What are the main conveyor belt weighing devices? What are the application advantages of electronic belt weighers?

In various industrial settings, belt conveyors are commonly used to transport bulk materials. To enhance operational efficiency and strengthen production management, it is often necessary to weigh and measure the materials being transported on the conveyor belt.

The weighing devices used during conveyor belt transportation are dynamic and are also known as belt weighers. So, what are the main types of conveyor belt weighing devices, and which weighing method is more advantageous? Understanding conveyor belt weighing devices helps in making informed choices for practical applications.

What are the main conveyor belt weighing devices?

Conveyor belt weighing devices, also known as belt weighers, are primarily used to measure the instantaneous flow rate and cumulative weight of bulk materials being transported on a conveyor belt. The main types include electronic belt weighers and nuclear belt weighers.

(1) Electronic Belt Weighers

Electronic belt weighers employ a contact-based weighing method. The scale frame is installed on the belt conveyor, with sensors mounted on the frame. The frame serves as a force transmission device, utilizing sensors to detect the weight signal of the materials being transported on the belt and the speed signal of the conveyor belt. An instrument receives these signals and processes them to calculate the instantaneous and cumulative flow rates of the materials.

(2) Nuclear Belt Weighers

Nuclear belt weighers use a non-contact weighing method, relying on the attenuation of gamma rays passing through the materials being transported on the belt to calculate their weight. Since it is a non-contact method, factors such as belt tension changes, misalignment, and bouncing vibrations have minimal impact on the weighing accuracy.

What are the application advantages of electronic belt weighers?

Firstly, electronic belt weighers offer several advantages over nuclear belt weighers:

1. Nuclear belt weighers emit gamma rays, which pose radiation risks and do not align with environmental protection principles. Their application requires specialized approvals, making the process cumbersome. In contrast, electronic belt weighers do not have these concerns.

2. While conveyor belts and conveyors have minimal impact on the weighing accuracy of nuclear belt weighers, factors such as particle size, volume, humidity, and cross-sectional shape of the materials significantly affect their accuracy. Nuclear belt weighers are more suitable for materials with uniform particle size and regular volume, limiting the range of bulk materials they can accurately measure. Electronic belt weighers, on the other hand, have no restrictions on the volume or density of the materials, making them suitable for a wider range of bulk materials.

Furthermore, advancements in electronic belt weigher technology have addressed issues that previously affected weighing accuracy:

1. Improved design structures in electronic belt weighers have reduced the impact of "belt effects" such as belt tension on weighing accuracy. For example, the ICS-17A electronic belt weigher effectively overcomes off-center loading effects, while fully suspended electronic belt weighers avoid the impact of support points and force transmission on weighing accuracy. The new matrix-type electronic belt weigher even overcomes the effects of belt tension, force transmission, and the device itself on weighing accuracy. Additionally, auxiliary means such as belt tensioning devices can be installed to further reduce the impact of belt effects on weighing accuracy.

2. Innovations in electronic belt weigher technology have also minimized or eliminated various factors affecting weighing accuracy. For instance, digital weighing sensors convert analog signals into digital signals, significantly enhancing anti-interference capabilities and ensuring the accuracy and stability of the weighing load signals. Weighing sensors also incorporate more features to ensure detection accuracy, such as temperature compensation, overload protection, and resistance to lateral forces.

In conclusion, while there are multiple options for conveyor belt weighing devices, electronic belt weighers have become increasingly widely used in industrial bulk material weighing due to their unique advantages.