Machine guarding system having a sensing mat with status indicator lights
First Claim
1. A machine guarding system comprising a switch mat in electrical communication with a machine being guarded, said switch mat being adapted to be placed on a floor adjacent the machine being guarded and including:
- a pressure actuated switch mechanism, said switch mechanism causing power to the machine being guarded to be terminated when a pressure is applied to said switch mat; and
a status indicator display disposed on a surface of said switch mat, said indicator display being illuminated based on a status of the machine being guarded.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A machine guarding system generally includes a switch mat in electrical communication with a machine being guarded. The switch mat is adapted to be placed on a floor adjacent the machine being guarded and includes a pressure actuated switch mechanism which causes power to the machine to be terminated when a pressure is applied to the switch mat. The switch mat further includes a status indicator display disposed on a surface of the switch mat which is illuminated based on a status of the machine being guarded. In a preferred embodiment, the machine guarding system further includes a machine control unit for controlling power to the machine being guarded. The switch mat is in electrical communication with the machine control unit, wherein the switch mechanism causes the machine control unit to terminate power to the machine when a pressure is applied to the switch mat. The machine control unit also illuminates the indicator display based on a status of the machine being guarded.
31 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A machine guarding system comprising a switch mat in electrical communication with a machine being guarded, said switch mat being adapted to be placed on a floor adjacent the machine being guarded and including:
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a pressure actuated switch mechanism, said switch mechanism causing power to the machine being guarded to be terminated when a pressure is applied to said switch mat; and a status indicator display disposed on a surface of said switch mat, said indicator display being illuminated based on a status of the machine being guarded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for guarding a machine work area against intrusion comprising the steps of:
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providing a switch mat on a floor adjacent the machine work area being guarded, said switch mat including a pressure actuated switch mechanism and a status indicator display; terminating power to a machine in the machine work area when a pressure is applied to said switch mechanism of said switch mat; and illuminating said indicator display of said switch mat based on a status of the machine work area. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A switch mat comprising:
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a support frame; a flexible plate member supported in said support frame; a pressure actuated switch mechanism disposed between said support frame and said plate member, wherein pressure applied to said plate member actuates said switch mechanism; and a status indicator display disposed on a surface of one of said support frame or said plate member, said status indicator display being illuminated upon actuation of said switch mechanism, wherein said status indicator display comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) including a first color illuminated to indicate a safe condition and a second color illuminated to indicate a dangerous condition. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification