Intelligent light curtain saves downtime costs to meet latest safety requirements

Citation

(2009), "Intelligent light curtain saves downtime costs to meet latest safety requirements", Industrial Robot, Vol. 36 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2009.04936dad.002

Intelligent light curtain saves downtime costs to meet latest safety requirements

Article Type: New products From: Industrial Robot: An International Journal, Volume 36, Issue 4

Overcoming the limitations of standard “muting” light curtain safety guards, SICK has developed the C4000 light curtain (Figure 2) to deliver production line personnel safety to help meet the latest ISO 13849 and IEC 62061 requirements with reduced costs and improved reliability.

Figure 2 The C4000 light curtain from SICK delivering production line personnel safety requirements whilst reducing costs and improving reliability

By using intelligent monitoring of broken beam patterns at hazard area entry and exit, the C4000 allows standard production flow while guarding personnel entry, thus minimising unnecessary and expensive downtime. Typical applications include palletisers and de-palletisers, strapping machines, stretch wrappers and robotic and automated cells

The C4000’s intelligent beam monitor accurately distinguishes between production objects and people at all times, which eliminates the need for additional muting sensors and lamps. In this way, the new SICK light curtain avoids the common failings of standard guards including lamp or sensor failure, misalignment, poor installation and the possibility of manipulation by personnel.

When an object breaks the light beams, the SICK C4000 intelligently assesses the broken beam pattern against previously input data. It allows standard sized and shaped pallet or skid-mounted objects to pass through, while instantly detecting the pattern made by a walking person, even if alongside the pallet.

This eliminates the need for complex and high accuracy set up with devices such as silhouettes, extra sensors and switches, and other measures, and makes installation quicker and easier.

The SICK C4000 Palletiser is TÜV certified to EN 61294-1&2 Type 4 and IEC61508 SIL3, suitable for requirements up to EN954-1. The C4000 is ideal for a safety installation to meet ISO 13849 and IEC 62061.

For further details, please visit: www.sick.co.uk