Safety Light Curtains( Emniyet Işık Perdeleri)
Guardscan Light curtains have been assuring the safety of operators working at or near dangerous machinery for many years. The light curtain system works by creating an infrared detection zone across the danger area such that any intrusion into the zone results in a stop signal being sent to the machine and the danger being removed. Light curtains are an important tool in safeguarding hazardous machinery and have many advantages to the user in allowing excellent visibility of the working operation and speedy access to equipment which in turn promotes efficient working practice.
All Guardscan light curtain systems in the range are designed to meet the requirements of EN61496. The range of light curtains provides solutions to practically all machine guarding applications. Selection of the appropriate Light Curtain Series will depend on the specific requirements for guarding a dangerous area as well as the safety distance calculations in accordance with EN999.
Features and Benefits
Self-contained two-unit light curtain system
Simple installation
Range of popular sizes
EC Type examined
Small cross-section
Flexible interfacing
Control Unit Options
Tapeswitch manufacture a range of Safety Control Units specifically designed for use with our Guardscan range of Light Curtains. Our SRUM Control Unit allows the standard functions of the Light Curtain to be extended to provide a muting feature.
All standard Guardscan Light Curtains are capable of incorporating the additional function of Beam Blanking. This option is used for applications where there is a permanent obstruction in the way of the light-curtain sensing-field. This obstruction may be either fixed or moving up and down
Configuration Options
Guardscan Light Curtains are available as single standard units or, for increased flexibility, they can be supplied as a Master and Slave system. This option allows the Guardscan Light Curtain to be used in situations where a standard unit would not be practical, particularly providing the option of guarding on two planes with only the one light curtain. Light curtain sizes and detection capabilities can be mixed and matched to provide the best solution for your guarding application requirements.
B Series Solo
Guardscan B Series light curtains manufactured by Tapeswitch Ltd. combine precision design and leading edge technology to provide industrial machine shop safety.
The B Series is a Type 4 light curtain which has been designed to be the ideal solution for the widest range of industrial machine shop safety applications. It is the result of a comprehensive design programme carried out to create a compact, intelligent light curtain capable of responding to the current and future needs of industry.
Features and Benefits
Easy installation
Range of Popular sizes
EC Type examined
Type 4 EN61496 design
Small cross section
Beam blanking optional extra
Flexible interfacing
Muting option
'Quick-release' connectors
Fail-safe PNP outputs
The B Series consists of only two small units, the emitter and receiver which produce a fail-safe infra-red curtain across the area to be protected. The scan is optically synchronised by one of the beams and so there is no need for a third electronic unit or any connecting cables between the light curtain units.
The B Series light curtain is available in a variety of curtain lengths and detection capabilities. The 14mm and 30mm models are intended for applications where it is necessary to detect fingers and hands. The 70mm model is ideal for detecting a person's torso.
B Series Light Curtain Technical Specification
| Technical Specification |
|
| Detection capability |
14mm, 30mm, 70mm |
| Curtain lengths |
Up to 1800mm |
| Cross section |
45mm x 36mm |
| Response time |
< 18ms |
| Operating range |
6m (14mm), 15m (30mm & 70mm) |
| Wavelength |
880nm |
| Enclosure rating |
IP65 |
| Effective aperture angle |
+/- 2½ degrees |
| Power consumption |
< 12VA |
|
B Series Multi-Beam
The Guardscan B Series Multi-beam light curtain manufactured by Tapeswitch Ltd. provides an ideal solution to access and perimeter guarding applications such as storage and conveyor systems. The B Series Multi-Beam provides Category 4 level of safety integrity as defined by IEC 61496. It is available in a choice of 2, 3 or 4 beam configurations.
The B Series Multi-Beam light curtain offers further cost-effective guarding when used with mirrors.
Features and Benefits
Type 4 EN61496 design
Small cross section
Choice of 2,3 or 4 beams
Laser alignment option
Weld immune
Easy installation
Fail-safe PNP outputs
Flexible interfacing
'Quick-release' connections
The LA-SE laser alignment tool is an accessory which can be used in conjunction with the B Series Multi-Beam system. It provides a visual indication of the alignment of the sensing units and is extremely useful in aiding the installation of the light curtains over longer operating ranges
B Series Mult-beam Light Curtain Technical Specification
| Technical Specification |
|
| Number of beams |
2, 3 or 4 |
| Beam spacing |
500mm (B2), 400mm (B3), 300mm (B4) |
| Cross section |
45mm x 36mm |
| Response time |
< 18ms |
| Operating range |
0.5m to 15m
10m to 30m |
| Wavelength |
880nm |
| Enclosure rating |
IP65 |
| Effective aperture angle |
+/- 2½ degrees |
| Power consumption |
< 12VA |
| Safety outputs |
2 x PNP (fail-safe) 250mA @ 24Vdc |
GS120 Series
The Guardscan GS120 Series light curtain range manufactured by Tapeswitch Ltd. is an extremely cost effective system which offers essential protection in Category 3 safety applications as defined by EN954-1.
The Guardscan GS120 Series light curtains are available in a range of popular sizes as standard. The GS120 light curtain provides the ideal solution to a variety of loading and unloading applications as well as product handling and finishing.
Available with either cross monitored PNP outputs or AS-i compatible, volt-free solid state relays, the Guardscan GS120 light curtain is suitable to interface with almost any system.
Features and Benefits
Compact, rugged design
EN954-1 Cat 3
EN61496 Type 2
Choice of popular sizes
Optically synchronised
Easy installation
30mm & 70mm detection
Diagnostic display options
In addition to the standard LED display, the Guardscan GS120 light curtain system has an optional alphanumeric diagnostic display.
Further details and order information is provided on our GS120 Series Light Curtain Information Sheet.
GS120 Series Light Curtain Technical Specification
Light Curtain Control Unit
| Technical Specification |
| Light curtain detection capability |
30mm and 70mm |
| Light curtain protected height |
Up to 1800mm |
| Multi beam systems |
2, 3 or 4 beams |
| Cross section |
45mm x 36mm |
| Response time |
< 20ms |
| Operating range |
GS120 |
15m |
| GS120 Multi-beam |
30m |
| Wavelength |
880nm |
| Enclosure rating |
IP65 |
| Effective aperture angle |
+/- 5 degrees |
| Power consumption |
< 12VA |
| Safety outputs |
PNP version |
Type |
Solid State PNP |
| Capacity |
0.1A max. |
| Voltage |
Supply voltage -2V |
| SSR version |
Type |
Solid State Volt-free Relay |
| Capacity |
0.1A max. |
| Voltage |
48V (ac or dc) max. |
| On-resistance |
20ohms max. |
SRUB control units are designed for use with the Guardscan range of light curtains. This BG-approved interface unit performs the actual switching of the electrical circuit of the dangerous machine using positively-guided safety relays. It also incorporates a fail-safe start- and restart- interlock function should the application require.
The SRUB features a detachable terminal strip which allows for speedy removal of a unit without the need to disturb any wiring.
SRUM/R Control Unit
SRUM/R muting control unit is designed for use with Guardscan light curtains to provide a fail-safe muting system up to level 4 of EN954-1. This can safely inhibit the operation of the curtain to allow material to be automatically loaded and unloaded.
The system discriminates between the material and a person by using two or four mute sensors. The unit can accept volt-free contacts, NPN or PNP outputs from the mute sensors. The unit contains a drive circuit for an external "Mute" indication. This lamp is monitored so that- if it does not light, the system will not go into a muted condition.
SRUS Control Unit
The SRUS control unit is normally used in conjunction with Tapeswitch light curtains to form a complete safety system according to EN6149 type 4 and EN954-1 Cat 4.
The SRUS control unit operates from 24Vdc supply. The unit is housed in a DIN rail mounting enclosure with 16 integral terminals. This unit is intended to be mounted in an existing electrical enclosure on the machine. This existing enclosure must be sealed to minimum rating of IP54. The unit provides auto or monitored-manual reset.
Safety Control Unit Specification Overview
| Technical Specification |
SRUB |
SRUM/R |
SRUS |
| Operating Voltage |
24Vdc +/- 10% |
24Vdc +/- 10% |
24Vdc +/- 10% |
| Power Consumption |
Approx. 5VA |
Up to 20VA |
Approx. 3VA |
| Enclosure Style |
DIN 50022 |
DIN 50022 |
DIN 50022 |
| Enclosure Rating |
Terminal IP20 - Housing IP40 |
Terminal IP20 - Housing IP40 |
Terminal IP20 - Housing IP40 |
| Response Time |
10ms maximum |
<20ms (from light curtain input) |
10ms maximum |
| Reset Mode |
Auto or fail safe manual |
monitored start/restart interlock |
Auto or fail safe manual |
| Safety Outputs |
2xN/O safety contacts,(1 N/C aux contact) |
3xN/O safety contacts |
3xN/O, 6A@240V - Positively guided |
| Operating Temperature |
-25°C to +50°C |
-25°C to +55°C |
|
Beam Blanking with Guardscan Light Curtains
Beam blanking is an important function of the Guardscan Light Curtain range that allows selected areas of the sensing field to be disabled. This is particularly useful for those applications where, for example, a work-piece is obstructing the curtain or possibly moving up and down within the curtain. All Guardscan Light Curtains are capable of being blanked, with fixed and floating blanking options available for increased guarding flexibility. When in beam blanked mode, the light curtain checks for any change in the programmed condition and will initiate a stop signal to the machine if an allowable obstruction is removed.
Features and Benefits
One BPU programs any number of curtains
Fixed and floating blanking
One or two beam floating blanking
Types of blanking
Fixed blanking-
Fixed blanking is achieved by a ‘learn’ technique. The system learns which beams are obstructed at the time of programming and the light curtain outputs will then only be operational if these beams are obstructed and all other beams are clear. If the programmed obstruction is removed, the light curtain will generate a stop signal.
Floating blanking-
Floating blanking can be selected so that either one or two beam obstructions can be ignored. Basically, an obstruction can move or ‘float’ within the detection zone without generating a stop signal provided that the obstruction does not obscure more than the specified number of beams. If ‘Floating 1’ is selected, any single beam in the curtain can be blocked (or not) without causing the outputs to be de-energised. If ‘Floating 2’ is selected, any two beam obstructions can be ignored. The beams do not have to be contiguous. Fixed and floating blanking can be used in combination. This allows the light curtain to prevent nuisance tripping, as in the situation where a fixed blanked obstruction vibrates partially in front of a beam and would otherwise make the curtain go in and out of signal.
Programming Unit
In the Guardscan range of Light Curtains, beam blanking is achieved by means of the BPU Programming Unit. Programming is simply carried out by connecting the BPU, selecting the blanking function and then removing the programming unit. This single cost-effective unit has the advantage that only one unit is needed in order to program any number of light curtains.