Sensor for fabric- or textile-based conveyor belt scanning and monitoring

A method of monitoring a conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt comprises a fabric or textile reinforced structural component having dielectric properties and coated on both sides with a rubber or polymer material, the method comprising:

• generating a microwave field using a field generator and the field angled at about 45 degrees to the belt;
• receiving a data signal based on interaction of the field with internal structures and defects of the conveyor belt over at least a revolution of the conveyor belt, wherein the internal structures and defects are characterized using reflective time of flight and doppler frequency shifts;
• analyzing the received data signal to generate a reflected image map based on the received data and showing locations of the internal structures and defects of the conveyor belt;
• and
• comparing the reflected image map with a belt map to identify belt damage.

A system for monitoring conveyor belts which comprise a fabric or textile reinforced structural component, the system comprising:

• a field generator configured to generate a field at an angle toward a conveyor belt;
• a sensor that receives data over a single revolution of the conveyor belt, wherein the sensor is a microwave based sensor which is capable of monitoring reflective time of flight and doppler frequency shifts;
• a plurality of fabric reinforced structural components having dielectric properties;
• and
• the sensor compares the received data with an earlier data set having portable and prior scans of the conveyor belt to determine and identify elements including the plurality of fabric reinforced structural elements and damage of the belt and determine changes within the belt over time,
• wherein the field generator generates the field in one of a group of frequencies including lower than microwave frequencies, microwave frequencies, higher than microwave frequencies and ultrasonic frequencies, and
• wherein the field generator generates the field at an angle of about 45 degrees.