conducted in belt ‘ creep mode ’ and involve a full shut down , according to Küsel .
“ With the CBGuard , you do not have any production downtime because it is carrying out the inspections all the time at the normally operating conveyor , at its normal speed ,” he said .
Belt repairs also only occur when necessary , with details of failures coming from the CBGuard . “ You will see serious damage immediately , so you can repair them before they get worse and cost much more money to fix ,” he said .
This also provides capital expenditure benefits , with the CBGuard telling operators when and which part of the belt is worn out . In many cases , only part
lengths will have to be changed , not the entire belt length . This comes with inventory benefits too , with
companies no longer having to carry extensive stock belting as the CBGuard is able to predict in good time when the belt will need to be replaced .
50 International Mining | FEBRUARY 2021