Control system for pressure-sensitive protective devices
US6420974B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 17, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jul 16, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 17, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16P3/12
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A control for use with pressure-sensitive devices, such as in a machine-guarding application. A plurality of pressure-sensitive devices, such as pressure-sensitive safety mats, are operatively connected to produce a disable signal and a status signal. An activation module produces a switching output responsive to the disable signal and the status signal to disable a machine. In one embodiment the status signal is produced by a comparator in response to a quantity selector and a quantity indication signal produced by the pressure-sensitive devices. In the preferred embodiment, the control system of the present invention is able to detect proper safety mat configuration, whether a threshold pressure is being applied to a pressure-sensing region in the plurality of safety mats, and whether the quantity of operatively coupled safety mats conforms to the quantity specified to be deployed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.