Method for monitoring conveyor belt splices

1. A method for detecting defects in conveyor belt splices having magnetically permeable metal cords embedded therein as the conveyor belt advances through a conveyor system, said conveyor belt having at least one single or multiple stage splice, wherein a first set of magnetically permeable metal cords coming from a first side of the splice extend into a second side of the splice and have ends which are embedded in the second side of the splice, wherein a second set of magnetically permeable metal cords coming from the second side of the splice extend into the first side of the splice and have ends which are embedded in the first side of the splice, said method comprising magnetizing the first set of magnetically permeable metal cords and the second set of magnetically permeable metal cords, and monitoring the magnetic image generated by a first pole at the ends of the first set of magnetically permeable metal cords and a second pole at the ends of the second set of magnetically permeable metal cords with a magnetic sensor to detect magnetic anomalies generated by cord defects within the belt splices due to discontinuities in the geometric configuration of the magnetically permeable metal cords, wherein the magnetic image associated with cord ends is monitored to detect magnetic characteristic changes over time, with the proviso that if the first pole is a positive pole that the second pole is a negative pole, and with the proviso that if the first pole is a negative pole that the second pole is a positive pole.

2. The method as specified in claim 1 wherein the magnetic characteristic changes are changes in magnetic intensity, magnetic polarity, and/or magnetic geometric coordinates associated with one or more conveyor belt splices.

3. The method as specified in claim 1 wherein the magnetic characteristic is a function of splice angle.

4. The method as specified in claim 1 wherein the magnetic characteristic is a function of edge straightness.

5. The method as specified in claim 1 wherein the magnetic characteristic is a function of splice length.

6. The method as specified in claim 1 wherein the magnetic characteristic is a function of splice symmetry.

7. The method as specified in claim 1 wherein the magnetic characteristic changes are with respect to a specific splice having a magnetic center and a geometric center and wherein the magnetic characteristic changes are changes of the magnetic center of the splice relative to the geometric center of the splice.

8. A conveyor system comprising (A) a conveyor belt having magnetically permeable metal cords embedded therein, said conveyor belt having at least one single or multiple stage splice, wherein a first set of magnetically permeable longitudinal metal cords coming from a first side of the splice extend into a second side of the splice and have ends which are embedded in the second side of the splice, wherein a second set of magnetically permeable longitudinal metal cords coming from the second side of the splice extend into the first side of the splice and have ends which are embedded in the first side of the splice, wherein the conveyor belt is elastomeric body having a load carrying surface and a parallel pulley engaging surface, and wherein the magnetically permeable metal cords extend longitudinally through the belt; (B) a pulley system which is adapted for receiving the pulley engaging surface of the belt; (C) a means for magnetizing the first set of magnetically permeable metal cords and the second set of magnetically permeable metal cords to generate by a positive pole at the ends of the first set of metal cords and a negative pole at the ends of the second set of metal cords; and (D) a means for monitoring the magnetic image generated by a positive pole at the ends of the first set of magnetically permeable metal cords and a negative pole at the ends of the second set of magnetically permeable metal cords to detect magnetic anomalies generated by cord defects within the belt splices due to discontinuities in the geometric configuration of the magnetically permeable metal cords, wherein the means for monitoring the magnetic image associated with cord ends monitors to detect magnetic characteristic changes over time.

9. The conveyor system as specified in claim 8 wherein the means for monitoring the magnetic field image includes at least one magnetic sensor.

10. The conveyor system as specified in claim 8 wherein the means for monitoring the magnetic image monitors to detect splice condition as a function of splice angle.

11. The conveyor system as specified in claim 8 wherein the means for monitoring the magnetic image monitors to detect splice condition as a function of edge straightness.

12. The conveyor system as specified in claim 8 wherein the means for monitoring the magnetic image monitors to detect splice condition as a function of splice length.

13. The conveyor system as specified in claim 8 wherein the means for monitoring the magnetic image monitors to detect splice condition as a function of splice symmetry.

14. The conveyor system as specified in claim 8 wherein the means for monitoring the magnetic image monitors to detect magnetic characteristic changes over time.

15. The conveyor system as specified in claim 14 wherein the magnetic characteristic changes are changes in magnetic intensity, magnetic polarity, and/or magnetic geometric coordinates associated with one or more conveyor belt splices.

16. The conveyor system as specified in claim 14 wherein the magnetic characteristic is a function of splice angle.

17. The conveyor system as specified in claim 14 wherein the magnetic characteristic is a function of edge straightness.

18. The conveyor system as specified in claim 14 wherein the magnetic characteristic is a function of splice length.

19. The conveyor system as specified in claim 17 wherein the magnetic characteristic is a function of splice symmetry.