Timbert
Member
The question I have is how are the operators protected when they are jogging the churn during unloading? It isn't so much how we can bypass the interlock (jumper wire anyone?) it is how to we mute the interlock and maintain a safe machine.
It sounds to me that there is no protection when they jog the churn other than the operator thinking "I'm standing next to an 8-foot machine with thousands of pounds of force I better be careful."
The correct way is to mute the light curtain when the hopper is in place, but you have to provide an alternative method of ensuring safety. One such method would be another light curtain mounted "outside" of the existing one in such a way as it would clear the hopper when the hopper is in the unload position.
Another possibility is to limit the rotation (range and/or speed) of the churn when in the unload position so as to ensure the hazard can be avoided.
As for your suggestions be careful implementing them as the mute function has to have the same safety integrity as the function it mutes. i.e. a simple switch can fail and be undetected causing a continuous mute.
It sounds to me that there is no protection when they jog the churn other than the operator thinking "I'm standing next to an 8-foot machine with thousands of pounds of force I better be careful."
The correct way is to mute the light curtain when the hopper is in place, but you have to provide an alternative method of ensuring safety. One such method would be another light curtain mounted "outside" of the existing one in such a way as it would clear the hopper when the hopper is in the unload position.
Another possibility is to limit the rotation (range and/or speed) of the churn when in the unload position so as to ensure the hazard can be avoided.
As for your suggestions be careful implementing them as the mute function has to have the same safety integrity as the function it mutes. i.e. a simple switch can fail and be undetected causing a continuous mute.