Factory personnel monitors
First Claim
1. An apparatus for at least partially controlling operation of at least one machine comprising:
- means for sensing a predetermined proximity of at least one chip associated with at least one individual with respect to each machine to be monitored; and
means for disengaging each corresponding machine in response to proximity being sensed by the sensing means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for controlling equipment in response to a proximity signal from one or more chips and sensors for detecting proximity of an individual with respect to a manufacturing device. A chip can be retained by an individual and a sensor can be mounted on the manufacturing device. When the individual retaining the chip comes into a predetermined proximity with the sensor, the sensor can emit a signal. The signal can be received by an electric control device for disengaging operation of the machine or for placing the machine in a safe mode in response to the signal. The chip and the signal can interact in a first manner where the chip emits a signal receivable by the sensor. Alternatively, the chip and sensor can interact where the sensor emits a signal creating a field for identifying when a chip enters the signal generated field.
38 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for at least partially controlling operation of at least one machine comprising:
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means for sensing a predetermined proximity of at least one chip associated with at least one individual with respect to each machine to be monitored; and
means for disengaging each corresponding machine in response to proximity being sensed by the sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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13. An apparatus for controlling operation of at least one machine comprising:
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at least one chip associated with respect to an individual; and
at least one sensor associated with respect to a particular one of the at least one machine for sensing a predetermined proximity of the at least one chip with respect to the at least one sensor; and
a switch operably associated with the at least one sensor and the particular one machine for controlling operation of the particular one machine in response to the at least one sensor.
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16. A method for controlling operation of at least one machine comprising the steps of:
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sensing a predetermined proximity of at least one chip associated with at least one individual with respect to each machine to be controlled with sensing means; and
disengaging each corresponding machine in response to proximity being sensed by the sensing means.
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Specification