Sharp objects carried on conveyor belts can cause rips along the length of the belt. These longitudinal rips are a particular problem in industries such as mining, wood processing and recycling, and can be costly in terms of downtime and repairs. “In the worst case, the belt can be written off completely,“ says Dr Andreas Jungk, an application engineer with ContiTech’s conveyor belt group.

To tackle the problem, ContiTech has developed an electronic monitor designed to detect longitudinal slitting early on, thus minimising damage and reducing the risk of accidents. It also allows belts to be used longer, helping to cut operating costs and protect the environment.

The ContiProtect detector (above) is based on conductor loops vulcanised into the conveyor belt that transmit a high-frequency signal to a receiver. If a loop is damaged, the signal breaks down and the conveyor control system can stop the belt automatically. The time taken to stop the belt depends on the distance between the conductor loops, which are typically 20–50m apart. During an initial learning cycle, these distances are recognised and saved by the system.

An Ethernet connection allows the system to be controlled via a PC. ContiTech specialists can connect to the system via the Internet to perform remote maintenance.