Protection of personnel against entry into danger area of manufacturing cell e.g. for automobile assembly line - detecting work shuttle by contact and non contact sensors located at entry to manufacturing cell

摘要

The assembly of road vehicles in a production plant is carried out using shuttles (12) that transport the vehicle through successive manufacturing cells. Within the cell there are a number of robot handling devices (16) and the area (10) is equipped with a safety detection system. The entry region (18) has position and proximity sensors located on both sides of the cell opening, together with a non contact sensing unit built into the aperture. A similar arrangement is provided at exit aperture from the cell. The position and proximity sensors are stripped by the shuttle. Sensor outputs provide a continuous indication of the presence of the shuttle. ADVANTAGE - Reliably protects against entry into manufacturing cell.