Safety Systems

Point of Operation

SICK Point of Operation Safeguarding Products generate a safety stop signal based on the detection of a finger or hand. These safeguards are used to protect the operator from being exposed to a hazardous motion where material is positioned and a process is performed.

Applications include:

• Press brakes
• Welding and assembly lines
• Hydraulic and mechanical presses
• Automatic assembly equipment
• Presses in the metal, plastic, rubber and brick industries
• Punches in the metal, plastic and textile processing industries

SICK Point of Operation Safeguards include:

• C4000 Series Safety Light Curtains
• FGS Series Safety Light Curtains
• MGS Series Safety Light Curtains
• LGT Series Safety Light Curtains

Perimeter Guards

SICK Perimeter Safeguarding Products generate a safety stop signal based on the detection of a body/torso or arm breaking a defined perimeter. Products include safety light grids and single beam sensors, which are generally used to protect the operator from hazardous motion occurring within an area. Special applications exist, such as muting with the movement of material through area and entry/exit applications, which have additional requirements.

Applications include:

• Work cells
• Palletizers
• Conveyors
• Gantry cranes
• Automation lines

SICK Perimeter Safeguarding devices include:

• Multi-Beam Light Grid Perimeter Guards
• Single-Beam Perimeter Guards
• High Resolution Light Curtain Perimeter Guards
• Mechanical Safety Interlock Devices

Safety Scanners

SICK's safety laser scanners emit pulses of infrared light in an adaptable, predefined two-dimensional field, providing an image of any possible obstructions instantaneously. If there is an infringement of the Warning Zone, the equipment or machine (e.g. robot system or AGV) can be wired such that it will continue to move, but at a slower speed to avoid the potential hazard. When the obstruction is no longer present, the system can return to normal speed, effectively increasing productivity over other available safeguarding technologies with stop-only capabilities. If the obstruction penetrates the Safety Zone, the scanner will stop the hazardous machine movement.

For each of these safety scanners, the user can define protective areas - safety and warning - to fit the changing irregular contours of a hazardous area. User-friendly Windows-based software enables configuration of the protective fields, based on the application's needs, today and into the future.

For automated transport systems, tube bending machines and other manufacturing equipment, optional functionality can significantly increase the capabilities of the safety laser scanner. For mobile applications, it is possible to dynamically adapt safeguarded areas dependent on speed, location and direction of travel. Likewise, in stationary applications the protective fields can be controlled dependent on machine position and status. Through this, the PLS/LSI, S3000 Advanced, S3000 Professional and Remote scanners reach maximum flexibility with better reliability and safety.

Intelliface Safety Relays

Through the Intelliface, a family of intelligent interface components for differing networking levels, SICK has realized a concept that allows safety sensors to be integrated into a variety of technologies including relay, PLC and safety oriented field safe BUS environments. With the components of the Intelliface concept, users will benefit from rapid commissioning, simple maintenance and uncomplicated replacement of sensors -- which minimizes the cost of ownership and ensures that safety technology, the machine and the overall manufacturing systems are highly economical.

Positioning Scanners for Navigation

The demands made on modern goods transport and the optimum navigation of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are rising. Commonly used conventional positioning systems, such as guide wire systems or magnetic track guidance, mainly operate within an unchanging layout of routes. The requirement for flexible systems is, however, clearly on the rise.

Thus in semi-automatic operation, for example, AGVs are temporarily taken off set routes to carry out loading or unloading processes manually. Subsequently, AGVs are returned to automatic operation. Modern positioning systems such as the NAV 200 offer considerable advantages here. The system provides maximum flexibility as a result of its unrestricted determination of position, via reflectors outside the work area. Even vehicles taken off track temporarily can find their own way back to their fixed route independently.

Safety Systems Accessories

SICK offers an extensive number of accessories for its safety systems.