Product category:
Machinery/plant guarding and protection
News Release from: Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley Guardmaster ) | Subject: Safedge system
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 13 May 2002
Edging strip improves machine operator
safety
A flexible edging strip can provide a continuous line of high sensitivity touch sensing along or around all types of plant and machinery at distances up to 50m.
The new pressure sensitive Safedge system from Allen-Bradley Guardmaster is the ideal product to provide the improved levels of operating safety required in today's highly dynamic manufacturing and processing environments High levels of flexibility mean that Safedge can provide a continuous line of high sensitivity touch sensing along or around all types of plant and machinery at distances up to 50m
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 15 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Safedge is a completely failsafe system, comprising a flexible edging strip and a cross monitored control unit.
It is perfect for use on the edges of moving machine parts, powered doors and guided vehicles.
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Offering total flexibility to both the OEM and user, Safedge is simple to install, allowing profiles to be formed into fully sensitive 900 (or other angle) corners with radii of as little as 200mm.
These, like the straight profiles, are fully sensitive and maintain their shape even after repeated heavy operation.
The keys to Safedge's comprehensive abilities lie in its innovative design.
The product employs a combination of non-conductive rubber and flexible wire-cored conductive rubber, which are bonded together to form a variety of perfectly flexible and energy absorbing profiles.
Reliability is assured because these profiles have high resistance to abrasion and excellent resistance to acids, alkalis and salts.
They also have no rigid internal parts, which can 'break through' or cause fatigue failures after prolonged use.
In addition, the copper wire core throughout the length of profile ensures that there are no problems of resistance build up on long lengths up to 50m.
Safedge is offered with a choice of cross-monitored control units for use with various profile shapes.
The control units are offered in an IP65 rated, polycarbonate enclosure or as a DIN rail mounted version.
They monitor the system status enabling failsafe detection in the event of profile actuation, component or power failure, or if the strip or connecting wire is severed.
Designed, like other Allen-Bradley Guardmaster products, for the global market, Safedge is truly international, conforming to standards: EN 1760-1, EN 60204-1 and EN 954-1: Category 3, UL508.
In addition, the product also holds prestigious TUV and cULus approvals.
Allen-Bradley Guardmaster products are manufactured by EJA, which is part of Rockwell Automation.
EJA is a world leader in the design and manufacture of machinery interlocking and safety monitoring systems and is able to offer complete and integrated safety and control systems, including guards, safety mats and machine interlocks, all of which find application in a range of industries worldwide.
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