SICK extends LMS Bulkscan non-contact belt measurement to more users

SICK’s LMS111 Bulkscan provides highly accurate, delay-free volume and mass flow measurements, maximising the throughput of a wide range of bulk materials. These include waste, crops, fertilizers, building materials, and food ingredients. The LMS111 Bulkscan is compact, easy to integrate, and can either be designed into new lines or retrofitted onto existing conveyors.

A cost-effective alternative to a conventional beltweigher, the LMS111 Bulkscan offers the weigh-free, low-maintenance advantages of non-contact, real-time measurement. A reliable output of the material’s volume and mass flow is enabled by multi-echo, time-of-flight laser scanning technology. In addition to this, the material’s centre of gravity is continuously monitored, helping to avoid uneven loading and resulting belt wear.

The machine is easy to install and is set up in a vertical (nom. 5°) alignment for accurate profile measurement. The unit can be applied to the narrowest and widest conveyors, using the pulsed, time-of-flight laser measurement system, with a 190° wide field of view. The instrument can output three analogue signals via a BAM100 processing unit accessory, or alternatively delivers three digital signals, which can be assigned to a bulk quota for condition monitoring. Easy connectivity is ensured by a TCP/IP, with a PC, factory SCADA, and PLC communication networks.

Measuring at 152 mm x 102 mm x 105 mm, the LMS111 unit is compact and easy to install in a wide variety of locations. The unit can be mounted up to 10 m above the conveyor in ambient operating conditions ranging from -30°C to +50°C. Environmental protection is rated at IP67.

THE LMS111 system complements SICK’s LMS511 Bulkscan PRO, which provides additional measurements and is designed for operation in more challenging, dusty, and dirty conditions. This includes the most arduous ambient conditions.

“The new SICK LMS111 Bulkscan presents a value-added alternative to a standard belt scale and is a robust and consistent performer, even in dusty production environments or when mounted behind glass,” said Darren Pratt, National Product Manager for Industrial Instrumentation at SICK UK. “By measuring the load height profile every 20 msec., the LMS111 delivers an accurate, continuous profile measurement. It then works out the volume of the material using the belt speed, which can be provided as a fixed value or input via an encoder in the case of a variable speed belt. The mass is computed from the volume and a known density of the material.
“Volume is more important for many production processes, making Bulkscan an ideal alternative to beltweighers in conditions where the density of material changes significantly. Asymmetrical belt filling or unequal bulk distribution can cause off-track running. The load height and centre of gravity also have important wear, energy efficiency, and safety implications in bulk conveying. As it is non-contact, there is nothing to wear out with the LMS Bulkscan and it remains accurate, without the regular recalibration needed for conventional scales.”

SICK is a leading sensor manufacturer, providing sensors and application solutions that create a basis for controlling processes securely and efficiently, protecting individuals from accidents and preventing damage to the environment.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/02112018/sick-extends-lms-bulkscan-non-contact-belt-measurement-to-more-users/