AUTOMATION OF BUCKET CONVEYOR FROM CSC-AUTOMATION LLC

The bucket conveyors (bucket elevators) are usually used for vertical grain feed. They can be used in the following sections: product feed from the receiving bin to the cleaner compartment, elevation to the distribution conveyor over the silos. For the uniform work of the separator, the balanced grain feed from the elevator is necessary. The amount of the impurities in the grain varies from 1 to 15%, the performance of the dust exhausting plants and separators depends on their content. FR-A frequency inverters (Mitsubishi, Japan) are used to start-up and shutdown a loaded bucket conveyor. PLC controllers of Q series receive a control signal from the cleaner compartment; the signal value depends on the compartment performance. The controller analyzes a signal and gives a command to the frequency inverter to change the rotations of Bockwoldt geared motor.

The following protection types are provided for to ensure safe operation of the bucket conveyor:

- overloading of the conveyor boot is controlled by the back-pressure transducer. CSC-AUTOMATION offers two types of sensors — the capacity and diaphragm sensor. CBN 15-30GK60-E0 Capacity Pickup (Pepperl&Fuchs, Germany) works as a capacitor, and with the grains available, the capacity changes. Diaphragm Pickup of MF type (Mollet Fullstandtechnik, Germany) is represented by a diaphragm with a rod and microswitch. The grain presses the diaphragm and its rod closes the circuit by the microswitch. The signal from the capacity or diaphragm sensor is supplied to the controller that sends a command to the discharge conveyor of the receiving bin and stops loading of the bucket conveyor.

- belt running off or break is controlled by the inductive speed sensor of NBB8-18GM50-EO-V1 type (Pepperl&Fuchs, Germany). The signal is transmitted to the controller and power supply of the conveyor geared motor stops.

The emergency shutdown alarm works using a combined alert-beacon instrument of AL112N type.