Automation Project: PLC Based Coal Crushing and Conveyor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMaI9H1lVyo

Automated Carton Conveyor System

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofbR5Ext4vE

Weigh Belt Feeder Operation

Tan, The most common type of weigh belt feeders have very simple theoretical modes of operation, but can seem complex when implemented. The function of a typical weigh belt feeder is to speed up and slow down the belt to compensate for bulk density changes in a meterial and maintain a user-defined target feedrate called "setpoint". To do this a weight sensing device and belt movement sensor send information to a microprocessor-based controller. As a material (powder, granule, pellet, etc.) passes across a defined section of the belt conveyor, the signal from the weight sensing device is used to develop a belt load value in weight/length units. This would be pounds/foot or kilograms/meter. At the same time as the belt load is developed, pulses from an encoder (normally mounted on a pulley) are used to determine how far the belt has moved in a period of time. The "belt speed" is in length/time units, such as feet/minute or meters/minute. The belt speed is multiplied times the belt load to arrive at the current feedrate of the material. The current feedrate is then compared to the desired feedrate (setpoint) and the belt speed is increased or decreased based on the error. The result is minimum error between the setpoint and the actual feedrate. The weigh belt feeder also supplies a total of material fed through the feeder. There are many algorithms and parameters associated with weigh belt feeders, as well as other control schemes such as constant belt speed with control of a variable pre-feed

device. Merrick does have an executable (.exe) program which is a simulation for our weigh belt feeder controller. It allows a PC user to simulate belt speed and belt load and enter various parameters for a belt feeder control scheme. I would be glad to provide a a copy by e-mail if you desire. Dear Mr. Tan, Mr. Shagndink has explained the working of belt weight feeder in detail. The objective of weigh feeder is to have discharge of material at selected capacity from control panel. There are different variants of weigh feeder to achieve this objective. The particular type depends upon the material, capacity, discharge accuracy, space / length and budget. The best course for you is to discuss the matter with manufacturer / designer of weigh feeder. The weigh feeder is a system itself and its proper explanation is difficult in the forum. The variants are, weigh feeder without pre-feeder, weigh feeder with pre-feeder and simple belt feeder cum conveyor with weight scale beyond skirt zone (the belt on conventional troughing idler would be comparatively wider for this type of arrangement). The balancing of flow at different points in the system i.e. in system before weigh feeder, at weigh feeder and in system after weigh feeder is equally important to design equipment / system. Regards, Ishwar G Mulani. Author of Book : Engineering Science and Application Design for Belt Conveyors. Advisor / Consultant for Bulk Material Handling System & Issues. Email : parimul@pn2.vsnl.net.in Tel.: 0091 (0)20 25882916