Processing system with protective device for secure processing table

• US 20020190191A1
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lectra SA
• Original Assignee: Lectra SA
• Inventors: Maurin, Denis, Terrasse, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 6,765,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/208.4
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/24 arranged to disable the operating means for the cutting member
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/12 with means, e.g. feelers, which in case of the presence of a body part of a person in or near the danger zone influence the control or operation of the machine F16P3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/144 using light grids
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/16 with feeling members moved by the machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a moving assembly for a working system, said assembly including:

a boom (22) extending along an axis between first and second ends (31, 33) and a working head (30) mounted on said boom;

first and second lateral obstacle sensor systems (40, 42, 77, 83, 90, 92, 100, 102) mounted at each end of the boom; and

respective first and second optical systems (50, 52, 60, 62, 75, 79) fixed to the first and second lateral obstacle sensor systems to detect the presence of an obstacle on the path of the boom and movement and/or deformation of one lateral obstacle sensor system relative to the other one.

Claims

1. A moving assembly for a working system, said assembly comprising:

a boom (22) extending along an axis between first and second ends (31, 33) and a working head (30) mounted on said boom;

first and second lateral obstacle sensor systems (40, 42, 77, 83, 90, 92, 100, 102) mounted at each end of the boom, movable or deformable relative to the boom and independently of each other in the direction of an axis (X) substantially perpendicular to the axis of the boom, and having an extension in the same direction on either side of the boom; and

respective first and second optical systems (50, 52, 60, 62, 75, 79) fixed to the first and second lateral obstacle sensor systems to detect the presence of an obstacle on the path of the boom and movement and/or deformation of the lateral obstacle sensor systems relative to each other.

2. A moving assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second optical systems respectively comprise a radiation emitter (50, 60, 64, 98, 110, 114, 118) and a radiation sensor (52, 82, 64, 75, 79, 108, 112, 116, 120).

3. A moving assembly according to claim 2, comprising two radiation emitters (50, 60) and two radiation sensors (52, 62, 75, 79) and wherein each detector is associated with an emitter.

4. A moving assembly according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein an emitter is fixed to one of the lateral obstacle sensor systems and the associated sensor is fixed to the other lateral obstacle sensor system.

5. A moving assembly according to either claim 2 or claim 3, wherein an emitter and the associated sensor (64, 66) are fixed to the same lateral obstacle sensor system and a reflector system (68) is fixed to the other lateral obstacle sensor system.

6. A moving assembly according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein an emitter and the associated sensor are fixed to one end (33) of the boom (22) and a reflector system (68) is fixed either to the lateral obstacle sensor system at the other end (31) of the boom or to the other end (31) of the boom.

7. A moving assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further including optical systems (72, 74) for detecting obstacles on the path of the boom and wherein each optical system is mounted on the boom by means of a rigid or deformable connection (73, 75, 83).

8. A moving assembly according to claim 7, wherein the obstacle sensing optical systems mounted on the boom include a first radiation emitter (72) and a first radiation sensor (74).

9. A moving assembly according to claim 8, wherein the first radiation emitter (72) and the first radiation sensor (74) are respectively fixed to a first end and to a second end of the boom.

10. A moving assembly according to claim 8, wherein the first radiation emitter and the first radiation sensor are fixed to the same end of the boom and a reflector system is fixed to the other end of the boom to reflect radiation from the first emitter toward the first sensor.

11. A moving assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein a safety volume around the boom is defined by the first and second fixed optical systems (50, 52, 60, 62) on the first and second lateral obstacle sensor systems (40, 42) and the optical systems (72,74) mounted on the boom.

12. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the first and second lateral obstacle sensor systems (40, 42, 90, 92, 100, 102) are movable relative to the boom and independently of each other in said direction (X) substantially perpendicular to the axis of the boom.

13. A system according to claim 12, further including respective first and second movement sensors (39, 41) associated with the first and second sensor systems for sensing obstacles that are laterally disposed relative to the boom.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the respective first and second movement sensor systems (39, 41) associated with the first and second lateral obstacle sensor systems include an electromechanical sensor (41).

15. A system according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the first and second lateral obstacle sensor systems (40, 42) further include a support (77) mounted on the first and/or second lateral obstacle sensor system and an optical system (75) fixed to the support (77) to detect obstacles when the boom moves.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the support (77) is deformable in said direction along an axis (X) perpendicular to the axis of the boom and the optical systems (75) mounted on the support can detect deformation of said support along the axis (X).

17. A moving assembly according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the first and/or second lateral obstacle sensor system has a first part (40-1) movable in the direction of said axis (X) substantially perpendicular to the axis of the boom and a second part (40-2) articulated to the first part and able to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to said direction and the first or second optical system (50) is fixed to the second part.

18. A system according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the first lateral obstacle sensor system has first and second parts (90, 100) moveable relative to each other and each provided with optical systems (98, 108, 114, 116) for detecting an obstacle on the path of the boom and movement of one of the lateral obstacle sensor systems relative to the other one.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the second lateral obstacle sensor system has third and fourth parts (92, 102) moveable relative to each other and each provided with optical systems (110, 112, 118, 120) for detecting the presence of an obstacle on the path of the boom and movement of one of the lateral obstacle sensor systems relative to the other one.

20. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein at least one of the first and second lateral obstacle sensor systems (83) is deformable in at least one direction (X) perpendicular to the axis of the boom.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the deformable lateral obstacle sensor system comprises a deformable support (83) on which the optical systems (79) for detecting obstacles and deformation of the deformable support are mounted.

22. A system according to claim 20 or claim 21, further comprising optical systems mounted on the deformable lateral obstacle sensor system(s) and with the first and second optical systems defining a safety volume around the boom.

23. A moving assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the first and second optical systems respectively fixed to the first and second lateral obstacle sensor systems define an optical path through an optical element (80) connected to the working head (30) whose position relative to said head varies if said element encounters an obstacle during movement of the boom (22) and/or the working head (30).

24. A moving assembly according to claim 23, wherein the optical element (80) is mounted on a structure comprising a support element (37) on the working head (30) or on a carriage (35) on which the working head is mounted.

25. A moving assembly according to claim 24, wherein the support element takes the form of a hoop (87, 89).

26. A moving assembly according to claim 25, including a plurality of support elements taking the form of hoops (87, 89) defining a hemispherical or cylindrical envelope around the working head (30) and/or the carriage (35).

27. A moving assembly according to claim 26, wherein the hemispherical or cylindrical envelope is movable in rotation and/or in translation relative to the working head (30) or the carriage (35).

28. A moving assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the working head (30) includes a protective cover (84) which protects it when it is closed and which intersects an optical path (51) defined between the first and second optical systems (50, 52) fixed to the first and second lateral obstacle sensor systems.

29. A system for processing flexible materials, the system comprising:

a work support or table (2, 92);

one or more moving assemblies according to any one of claims 1 to 27; and

a system for moving said moving assembly or assemblies on the work support or table.

30. A processing system according to claim 29, further comprising a system for stopping the system for moving the moving assembly if the optical system detects the presence of an obstacle on the path of the boom or movement or deformation of one of the lateral obstacle sensor systems.

31. A processing system according to claim 29 or claim 30, wherein the work support or table (2) is fixed.

32. A processing system according to claim 29 or claim 30, wherein the work support or table (92) incorporates a moving conveyor.

33. A processing system according to any one of claims 29 to 32, wherein the working head of the moving assembly supports a cutting tool and/or a printing tool and/or a labeling tool and/or a perforation tool.