Method and apparatus for monitoring a plant with several functional units

US6385562B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignees

• KUKA Roboter GmbH · DE
• igm Robotersysteme AG · DE

Inventors

• Stefan Roth · Västerås, SE
• Wolfgang Schwarzinger · Wien, AT

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 28, 1998
• Grant date: May 7, 2002
• Expiry date: Apr 28, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P90/02
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

For increasing the safety monitoring of a plant with several functional units, such as a production plant, the invention provides a method and apparatus, in which each functional unit is individually monitored or checked by its own redundant two-channel safety device. The safety devices constantly inform one another of their monitoring state. In the case of a malfunction of at least one functional unit or safety device, at least one safety-relevant actuator is operated. For achieving this objective, an apparatus is constructed with each functional unit being associated with a safety device and the safety devices are interconnected so that, in the case of a malfunction of at least one functional unit or safety device, at least one safety-relevant actuator is operated.