Safety Light Curtain General Information

Safety Light Curtains

General Information

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Shown below are only just a few of the possible applications for our Safety Light Curtains

Linked Sets of Light Curtains On Rivet Machine

Operator Hand Protection On Press Fixture

Operator Finger Protection In Paper Sorting Machines

Hand Protection For Press Operation

Access Protection In Material Unloading Area

Finger Protection On Cloth Pressing And Creasing Machine

Zone Protection For Processing Machinery

Hand Protection For Automated Sorting Machine

Basic Applications
Light Curtain Selection Guide
Feature Definitions
Dip Switch Functions
Frequently Asked Questions

Click here to use our new light curtain selection guide.

The EDM Function constantly checks the status of external monitoring devices such as safety relays, and avoids many external malfunctions which could cause incorrect device functioning.

Fixed Blanking allows the operator to deactivate a part of the detection area during functioning to allow the passage of material or mechanical obstacle presence without causing machine interruption.

Floating Blanking allows the operator to exclude the control of a pre-set number of beams in any position within the detection area.

Cascade Configuration allows two sets of light curtains to function connected to each other in a Master-Slave protocol while combining the safety information relative to the two different sections of the controlled machine. The Master unit has a Blanking function and can be used without the Slave.

Dip Switch Diagram	Dip 1	Dip 2	Dip 3	Dip 4	Function
	On	On	ON : EDM inactive OFF : EDM active	ON : Automatic OFF : Manual/Reset	Floating function active
	On	Off			Floating function active, 1 Blanking beam.
	Off	On			Floating function active, 2 adjacent Blanking beams.
	Off	Off			Floating function active, 1, 2 or 3 adjacent Blanking beams

Q 1:	What does 'category 2' and 'category 4' mean?
A 1:	The safety category foresees the devices ability to detect a defect that can provoke a safety function loss during functioning. The category 2 foresees that the auto-diagnostic function can be affected in 3 typical moments: at the first machinery start-up, at each device intervention and lastly when the user requests it externally by means of the TEST inputs. The category 4 foresees instead that the auto-diagnostic function is continuously and automatically affected within the device's response time.

Q 2:	When does a 'category 2' or 'category 4' device has to be used?
A 2:	The EN-954-1 standard has been created to aid machinery manufactures in selecting the safety level necessary for the different machinery types. The standard is based on 3 fundamental parameters: the damage gravity that can be provoked, the frequency it can occur and the duration to the risk exposure of the operator and the possibility to avoid the danger. The combination of the three parameters defines the necessary safety category: a category 4 safety device has to be used in presence of high damage gravity, high risk frequency and exposure and non-avoidability.

Q 3:	What is intended by body protection, hand or limb protection and finger protection?
A 3:	These terms are commonly used to identify the safety device's resolution type. Are solution with 1,2,3 or 4 variously spaced beams is necessary for body protection; a resolution between 20 and 40 mm is requested for hand or limb protection, while a 14 mm resolution is used for finger protection.

Q 4:	Which is the minimum beam distance to maintain in presence of a safetydevice installed for body protection?
A 4:	The EN-999 standard suggests the correct positioning of the safety device. Incase of one single beam, the ground-beam height has to be 750mm. In case of two beams, the 1st has to be positioned at 400mm and the 2nd at 900mm. Incase of three beams, the 1st at 300mm from the ground, the 2nd at 700mm andthe 3rd at 1100mm. Lastly, in case of four beams, the 1st at 300mm, the 2nd at600mm, the 3rd at 900mm and the 4th at 1200mm.

Q 5:	What is the MUTING function and its use?
A 5:	The MUTING function has been introduced to solve the application need to temporally deactivate one or more beams of the safety device, enabling the material passage through the dangerous area. The MUTING is activated by means of the safety device inputs, typically guided by external photoelectric sensors; moreover the safety device has to be connected to the muting signalling lamp, that signals the muting activation and avoids the protection intervention.The MUTING foresees that all the inputs are activated in a well-determined temporal sequence that avoids accidental activation.

Q 6:	What is the OVERRIDE function and its use?
A 6:	This function allows you to force a machinery stop, due to material present in the dangerous area after the MUTING function. The OVERRIDE function allows the forced safety device activation even in presence of interrupted beams. The activation requests a precise procedure; the START and TEST inputs have to become temporary activated during the initial auto-test phase and kept pressed until all the material has left the dangerous area.

Q 7:	What are automatic and manual re-sets?
A 7:	Automatic re-set is activated when the safety device intervening to stop the machine after beam interruption, automatically re-sets as soon as the object has been removed. Whereas in the manual re-set, the operator has to guide the START input of the device, using an external button.

Q 8:	Can three or four sides of an area be protected using a single safetydevice, e.g. light curtains?
A 8:	Yes, using the SE-DM deviating mirrors. It is necessary to consider that each mirror reduces approximately 15% of the beams power and consequently the maximum operating distance is reduced.

Q 9:	Can any brand of safety relay be used with the SE4 series safety curtains?
A 9:	HTM has tested several manufacturers of safety relays and recommends a relay from the following list: Pilz: PNOZ X4 Phoenix: 2963912 Schmersal/Sunx: SRB-NA

We specialize in the supply of inductive proximity sensors, capacitive level sensors and photoelectric sensors with a wide range of specialty sensors such as our LongRange, MetalHead and Weld Field Immune Sensors with SpatterGuard technology. We also carry Safety Light Curtains, Non-contact Thermometers, cables and distribution boxes.

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Specifications subject to change without notice