Method for Operating a Bale Opener and Such a Bale Opener

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a bale opener (1) having a stripping element (3) and a safety device for protection against penetration into a hazardous zone of the stripping element (3), said safety device consisting of sensory safety means, wherein a monitoring region (13, 131, 132, 133) at the front beneath the stripping element is detected and wherein the stripping element (3) is mounted on a stripping tower (2). According to the invention the safety device is at least one two-dimensional laser scanner (12), on which at least one monitoring region (13, 131, 132, 133), which is adjustable and variable over time, is monitored. The invention also relates to a corresponding bale opener (1).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The invention relates to a method for operating a bale opener having a stripping element and a safety device for protecting people from intrusion into a hazardous zone of the stripping element and a bale opener, in accordance with the preamble of the independent claims.PRIOR ART[0002]It is known that with machines in general and also with textile machines, the moving parts on the machine, in particular the drive devices, must be secured by a safety device to prevent anyone from approaching too closely. Inasmuch as the drive parts are arranged in a stationary mount with the movable parts, a fixedly mounted cover is sufficient in general. This may be designed so that the machine is automatically shut down when opening the cover.[0003]In practice, devices are present on textile machines, on so-called bale trimmers, to secure hazardous working elements. In the textile industry, in particular in spinning preparation, there are known machines for stripping fiber bales...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The invention is also based on the object of creating a method for operating a bale opener and such a bale opener, which are less susceptible to interference, more reliable and less expensive than the methods and the systems offered in the prior art.

[0013]This redundant design of the monitoring equipment with different safety fields and monitoring regions serves to improve the safety and robustness of the system and in particular this ensures that a failure or faulty behavior of the sensor can be detected easily. The bale opener is stopped as soon as an unforeseen event (for example, the movement of a person's arm, etc.) is detected in at least one monitoring region or the function of at least one laser scanner cannot be secured.

[0014]The present invention additionally has numerous advantages because the two-dimensional laser scanner can be used in rotation of the stripping element at the end of a group of bales as collision monitoring and also the lateral distance of the stripping element and / or of the bale opener can definitely be reduced.

[0015]The shape of the at least one monitoring region of the laser scanner can be adjusted advantageously. Machine parts or other objects can advantageously be masked out or avoided in this way.

Problems solved by technology

The working elements used in this process, for example, cutting rollers, are situated in positions that change constantly during operation due to the nature of the system and they cannot be covered, so they constitute a high risk for the person operating the machine, among other things.

Such a method of subdividing the enclosure of the beam of light has often proven to be cumbersome in operational practice.

When setting up a new bale recipient, the opposing safety enclosure is often broken through unintentionally, so that the machine is shut down.

When limited space is available, problems arise in staking out hazardous areas.

One disadvantage is that the sensors must be moved in order to create protective areas that can change in position.

In particular, the fact that the sensors and evaluation systems are mounted on the moving machines and / or machine parts, where they are exposed to substantial vibrations, which can lead to interference and dangerous failures of the safety system.

Another disadvantage is that the ultrasonic sensors that are used are expensive and in particular are very susceptible with respect to air influences such as air stratification, wind, etc.

Furthermore, the monitored area is small, i.e., not optimal, in particular with respect to its lateral coverage.

Images