JP2002025393A - Key for safety switch mechanical control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a key for a safety switch and a mechanical control device which prevents a machine P3 from not operating even when a product carried touches the key for the safety switch. SOLUTION: The key for the safety switch 2 is provided with a key 21a of a prescribed shape, a screw 21b for fitting the key 21a to a first partition wall, an encapsulated body 22 for protecting the key 21a from products passing an entrance and a coil spring 23.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key for a safety switch inserted into a safety switch for permitting a machine such as an industrial robot to operate, and a machine control device using the key.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique will be described with reference to FIG. At a place where a machine P3 such as an industrial robot is installed, a trouble such as an operator getting caught in the machine and getting injured may occur. Therefore, in order to prevent such a trouble, the machine P3 is surrounded by a safety fence P4, and when the door P5 of the entrance S2 is not completely closed, the machine P3 is closed.
There is provided a safety switch that does not allow the operation of No. 3.

The safety switch comprises a safety switch main body P1 and a safety switch key P2. Safety switch body P
1 is installed on the safety fence P4 around the entrance S2. The safety switch key P2 is attached to the door P5. The controller P6 is for operating the machine P3.

When the door P5 is closed, the safety switch key P2
Is inserted into the safety switch body P1. As a result, a switch (not shown) inside the safety switch body P1 is turned on, and the machine P3 can operate. The switch inside the safety switch body P1 does not turn on unless the safety switch key P2 has a predetermined shape. Next, when the door P5 is opened, the safety switch key P2 is moved to the safety switch body P1.
Get off. As a result, the switch inside the safety switch body P1 is turned off, and the machine P3 does not operate.

[0005]

However, the door P5
Is opened, and the room S surrounded by the safety fence P4 from the entrance S2
When the transported object is loaded into the device 1, the transported object comes into contact with the safety switch key P2, deforms, and the machine P3 does not operate even when the door P5 is closed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a safety switch key and a machine control device for preventing the machine P3 from operating even when a conveyed object contacts the safety switch key. The purpose is to obtain.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an operator is separated from a machine by connecting a first partition and a second partition at an entrance and exit, and the first partition and the second partition are attached to the first partition. A key for a safety switch that allows the operation of the machine by inserting a key having a predetermined shape into a key hole of a safety switch body provided in the second partition,
A key having a predetermined shape; an attaching portion for attaching the key to the first partition; and a protecting portion for protecting the key from a conveyed object passing through the entrance.

[0008] In the means for solving problems according to claim 2,
The protection unit is retracted when pressed by the safety switch body, and the key protrudes and is inserted into the keyhole; otherwise, the protection unit advances and encloses the key.

[0009] In the means for solving problems according to claim 3,
The protection unit is a polymer compound that covers the key.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a safety switch key according to any one of the first to third aspects, the safety switch body, the first and second partition walls, and the operator. A controller that provides a control signal to the machine, and controls the machine based on a signal from the safety switch body and a control signal from the controller.

[0011]

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a safety switch according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The safety switch includes a safety switch body 1 and a key 2 for a safety switch.

The safety switch body 1 and the safety switch key 2 correspond to the safety switch body P1 and the safety switch key P2 in FIG. 4, respectively. Hereinafter, the safety switch body P1 and the safety switch key P2 of FIG. 4 will be described by replacing the safety switch body 1 and the safety switch key 2 with each other.

The safety fence P4 surrounds the room S1, and a machine P3 is installed in the room S1. An entrance S2 is provided in the safety fence P4, and an operator or a conveyed object can enter and exit between the outside and the room S1 through the entrance S2. The safety fence P4 is provided with a door P5 for closing the entrance S2. The door P5 can move freely in the lateral direction Z.

The safety switch body 1 is provided near the end P4a of the safety fence P4 such that the keyhole 1a of the safety switch body 1 (see FIG. 1) faces the tip of the key 21a of the key 2 for the safety switch. ing. The safety switch key 2 is attached to the door P5 such that the key 21a protrudes from an end P5a of the door P5.

A switch (not shown) is provided inside the safety switch body 1. When the switch is turned on, the operation of the machine P3 is allowed. When the switch is turned off, the operation of the machine P3 is not allowed. The switch inside the safety switch body 1 does not turn on unless the key 21a has a predetermined shape. here,
The operation of the machine P3 is not permitted when the machine P3 does not operate, for example, by stopping supply of power to the machine P3 or stopping supply of a control signal from the controller P6. Permission of the operation of the machine P3 means that the machine P3 becomes operable, for example, when power is supplied to the machine P3 or a control signal is supplied from the controller P6.

The controller P6 allows the operator to operate the machine P
3 to provide a control signal. The machine P3 is controlled based on an ON or OFF signal from the safety switch body 1 and a control signal from the controller P6.

The safety switch key 2 includes a base 21, an envelope 22 and a coil spring 23. The base 21 has a key 21a and a screw 21b.

The envelope 22 is a rigid body such as a tubular metal, and can move in the lateral direction Z through a key 21a inside. Inside the envelope 22, the safety switch body 1
A coil spring 23 is provided to apply a biasing force in a direction to move the envelope 22 to the side. When the envelope 22 is pressed by the safety switch body 1 from the outside, the envelope 22 retreats and the key is moved. 21a protrudes from the envelope 22 (FIG. 2), and if not pressed from the outside, the envelope 22 advances and the key 21
a (FIG. 1). Screw 21b connects key 21a to door P5
It is for attaching to.

The shape of the key 21a is complicated so that the switch in the safety switch body 1 is not easily turned on, and the tip of the key 21a has, for example, an uneven shape as shown in the figure. In order for the switch in the safety switch body 1 to be reliably turned on, the key 21a needs to maintain a predetermined shape, so that the material of the key 21a is a rigid body such as metal.

In the first embodiment, the door P5 is the first partition, the safety fence P4 is the second partition, the screw 21b is the mounting portion, and the portion including the envelope 22 and the coil spring 23 is the protection portion. Further, the safety switch body 1, the safety switch key 2, the safety fence P4, the door P5, and the controller P6 constitute a machine control device.

Next, the operation will be described. When the door P5 is open, the switch in the safety switch body 1 is off, and the machine P3 is not allowed to operate. This allows the operator to enter the room S1 through the entrance S2.
You can work safely inside. In this state, the envelope 2
2 moves forward and covers and protects the key 21a (FIG. 1), so that the goods passing through the entrance S2 do not contact the key 21a.

Next, the door P5 is closed (the safety fence P4 and the door P are closed).
5 at the entrance S2), the envelope 22 is pressed by the safety switch body 1 and retreats, and the key 21a is
Protrude from 2. The protruding key 21a is inserted into the inside of the safety switch body 1 through the keyhole 1a, and the switch inside the safety switch body 1 is turned on (FIG. 2). This allows the machine P3 in FIG. 4 to operate, and the operator can operate the machine P3 using the controller P6. Further, since the operator is isolated from the machine P3 by closing the door P5, safety can be ensured.

As described above, since the protection portion including the envelope 22 and the coil spring 23 protects the key 21a, the key 21a is protected.
The shape of a is not easily deformed. As a result, the key 21a inserted into the safety switch body 1 is
Can be reliably turned on, thereby preventing the machine P3 from operating. Further, the damage given to the conveyed object due to the contact between the safety switch key 2 and the conveyed object can be reduced, and the safety is further improved.

(Embodiment 2) Next, Embodiment 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a safety switch according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

The safety switch according to the second embodiment is different from the safety switch according to the first embodiment in that the envelope 22 and the coil spring 23
Is omitted, and a soft resin 24 that covers and protects the key 21a
(Protection unit). Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The soft resin 24 may be a polymer compound such as polyvinyl chloride, nylon and rubber.

According to the above configuration, since the resin 24 protects the key 21a, the conveyed object passing through the entrance S2 is
Even when the key 21a comes into contact with the key 1a, the effect is reduced by the resin 24, and the shape of the key 21a is not easily deformed. As a result, the key 21a inserted into the safety switch body 1 can reliably turn on the switch in the safety switch body 1,
It is possible to prevent the machine P3 from operating. Also,
Damage to the conveyed object due to contact between the safety switch key 2 and the conveyed object can be reduced, and the safety is further improved.

Further, in the second embodiment, it is necessary to design the switch in the safety switch body 1 in consideration of the flexibility of the resin 24 so that the key 21a is reliably turned on when the key 21a is inserted into the safety switch body 1. However, the configuration of the safety switch key 2 can be simplified. On the other hand, in the first embodiment,
Since the flexibility of the resin 24 does not need to be considered, the design of the safety switch body 1 is easy. Embodiments 1 and 2
In this case, even if a conveyed object passing through the entrance S2 comes into contact with the safety switch key 2, the key 21a is not deformed, and the key 21a inserted into the safety switch body 1 is
Switch in the controller P6.
Can stably operate the machine P3.

(Modification) In the first and second embodiments, the safety switch body 1 is provided on the safety fence P4 and the safety switch key 2 is provided on the door P5. Instead of this, the safety switch key 2
May be provided on the safety fence P4 and the safety switch body 1 on the door P5. In this case, the safety fence P4 is the first partition and the door P5 is the second partition.
It is a partition. Further, the first and second partitions need only be able to isolate the operator from the machine P3, and may be other than those surrounding the machine P3 like the safety fence P4 and the door P5. Also,
The protection portion may be other than the envelope 22, the coil spring 23, and the resin 24, and may be any as long as it can protect the key 21a from the transported object. Further, the attachment portion may be any as long as it is for attaching the key 21a to the safety fence P4 or the door P5.
Other than that. The key 21a may be a key that is inserted into the keyhole 1a, and may be a switch (actuator) that mechanically turns on or off the switch in the safety switch body 1, or may be an electromagnetic means (for example, the key 21a). (A magnetic material attached to the device).

[0030]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the protector protects the key from the conveyed object, the shape of the key is hardly deformed by the conveyed object, and it is possible to prevent the machine from operating.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the design of the safety switch body becomes easy.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the configuration of the key for the safety switch is simplified.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the influence of the contact of the transported object with the key is reduced, and the operation of the machine by the controller can be performed stably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a key for a safety switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a key for a safety switch according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a key for a safety switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a machine control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 safety switch body, 1a keyhole, 2 key for safety switch, 21 base, 21a key, 21b screw, 2
2 Envelope, 23 coil spring, 24 resin, P3 machine, P4 safety fence, P5 door, P6 controller, S
One room, S2 doorway.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first partition and a second partition are aligned at an entrance and exit to isolate an operator from a machine, and a key having a predetermined shape attached to the first partition is provided on the second partition. A key for a safety switch that allows operation of the machine by being inserted into a keyhole of a switch body, the key having a predetermined shape, an attaching portion for attaching the key to the first partition, and transporting through the entrance. A key for a safety switch, comprising: a protection unit for protecting the key from an object. 2. The protection unit, when pressed by the safety switch body, retreats and the key protrudes and is inserted into the keyhole; otherwise, the protection unit advances and encloses the key. Key for safety switch. 3. The key for a safety switch according to claim 1, wherein the protection unit is a polymer compound that covers the key. 4. A key for a safety switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the main body of the safety switch, the first and second bulkheads, and a controller for giving a control signal to the machine by the operator. A machine control device that controls the machine based on a signal from the safety switch body and a control signal from the controller.