Device for Monitoring an Apparatus for Induction Heating of a Metal Material, Method for Automatic Loading and Control System

A device for monitoring a device for inductive heating of a metal material, with a detection device and with an evaluation device, wherein

• the detection device is an optical sensor for detecting a distance,
• wherein the detection device is a LIDAR sensor,
• the detection device being configured to emit beams in the ultraviolet, infrared or visible range of light and to determine a distance value for the distance to be measured at a specific measurement time on the basis of the transit time of the measurement pulse between emission and reception after reflection, and
• in that the evaluation device is configured to determine a fill level (64) of the device for inductive heating on the basis of a distance detected by the detection device and to output a corresponding signal,
• wherein several distance values corresponding to several distances detected at the same time are taken into account in order to detect bridging in the metal material received by the device for inductive heating, and
• wherein the signal being suitable for further use in a control process for the supply of metal material to the device for inductive heating . . . .

A method for automatically loading a device for induction heating of a metal material, wherein

• beams in the ultraviolet, infrared or visible range of light are emitted by a detection device configured as a LIDAR sensor and a distance is detected in a time-resolved manner,
• wherein a distance value for the distance to be measured is determined at a specific measurement time point on the basis of the transit time of the measurement pulse between emitting and receiving after reflection,
• in that corresponding distance values are output,
• in that a signal containing information about a fill level of the device for inductive heating is output on the basis of the distance values,
• wherein several distance values corresponding to several distances detected at the same time are taken into account in order to detect bridging in the metal material received by the device for inductive heating, and
• in that the supply of metal material to the device for inductive heating is controlled or regulated as a function of the information about a fill level.