System and methods for belt conveyor weighing based on virtual weigh span

摘要

Imperfections in conveyor belting and its supporting elements can adversely affect weighing accuracy of belt scales, particularly when weighing and/or metering low density materials, such as those encountered in the snack food industry. A system and methods for a belt conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention provide simultaneous benefits of both short and long weigh spans. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a virtual weigh span may be programmably set to adjust for variations in the belt conveyor weighing system. Advantages include, higher degrees of accuracy and calibration to account for changes in the belt or belting system over time using non-mechanical adjustments. In addition, weight measurement error producing effects, some that may not be particularly known, may be reduced.

主权项

1. A belt conveyor weighing system, comprising:
a conveyor belt configured to transport material across a transport distance; a sensor unit configured to sense incremental belt travel distance of the conveyor belt and to sense a measured weight of material across a scale weigh span within the transport distance; and a computational unit configured to compute at least one loading metric of a computed weight of material sensed over an effective weigh span equal to a sum of the scale weigh span and a virtual weigh span programmably set to a given length of incremental belt travel distance.