Utilizing a Non-Contact Sensor to Detect a Length or Speed of a Movable Surface

Abstract

A dynamic, reconfigurable, and modular cleaning device utilizes software, sensors, and modular components to provide a one-size-fits-all approach to cleaning conveyor belts. The cleaning device secures to a body or frame associated with a conveyor belt, in which an associated cleaning head cleans the conveyor belt's surface. The cleaning head has an arm that extends from its body and inserts into a corresponding opening on a connecting frame associated with the cleaning device. The cleaning head is then secured in place via a cylindrical pin that extends through aligned holes on the arm and the connecting plate. Insertion of the pin connects the components together, and removal of the pin enables a user to disconnect the cleaning head and swap a new one in its place, such as to provide a different cleaning action.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method performed by a computing device operatively coupled to a movable surface, comprising:
 setting a near and extended position for a cleaning head controllable by the computing device, in which the near and extended positions are with reference to near and far width ends, respectively, of the movable surface;   setting a cleaning level of the computing device;   automatically measuring, using a sensor operatively connected to the computing device, a length or speed of the movable surface when the sensor is operably connected to the computing device; and   initiating operation of the cleaning head by the computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor that measures the movable surface's length or speed is non-contact with the movable surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the non-contact sensor detects an identifiable marker on the movable surface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the non-contact sensor is a vision sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the non-contact sensor detects a complete revolution of the movable surface using the identifiable marker. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the non-contact sensor is a camera. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the non-contact sensor is a hall effect sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein measuring the movable surface's length or speed occurs responsive to the computing device receiving input at its user interface (UI). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor detects an identifiable marker. 
     
     
         10 . A movable surface cleaning system, comprising:
 a cleaning head mounted to a frame;   a computing device operatively connected to the cleaning head, the computing device having a user interface (UI), one or more processors, and one or more hardware-based memory devices storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the computing device to:   present, on the UI, controls to set a near and extended position for the cleaning head controllable by the movable surface cleaning system;   present, on the UI, options to set a cleaning level of the movable surface, in which the cleaning level pertains to a level of intensity exerted against the movable surface by the cleaning head;   present, on the UI, a method by which the computing device measures a length or speed of the movable surface, wherein the computing device is initially set to automatically measure the movable surface's length or speed when a sensor is operably connected to the computing device and the movable surface's length or speed is manually measured when the sensor is operably disconnected from the computing device; and   initiate operation of the movable surface's cleaning system and utilize the movable surface's measured length or speed during operation.   
     
     
         11 . The movable surface cleaning system of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor that measures the movable surface's length or speed is non-contact with the movable surface. 
     
     
         12 . The movable surface cleaning system of  claim 11 , wherein the non-contact sensor detects an identifiable marker on the movable surface. 
     
     
         13 . The movable surface cleaning system of  claim 12 , wherein the non-contact sensor is a vision sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The movable surface cleaning system of  claim 12 , wherein the non-contact sensor detects a complete revolution of the movable surface using the identifiable marker. 
     
     
         15 . The movable surface cleaning system of  claim 12 , wherein the non-contact sensor is a camera. 
     
     
         16 . One or more hardware-based non-transitory memory devices storing computer-readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors disposed in a computing device, cause the computing device to:
 instantiating a cleaning application on the computing device, in which the cleaning application controls operations of a cleaning head attachable to a frame that is secured to a movable surface;   determine, by the computing device, a length or speed of the movable surface to be cleaned by the cleaning head using a sensor that is operably connected to the computing device; and   initiate operation of the cleaning head, in which operation includes causing movement of the movable surface and the cleaning head.   
     
     
         17 . The one or more hardware-based non-transitory memory devices of  claim 16 , wherein the determination of the movable surface's length or speed is measured by a vision sensor that detects an identifiable marker on the movable surface. 
     
     
         18 . The one or more hardware-based non-transitory memory devices of  claim 17 , wherein the vision sensor, detecting the identifiable marker, detects a complete revolution of the movable surface. 
     
     
         19 . The one or more hardware-based non-transitory memory devices of  claim 16 , wherein the vision sensor is a camera. 
     
     
         20 . The one or more hardware-based non-transitory memory devices of  claim 16 , wherein determining the length or speed of the movable surface is an automated process by which the computing device is initially set, and the initial setting is switchable to a manual determination process.