DEVICE FOR MONITORING A CONVEYING SYSTEM USING AN ELECTRODE COMPONENT FOR DETECTING DAMAGE TO A CONVEYOR BELT

The invention relates to a device for monitoring a conveying system (1) in a continuous and nondestructive manner, comprising at least the following components: an endlessly closed conveyor belt (2) with a supporting-side cover plate (3) and a running-side cover plate (4), each said plate being made of a polymer material with elastic properties and a mixed-in electrically conductive filler, and an embedded tension member; drums (5), idler rollers (6), and supporting structures, said components forming a material-conveying upper run (A) and a material-free lower run (B) in conjunction with the conveyor belt (2); and a monitoring system (7) for detecting damage to the conveyor belt (2). The monitoring system is provided with at least one scanning unit (8) that detects the surface of the supporting-side cover plate (3) within a material-free region and/or the surface of the running-side cover plate (4) of the passing conveyor belt (2) in a contact-free manner, said scanning unit (8) communicating with a measuring unit (9) and an analyzing unit (10), specifically with the detection of the actual values when comparing with the target values. The device according to the invention is characterized in that the scanning unit (8) is an electrode component in the context of a dielectric measuring system, said component consisting of at least one first electrode, a second electrode, and a gap which is present between both said electrodes and which comprises a medium. Said component also generates an electric field with which changes in the structure of the supporting-side cover plate (3) and/or the running-side cover plate (4) of the conveyor belt (2) can be detected.