Safety technology to improve flexibility
May 2019
IS & Ex
The new Datalogic concept for robot evolution expects to overtake the competition. Following demanding safety regulations, outdated isolated robotic cells are now replaced with robot-like parts of industrial automation architecture. Datalogic’s safety product range has expanded towards safer more sophisticated devices. The new Laser Sentinel has been introduced, as a complete solution for safe area monitoring. The range includes industrial safety solutions based on light curtains, safety control units and photocells.
Increased safety with fewer components
The introduction of smart sensors, apart from providing additional information, also allows for cost reduction in terms of components and installation time. Datalogic has developed a new safety barrier SG4 fieldbus, using an open safety protocol for connection to the Powerlink network, which also includes a smart version of the muting function. This helps to block the safety barrier while the product is going through, allowing access by an operator. It is also possible to control the direction, speed and height of the products handled. These new barriers are therefore smart sensors which, apart from their basic accident prevention function, allow for connection within an industrial Ethernet network to send data about the product and process, eliminating components which are not integrated within the network and their associated cabling.
AGV contour navigation in shipping/receiving
In loading and unloading areas, Safety Laser Sentinels are used to ensure safe movement of goods. The sentinels are used for collision prevention at the front and back of the AGV. Thanks to the resident position and distance information, SLSs can also be used for vehicle guidance.
Robot cell access protection
Both access points of the robot cell can be protected by the SLS. Each access point controlled by a Laser Sentinel can be programmed with two different zone sets. Each zone can be separately activated by selection of inputs according to working station position or can be left entirely active. The possibility to have two safety areas active at the same time, or even separately, allows users to protect two independent areas with just one device.
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