Multipurpose sensor for belt conveyor

An apparatus for measuring the moisture content of a bulk fibrous material moving along a path of travel, the apparatus comprising:

• an assembly pivotally mounted over the path of travel of the moving bulk fibrous material, the assembly comprising:
• a. a plurality of rigid conductive fingers, each finger having an exposed portion for contacting the bulk fibrous material, the exposed portions each having a lower end and having an oppositely arranged upper end which carries an electrical connection;
• b. each of the rigid conductive fingers having a thin coating of electrical insulation on the exposed portions thereof except for a lower surface of each of the exposed portions which is intended to contact the moving material, the conductive fingers being separated only by air at the lower surfaces thereof where the fingers contact the conveyed material;
• c. insulating and clamping means for maintaining the rigid conductive fingers in parallel arrangement to each other and in parallel disposition to the direction of flow of the moving bulk fibrous material, as the fingers make sliding contact with the bulk fibrous material being moved, the insulating and clamping means being shielded from the conveyed material to thereby prevent the insulating and clamping means from being rubbed by the conveyed material;
• d. protective means for preventing contamination of or damage to the electrical connections to the rigid conductive fingers;
• sensing means for detecting an electrical resistance of the conductive fingers, for converting the electrical resistance to an electrical signal which is a function of the moisture content of the bulk fibrous material and for transmitting the electrical signal to a readout device.

An apparatus for measuring the moisture content of cotton being transported on a belt conveyor, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing mounted over the belt conveyor for pivotal movement in an arcuate path which intersects the plane of the conveyor belt;
• a plurality of rigid, resistance-sensing fingers carried by the pivotally mounted housing, each finger having an exposed portion for contacting the cotton being transported, a lower end and an oppositely arranged upper end, the rigid, resistance-sensing fingers being disposed parallel to the direction of flow of the cotton on the conveyor belt, whereby the fingers make sliding contact with the cotton, movement of the fingers being halted in their downward arcuate path by the cotton being sensed, and wherein the housing and fingers have a weight which presses the fingers against the cotton being sensed with a uniform pressure, and wherein the rigid fingers each have their exposed portions coated with a thin layer of electrical insulation, except for a lower surface of each of the exposed portions which is intended to contact the cotton, the rigid fingers being separated only by air at the lower surfaces thereof where the fingers contact the cotton;
• sensing means for detecting an electrical resistance of the rigid fingers, for converting the electrical resistance to an electrical signal which is a function of the moisture content of the cotton being transported and for transmitting the electrical signal to a readout device.