SAFETY MODULE FOR A PROCESSING MACHINE

Abstract

Safety module (40) for a processing machine (20), wherein the processing machine (20) comprises a processing element (28) and a power source (27) connected to the processing element (28), wherein the safety module (40) comprises: an optical element (42) for defining a safety area (34) and a danger area (33) for a processing area of ​​the processing element (28); a brake (43) connected to the power source (27); and a control unit (44) connected to the power source (27) and electrically to the optical element (42) and the brake (43); characterized in that, when a specific target (50) is detected by the optical element (42), the optical element (42) transmits a start signal to the control unit (44) to cause the control unit (44) to start the power source (27);wherein when the optical element (42) detects that an object (52) is in the danger zone (33), the optical element (42) transmits a brake signal to the control unit (44) to cause the control unit (44) to actuate the brake (43) in order to control the power source (27) to stop operation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to processing machines and in particular to a safety module for a processing machine. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0002] Since sawing tools pose a risk of injury to users during operation, safety mechanisms are constantly being developed in related industries to improve user protection. For example, US Patent No. 11629817 B1 discloses a safety device that uses artificial intelligence-based analysis to evaluate work images / videos taken during turning, milling, and other machining operations with chucks or milling cutters. If a worker's body part is in a danger zone outside the safety zone, an alarm is triggered. In addition, US Patent No. 7924817 B2 discloses a detection system for detecting preselected colors in one or more monitoring areas of the machine tool. If the user is wearing red gloves, the detection system can take measures such as stopping the worker depending on the position where the red gloves are detected.the sounding of a horn, the switching on of a light or the stopping of the machine tool. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is a main object of the present invention to provide a safety module for a processing machine that can improve the safety of the user when operating the processing machine.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned main object, a safety module of a first embodiment of the present invention comprises an optical element, a brake, and a controller. The optical element defines a safety zone and a danger zone for the processing area of ​​a processing element of the processing machine. The brake is connected to a power source of the processing machine to impart a braking effect to the power source. The controller is connected to the power source, the optical element, and the brake to receive a signal sent from the optical element and control the brake to perform braking control for the power source according to the signal.

[0005] If a specific target has not yet been detected by the optical element, the controller shuts down the power source before operation begins. When the specific target is detected by the optical element, the optical element sends a start signal to the controller to start the power source. This prevents the power source from being accidentally started, thus improving operational reliability.

[0006] In addition, during operation, when the optical element detects that an object such as the user's hand is in the danger zone, it transmits a brake signal to the controller to cause the controller to apply the brake to stop the operation of the power source, thus preventing the object from being cut by a saw blade, thereby improving operation safety.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned main object, a safety module of a second embodiment of the present invention comprises an optical element, a brake, and a controller. The optical element defines a safety zone and a danger zone for the processing area of ​​a processing element of the processing machine. The brake is connected to a power source of the processing machine to exert a braking effect on the power source. The controller is connected to the power source, the optical element, and the brake to receive a signal sent from the optical element and control the brake to perform braking control for the power source according to the signal.

[0008] It is known from the above description that when the optical element detects that an object such as the user's hand is about to enter the danger zone according to the movement trajectory of the object, the optical element sends a brake signal to the control device to cause the control device to control the brake to stop the operation of the power source, so as to prevent the object from being cut by a saw blade, thereby improving operation safety.

[0009] When the optical element detects a specific target, it preferably sends a start signal to the controller to cause the controller to start the power source.

[0010] Preferably, the specific target is a biometric or non-biometric target. The biometric feature can be a user's face or hand. The non-biometric feature can be the saw blade or a card printed with identification symbols.

[0011] When the optical element detects that the object is in the safety zone, it preferably sends an operating signal to the control unit so that the control unit continues to operate the power source.

[0012] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given below. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sawing device of a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the sawing device of the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the sawing device of the first embodiment of the present invention, mainly illustrating that an optical element detects a specific target and then controls a power source to start through a controller. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the sawing device of the first embodiment of the present invention, with parts not shown primarily illustrating that a hand is in a safety zone. Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the sawing apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention, primarily illustrating that the controller controls the power source to operate according to the signal of the optical element. Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 4, but mainly illustrates that the hand is in a danger zone. Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 5, but above all shows that the control unit controls a brake to slow down the power source according to the signal from the optical element. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a sawing device of a second embodiment of the present invention, with partial elements not shown, which mainly illustrate that the optical element judges whether the movement path of the hand enters the danger zone. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] First, it should be noted that throughout the description, including the following embodiments and claims, all directional references are based on the direction shown in the figures. Furthermore, like reference numerals used in the following embodiments and in the appended drawings indicate like or similar elements or their structural features.

[0014] With reference to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a processing machine 20 in conjunction with a safety module 40 of the present invention is, in this embodiment, a sawing machine. Fig. The processing machine 20 shown in Figure 1 comprises a base 21, a work table 22, a guide rod seat 23, two guide rods 24, an angle seat 25, a saw blade box 26, a power source 27 (motor), a processing element 28 (saw blade), a protective cover 29, a handle 30, and a handle 31. The work table 22 is rotatably mounted on the base 21 and has a work surface 32 and a saw groove 35 provided on the work surface 32. The work surface 32 is configured to receive a workpiece (not shown). The guide rod receptacle 23 is connected to the rear of the work table 22. The two guide rods 24 are parallel to each other and inserted into the guide rod seat 23 such that the guide rods 24 can be moved forward and backward relative to the work table 22.The angle seat 25 is connected to the front end of the two guide rods 24 and can thus be moved forward and backward together with the two guide rods 24. The saw blade box 26 is pivotally mounted on the angle seat 25 so that the saw blade box 26 can be pivoted up and down relative to the work plane 32 and can also be moved forward and backward together with the two guide rods 24 through the angle seat 25. The power source 27 is arranged on one side of the saw blade box 26 and serves to supply power. The processing element 28 is connected to the power source 27 and partially housed in the saw blade box 26 so that the processing element 28 can be driven by the power source 27 to work and can also be driven by the saw blade box 26 to approach or leave the work plane 32.The protective cover 29 is pivotally mounted on the saw blade box 26 and covers the lower part of the processing element 28 when the processing element 28 is not in use, preventing the processing element 28 from being exposed when not in use. The handle 30 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the power source 27 to allow the user to conveniently operate the processing element 28 to approach or exit the work plane 32. The handle 31 is attached to the top of the saw blade box 26 to allow the user to conveniently lift the entire machine for transportation.

[0015] The safety module 40 of the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a support frame 41, an optical element 42, a brake 43 and a controller 44 (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). The lower end of the support frame 41 is arranged on one side of the handle 31 (or the saw blade box 26) during assembly. The upper end of the support frame 41 protrudes beyond the work table 22. The viewing element 42 is attached to the upper end of the support frame 41 and is provided above the work table 22. It defines a danger zone 33 and a safety zone 34 for the work plane 32, as shown in Fig. 4. The safety zone 34 listed here refers to the area in which it is unlikely to be cut by the processing element 28, and the danger zone 33 refers to the area in which cutting by the processing element 28 is possible. Since the saw blade 28 can be pushed forward and obliquely in practical operation, the viewing element 42 in this embodiment defines the area of ​​approximately 5 centimeters around the processing element 28 and the area of ​​approximately 10 centimeters directly in front of the saw blade 28 as the danger zone 33 and defines the positions outside the danger zone 33 as the safety zone 34. The brake 43, which in this embodiment is an electromagnetic brake, is attached to the power source 27. The brake 43 and the power source 27 are jointly covered by a housing 45. The brake 43 is designed to exert a braking effect on the power source 27.The controller 44 is installed on the top of the handle 30 and is electrically connected to the power source 27, the optical element 42 and the brake 43 to receive a signal sent from the optical element 42 and drive the brake 43 to decelerate the power source 27 according to the above-mentioned signal so that the power source 27 stops its operation.

[0016] Before, as in Fig. 3, before operation begins, the optical element 42 must first detect a specific target 50. At this time, the optical element 42 sends a start signal to the controller 44 to cause the controller 44 to start the power source 27. The above-mentioned specific target 50 can be a biometric target, such as the user's face, or a non-biometric target, such as the processing element 28 or a card printed with identification symbols such as a QR code, but is not limited to this. This means that the power source 27 cannot be put into operation if the above-mentioned specific target 50 is not detected by the optical element 42. Once the above-mentioned specific target 50 is detected by the optical element 42, the power source 27 can start up. In this way, the power source 27 can be prevented from being started accidentally, thereby improving operational reliability.

[0017] During operation, the optical element 42 transmits, as shown in Fig. 4, when it detects that an object 52, such as the user's hand, is in the safety zone 34, an operating signal to the controller 44 to cause the controller 44 to control the power source 27 to continue operation as shown in Fig. 5, which enables the processing element 28 to perform a sawing process on a workpiece. As soon as the optical element 42 detects that the above-mentioned object 52 leaves the safety area 34 or enters the danger area 33, as shown in Fig. 6, the optical element 42 transmits a brake signal to the control unit 44, as shown in Fig. 7. The controller 44 then controls the brake 43 to perform braking control for the power source 27 so that the power source 27 immediately stops operating to prevent the above-mentioned object 52 from being cut by the machining element 28.

[0018] On the other hand, the logic of the optical element 42, which judges the intrusion of the object 52 into the danger zone 33, may have unlimited variations in order to send the braking signal to the control unit 44 only after the object 52 has entered the danger zone 33. In a Fig. In the second embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 8, the optical element 42 judges whether the object 52, such as the user's hand, can enter the danger zone 33 based on the movement path T of the object 52, such as the user's hand. If the object 52 can enter the danger zone 33, the optical element 42 sends a brake signal to the control unit 44 so that the control unit 44 controls the power source 27 to stop operation via the brake 43. For example, when performing a sawing operation, the user's hand may continuously change its position due to pushing the workpiece toward the processing element 28. During the position change, the optical element 42 continuously detects the position of the hand and then determines a possible position the hand can reach based on associated information such as its movement direction and movement speed.If the optical element 42 detects that the following position of the hand could be in the danger zone 33, then the optical element 42 sends a brake signal to the controller 44, as shown in . Fig. 7, so that the controller 44 controls the power source 27 to stop the operation by the brake 43.

[0019] In summary, the safety module 40 of the present invention uses the optical element 42 to judge whether the object 52 is located in the danger zone 33 or can enter the danger zone 33, and the control device 44 is used to control the power source 27 so that the operation is stopped by the brake 43 to prevent the object 52 from being cut by the processing element 28, thereby achieving the goal of improving operational safety. However, it should also be mentioned that the safety module 40 of the present invention can be modularized to work together with various processing machines, such asa lathe, a drilling machine, a milling machine or a sawing machine, such as a miter saw, band saw, tile saw, metal cutting saw, table saw or circular saw, as long as the processing machine is structurally arranged in coordination therewith with a processing element for performing a processing on a workpiece and a power source for driving the processing element. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 11629817 B1

[0002] US 7924817 B2

[0002]

Claims

[1] Safety module (40) for a processing machine (20), wherein the processing machine (20) comprises a processing element (28) and a power source (27) connected to the processing element (28), wherein the safety module (40) characterized by is that the security module (40) comprises: an optical element (42) for defining a safety zone (34) and a danger zone (33) for a processing area of ​​the processing element (28); a brake (43) connected to the power source (27); and a controller (44) connected to the power source (27) and electrically connected to the optical element (42) and the brake (43); wherein, when a specific target (50) is detected by the optical element (42), the optical element (42) transmits a start signal to the controller (44) to cause the controller (44) to start the power source (27); wherein when the optical element (42) detects that an object (52) is located in the danger zone (33), the optical element (42) transmits a brake signal to the controller (44) to cause the controller (44) to drive the brake (43) to control the power source (27) to stop operation. [2] Security module (40) according to claim 1, characterized by that the specific target (50) is a biometric or a non-biometric target. [3] Security module (40) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that when the optical element (42) detects that the object (52) is located in the safety zone (34), the optical element (42) sends an operating signal to the control unit (44) so ​​that the control unit (44) controls the power source (27) so that it continues to operate. [4] Security module (40) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the danger zone (33) around the processing element (28) and directly in front of the processing element (28) is defined by the viewing element (42). [5] Safety module (40) for a processing machine (20), wherein the processing machine (20) comprises a processing element (28) and a power source (27) connected to the processing element (28), wherein the safety module (40) characterized by is that the security module (40) comprises: an optical element (42) for defining a safety zone (34) and a danger zone (33) for a processing area of ​​the processing element (28); a brake (43) connected to the power source (27); and a controller (44) connected to the power source (27) and electrically connected to the viewing element (42) and the brake (43); wherein, when the optical element (42) detects that an object (52) is about to enter the danger zone (33) according to a movement path (T) of the object (52), the optical element (42) transmits a brake signal to the controller (44) to cause the controller (44) to drive the brake (43) to control the power source (27) to stop operation. [6] Security module (40) according to claim 5, characterized by that the optical element (42), when a specific target (50) is detected by the optical element (42), sends a start signal to the control unit (44) so ​​that the control unit (44) causes the power source (27) to start. [7] Security module (40) according to claim 6, characterized by that the specific target (50) is a biometric or a non-biometric target. [8] Security module (40) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized bythat when the optical element (42) detects that the object (52) is located in the safety zone (34), the optical element (42) sends an operating signal to the control unit (44) so ​​that the control unit (44) controls the power source (27) so that it continues to operate. [9] Security module (40) according to claim 5, characterized by that the danger zone (33) around the processing element (28) and directly in front of the processing element (28) is defined by the optical element (42).

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