Multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus

• US 7,368,702 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2003
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keyence Corporation (Keyence)
• Original Assignee: Keyence Corporation (Keyence)
• Inventors: Kudo, Motohiro, Inoue, Tetsu
• Primary Examiner(s): MONBLEAU, DAVIENNE N
• Application Number:
  US10/335,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20030164447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221, 250/222.1, 340555-557, 340/679
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/144 using light grids

Abstract

A multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus or a light curtain is placed in front of a pressing machine or a folding machine. Optical paths are set as a floating blanking area B (some paths out of a large number of optical paths) in the light curtain. The operation of the pressing machine or folding machine is forcibly stopped when two contiguous optical paths are blocked in the floating blanking area B. On the other hand, the normal protection function serves in areas A and C between which area B is sandwiched. In these areas A and C, if any one optical path enters a light blocked state, the operation of the pressing machine or folding machine is immediately stopped.

Claims

1. A multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus comprising:

a light emitting unit, the light emitting unit having a plurality of light emitting elements disposed at equal intervals in a longitudinal direction of the light emitting unit;

a light receiving unit forming a plurality of optical paths with the light emitting unit so as to provide a single light curtain formed along a single plane passing through the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, the light receiving unit having a plurality of light receiving elements disposed at equal intervals in a longitudinal direction of the light receiving unit, wherein the light curtain in the single plane includes a protection area including a floating blanking area and a non-floating blanking area; and

a controller for controlling the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit,

wherein the controller includes a normal light curtain setting means for setting a normal light curtain function in all of the protection area for forcibly stopping operation of an apparatus protected by the light curtain when at least one of the optical paths forming the light curtain enters a light blocked state,

wherein the controller also includes an area selecting means for selecting a part of all the protection area protected by the normal light curtain function as a floating blanking area such that a number of contiguous optical paths of the part of the protection area is less than the number of contiguous optical paths forming the single light curtain, any remaining area other than the floating blanking area in all of the protection area being the non-floating blanking area where the normal light curtain function is operated,

wherein the controller also includes a floating blanking function setting means for setting a floating blanking function in the floating blanking area,

wherein the controller also includes an optical paths number setting means for setting the number of the optical paths which is smaller than the number of optical paths of the floating blanking area, and

wherein the floating blanking function forcibly stops operation of the apparatus protected by the light curtain when the number of optical paths of the floating blanking area which enter a light blocked state is larger than the set number of optical paths set in the optical paths number setting means and allows the apparatus protected by the light curtain to continuously operate when the number of optical paths which enter a light block state is equal to or smaller than the set number of optical paths set in the optical paths number setting means; and

an optical path area selection switch which divides all of the optical paths into plural basic block units, each of the basic block units being composed of a predetermined number of optical paths, wherein the optical path area selection switch selects one of the basic block units; and

a display unit by which a user can check whether or not the floating blanking area is set for each of the optical paths of the selected basic block unit.

2. The multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the area selecting means is an external input means.

3. The multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the area selecting means is a teaching device.

4. The multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the area selecting means sets a plurality of different floating blanking areas, the floating blanking function setting means sets the floating blanking function for the plurality of different floating blanking areas, and wherein the area selecting means can switch among the plurality of different floating blanking areas.

5. The multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a storing section for storing information including a plurality of different floating blocking areas where the floating blocking function can be exerted; and

a floating blocking area switch unit for switching the floating blocking area among the plurality of different floating blocking areas in the storing section.

6. The multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical paths number setting means sets the number of the optical paths to be two, and the floating blanking function setting means sets a floating blanking function for forcibly stopping operation of the apparatus protected by the light curtain when at least two continuous optical paths forming the light curtain enter a light blocked state.

7. The multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the controller selects at least one of a function which forcibly stops operation of the apparatus protected by the light curtain when at least two optical paths forming the light curtain enter a light blocked state and a function which forcibly stops operation of the apparatus protected by the light curtain when at least two continuous optical paths forming the light curtain enter a light blocked state.

8. The multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display unit allows the user to check a light incidence/light block state.

9. A multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus comprising:

a light emitting unit having a plurality of light emitting elements equally spaced from each other and being disposed in a row in a longitudinal direction of the light emitting unit;

a light receiving unit separated from the light emitting unit and having a corresponding number of light receiving elements as the number of the light emitting elements, the light receiving elements being equally spaced from each other and being disposed in a row in a longitudinal direction of the light receiving unit, wherein each of the light receiving elements with the corresponding light emitting element form optical paths for forming a single light curtain along a single plane, and wherein the light curtain in the single plane includes a protection area including a floating blanking area and a nonfloating blanking area; and

a controller for controlling the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit,

wherein the controller includes a normal light curtain setting means for setting a normal light curtain function in all of the protection area for forcibly stopping operation of an apparatus protected by the light curtain when at least one of the optical paths forming the light curtain enters a light blocked state,

wherein the controller also includes a floating blanking area setting means for setting a part of all the protection area protected by the normal light curtain function as a floating blanking area where a floating blanking function can be operated such that a number of contiguous optical paths of the part of the protection area is less than the number of contiguous optical paths forming the single curtain, any remaining area other than. the floating blanking area in all the protection area being the nonfloating blanking area where the normal light curtain function is operated,

wherein the controller also includes an optical paths number setting means for setting the number of the optical paths which is smaller than the number of optical paths of the floating blanking area, and

wherein the floating blanking function is a function that will stop operation of an apparatus protected by the light curtain when the number of optical paths of the floating blanking area which enter a light blocked state is larger than the set number of optical paths set in the optical paths number setting means,

and that will continuously operate when the number of optical paths which enter a light blocked state is equal to or smaller than the set number of optical paths set in the optical paths number setting means; and

an optical path area selection switch which divides all of the optical paths into plural basic block units, each of the basic block units being composed of a predetermined number of optical paths, wherein the optical path area selection switch selects one of the basic block units; and

a display unit by which a user can check whether or not the floating blanking area is set for each of the optical paths of the selected basic block unit.

10. The multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a storing section for storing information including a plurality of different floating blocking areas where the floating blocking function can be exerted, the floating blocking area setting unit setting the different floating blocking areas; and

a floating blocking area switch unit for switching the floating blocking area among the plurality of different floating blocking areas in the storing section.

11. The multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the display unit allows the user to check a light incidence/light block state.

12. A multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus comprising:

a light emitting unit having a first case and emitting a light, the light emitting unit having a plurality of light emitting elements disposed at equal intervals in a longitudinal direction of the light emitting unit;

a light receiving unit having a second case and receiving the light emitted from the light emitting unit, the light receiving unit having a plurality of light receiving elements disposed at equal intervals in a longitudinal direction of the light receiving unit the light receiving unit forming a plurality of optical paths with the light emitting unit so as to provide a single light curtain between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, wherein the light curtain includes a detection area between the first case and the second case; and

a controller for controlling the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit,

wherein the controller includes a floating blanking function device having a floating blanking function and setting a part of all the detection area between the first case and the second case as a floating blanking area such that a number of contiguous optical paths of the part of the detection area is less than the number of contiguous optical paths forming the single light curtain, the floating blanking area being an area where the floating blanking function is operated,

wherein the controller also includes a protection function for controlling any remaining area between the first case and the second case other than the floating blanking area, the protection function forcibly stopping operation of an apparatus protected by the light curtain when at least one of the optical paths forming the light curtain enters a light blocked state,

wherein the controller also includes an optical paths number setting means for setting the number of the optical paths which is smaller than the number of optical paths of the floating blanking area,

wherein the floating blanking function forcibly stops operation of an apparatus protected by the light curtain when the number of optical paths of the floating blanking area which enter a light blocked state is larger than the set number of optical paths set in the optical paths number setting means and allows the apparatus protected by the light curtain to continuously operate when the number of optical paths which enter a light blocked state is equal to or smaller than the set number of optical paths set in the optical paths number setting means, and wherein the controller also includes a display section having mode state indicators, and each mode state indicator corresponds to each optical path of the light curtain to check whether the floating blanking function is set so that the each mode state indicator is turned on when the floating blanking function is set by the floating blanking function device; and

an optical path area selection switch which divides all of the optical paths into plural basic block units, each of the basic block units being composed of a predetermined number of optical paths, wherein the optical path area selection switch selects one of the basic block units; and

a display unit by which a user can check whether or not the floating blanking area is set for each of the optical paths of the selected basic block unit.

13. The multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the display unit allows the user to check a light incidence/light block state.

14. A multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus comprising:

a light emitting unit emitting a light and having a first case, the light emitting unit having a plurality of light emitting elements equally spaced from each other and being disposed in a row in a longitudinal direction of the light emitting unit;

a light receiving unit having a second case, the light receiving unit receiving the light from the light emitting unit, the light receiving unit being separated from the light emitting unit and having a corresponding number of light receiving elements as the number of the light emitting elements, the light receiving elements being equally spaced from each other and being disposed in a row in a longitudinal direction of the light receiving unit, wherein each of the light receiving elements with a corresponding light emitting element form an optical path so as to collectively provide a single light curtain, wherein the light curtain includes a detection area between the first case and the second case; and

a controller for controlling the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit,

wherein the controller includes a floating blanking area setting unit for setting a part of the detection area between the first case and the second case as a floating blanking area, where a floating blanking function is operated such that a number of optical paths of the part of the detection area is less than the number of optical paths forming the single light curtain,

wherein the controller also includes a protection function for controlling any remaining area between the first case and the second case other than the floating blanking area, the protection function forcibly stopping operation of an apparatus protected by the light curtain when at least one of the optical paths forming the light curtain enters a light blocked state,

wherein the controller also includes an optical paths number setting means for setting the number of the optical paths which is smaller than the number of optical paths of the floating blanking area,

wherein the floating blanking function is a function that will stop operation of an apparatus protected by the light curtain when the number of contiguous optical paths which enter a light blocked state of the floating blanking area is larger than the set number of contiguous optical paths set in the optical paths number setting means, and that will allow the apparatus continuously operate when the number of optical paths which enter a light blocked state is equal to or smaller than the set number of optical paths set in the optical paths number setting means, and

wherein the controller also includes a display section having mode state indicators, and each mode state indicator corresponds to each optical path of the light curtain to check whether the floating blanking function is set so that the each mode state indicator is turned on when the floating blanking function is set by the floating blanking area setting unit; and

an optical path area selection switch which divides all of the optical paths into plural basic block units, each of the basic block units being composed of a predetermined number of optical paths, wherein the optical path area selection switch selects one of the basic block units; and

a display unit by which a user can check whether or not the floating blanking area is set for each of the optical paths of the selected basic block unit.

15. The multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the display unit allows the user to check a light incidence/light block state.

16. A multi-optical-path. photoelectric safety apparatus comprising:

a light emitting unit emitting a light and having a first case, the light emitting unit having light emitting elements equally spaced from each other and being disposed in a row in a longitudinal direction of the light emitting unit;

a light receiving unit having a second case, the light receiving unit receiving the light from the light emitting unit, the light receiving unit being separated from the light emitting unit and having a corresponding number of light receiving elements as the number of the light emitting elements, the light receiving elements being equally spaced from each other and being disposed in a row in a longitudinal direction of the light receiving unit, wherein each of the light receiving elements with a corresponding light emitting element form an optical path so as to collectively provide a single light curtain along a single plane, wherein the light curtain in the single plane includes a detection area between the first case and the second case; and

a controller for controlling the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit,

wherein the control includes an area selecting means for selecting a part of all the detection area as a floating blanking area such that a number of contiguous optical paths of the part of the detection area is less than the number of contiguous optical paths forming the single light curtain,

wherein the controller also includes a floating blanking function setting device for setting a first mode of a floating blanking function wherein the floating blanking function is set in each optical path of all of the light curtain, and a second mode of the floating blanking function wherein the floating blanking function is set in each optical path of the floating blanking area, wherein the controller also includes an optical paths number setting means for setting the number of the optical paths which is smaller than the number of optical paths of the floating blanking area,

wherein the floating blanking function will stop operation of an apparatus protected by the light curtain when the number of contiguous optical paths of the floating blanking area which enter a light blocked state is larger than the set number of contiguous optical paths set in the optical paths number setting means, and will allow the apparatus to continuously operate when the number of optical paths which enter a light blocked state is equal to or smaller than the set number of optical paths..set in the optical paths number setting means, and

wherein the controller also includes a display section having mode state indicators, and each mode state indicator corresponds to each optical path of the light curtain to check whether the floating blanking function is set so that the each mode state indicator is turned on when the floating blanking function is set by the floating blanking function setting device; and

an optical path area selection switch which divides all of the optical paths into plural basic block units, each of the basic block units being composed of a predetermined number of optical paths, wherein the optical path area selection switch selects one of the basic block units; and

a display unit by which a user can check whether or not the floating blanking area is set for each of the optical paths of the selected basic block unit.

17. The multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the display unit allows the user to check a light incidence/light block state.