Safety Light Curtain Protects the Surroundings of Hydraulic Presses

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publisher: Vicky

Issue Time: Aug 17,2024

Summary

Safety light curtains are photoelectric sensors comprising multiple infrared transmitters and receivers, typically installed around industrial equipment like hydraulic presses. These systems continuously emit infrared beams to create a "light grid" around the working area. If an object or person enters this protected area, the light grid is disrupted, and the system instantly sends a signal to halt the hydraulic press, preventing accidents.

Safety Light Curtain Protects the Surroundings of Hydraulic Presses

Application of Safety Light Curtain in Hydraulic Press

Guarding Against Hazards at the Hydraulic Press Point of Operation

Machine Guarding for Hydraulic Press Point of Operation Guarding against hazards at the hydraulic press point of operation

The point of operation of a hydraulic press is where the work is performed. Guarding the point of operation is critical to protecting personnel from accidents or injuries and preventing damage to equipment.

In many point of operation applications, operators must work very close to hazards. In these applications, hard guards may not be practical because they reduce operator ergonomics and productivity. Optical sensing technology, such as safety light curtains, protects the point of operation while allowing the operator to interact more seamlessly with the machine.

How Safety Light Curtains Protect the Operating Points of Hydraulic Presses？

What Is a Safety Light Curtain?

Safety light curtains typically consist of a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter sends a beam of light to the receiver. Creating a sensing screen that protects against machine hazards. The safety light curtain can detect when an individual or object blocks any beam on the screen and can trigger the cessation of hazardous motion.

Safety light curtains can be classified as Type 2 or Type 4 depending on the level of risk they protect against and have a variety of resolutions (distance between beams) to detect arms, hands or fingers. The specific resolution required depends on your application, the distance between the safety light curtain and the hazard, and how quickly hazardous motion can be stopped based on the minimum safe distance calculation.

Precautions for the Application of Safety Light Curtains in Hydraulic Presses

Blind Zones——End-to-End Sensing Ensures No Gaps in Protection

When using safety light curtains in hydraulic press applications, it is important to ensure that there are no gaps where a finger or hand can bypass the protective beam without being detected.

Many safety light curtains now feature end-to-end sensing, meaning that the protective beam extends the entire length of the safety light curtain. If blind spots or other gaps exist, they must be accounted for when designing the safety system. Risk assessment is an important first step in any safety project to ensure such issues are considered and addressed prior to implementation.

Space Constraints——Ergonomic Safety Even in the Tightest Spaces

Compared to doors and other hard guards, optical safety devices often save space and improve operator ergonomics, and safety light curtains promote seamless operator-machine interaction, which helps improve productivity.

Space is often limited near the point of operation of hydraulic presses. While safety light curtains are available in a wide range of guard heights, they can also be very compact and low-profile, allowing them to be used in even the tightest spaces,

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