Patent ID: 11866267
Assignee: METSO OUTOTEC USA INC.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 16:
17. A method for continuously monitoring an apron feeder having a plurality of units of different types, the apron feeder being used to transfer bulk materials and being in relation to a plurality of sensor modules of different types, wherein each sensor module refers to a specific type of units of the apron feeder and comprises at least one sensor and wherein each unit of the plurality of units of different types has a different function within the apron feeder compared to the other units, the method comprising the steps of:
measuring, by each sensor, an individual condition of a unit of the apron feeder;
generating, by the sensor, sensor data representing the measured individual condition;
transmitting, by the sensor, the generated sensor;
collecting, by a base station, the sensor data from the plurality of sensor modules;
transmitting, by the base station, outbound data, the outbound data being based on the collected sensor data;
receiving, by a processing unit, the outbound data from the base station;
analysing, by the processing unit, the outbound data for determining whether or not any of the unit of the apron feeder needs to be replaced or readjusted based on its individual condition; and
generating, by the processing unit, a result of the determination for continuously indicating an overall state of the apron feeder;
wherein the unit needs to be replaced or readjusted when its individual condition does not meet a predetermined threshold.