Safety holder

• US 7,956,300 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2006
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: IDEC Corporation
• Inventors: Nobuhiro, Masaki, Yasui, Takeo, Ishizaki, Masahiro, Obata, Norifumi, Hidaka, Takafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A
• Application Number:
  US12/065,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20090321227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: 200/43.04, 200/43.07, 200/43.11, 200 4314- 4321, 200 6162- 6166, 200/334, 70/14, 70/19, 70/30, 70/58
• US Class Current: 200/43.04
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2027/005 the key receiving part having multiple openings to allow keys from different directions to operate the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 27/002 wherein one single insertion movement of a key comprises an unlocking stroke and a switch actuating stroke, e.g. security switch for safety guards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/283 the part being removable

Abstract

A safety holder is provided that firmly attaches to a safety switch so that safety of a worker is enhanced. The safety holder includes a base body 21 that is inserted into an actuator insertion opening 7, and limits rotation of a drive cam 9 by engaging at a tip end portion (hanging portion 21C) thereof with a concave portion of the drive cam 9 of the safety switch, and a slide body that is movably attached to the base body 21 so as to be insertable into an actuator insertion opening 8 with the base body 21 inserted in the actuator insertion opening 7, and when the slide body is inserted into the actuator insertion opening 8, that enters and engages with an engagement hole 36 of the base body 21 whose tip end portion (insertion arm 34) is being inserted into the insertion opening 7.

Claims

1. An assembly having a safety switch and a safety holder for preventing insertion of an actuator into said safety switch, comprising:

said safety switch including a switch body having a box-shaped body and actuator insertion openings provided in two different surfaces thereof through which the actuator is insertable, and a contacting portion provided within the switch body, connection of which is switched in response to the insertion of the actuator,

said safety holder including;

a base body that engages with one of the actuator insertion openings provided in the two different surfaces and blocks the one of the actuator insertion openings; and

a slide body movably attached to the base body so as to be able to block, when the base body is engaged with the one of the actuator insertion openings, the other one of the actuator insertion openings provided in the two different surfaces by engaging with the other actuator insertion opening.

2. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein a key hole that is formed by the base body and the slide body and for fixing the slide body emerges only when the slide body is moved to a predetermined position at which the slide body blocks the other actuator insertion opening.

3. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the slide body is movably and rotatably attached to the base body, and the base body is provided with a rotation limiting means for limiting rotation of the slide body when the slide body is pulled out.

4. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said safety switch includes a drive member configured to be moved by an actuator to turn on said switch and wherein a tip end portion of the base body inserted into the one of the actuator insertion openings is fitted within the switch body and limits movement of the drive member.

5. The assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said safety switch includes a drive cam configured to be rotated by an actuator to turn on said switch and wherein said tip end portion of the base body inserted into the one of the actuator insertion openings is fitted into a concave portion of said drive cam provided within the switch body to thereby limit rotation of the drive cam.

6. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said safety switch includes an operating member that is moved by insertion of an actuator so that a circuit connection is established via said contacting portion provided within the switch body.

7. The assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said operating member is an operating rod that is moved by insertion of an actuator so that a circuit connection is established via said contacting portion provided within the switch body.

8. The assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein said operating rod is moved via a drive member by insertion of an actuator so that a circuit connection is established via said contacting portion provided within the switch body.

9. The assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein said drive member is a drive came that is moved by insertion of an actuator so that a circuit connection is established via said contacting portion provided within the switch body.

10. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein when a circuit connection is established via said contacting portion provided within the switch body a circuit connection is established for industrial machines so that the industrial machines become operable.

11. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch body is installed in a vicinity of a door within a room having machines and wherein an actuator is fixed to said door in a manner to engage with said switch body such that machines within said room become operable based on engagement of said actuator fixed to said door with said switch body.

12. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch body is attached to a surface of a doorway having industrial machines and said safety holder stops power supply from being provided to said industrial machines when the doorway is open.

13. A safety holder for preventing insertion of an actuator into a safety switch, the safety switch including a switch body having a box-shaped body and actuator insertion openings provided in two different surfaces thereof through which the actuator is insertable, and a contacting portion provided within the switch body, connection of which is switched in response to the insertion of the actuator, the safety holder characterized by comprising:

a base body that engages with one of the actuator insertion openings provided in the two different surfaces and blocks the one of the actuator insertion openings; and

a slide body movably attached to the base body so as to be able to block, when the base body is engaged with the one of the actuator insertion openings, the other one of the actuator insertion openings provided in the two different surfaces by engaging with the other actuator insertion opening;

wherein a tip end portion of the slide body engages with a tip end portion of the base body engaging with the one of the actuator insertion openings when the slide body is engaged with the other actuator insertion opening.

14. A safety holder for preventing insertion of an actuator into a safety switch, the safety switch including a switch body having a box-shaped body and actuator insertion openings provided in two different surfaces thereof through which the actuator is insertable, and a contacting portion provided within the switch body, connection of which is switched in response to the insertion of the actuator, the safety holder characterized by comprising:

a base body that engages with one of the actuator insertion openings provided in the two different surfaces and blocks the one of the actuator insertion openings; and

a slide body movably attached to the base body so as to be able to block, when the base body is engaged with the one of the actuator insertion openings, the other one of the actuator insertion openings provided in the two different surfaces by engaging with the other actuator insertion opening;

wherein a tip end portion of the base body inserted into the one of the actuator insertion openings is fitted within the switch body and limits rotation movement of a drive member within the switch body.

15. The safety holder as set forth in claim 14, wherein said tip end portion of the base body inserted into the one of the actuator insertion openings is fitted into a concave portion of a drive cam provided within the switch body to thereby limit rotation of the drive cam.