Method for self-synchronizing a conveyor belt sensor system

A self-synchronizing sensor system for a moving conveyor belt of the belt type having a plurality of sensors spaced along the belt and a sensor reader for detecting and identifying the presence of a sensor passing by the sensor reader, the system comprising:

• a plurality of identification tags spaced along the belt;
• a tag reader for detecting and identifying the presence of a tag passing by the tag reader, wherein the sensor reader is configured for detecting and identifying the presence of a sensor independent of the functionality of an identification tag;
• a control unit configured for determining associated sensor separations in time and distance data relative to each of the identification tags during calibration of the system;
• acquiring associated time and distance target values from a calibration table for a first sensor (S1);
• initiating time and distance counters;
• determining whether the first sensor (S1) is detected within the time and distance target values;
• and stopping the conveyor belt in the event that the first sensor (S1) is detected after the time and distance target values are exceeded;
• and,
• wherein the control unit is further configured for detecting and identifying a functioning tag;
• and acquiring associated time and distance target values for a second sensor (S2) as measured from the identified functioning tag in the event that the first sensor (S1) is not detected and identified within the time and distance target values.

A self-synchronizing sensor system for a moving conveyor belt of the belt type having a plurality of sensors spaced along the belt and a sensor reader for detecting and identifying the presence of a sensor passing by the sensor reader, the system comprising:

• a plurality of identification tags spaced along the belt;
• a tag reader for detecting and identifying the presence of a tag passing by the tag reader, wherein the sensor reader is configured for detecting and identifying the presence of a sensor independent of the functionality of an identification tag;
• a control unit configured for determining associated sensor separations in time and distance data relative to each of the identification tags during calibration of the system;
• acquiring associated time and distance target values from a calibration table for a first sensor (S1);
• initiating time and distance counters;
• determining whether the first sensor (S1) is detected within the time and distance target values;
• and stopping the conveyor belt in the event that the first sensor (S1) is detected after the time and distance target values are exceeded;
• and,
• wherein the control unit is further configured for detecting and identifying a functioning tag;
• acquiring associated time and distance target values for a second sensor (S2) as measured from the identified functioning tag in the event that the first sensor (S1) is detected and identified within the time and distance target values;
• and acquiring associated time and distance target values for a second sensor (S2) as measured from the identified functioning tag in the event that the first sensor (S1) is not detected and identified within the time and distance target values without stopping the belt when the control unit is set to skip one non-functioning sensor.