Presence Sensing Safety
Engineered Safety Systems
Convert your barrier guards to safety guarding with expanded architecture using the following Process Safety Devices with presence sensing or contact sensing electronic safety devices on your machine along with the associated monitor device. These devices offer flexibility and redundancy through creative engineering when adding safety features for controlling and monitoring multiple safety functions in a single control system helping to reach the highest achievable safety level for original manufactured equipment requiring job-specific machine functions.
Just because no one has gotten hurt, doesn't mean your facility is safe!
Safety Light Curtains
A presence sensing device, Keyence and Allen-Bradley as our primary brands, used to create a virtual barrier around at a hazardous location. These light curtains, and mirrors if needed, are designed for standard and blanking, as well as muting technology application needs supplied with cables and brackets using safety controllers to provide monitoring of the proper safety redundancy checking in both manual and auto reset conditions depending on the specific type of operator access.
Safety Laser Scanners
With Keyence safety laser scanners, defined as a low-profile programmable presence sensing safety unit programmed to scan a 27.5' range in a 190-degree radius in a 2D plane to detect a field set interruption from foot traffic located in hazardous areas, blind spots, or danger zones, we can provide another level of protection while using a safety relay for redundant safety checks. Increased resistance to dust and debris, as well as a built-in cameras can be added for data collection for operational or quality needs.
3D Safety Radar
This Inxpect Safety Radar equipment consisting of a smart sensor device and a dual-channel controller which is a multi-zone radar technology for multiple stop behaviors and monitoring device for safety-rated restart prevention, access protection, and anti-collision applications, covering up to a 9m area at 100-degrees horizontally and 20-degrees vertically detecting an interruption of a field set movement of object(s) large enough to be a human body while extending ranges for limb protection through radio signals. Susceptible to dust, chips, fog, oils, water, rain particulates, shavings, default to sense movement of large objects. Feasibility tests can be performed with machine detail associated with the machine guarding.
Safety Switches
Allen-Bradley, non-contact switches, low-profile, RFID technology using inductive and coded values avoiding tampering with as magnetic sensors are and allowing for a tolerance of misalignment in standard machine guard doors, used to be integrated through a safety relay to assist in achieving desired safety category levels. Typical integration is tied to emergency stop circuits or machine signal stops with dynamic braking functions and provided with all the required cables, adapter brackets, and tamper-resistant hardware.
Door Locking Safety
A system engineered to keep the door closed using a Keyence safety interlock switch, using RFID technology for the locking solenoid to keep guard doors closed until the machine reaches a safe stop state triggered by an operator signal at a custom panel, achieved through a feedback signal using an Allen-Bradley back EMF monitor relay, amp clamp, programmable drives, PLC, a safety-encoder to detect zero-speed, or add a programmable timer-based circuit through a safety controller or safety PLC like a CompactLogix or MicroLogix.
Safety Switch Mats
A Recora Safety, ASO Safety, or Pinnacle Safety dual lead pressure sensitive mat with a built-in electronic signal to detect the presence of someone standing on it with as little as 15 lbs, which triggers a stop behavior on a machine, such as an emergency stop signal. Custom sizes, shapes, and material types with trim kits for bolting to the floor and avoid trip hazards, along with specific wiring locations that can be created for specific applications used in conjunction with an Allen-Bradley safety controller specific to the associated safety mat.
Trapped-Key Interlock Safety System
An Allen-Bradley trapped key interlock switch provides a safety infrastructure using a logic series of keys and locks consisting of an initial key deactivating the control power removing or isolating the present hazard along with a group of mechanical keys throughout the process of accessing the controlled area. This system requires no field wiring beyond the key at the control source. Configurations to include single operator access to multi-user key exchange panels and deadbolt latches.
Speed Monitoring Safety System
When looking to provide a safe stop condition on a legacy machine without any braking mechanisms, a safety end coder based zero-speed feedback system can be used to monitor machine mechanical state controlling operator accessibility in conjunction with a door locking safety system.
Emergency Stop Devices
Wired emergency stop devices in single or dual channel configuration, such as push button with boxes, push buttons integrated into control panels, and emergency rope pull devices (ISO 13850), all with the required labeling and hardware to provide the required quick stop action to a machine function.
Grip Enabling Switch
A handheld joystick, also known as a dead man switch, used for a machine operator to bypass the machine safety functions allowing them to perform a machine function at a jog or safe speed, which are required in continuous run to make adjustments or quality check materials. If the machine poses an issue or concern or an operator becomes injured in the process, releasing the switch will emergency stop the machine showing an open circuit for added protection.
2-Hand Controls
Our Allen-Bradley opti-button 2-hand control system comes with an anti-tie down relay tying both buttons together creating a single-cycle safety circuit. Whether you need required spacing or height, we can supply the system with a bracket only or with a pedestal.
Intrinsic or HazLoc Safety Systems
Safety enclosures for Class/Div rated areas focused on arc/spark exposed to ignition sources requiring low voltage safety switches routing with blue wiring and IMC conduit to safe zones thru safety barriers and relays in NEMA 7/9 enclosures.
Monitoring Safety Devices
Safety Relays, Controllers, and Safety PLCs
Monitoring devices such as safety relays, safety controllers, and safety PLCs shall be used in conjunction with any of the electronic safety devices to provide proper safety monitoring. The fault detection built into these units provide levels of protection standard relays or dry contact connections cannot. Checking for functional losses or internal component failures will help ensure the system is working correctly improving the machine safety for operators.
Indicator Stack Light
Stack lights are part of process control management system using a series of lights and potentially a buzzer to alert personnel through visual or audio notification indicating the status of a machine. Mounted to a column or control panel in sight of the machine functions, common colors are green for run, yellow for pause, red for stop, blue and white for custom processes, and a buzzer of either 85db or 120db depending on the environment. These units are commonly used with safety laser scanners and 3d safety radars.
PowerControls Safety Enclosure
A PowerSafe, pre-configured, isolated safety enclosure, pre-wired to a power supply, and the required safety relays or safety controllers to properly monitor the redundancy checking of the e-safety devices, such as light curtains, safety switches, and safety laser scanners, used in your machine safety system. Devices are wired to this enclosure, then a trigger wire to the machine controls to simplify interconnections and troubleshooting with associated schematics.
Custom-Built Safety Enclosures
A NEMA enclosure designed and built to proper fit size and shape for additional options such as 1:1 switch to safety relay, safety controller, or safety PLC notifications monitoring the state of each safety devices at the associated entry point of the machine guarding, added air logic components, upgraded functionality for safety, emergency stops, custom stands, cabinet coolers or air conditioners, and stack lights with buzzers.
Schematics available upon request!
Fluid Power Safety Systems
Pneumatic Safety Controls
Compressed air is one of the three main types of stored energies to be mitigated for risk reduction found in unplanned startups or movement. With pneumatic safety, which is done by monitoring and controlling the energy for the application, safety valves should be used. These valves can be a safe exhaust with or without soft start, safe return, or safe control & load holding. Ross Controls valves can easily be integrated into your system for proper energy isolation along with a proper lockout valve in conjunction with your air prep components such as filter and regulator to create a full air entry set up.
Hydraulic Safety Controls
A common energy source to be controlled or isolated is hydraulics by controlling a mechanical function operated by a force of pressurized liquid. The ability to control pumps, motors, cylinders, and other moving parts can reduce potential hazards such as cutting and crushing hazards, as well as thrown objects. These valves can be a block & bleed or exhaust, a block & hold or stop, a block & return, or block & reduce speed or dual block & stop. Monitoring and controlling this environment should be done with Ross brand hydraulic safety valves.
Non-Safety Rated Support Devices
CNC Port Spin Window
Improve visibility of your machining environment which include milling machines and lathes through self-cleaning by removing or slinging coolant and chips from a viewing area of your access door, boosting productivity, and reducing machine downtime in the process.
Camera Monitoring System
Visual protection can be added as an administrative control resource by removing operators from machine hazards by replacing their eyes with a closed-loop camera and monitor to view machining operations.
Press Safety Systems
Press Safety Light Curtain System
Protech Systems brand solution uses a point of operation and area guarding devices providing protection on presses with manual or automated processes, which may be require control systems upgrades as part of the package. These systems are used in conjunction with physical machine guards, and safety laser scanners. Upgrades may also include die blocks, power cutoffs, and wedges for optimal protection of your presses.
Press Die Blocks with Safety Interlocks
Power series die blocks, or ram blocks used to support a die from overhead creating a crushing hazard through unexpecting drifting or falling. These devices cover a range from 35 to 125-ton static load, adjustable from heights of 9" to 36", to include safety interlock connection to ensure die block is being used during setup or maintenance.
