An EPSRC Industrial CASE Award was allocated through the Integrated Products Manufacturing KTN to Display Systems Limited/The Mechatronics Research Centre at Loughborough University. The award was given to carry out research into "Condition Monitoring of Transport Belts".
Summary of Project
The Post Office maintains a nationwide network of sorting offices, which utilise high performance machines for automatic letter sorting. The functionality and performance of these machines serve as an example of the synergetic use of mechanical components, machine vision and distributed control principles.
The efficiency and reliability with which the mail-sorting process is carried out directly affects the quality of service provided by The Post Office to their customers. The condition of mechanical components used within letter-sorting machinery, such as belts and bearings, directly affect the running efficiency of the mail-sorting machinery, and knowledge about the condition of mechanical components affects the reliability with which the process can be run.
Belts of different types are used extensively throughout the mail-sorting process to perform a variety of functions. Any change in the condition of a belt - from a catastrophic failure due to belt breakage to the more subtle changes that for example can cause an increase in slippage - all have an impact on the overall efficiency with which the mail sorting process is performed. In this project work is being carried out into the application and development of condition-monitoring technology for the flat belts used within mail-sorting machinery.
Achievements
The estimated savings on full roll-out of off-line vibration-monitoring technology runs into millions of pounds. Application of the technology within sorting offices has also led to a reduction in downtime and increased the volume of mail processed. Other achievements of this work so far have included the publication of material and the submission of numerous patent applications.
