Sick M4000 Advanced multiple light beam safety device

The M4000 Advanced multiple light beam safety device detects persons accessing the hazardous area of a machine during operation and immediately switch it off.

In combination with the UE403 safety switching device and application-specific muting equipment, the system can monitor the hazardous areas of end-of-line machines while allowing material to be transported through the protective field. In this way, protection can be achieved for palletising robots, foil wrappers and strapping machines, for example. With the help of additional sensor signals, the active protective equipment can be temporarily bridged in order to allow material transport into or out of a palletiser. During the muting, the timing and logical sequence of signals from muting sensors is monitored and evaluated. At the same time, based on the structure of the muting system, it is necessary to ensure that nobody is able to enter a hazardous area. When a pallet passes, switching off of the machine by the M4000 Advanced is suppressed, but if a person passes, the entire conveyor process is subjected to an emergency stop.

The device is equipped with the ‘exit monitoring’ function wherein the muting sensors are located within the hazardous area.

Depending on the safety requirements, the length of time that muting is maintained in the M4000 Advanced can be adjusted from 0.5 to 4 s. The set time starts automatically on release of the first muting signal and, on completion, ends the muting process.

In compliance with the new EN 13855, if the 4-beam active/passive system is selected, the safety distance can be shortened or the lowest beam of the active/passive system can be located below the conveyor system, preventing the need for supplementary mechanical guards to prevent access by crawling below the system.