MACHINE SAFETY FENCE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a machine safety fence according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In the case of generic safety fences, such as those disclosed in DE 10 2019 202 313 A1, prefabricated fence panels of predetermined size are attached to the post using mounting brackets. Electrical equipotential bonding is crucial, as these machine safety fences are used to enclose industrial equipment, such as robots like welding robots, or other machinery. This creates a risk of the safety fence panels becoming electrically charged. If a person touches the safety fence panel, they could receive an electric shock. To prevent this, the fence panels are grounded in practice, for example, with a grounding cable, or, as proposed in DE 10 2019 202 313 A1, with a specially designed mounting bracket for attaching the fence panel to the post.

[0003] Another generic machine guard fence, in which the fence panel is electrically grounded to the posts via a special screw connection, is disclosed in DE 10 2019 202 316 A1.

[0004] Due to their design, the fence panels of the two aforementioned machine guard fences only fit between posts of a predetermined height and spacing. If the distance between the posts changes, a different fence panel must be custom-made, as its length cannot be adjusted.To avoid this, DE 10 2021 210 759 A1 proposes equipping a safety fence system with fence panels, each of which has a fence panel frame comprising vertical and horizontal struts. The vertical and horizontal struts are each formed by a profile tube having at least one groove extending from the first end to the second end on one surface. A plurality of counter elements are arranged in the grooves, each forming an undercut. The vertical and horizontal struts are joined to one another by fence panel connectors, each of which is screwed to at least one counter element of a vertical strut and / or at least one counter element of a horizontal strut. This allows for changes in the length of the fence panels even during on-site assembly.

[0005] The present invention is based on the objective of providing a machine guard fence in which the length of the individual fence panels is particularly easy to adjust, the assembly of the fence panels on the posts is further simplified, and the machine guard fence enables particularly secure shielding of the fenced area.

[0006] The problem according to the invention is solved by a machine safety fence having the features of claim 1. The dependent claims describe advantageous and particularly expedient embodiments of the invention.

[0007] A machine safety fence according to the invention comprises at least one fence panel, generally a plurality of horizontally positioned fence panels, and at least two posts supporting the at least one fence panel. If several fence panels are arranged horizontally next to each other, a fence panel is arranged between each pair of posts.

[0008] The fence panel is made of sheet metal.

[0009] According to the invention, the fence panel comprises at least one sheet metal panel, but preferably a plurality of vertically arranged sheet metal panels that are opaque to each other and are self-supporting, positively locked into the posts and electrically connected to the posts by means of an electrical potential equalization.

[0010] The solution according to the invention provides an opaque fence panel that offers reliable glare protection, for example, to shield a welding area. By hanging individual sheet metal panels in the posts and establishing electrical equipotential bonding through the electrically conductive connection of the sheet metal panels to the posts, assembly is simplified and the desired equipotential bonding is reliably achieved.

[0011] When attaching the metal panels to the posts, a form-fit with some play can be created, thus simplifying the process. This attachment can serve as a pre-assembly of the metal panels to the posts, followed by screwing them in place as the final assembly.

[0012] When several sheet metal panels are arranged one above the other to create an opaque machine guard fence, the panels preferably lie flush against each other and against the intermediate posts, so that an uninterrupted opaque surface is achieved horizontally from the lower edge of the lowest panel to the upper edge of the uppermost panel, from one post to the next. Advantageously, the stacked sheet metal panels overlap each other and the posts.

[0013] Preferably, the sheet metal panels are made of bent sheet metal and each has at least one upper fold to create a U-profile. With this U-profile, or rather with the fold forming the U-profile, the sheet metal panel is positively suspended in recesses in the posts, preferably with play in the thickness direction and displaceable in the longitudinal (horizontal) direction, before final assembly.

[0014] Preferably, the sheet metal panels also have at least one lower folded edge to create a Z-profile, which, when the panels are mounted, engages the U-profile of the upper folded edge of a sheet metal panel below. This achieves a particularly effective, opaque connection between the vertically stacked sheet metal panels. As will be explained below, the folded edges can also be used to create a potential equalization between the upper and lower sheet metal panels and / or between the sheet metal panel(s) and the post. This electrical contact between the sheet metal panels and the posts can be concealed, so that it is not visible from the front when viewing the sheet metal panels and is also well protected.

[0015] When the U-profile of the upper edge is gripped by the Z-profile of the lower edge, the horizontal legs of the edges and the free vertical legs of the edges, i.e., the free end sections of the edges, preferably lie flat against each other. Thus, this gripping can also be described as overlapping.

[0016] Preferably, the upper and / or lower fold extends horizontally over the entire length of the sheet metal panel. This makes it particularly easy to shorten the sheet metal panel on site if necessary, without restricting the fastening options to the posts and to each other. Furthermore, it ensures a tight fit between the upper and lower sheet metal panels.

[0017] It is advantageous if the recesses are provided in a lateral surface of the posts facing the space between two posts, whereby the recesses can then also extend to one of the front surfaces of the posts. This allows for a particularly large length tolerance when mounting the sheet metal panels to the posts, and, if the recesses extend to one of the front surfaces of the posts, the sheet metal panels can be (pre-)mounted onto the posts from the front, allowing for lateral movement within a certain tolerance.

[0018] Two sheet metal panels arranged one above the other can be electrically connected, in particular screwed together, in the area where the lower fold encloses the upper fold, to create potential equalization, for example on their horizontal legs of the folds.

[0019] It is advantageous if the posts have tabs, particularly flexible tabs, that lie flat against at least one sheet metal panel and are electrically connected to the sheet metal panel, especially by screws, to create equipotential bonding. For example, the tabs can be positioned in the area of ​​the recesses and preferably be electrically connected, especially by screws, to the lower folded edge of the sheet metal panel. For this purpose, the vertically arranged leg of the lower folded edge, which forms the free end of the Z-profile, preferably has a greater length than the vertically arranged free leg of the U-profile of the upper folded edge, so that, for example, if a threaded screw is used for fastening, it is screwed only into the lower folded edge and not into the upper folded edge. This prevents the overlapping folded edges from being forced apart during screwing.

[0020] The tabs can be attached, for example, to the side surface of the post, behind the recess in the post, in the direction of view of the sheet metal panel. They can be bent inwards on the post, for example, during the installation of the sheet metal panel, or beforehand, or preferably outwards in the case of posts with a closed profile around the circumference, to achieve the appropriate alignment with the lower fold of the sheet metal panel.

[0021] The sheet metal panels preferably rest flat against the posts from the front, with their side edges facing the panels. This ensures the machine guard fence is completely opaque. As explained, in this case, the cutouts preferably extend from the side surfaces of the posts facing the space between two posts to the front of the posts. The side surfaces of the posts facing the sheet metal panels are those surfaces that jointly define the space between two adjacent posts, and thus also face each other.

[0022] Preferably, at least one vertical clamping strip is mounted to the front of the post, bridging a horizontal gap between two horizontally spaced sheet metal panels and resting on the sheet metal panels from the front, in particular with a spring-like contact. This securely clamps the sheet metal panels to the post. If the clamping strip is screwed to the post, hanging the sheet metal panels on the post can be considered pre-assembly, and screwing them in place can be considered final assembly of the sheet metal panels to the post.

[0023] The posts can be designed as a hollow profile closed around the circumference, or as an open profile. A solid profile design is also possible in principle.

[0024] Screws with scraper elements or electrical contact washers can be used to fasten the sheet metal panels to each other or to the posts. These screws have protrusions that, when tightened, press into the material of the sheet metal panels, particularly through any coating, such as a zinc layer. This allows for equipotential bonding without cables between the sheet metal panels and the posts, achieving it solely through contact, for example, with screws and / or contact washers.

[0025] The clamping strips can preferably be screwed to the posts and, for example, elastically deformed to press the sheet metal panels against the posts. Establishing equipotential bonding between the clamping strips and the posts and / or the sheet metal panels is also possible.

[0026] The machine guard fence according to the invention is characterized by its high degree of flexibility. A suitable number of sheet metal panels can be mounted one above the other on posts, particularly those with a corresponding number of cutouts. This mounting method, for example in combination with the clamping strip(s), allows for easy compensation of length tolerances. The sheet metal panels can also be easily cut to size on-site using conventional tools.

[0027] Hanging the metal panels on the posts provides temporary security against falling out, making installation easy for one person. The special design of the mounting system for the metal panels on the posts allows for significant time savings.

[0028] Preferably, the posts are also made of metal and can, for example, be screwed into the ground.

[0029] The mounting of the sheet metal panel according to the invention allows for a comparatively tight seal at the bottom. In particular, an additional element, especially an additional sheet metal panel, can be mounted at the lower end of the posts, which may also differ in shape from the sheet metal panels arranged above it. For example, this additional sheet metal panel may only have the upper folded edge and / or be less high than the sheet metal panel arranged above it.

[0030] The invention will be explained below by way of example using an embodiment and the figures.

[0031] They show: Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a machine safety fence according to the invention with two posts and five sheet metal panels; Figure 2 shows the machine safety fence made of the Figure 1 in an exploded view; Figure 3 a sheet metal panel of the machine safety fence from the Figure 1 and 2 Figure 4 shows a post of the machine safety fence made from the Figure 1and 2 Figure 5 shows the equipotential bonding between two sheet metal panels; Figure 6 shows the equipotential bonding between two sheet metal panels and between a sheet metal panel and the post; Figure 7 shows a horizontal sectional view through the machine guard fence in the area of ​​a post.

[0032] Figure 1 Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a machine safety fence according to the invention, comprising a fence panel 1 between two posts 2, in an isometric view. The details of the embodiment are advantageous, but not essential.

[0033] In the illustrated embodiment, the posts 2 are designed as hollow profiles with recesses 7 extending from the two side surfaces 10 to the front surface 11 of the posts 2. This is particularly evident from the exploded view of the machine guard fence in the Figure 3 and from the detailed representation of post 2 in the Figure 4 evident.

[0034] Fence panel 1 is composed of individual sheet metal panels 3.1 to 3.5, the number of which is unlimited. For example, there could be only a single sheet metal panel between two posts 2, or a different number than shown here.

[0035] The metal plates 3.1-3.4 show, as can be seen particularly from the Figure 3 and the Figures 5 and 6As can be seen, each sheet has an upper fold 5 and a lower fold 6. The vertical distance between the folds 5 and 6 corresponds to the vertical distance between the recesses 7. The upper fold 5 of the topmost sheet 3.1 is hooked into the uppermost recesses 7 in the posts 2. The lower fold 6 of the topmost sheet 3.1, together with the upper fold 5 of the second-to-top sheet 3.2, is hooked into the second-to-top recesses 7 of the posts 2. Similarly, the subsequent sheet 3.2 to 3.4 are hooked into the recesses 7 of the posts 2 that follow from above.

[0036] The lower sheet metal panel 3.5 is designed differently from the sheet metal panels 3.1 to 3.4 above it, because only one recess 7 in the post 2 is available for hanging each of these panels, namely the lowest one. For example, the lower sheet metal panel 3.5 does not have a lower folded edge 6, and the upper folded edge 5 can be identical or different from the upper folded edges 5 of the sheet metal panels 3.1 to 3.4.

[0037] The upper and lower folded edges 5, 6 not only serve to securely engage the sheet metal panels 3.1 to 3.4 in the posts 2, but also create an opaque overlap between the sheet metal panels 3.1 to 3.5. Thus, the Z-profile of a lower folded edge 6 of each upper sheet metal panel 3.1-3.4 engages or overlaps the U-profile of the upper folded edge 5 of each lower sheet metal panel 3.1-3.5. The horizontal and vertical sections of the folded edges 5, 6 lie flush against each other.

[0038] How to learn from the Figures 5 and 6 As can be seen, a lower folded edge 6 is screwed to the upper folded edge 5 in the area of ​​its horizontal section to establish a potential equalization 4 between the sheet metal panels 3.1-3.5. In the illustrated embodiment, at least one screw 12, preferably several screws 12, is inserted through the folded edges 5, 6 and screwed into one of the two folded edges 5, 6, for example the upper folded edge 5. The screws 12 can, for example, be designed as self-tapping screws. Alternatively, a nut can also be provided as a locking element.

[0039] The screws 12, optionally in conjunction with a contact washer 13, establish an electrically conductive connection between the upper fold 5 and the lower fold 6.

[0040] Potential equalization 4 between the sheet metal panels 3.1-3.5 and the posts 2 is achieved via tabs 8 provided in the posts 2 in the area of ​​a recess 7. These tabs may be partially punched or cut out of the post material, for example with a laser, and bent over on the post 2. If necessary, a cross-sectional weakening is provided in the area of ​​the bending edge for this purpose, see the Figure 4 .

[0041] The tabs 8 can be bent inwards into the post 2 or, preferably, outwards from it, thus facilitating the screwing of the tabs 8 to a sheet metal panel 3.1-3.5, for example, sheet metal panel 3.4. Here too, the electrical equipotential bonding is achieved by screwing the tabs together with the screw 12 and, if applicable, the contact washer 13, namely between the post 2 and the sheet metal panel 3.4. By screwing the sheet metal panels 3.1-3.5 together, an equipotential bond 4 is thus created for all sheet metal panels 3.1-3.5 with respect to the post 2.

[0042] The vertical free leg of the Z-profile of the lower folds 6 is longer than the vertical free leg of the U-profile of the upper folds 5 and thus, as can be seen from the Figures 5 and 6As can be seen, in the assembled state of the sheet metal panels 3.1-3.5, the vertical dimension extends downwards beyond the enclosed upper flange 5. This makes it possible to insert the screw 12 of the equipotential bonding 4 between the sheet metal panel 3.4 and the posts 2 only into the leg of the lower flange 6, in particular again by means of a self-tapping screw.

[0043] How to learn from the Figure 1 , 2 and 7 As can be seen, posts 2 are preferably screwed to the ground. However, this is not mandatory.

[0044] Both the posts 2 and the sheet metal panels 3.1 to 3.5 as well as the screws 12 and, if applicable, the contact washers 13 are made of an electrically conductive material.

[0045] From the Figure 1 , 2 and 7It is further evident that the sheet metal panels 3.1 to 3.5 are fixed to the posts 2 by means of clamping strips 9 extending vertically along the posts 2. The clamping strips 9 are screwed to the posts 2 with screws 12 and have legs 14 which rest on the sheet metal panels 3.1-3.5 with an undersized dimension, in particular in a resilient manner. Reference symbol list

[0046] 1 Fence panel 2 Post 3.1-3.5 Sheet metal panel 4 Equipotential bonding 5 Upper fold 6 Lower fold 7 Recess 8 Tab 9 Clamping strip 10 Side surface 11 Front 12 Screw 13 Contact washer 14 Leg

Claims

1. Machine safety fence having at least one fence panel (1) and at least two posts (2) supporting the at least one fence panel (1), wherein the fence panel (1) is made of sheet metal; characterized in that the fence panel (1) comprises at least one sheet metal panel (3.1-3.5) or a plurality of sheet metal panels (3.1-3.5) which are arranged vertically one above the other, are close against each other in an opaque manner, are self-supportingly suspended in a form-fitting manner in the posts (2) and are electrically conductively connected thereto by means of equipotential bonding (4).

2. Machine safety fence according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one sheet metal panel (3.1-3.5) is made of folded sheet metal, in each case having at least one upper folded edge (5) for producing a U-profile, with which the sheet metal panel (3.1-3.5) is suspended in a form-fitting manner in recesses (7) in the posts (2).

3. Machine safety fence according to claim 2, characterized in that the fence panel (1) comprises a plurality of sheet metal panels (3.1-3.5) arranged vertically one above the other and closing against each other in an opaque manner, and the sheet metal panels (3.1-3.5) each comprise at least one lower folded edge (6) for producing a Z-profile which, in the assembled state of the sheet metal panel (3.1-3.5), embraces the U-profile of the upper folded edge (5) of a sheet metal panel (3.1-3.5) arranged below it.

4. Machine safety fence according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the upper folded edge (5) and / or the lower folded edge (6) extends over the entire length of the sheet metal panel (3.1-3.5).

5. Machine safety fence according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the recesses (7) are provided in a lateral surface of the posts (2) facing an intermediate space between the posts (2) and extend in particular as far as a front side of the posts (2).

6. Machine safety fence according to claims 2 and 3 and in particular one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that two sheet metal panels (3.1-3.5) arranged one above the other are electrically conductively connected, in particular screwed, to each other in the region in which the lower folded edge (6) encloses the upper folded edge (5) in order to produce the equipotential bonding (4).

7. Machine safety fence according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the posts (2) each have tabs (8), in particular bendable tabs (8), which rest flat against at least one sheet metal panel (3.1-3.5) and are each electrically conductively connected, in particular screwed, to the sheet metal panel (3.1-3.5) in order to produce the equipotential bonding (4).

8. Machine safety fence according to one of claims 2 to 6 and according to claim 7, characterized in that the tabs (8) are positioned in the region of the recesses (7).

9. Machine safety fence according to claims 5 and 8, characterized in that the tabs (8) are connected in the lateral surface of the posts (2) in the direction of view of the sheet metal panel (3.1-3.5) behind the recess (7) on the post (2).

10. Machine safety fence according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the tabs (8) are each electrically conductively connected, in particular screwed, to the lower folded edge (6), in particular exclusively to the lower folded edge (6), of the sheet metal panel (3.1-3.5).

11. Machine safety fence according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the at least one sheet metal panel (3.1-3.5) rests with its lateral ends flat on the posts (2) in the direction of view of the sheet metal panel from the front.

12. Machine safety fence according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one vertical clamping strip (9) is mounted, in particular screwed, to the posts (2) from the front, which strip bridges a horizontal distance between two horizontally spaced sheet metal panels (3.1-3.5) and rests on the sheet metal panels (3.1-3.5), in particular resiliently, from the front.