Application of Safety Light Curtains on Large Bending Machines
With the continuous development of the manufacturing industry, large-scale bending machines, as one of the core equipment in the field of metal processing, play an important role in the production process. However, due to its high operational complexity and danger, especially in the process of workpiece processing and bending operations, operators are very likely to face the risk of accidental injury. Therefore, how to improve the safety of bending machines without affecting production efficiency has become an urgent problem to be solved in the manufacturing industry. As an advanced safety protection device, the safety light curtain can improve the automation level and production efficiency of the bending machine while ensuring the safety of the operator.
Function and Working Principle of Safety Light Curtains
Safety light curtain is a safety protection device based on photoelectric sensor technology. Its core function is to form a light curtain by emitting light beams. When an object (such as a human hand or a tool) enters the range of the light beam, the safety light curtain will immediately send a signal to stop the operation of the machine, thereby avoiding accidents. Its application is mainly in the protection of dangerous areas, especially in high-speed and high-powered equipment such as bending machines.
The main functions of safety light curtains include:
· Real-time monitoring of dangerous areas
By transmitting and receiving light beams, the operating area can be monitored without blind spots.
· Quick response
Once the light beam is blocked, the system can issue a shutdown command within milliseconds to avoid damage.
· Multi-faceted protection
It can achieve comprehensive protection of the front, side, and rear of the bending machine to ensure no blind spots.
· Strong adaptability
It can flexibly adapt to bending machines of different sizes and types and adapt to complex industrial environments.
Application of Safety Light Curtains on Large Bending Machines
Safety risk analysis
In the operation of large bending machines, the dangers are mainly concentrated in:
· Bending operation area
When the workpiece enters the bending area, the machine tool will exert great force on the workpiece and the mold when performing bending. If the operator's hands and other parts accidentally enter this area, it is very easy to cause an extrusion accident.
· The moment of machine tool starting and stopping
Especially in manual operation or semi-automatic operation mode, the start and stop of the equipment are often accompanied by sudden movements, and there is a risk of personnel misoperation or entering a dangerous area.
Solution Design
To ensure the safety of operators, the safety light curtain system will be arranged at the key position of the large bending machine. The specific design plan is as follows:
· Front protection light curtain
Installed in front of the bending machine to ensure that when the operator's hand or other objects enter the dangerous area, the light curtain immediately detects the obstruction and immediately triggers the shutdown.
· Side protection light curtain
To prevent operators or other personnel from mistakenly entering the dangerous area from the side, the side light curtain will cover both sides of the bending machine to further increase safety.
· Multi-level safety detection
According to the height of the working area of the bending machine, a multi-layer light curtain detection system is designed to ensure full coverage from the ground to the operating area, and even the mistaken entry at a lower position can be detected in time.
· Linkage with the bending machine system
The safety light curtain needs to be deeply integrated with the control system of the bending machine. Once the light curtain detects that a foreign object has entered the dangerous area, it immediately sends a stop signal to the machine tool control system to quickly stop the bending operation and ensure the safety of personnel.
· Intelligent identification and adjustment function
The safety light curtain can be adjusted according to different workpiece sizes, bending angles and other parameters to avoid false triggering while ensuring strict protection of high-risk areas.
Application Scenarios of Safety Light Curtains
· Fully automatic bending operation
In fully automatic bending operation, the safety light curtain can ensure the safe operation of the equipment in an unmanned state. Once there is an abnormal situation, the system can automatically identify and shut down to avoid equipment damage or production accidents.
· Semi-automatic and manual operation
In manual or semi-automatic mode, the safety light curtain is even more important. When the operator needs to interact with the equipment at close range, the safety light curtain can detect and ensure its safety in real time.
· Large workpiece processing
For large and heavy workpieces, the safety light curtain can provide partition protection for multiple operating areas to ensure the flexibility and safety of operation.
Advantages of Safety Light Curtains
· Efficient protection
Through seamless monitoring and fast response, safety light curtains significantly reduce the risk of operator injury on large press brakes.
Improve production efficiency: Compared with traditional mechanical protection devices, safety light curtains will not affect the normal operating process of the bending machine, maximizing production efficiency while ensuring safety.
· Flexible application
Adjust the coverage and sensitivity of the light curtain according to actual needs, making it adaptable to different production environments and operating methods.
· Intelligent monitoring
The safety light curtain can be seamlessly connected with the equipment's intelligent control system to achieve automatic monitoring and fault warning, providing enterprises with more efficient safety production guarantees.
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