Methods and systems to indicate the status of door operations
First Claim
1. A door system for a passageway between a work area and a personnel area, the work area containing a machine constructed to perform a work-in-process, the performance of the work-in-process by the machine having a processing period extending between a start time and a completion time, the door system comprising:
- a door panel having a leading edge constructed to be moved between an open position and a closed position, the door panel constructed to block the passageway to the work area when the leading edge is at the closed position, the door panel constructed to unblock the passageway to the work area when the leading edge is at the open position;
a door controller constructed to control movement of the door panel, the door controller constructed to be in communication with a machine controller that controls operation of the machine to perform the work-in-process; and
a signal generator constructed to emit, in response to a command from the door controller based on feedback from the machine controller, a first signal during the processing period while the machine is performing the work-in-process, the first signal occurring proximate in time to the completion time of the work-in-process, the first signal to indicate to a person in the personnel area that movement of the door panel is impending based on a determination by the machine controller of impending completion of the work-in-process.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Example methods and systems to indicate the status of door operations are disclosed. An example door system includes a door panel having a leading edge to be moved in a travel direction between an open position and a closed position relative to the doorframe. The door panel to block the passageway when the leading edge is at the closed position. The door panel to unblock the passageway when the leading edge is at the open position. The example door system also includes a series of lights distributed along the travel direction proximate the doorframe. The example door system further includes a controller to switch the lights between a first state and a second state to provide a visual effect of movement corresponding to the operating status of the door system.
54 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A door system for a passageway between a work area and a personnel area, the work area containing a machine constructed to perform a work-in-process, the performance of the work-in-process by the machine having a processing period extending between a start time and a completion time, the door system comprising:
-
a door panel having a leading edge constructed to be moved between an open position and a closed position, the door panel constructed to block the passageway to the work area when the leading edge is at the closed position, the door panel constructed to unblock the passageway to the work area when the leading edge is at the open position; a door controller constructed to control movement of the door panel, the door controller constructed to be in communication with a machine controller that controls operation of the machine to perform the work-in-process; and a signal generator constructed to emit, in response to a command from the door controller based on feedback from the machine controller, a first signal during the processing period while the machine is performing the work-in-process, the first signal occurring proximate in time to the completion time of the work-in-process, the first signal to indicate to a person in the personnel area that movement of the door panel is impending based on a determination by the machine controller of impending completion of the work-in-process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A door system comprising:
-
a door panel constructed to move between an open position and a closed position, the door panel constructed to block access to a machine when in the closed position; a door controller constructed to control movement of the door panel, the door controller constructed to be in communication with a machine controller that controls operation of the machine performing a work-in-process; and a signal generator constructed to provide, in response to a command from the door controller based on feedback from the machine controller, a first signal indicating to a person in an area adjacent the door panel that movement of the door panel is impending based on a determination by the machine controller that the work-in-process by the machine is nearing completion, the door panel constructed to be in the closed position during the performance of the work-in-process by the machine, wherein the first signal is emitted while the machine is performing the work-in-process. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A door system comprising:
-
a door panel constructed to move between an open position and a closed position, the door panel constructed to block access to a machine when in the closed position, the door panel constructed to be in the closed position while the machine is performing a work-in-process; and a door controller constructed to cause a signal generator to generate a first signal indicating to a person in an area adjacent the door panel that movement of the door panel is impending based on a determination by a machine controller controlling operation of the machine that the work-in-process by the machine is nearing completion, the first signal generated based on feedback from the machine controller, the door constructed to automatically cause the door panel to move to the open position in response to feedback from the machine controller indicating the performance of the work-in-process by the machine is complete, wherein the first signal is emitted while the machine is performing to work-in-process.
-
Specification