MANUALLY FED MACHINE FOR WORKING ON MATERIALS, OBJECTS AND THE LIKE, AND PROTECTIVE MEANS FOR SUCH A MACHINE

• US 20090301275A1
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung E.V., Fachhochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg
• Original Assignee: Fachhochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg
• Inventors: Reinert, Dietmar, Schwaneberg, Oliver, Jung, Norbert
• Granted Patent: US 8,171,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/58
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/0082 by determining whether the operator is in a dangerous position B23Q17/2438 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/0089 actuating operator protecting means, e.g. closing a cover element, producing an alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/2438 of an operator or a part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/01 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/081 With randomly actuated stopping means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/091 Responsive to work sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/141 With means to monitor and control operation [e.g., self-regulating means]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/145 Including means to monitor product

Abstract

A manually fed machine for working on materials, objects or the like, in particular a circular saw or a band saw bench, a planing bench, a bench drill, a press, or scissors, comprises a working tool (14), a feeding area (18) in front of the tool (14), within which a person'"'"'s hand is present when feeding material to be worked on to the tool (14), and a detector (24) covering at least a section (22) of the feeding area (18) for a contactless detection of human skin. The detector (24) comprises at least one set of at least two transmitter diodes (32,34), and at least one receiver diode (36), the at least two transmitter diodes (32,34) emitting radiation towards said section (22) of the feeding area (18), said radiation being emitted at at least two different transmission wavelengths in the wavelength range between 400 nm and 1500 nm, wherein at least one of the transmitter diodes (32,34) radiates in the wavelength range between 900 nm and 1500 nm, whereas the at least one receiver diode (36) receives the radiation reflected from the section (22) of the feeding area (18). The manually fed machine is further provided with a signal evaluation unit (38) connected with the detector (24) for evaluating the intensity of the reflected radiation from the transmitter diodes (32,34) received by the receiver diode (36). The signal evaluation (38) unit determines from the intensities of the reflected radiation from the transmitter diodes (32,34), whether the detector (24) detects human skin. Upon the detection of human skin, a protective means (28) may be activated for protection against potential injuries caused by the tool (14).

Claims

1. A manually fed machine for working on materials, objects or the like, in particular a circular saw or a band saw bench, a planing bench, a bench drill, a press, or scissors, comprising:

a working tool (14),

a feeding area (18) in front of the tool (14), within which a person'"'"'s hand is present when feeding material to be worked on to the tool (14),

a detector (24) covering at least a section (22) of the feeding area (18) for a contactless detection of human skin,

the detector (24) comprising at least one set of at least two transmitter diodes (32,34), and at least one receiver diode (36),

the at least two transmitter diodes (32,34) emitting radiation towards said section (22) of the feeding area (18), said radiation being emitted at at least two different transmission wavelengths in the wavelength range between 400 nm and 1500 nm, wherein at least one of the transmitter diodes (32,34) radiates in the wavelength range between 900 nm and 1500 nm, whereas the at least one receiver diode (36) receives the radiation reflected from the section (22) of the feeding area (18),

and a signal evaluation unit (38) connected with the detector (24) for evaluating the intensity of the reflected radiation from the transmitter diodes (32,34) received by the receiver diode (36),

wherein the signal evaluation (38) unit determining from the intensities of the reflected radiation from the transmitter diodes (32,34), whether the detector (24) detects human skin, and

wherein upon the detection of human skin, a protective means (28) may be activated for protection against potential injuries caused by the tool (14).

2. The manually fed working machine of claim 1, wherein one of the transmitter diodes (32) emits radiation at a wavelength below 900 nm.

3. The manually fed working machine of claim 1, wherein the transmitting diodes (32,34) emit radiation at the wavelengths of 950 nm and 1450 nm, 950 nm and 1050 nm, 950 nm and 1200 nm, 1050 nm and 1200 nm, 1050 nm and 1300 nm, 1050 nm and 1450 nm, or 1200 nm and 1450 nm.

4. The manually fed working machine of claim 1, wherein a plurality of respective sets of transmitter and receiver diodes (32,34,36) are arranged side by side, those transmitter diodes (32,34) of two adjacent sets, which emit radiation at the same wavelength, being arranged such that, after reflection from the section (22) of the feeding area (18), the radiation of the transmitter diode (32,34) of the one set can be detected by the receiver diode (36) of the respective adjacent set.

5. The manually fed working machine of claim 1, wherein ambient light received by the receiver diode (36) can be compensated in the signal evaluation unit (38).

6. The manually fed working machine of claim 1, wherein the protective means (28) comprises a cover element (26) movable in between the section (22) of the feeding area (18) covered by the detector (24) and the tool (14), a displacement unit for removing the tool (14) from the feeding area (18), a braking unit for braking the tool (14) and/or an alarm generation unit for generating an (for example, optical or acoustic) alarm signal.

7. The manually fed working machine of claim 1 wherein the transmitter diodes (32,34) emit at a spectral bandwidth of up to 200 nm, preferably below 50 nm.

21. The manually fed working machine of claim 1, wherein the wavelengths received by the receiver unit (36) are at 950 nm and 1450 nm, 950 nm and 1050 nm, 950 nm and 1200 nm, 1050 nm and 1200 nm, 1050 nm and 1300 nm, 1050 nm and 1450 nm, or 1200 nm and 1450 nm.

8. A manually fed working machine for materials, objects or the like, in particular a circular saw or a band saw bench, a planing bench, a bench drill, a press, or scissors, comprising:

a working tool (14),

a feeding area (18) in front of the tool (14), within which a person'"'"'s hand is present when feeding material to be worked on to the tool (14),

a detector (24) covering at least a section (22) of the feeding area (18) for a contactless detection of treatable and/or processable material, objects and the like,

the detector (24) comprising at least one set of at least two transmitter diodes (32,34), and at least one receiver diode (36),

the at least two transmitter diodes (32,34) emitting radiation towards said section (22) of the feeding area (18), said radiation being emitted at at least two different transmission wavelengths in the wavelength range between 400 nm and 1500 nm, wherein at least one of the transmitter diodes (32,34) radiates in the wavelength range between 900 nm and 1500 nm, whereas the at least one receiver diode (36) receives the radiation reflected from the section (22) of the feeding area (18), and

a signal evaluation unit (38) connected with the detector (24) for evaluating the intensity of the reflected radiation from the transmitter diodes (32,34) received by the receiver diode (36),

wherein the signal evaluation unit (38) determining from the intensities of the reflected radiation from the transmitter diodes (32,34), whether the detector (24) detects material, objects, and the like, to be worked on, and

wherein the tool (14) can only be activated, if the detector (24) detects material, objects, and the like, to be worked on.

9. A protective means for protection or for warning persons against access to danger zones, comprising:

a detector (24) for a contactless detection of human skin within the area (22) covered by the detector (24),

the detector (24) comprising at least one set of at least two transmitter diodes (32,34) and at least one receiver diode (36),

the at least two transmitter diodes (32,34) emitting radiation towards said area (22) covered by the detector (24), said radiation being emitted at at least two different transmission wavelengths in the wavelength range between 400 nm and 1500 nm, wherein at least one of the transmitter diodes (32,34) radiates in the wavelength range between 900 nm and 1500 nm, whereas the at least one receiver diode (36) receives the radiation reflected from the section (22) of the feeding area (18), and

a signal evaluation unit (38) connected with the detector (24) for evaluating the intensity of the reflected radiation from the transmitter diodes (32,34) received by the receiver diode (36),

the signal evaluation unit (38) being adapted to determine from the intensities of the reflected radiation of the transmitter diodes (32,34), whether the detector (24) detects human skin.

10. A manually fed working machine for materials, objects and the like, in particular circular saw or band saw benches, planing benches, bench drills, presses or scissors, comprising:

a working tool (14),

a feeding area (18) in front of the tool (14), within which a person'"'"'s hand is present when feeding material to be worked on to the tool (14),

a detector (24) covering at least a section (22) of the feeding area (18) for a contactless detection of human skin,

the detector (24) comprising at least one radiation unit (32,34) and at least one receiver unit (36),

the at least one radiation unit (32,34) emitting radiation towards said section (22) of the feeding area (18), said radiation being emitted with at least two different wavelengths in the wavelength range between 400 nm and 1500 nm/wherein at least one of the wavelengths is in the wavelength range between 900 nm and 1500 nm, whereas the at least one receiver unit (36) receives the radiation reflected from the section of the feeding area (18), and

a signal evaluation unit (38) connected with the detector (24) for evaluating the intensity of the reflected radiation from the radiation unit (32,34) received by the receiver unit (36),

wherein the signal evaluation unit (38) determining from the intensities of the reflected radiation from the radiation unit (32,34), whether the detector (24) detects human skin, and

wherein upon the detection of human skin, a protective means (28) may be activated for protection against potential injuries caused by the tool (14).

11. The manually fed working machine of claim 10, wherein one of said wavelengths of the radiation unit (32,34) is below 900 nm.

12. The manually fed working machine of claim 10, wherein the wavelengths of the radiation unit (32,34) are at the wavelengths of 950 nm and 1450 nm, 950 nm and 1050 nm, 950 nm and 1200 nm/1050 nm and 1200 nm, 1050 nm and 1300 nm, 1050 nm and 1450 nm/or 1200 nm and 1450 nm.

13. The manually fed working machine of claim 10, wherein a plurality of respective sets of radiation and receiver units (32,34,36) are arranged side by Side, the radiation units (32,34) of two adjacent sets being arranged such that, after reflection from the section (22) of the feeding area (18), the respective radiation at the same wavelength can be detected by the receiver unit (36) of the respective adjacent set.

14. The manually fed working machine of claim 10, wherein ambient light received by the receiver unit (36) can be compensated in the signal evaluation unit (.38).

15. The manually fed working machine of claim 10, wherein the protective means (28) comprises a cover element (26) movable in between the section (22) of the feeding area (18) covered by the detector (24) and the tool (14), a displacement unit for removing the tool (14) from the feeding area (18), a braking unit for braking the tool (14) and/or an alarm generation unit for generating an (for example, optical or acoustic) alarm signal.

16. The manually fed working machine of claim 10, wherein the radiation unit (32,34) emits and/or the receiver unit (36) receives at a spectral bandwidth of up to 200 nm, preferably below 50 nm,

17. A manually fed working machine for materials, objects and the like, in particular circular saw or band saw benches, planing benches, bench drills, presses or scissors, comprising:

a working tool (14),

a feeding area (18) in front of the tool (14), within which a person'"'"'s hand is present when feeding material to be worked on to the tool (14),

a detector (24) covering at least a section (22) of the feeding area (18) for a contactless detection of material, objects, or the like, to be worked on,

the detector comprising at least one radiation unit (32,34) and at least one receiver unit (36),

the at least one radiation unit (32,34) emitting radiation towards said section (22) of the feeding area (18), said radiation being emitted with at least two different wavelengths in the wavelength range between 400 nm and 1500 nm, wherein at least one of the wavelengths is in the wavelength range between 900 nm and 1500 nm, whereas the at least one receiver unit (36) receives the radiation reflected from the section (22) of the feeding area (18), and

a signal evaluation unit (38) connected with the detector (24) for evaluating the intensity of the reflected radiation from the radiation unit (32,34) received by the receiver unit (.36),

wherein the signal evaluation unit (38) determining from the intensities of the reflected radiation from the radiation unit (32,34), whether the detector (24) detects material, objects, or the like, to be worked on, and

wherein the tool (14) can be activated only if the detector (24) detects material, objects, or the like, to be worked on,

18. A protective means for protecting or warning people against access to danger zones comprising:

a detector (24) for a contactless detection of human skin within the area (22) covered by the detector (24),

the detector (24) comprising at least one radiation unit (32,34) and at least one receiver unit (36),

the at least one radiation unit (32,34) emitting radiation towards said area (22) covered by the detector (24)! said radiation being emitted at at least two different wavelengths in the wavelength range between 400 nm and 1500 nm, wherein at least one of the wavelengths is in the wavelength range between 900 nm and 1500 nm, whereas the at least one receiver unit (36) receives the radiation reflected from the area (22) covered by the detector (24), and

a signal evaluation unit (38) connected with the detector (24) for evaluating the intensity of the reflected radiation from the radiation unit (32,34) received by the receiver unit (36),

wherein the signal evaluation unit (38) being adapted to determine from the intensities of the reflected radiation of the radiation unit (32,34), whether the detector (24) detects human skin.

19. A manually fed working machine for materials, objects and the like, in particular circular saw or band saw benches, planing benches, bench drills, presses or scissors, comprising:

a working tool (14),

a feeding area (18) in front of the tool (14), within which a person'"'"'s hand is present when feeding material to be worked on to the tool (14),

a detector (24) covering at least a section (22) of the feeding area (18) for a contactless detection of human skin,

the detector (24) comprising at least one radiation unit (32,34) and at least one receiver unit (36),

the at least one radiation unit (32,34) emitting radiation towards said section (22) of the feeding area (18), and the at least one receiver unit (36) receives the radiation reflected from the section of the feeding area (18) at at least two different wavelengths in the wavelength range between 400 nm and 1500 nm, wherein at least one of the wavelengths is in the wavelength range between 900 nm and 1500 nm, and

a signal evaluation unit (38) connected with the detector (24) for evaluating the intensity of the reflected radiation from the radiation unit (32,34) received by the receiver unit (36),

wherein the signal evaluation unit (38) determining from the intensities of the reflected radiation from the radiation unit (32,34), whether the detector (24) detects human skin, and

wherein upon the detection of human skin, a protective means (28) may be activated for protection against potential injuries caused by the tool (14).

20. The manually fed working machine of claim 19, wherein one of said wavelengths of the radiation unit (32,34) is below 900 nm.

22. The manually fed working machine of claim 19, wherein a plurality of respective sets of radiation and receiver units (32,34,36) are arranged side by side, the radiation units (32,34) of two adjacent sets being arranged such that, after reflection from the section (22) of the feeding area (18), the respective radiation at the same wavelength can be detected by the receiver unit (36) of the respective adjacent set,

23. The manually fed working machine of claim 19, wherein ambient light received by the receiver unit (36) can be compensated in the signal evaluation unit (38),

24. The manually fed working machine of claim 19, wherein the protective means (28) comprises a cover element (26) movable in between the section (22) of the feeding area (18) covered by the detector (24) and the tool (14), a displacement unit for removing the tool (14) from the feeding area (18), a braking unit for braking the tool (14) and/or an alarm generation unit for generating an (for example, optical or acoustic) alarm signal.

25. The manually fed working machine of claim 19, wherein the receiver unit (36) receives at a spectral bandwidth of up to 200 nm, preferably below 50 nm.

26. A manually fed working machine for materials, objects and the like, in particular circular saw or band saw benches, planing benches, bench drills, presses or scissors, comprising:

a working tool (14),

a feeding area (18) in front of the tool (14), within which a person'"'"'s hand is present when feeding material to be worked on to the tool (14),

a detector (24) covering at least a section (22) of the feeding area (18) for a contactless detection of material, objects, or the like, to be worked on,

the detector comprising at least one radiation unit (32,34) and at least one receiver unit (36),

the at least one radiation unit (32,34) emitting radiation towards said section (22) of the feeding area (18), and

the at least one receiver unit (36) receives the radiation reflected from the section of the feeding area (18) at at least two different wavelengths in the wavelength range between 400 nm and 1500 nm, wherein at least one of the wavelengths is in the wavelength range between 900 nm and 1500 nm, and

a signal evaluation unit (38) connected with the detector (24) for evaluating the intensity of the reflected radiation from the radiation unit (32,34) received by the receiver unit (36),

wherein the signal evaluation unit (38) determining from the intensities of the reflected radiation from the radiation unit (32,34), whether the detector (24) detects material, objects, or the like, to be worked on, and

wherein the tool (14) can be activated only if the detector (24) detects material, objects, or the like, to be worked on.

27. A protective means for protecting or warning people against access to danger zones comprising:

a detector (24) for a contactless detection of human skin within the area (22) covered by the detector (24),

the detector (24) comprising at least one radiation unit (32,34) and at least one receiver unit (36),

the at least one radiation unit (32,34) emitting radiation towards said section (22) of the feeding area (18), and

the at least one receiver unit (36) receives the radiation reflected from the area (22) covered by the detector (24) at at least two different wavelengths in the wavelength range between 400 nm and 1500 nm, wherein at least one of the wavelengths is in the wavelength range between 900 nm and 1500 nm, and

a signal evaluation unit (38) connected with the detector (24) for evaluating the intensity of the reflected radiation from the radiation unit (32134) received by the receiver unit (36),

wherein the signal evaluation unit (38) being adapted to determine from the intensities of the reflected radiation of the radiation unit (32,34), whether the detector (24) detects human skin.