Catalogs > Safety Products Catalog > Presence Sensing Safety Devices > Opto-electronics > Safety Laser Scanner > Overview
Overview
Principles of OperationThe SafeZone™ safety laser scanner operates on the principle of diffuse reflection and the time flight of light. Pulses of Infrared light are reflected off of a rotating mirror and are emitted over a 190° arc. The diffuse reflection of light is received from an intrusion in the preconfigured sensing field and processed to determine the location and distance of the object from the SafeZone scanner.
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At the time of the emission of Infrared light, an electronic stop watch begins. The reflected light is then seen by the SafeZone scanner and processed to determine the distance of the object from the scanner.
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Configuration of the SafeZone’s warning and safety fields are accomplished using the Safety Configuration and Diagnostic (SCD) software supplied with each scanner. This Windows®-based software allows easy configuration of irregularly shaped fields by simply clicking and dragging points along the perimeter of the particular zone to shape the contour of the perimeter of the warning or safety field.
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The SafeZone safety laser scanner is well suited to industrial applications and can be used in either vertical or horizontal applications to detect the intrusion of personnel or objects into the configured sensing field(s). This detection can result in an audible alarm or warning light being activated to warn of the intrusion or if the intrusion is in the safety field, the hazardous motion of machinery can be stopped.
Stationary Horizontal Guarding—Single Field Set
It is possible to configure a warning field and a safety field in front of machinery or equipment to protect personnel from accessing the area where hazardous motion takes place. The SafeZone safety laser scanner is required to be mounted at a particular height from the floor. Irregular shapes are easily configured using the Windows-based SCD software.
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Stationary Vertical Guarding
It is possible to mount the SafeZone safety laser scanner to create a vertical safety field that provides access detection to a hazardous area. It is necessary to configure “contour as a reference,” which monitors specific areas at the perimeter of the safety field. Contour as a reference must be configured for vertical applications as this configured feature prevents the manipulation of the scanner.
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Note: Both the SafeZone singlezone and multizone can be used in stationary horizontal or vertical guarding applications. The SafeZone multizone has a safety field range of 5 m (16.4 ft) and up to four configurable and switchable field sets. The SafeZone singlezone has a safety field range of 4 m (13 ft) and a single configurable field set.
Stationary Horizontal Guarding—Up to Four Safety Zones
The SafeZone multizone safety laser scanner can be configured with up to four field sets; each set may consist of a warning zone and a safety zone. If the application warrants, it may only be necessary to configure the safety zone(s).
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Stationary Vertical Guarding—Two or More Safety Zones
The SafeZone multizone safety laser scanner can be mounted to create up to four vertical detection areas in the same plane. Contour as a reference should be configured to prevent manipulation of the scanner. A static control input switches between the configured fields.
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Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs)
The SafeZone safety laser scanner is designed to detect fixed objects (walls, columns), as well as moving objects (people, AGVs ). The SafeZone safety laser scanner is typically mounted on the front of a mobile vehicle or for AGVs capable of bi-directional travel, in each direction of travel. Any object in the path of the moving vehicle, of sufficient resolution, is detected. When an object or person is detected in the configured warning field, a signal can be used to decrease the speed of the AGV. Intrusion into the safety field will send a signal to the AGV to stop. It is also possible to configure a predetermined time delay where the SafeZone safety laser scanner will monitor the safety field. If the safety field becomes clear, the SafeZone’s Output Signal Switching Device (OSSD) will change to a green state and allow the AGV to continue traveling.
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Note: Both the SafeZone singlezone and multizone can be used in mobile applications, depending upon safety field range requirements and the required number of switchable pre-configured field sets.