rsdoran
Lifetime Supporting Member
We have several small machines that are manually loaded but semi-automatic thru 1 cycle. The machine(s) package paper products in cello, the procedure is the operator inserts the product then pushes the start button. The jaws of the sealer open, the product drops then jaws close and cut, jaws remain closed. The jaws are pneumatic and the cut is done with hot wire. The jaws have spring loaded limits to determine if their is an obstruction which prevents the heat wire from being activated if jaws do not fully close and should open the jaws immediately.
NOW the safety people have decided that a light curtain and some guards with safety switches should be added. The guards I can deal with simple enough but there are questions about the light curtain usage, both mine and from engineers.
1. Should the light curtain disable all outputs (this has a GE Series ONE PLC) or is there a more appropriate scheme?
2. Is it possible or can it be appropriate to use the Light Curtain to initiate the next cycle when hand is entered then removed?
3. Doing #2 would require making modifications to PLC and adding a maintenance SWITCH (or something) for those times when you didnt want to activate it when hands are removed from area..is this correct?
4. Should I NOT think of using the Light Curtain to initialize a cycle but instead keep the Start Cycle button?
5. Should the Start Cycle button be an Anti Tie Down type?
Please let me know if you can think of anything I have missed.
I have no choice on whether or not to add the Light Curtains, its already decided but the regulations in this case are fuzzy (to me) so looking for suggestions on what seems to be the most appropriate and safest way to utilize it.
NOW the safety people have decided that a light curtain and some guards with safety switches should be added. The guards I can deal with simple enough but there are questions about the light curtain usage, both mine and from engineers.
1. Should the light curtain disable all outputs (this has a GE Series ONE PLC) or is there a more appropriate scheme?
2. Is it possible or can it be appropriate to use the Light Curtain to initiate the next cycle when hand is entered then removed?
3. Doing #2 would require making modifications to PLC and adding a maintenance SWITCH (or something) for those times when you didnt want to activate it when hands are removed from area..is this correct?
4. Should I NOT think of using the Light Curtain to initialize a cycle but instead keep the Start Cycle button?
5. Should the Start Cycle button be an Anti Tie Down type?
Please let me know if you can think of anything I have missed.
I have no choice on whether or not to add the Light Curtains, its already decided but the regulations in this case are fuzzy (to me) so looking for suggestions on what seems to be the most appropriate and safest way to utilize it.