Rugged, Compact Safety Light Curtain Sets New Standard For Ease
of Use and Low Cost EZ-SCREEN™ Safety Light Screen System
Minneapolis, MN–February 4, 2004–Banner Engineering Corp. has introduced the EZ-SCREEN™ Safety Light Screen System, a non-contact, point-of-operation machine guarding system. This new robust system is believed to be the industry's easiest to set up, align and operate due to its excellent optical design, variety of sizes and resolutions, zone indicators, detailed diagnostics, and flexible mounting options. It is also believed to be the lowest cost system of its kind with a list price beginning at only $1025 for an emitter and receiver pair. The system also features plenty of power with a range up to 18 m (60') and exceptionally fast response times ranging from 9 to 40 ms.
"Especially significant to note, the two-piece EZ-SCREEN System does not require a separate control box, only a self-contained emitter and receiver pair," said Mike Carlson, Technical Manager for Banner's Safety Products. "This technology also eliminates the need for a synchronization wire between the emitter and receiver because the system is synchronized optically -making it extraordinarily easy to install and operate," Carlson also stated. Despite its simplicity, this redundant microprocessor-controlled, self-checking design exceeds control reliability requirements and is certified per CE (Type 4/Category 4) and cULus (NIPF, UL61496, UL1998).
With systems available in two resolutions offering minimum object sensitivity of 14 mm (.55") or 30 mm (1.18"), this compact package is ideal for finger or hand detection on smaller production machines, yet robust enough for large power presses. The addition of these hand protection EZ-SCREEN models round out the EZ-SCREEN safety light screen product family that includes grid and point style models for long-range (up to 70 m) perimeter guarding applications. The vibration-tolerant emitter and receiver circuitry, rugged aluminum housing, die-cast metal end caps, and acrylic lens cover make the system extremely rugged for long-lasting dependability even in demanding industrial environments. It is also smaller than similar competitive systems, measuring just 45.2 mm (1.78") by 36 mm (1.42").
Ease of setup is achieved with a wide range of protective heights from 150 to 1800 mm (6" to 71"), available in 150 mm (6") increments. The emitter and receiver can be oriented on a vertical or horizontal plane or at any angle in between. Bracket choices provide the option of mounting the emitter and receiver from each end or by a convenient mounting channel on either side. Special brackets are also available for retrofitting older light curtains. Each system is pre-configured for most typical Trip Output, "reach-through" applications. Trip Output automatically resets when blocked beams are cleared. For "pass-through" applications, Latch Output is easily configured via the access panel on the front of the receiver. Latching Output requires a manual reset once the beams are cleared.
Exceptional diagnostics further aid and simplify setup, operation and maintenance. Both emitter and receiver feature highly visible Diagnostic Displays to provide continuous feedback of operating status, configuration and error conditions. The receiver features an easy to read seven-segment, three-digit display to indicate the number of beams interrupted or blocked and error codes if the system goes into lockout mode. The LED Zone Indicators on the receiver show when sections of the light screen are aligned or clear, or which areas are misaligned or blocked. Dip-switch selectable functions enable reduced resolution (Floating Blanking), Trip or Latch Output, External Device Monitoring (EDM), and Scan Code setting are accessible through the access cover.
The Banner EZ-SCREEN System is intended for point-of-operation machine guarding applications and other safeguarding applications, including area guarding when mounted horizontally and perimeter guarding utilizing corner mirrors. A complete range of mounting brackets, stands and mirrors are available to facilitate virtually any conceivable mounting configuration. Typical applications include small assembly equipment, pick-and-place machines, molding presses, packaging machinery, palletizers, roll formers, automated production equipment, robotic work cells, and power press applications. The new EZ-SCREEN is an economical solution and one of the lowest cost point-of-operation, non-contact safety systems available on the market today!
The receiver has two solid-state safety outputs to control 24V dc loads up to 0.5 amps. For ac loads or loads requiring higher currents, an optional relay interface module is available, or discrete relays may be driven directly.
- Diverse-redundant and self-checking design qualifies as a type-4 device per IEC 61496
- Designed to meet U.S. control reliability requirements
- Fast 24 millisecond output response time for all models
- Two diverse-redundant solid-state OSSD (Output Signal Switch Device) outputs each rated for switching 24V dc loads up to 0.5 amps (optional inteface module available for switching higher DC or AC loads)
- Selectable external device monitoring (EDM), selectable trip output with auto reset or latch output with manual reset
- Robust "safety-yellow" aluminum housing is rated IEC IP65; NEMA 4 and 13 supports numerous mounting configurations
- Removable wire terminal blocks or Mini-style quick-disconnect models for easy intallation
A complete EZ-SCREEN system consists of an Emitter and Receiver. Optional system components include interface modules and key-reset switches. Banner also offers several system accessories which may be useful, depending on your specific installation requirements.
EZ-SCREEN Systems are available in either EZ-SCREEN Point or EZ-SCREEN Grid offering the user the ability to protect personnel from dangerous machinery in a variety of different safe-guarding applications.
|
