Postion sensor for dumpster with induction loop - any experiences?
Postion sensor for dumpster with induction loop - any experiences?
(OP)
We need to build a system that detects if a dumpster is standing at it'S place (so the conveyor belt knows when to fill it and when not).
Classical induction sensors have a range of 20-30mm, we are not sure the truck driver will always position the dumpsters that close to anything. A positioning system is there (steel rails in ground) but not exact enough.
Installing a sensor in the concrete platform the containers will stand on introduces new headaches so i thought about sensor that are made to be installed on/in the ground and arrived at an inuction loop, as found in trafic control. The loop wil be placed in concrete, with (some) rebar underneath. We are favoring a system where a prepared plasitc pipe with the cable inside is pured into the concrete. I've reached out to suppliers and am waiting for a reply, so far no one has experience with this specific application. Hence my questions:
will it work? the dumpster floor will be far closer than a car, but also have far less mass - basically a few mm of metal. Is this enough?
For signal, I want (after configuration) a binary signal, nothing more (traffic control systems seem to be really competent up to identifying passing cars. Not needed by me!).
What else should I think of?
Classical induction sensors have a range of 20-30mm, we are not sure the truck driver will always position the dumpsters that close to anything. A positioning system is there (steel rails in ground) but not exact enough.
Installing a sensor in the concrete platform the containers will stand on introduces new headaches so i thought about sensor that are made to be installed on/in the ground and arrived at an inuction loop, as found in trafic control. The loop wil be placed in concrete, with (some) rebar underneath. We are favoring a system where a prepared plasitc pipe with the cable inside is pured into the concrete. I've reached out to suppliers and am waiting for a reply, so far no one has experience with this specific application. Hence my questions:
will it work? the dumpster floor will be far closer than a car, but also have far less mass - basically a few mm of metal. Is this enough?
For signal, I want (after configuration) a binary signal, nothing more (traffic control systems seem to be really competent up to identifying passing cars. Not needed by me!).
What else should I think of?





RE: Postion sensor for dumpster with induction loop - any experiences?
Note that standard traffic control inductive sensing can usually detect motorcycles.
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
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RE: Postion sensor for dumpster with induction loop - any experiences?
RE: Postion sensor for dumpster with induction loop - any experiences?
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: Postion sensor for dumpster with induction loop - any experiences?
A vehicle (inductive) detection-loop, and associated relay, should work fine. I have used Sarasota units before (for gate control). However, the rebar might be an issue. You should talk to the OEMs to see what, if any, rebar their equipment can tolerate.
Another strategy is to use photo electric controllers to determine if a dumpster is in place. Note: it may take more than one PEC to guarantee that the dumpster is in the correct position. I prefer this option as all of the hardware is above grade and rebar won't be an issue.
Regards,
GG
RE: Postion sensor for dumpster with induction loop - any experiences?
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: Postion sensor for dumpster with induction loop - any experiences?
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Postion sensor for dumpster with induction loop - any experiences?
RE: Postion sensor for dumpster with induction loop - any experiences?
They are typically made for much higher resolution / smaller parts and faster speed than what you need, but I have used them for locating large vegetable hoppers for packing machinery, same basic principle. Everything else we tried had problems over time, this was extremely reliable. We used one from Balluff, but there are lots of them available now.
http://www.balluff.com/balluff/MDE/en/products/531...
https://www.google.com/search?q=balluff+vision+sen...
"You measure the size of the accomplishment by the obstacles you had to overcome to reach your goals" -- Booker T. Washington
RE: Postion sensor for dumpster with induction loop - any experiences?
These are lowered from above.
so we can't use rails or the etup with the pyramids used above. This means our positioning is not very accurate, which is why I exclude most classical inducion switches.
I've since talked to suppliers, apparantly they can handle rebar since (these systems are used in multi-storey parking garages).
The vision sensor is a fascinating possibility, probably too much novelty to convince my boss and our customer but I will read up on it for the next project.
RE: Postion sensor for dumpster with induction loop - any experiences?
Another option may be load cells to detect the weight of the skip.
Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter
RE: Postion sensor for dumpster with induction loop - any experiences?
Have some concrete cut out in the middle with a groove trench extending off the slab and mount a weatherproof limit switch there that
is tripped by the container.
RE: Postion sensor for dumpster with induction loop - any experiences?