Method of, and apparatus for, controlling a safety-specific function of a machine
First Claim
1. A method of controlling at least one safety-specific function of a potentially dangerous machine and protecting an object to be protected from the danger of the machine, comprising:
- monitoring a monitoring region with at least one location-resolving and time-resolving sensor, the monitoring region comprising a safety boundary which separates off a danger region and defines a safe distance from a danger zone of the machine;
detecting a position, a movement direction and a movement speed of the object;
establishing a position of the safety boundary in a variable manner depending on the detected position, movement direction and movement speed of the object; and
triggering the at least one safety-specific function of the machine when entry into the danger region by the object is detected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of controlling at least one safety-specific function of a machine. The method includes monitoring a monitoring region with at least one location-resolving and time-resolving sensor, where the monitoring region includes a safety boundary which separates off a danger region and defines a safe distance from a danger zone of the machine. The method also includes detecting at least one of a position, a movement direction and a movement speed of an object. The method also includes establishing a position of the safety boundary in a variable manner depending on the at least one of a detected position, movement direction and movement speed of the object. The method also includes triggering the safety-specific function of the machine when entry into the danger region by the object is detected. An apparatus corresponding to the method is also described.
79 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of controlling at least one safety-specific function of a potentially dangerous machine and protecting an object to be protected from the danger of the machine, comprising:
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monitoring a monitoring region with at least one location-resolving and time-resolving sensor, the monitoring region comprising a safety boundary which separates off a danger region and defines a safe distance from a danger zone of the machine;
detecting a position, a movement direction and a movement speed of the object;
establishing a position of the safety boundary in a variable manner depending on the detected position, movement direction and movement speed of the object; and
triggering the at least one safety-specific function of the machine when entry into the danger region by the object is detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
establishing an extent of the safety region in a variable manner depending on the detected position, movement direction and movement speed of the object.
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4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object is classified by an object-classifying unit.
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5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one safety-specific function of the machine is controlled depending on the class of the object.
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6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one safety-specific function of the machine is controlled depending on the detected position, movement direction and movement speed of the object.
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7. A method of controlling at least one safety-specific function of a potentially dangerous machine and protecting an object to be protected from the danger of the machine, comprising:
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monitoring a monitoring region with at least one location-resolving and time-resolving sensor, the monitoring region comprising a safety boundary which separates off a danger region and defines a safe distance from a danger zone of the machine, and a safety region separate from the danger region;
detecting a position, a movement direction and a movement speed of the object;
establishing an extent of the safety region in a variable manner depending on the detected position, movement direction and movement speed of the object; and
triggering the at least one safety-specific function of the machine when entry into the safety region by the object is detected.
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8. An apparatus for controlling at least one safety-specific function of a potentially dangerous machine and protecting an object to be protected from the danger of the machine, comprising:
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at least one location-resolving and time-resolving sensor for monitoring the object in a monitoring region;
an evaluating unit for determining a position, movement direction and movement speed of the object from sensor signals received from the at least one location-resolving and time-resolving sensor;
a safety boundary unit for establishing a safety boundary in the monitoring region, the safety boundary separating off a danger region and defining a safe distance from the machine, the position of the safety boundary being established depending on the determined position, movement direction and movement speed of the object; and
a warning signal or switch for triggering the at least one safety-specific function following a detected entry of the object into the danger region. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
a safety region unit for establishing the extent of a safety region, separate from the danger region in the monitoring region, the extent of the safety region being established in a variable manner depending on the determined position, movement direction and movement speed of the object.
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10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:
a unit for controlling the at least one safety-specific function of the machine depending on the determined position, movement direction or movement speed of the object.
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11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:
at least one object-classifying unit for classifying the object.
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12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:
a unit for controlling the safety-specific function of the machine depending on the class of the object.
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13. An apparatus for controlling at least one safety-specific function of a potentially dangerous machine and protecting an object to be protected from the danger of the machine, comprising:
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at least one location-resolving and time-resolving sensor for monitoring the object in a monitoring region;
an evaluating unit for determining a position, movement direction and movement speed of the object from sensor signals received from the at least one location-resolving and time-resolving sensor;
a safety boundary unit for establishing a safety boundary in the monitoring region, the safety boundary separating off a danger region and defining a safe distance from the machine;
a safety region unit for establishing the extent of a safety region, separate from the danger region in the monitoring region, the extent of the safety region being established in a variable manner depending on the determined position, movement direction and movement speed of the object; and
a warning signal or switch for triggering the at least one safety-specific function following a detected entry of the object into the safety region.
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Specification