Operator body protection equipment

Abstract

An operator body protection equipment for protecting an operator from an industrial operation performed by operating industrial operation equipment in an industrial process environment, such as a blast room, is disclosed herein. The operator body protection equipment comprises a movably arranged operator compartment arranged for accommodating an operator therein and / or thereby and provided with at least one wall member arranged for shielding the operator from said operation and provided with at least one operating opening arranged for enabling the operator to, from inside and / or from one side of the operator compartment, access industrial operation equipment outside of the operator compartment and / or on a side of the member opposite of the operator through the at least one operating opening and operate the operation equipment to perform the operation in said environment. Further disclosed is an industrial operation system.

Description

[0001] OPERATOR BODY PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

[0002] The present invention relates to operator body protection equipment for protecting an operator from an industrial operation performed by operating industrial operation equipment in an industrial process environment, such as a blast room. The present invention further relates to a method of performing an industrial operation such as abrasive blasting in an industrial process environment. Further, the present invention relates to an industrial operation system comprising industrial operation equipment for performing an industrial operation, and to a method of upgrading an existing industrial operation system.

[0003] An operator is a person who operates equipment such as a machine. Equipment can be any kind of apparatus or device. Herein, the term “equipment” as such can also refer to a kit or outfit. The operator body protection equipment described herein is specifically designed for safeguarding operators engaged in industrial operations, particularly within blast rooms. In such environments, operators use a blast gun equipped with a nozzle connected to a pressurised source of abrasive particles to perform abrasive blasting or sandblasting. This process involves the high-pressure propulsion of abrasive materials against surfaces to achieve various objectives such as smoothing, roughening, shaping, or contaminant removal. Typically, a pressurised fluid like compressed air or a centrifugal wheel propels the abrasive material.

[0004] Abrasive blasting equipment varies significantly in size and configuration. A blast cabinet represents a closed-loop system that enables the operator to blast parts within a contained environment while recycling the abrasive media. Components of a blast cabinet typically include a containment cabinet, a blasting system, a recycling system, and a dust collection system. The operator interacts with the system by inserting their arms into gloves that are attached to the cabinet and extend thereinto, viewing the workpiece through a window, and controlling the blasting process via a foot pedal or treadle.

[0005] In contrast, a blast room is a much larger scale version of a blast cabinet, capable of accommodating sizeable and uniquely shaped objects such as vehicles, construction equipment, and aircraft parts. Typically, components of a blast room include an enclosure to prevent media such as abrasive particles and dust from escaping, a blasting system (such as wheel blasting or air blasting), a pressurised blast pot containing abrasive media, a dust collection system to filter the air and prevent particulate escape, and a media reclamation system to recycle the abrasive material. The nature of abrasive blasting operations, especially in blast room environments, poses significant health and safety risks to operators. Safety gear may include a blast hood, hearing protection such as ear plugs, and comprehensive body protection including gloves, overalls, or a combination of a leather coat and chaps. Professional operators often wear durable blast suits made of, e.g., canvas. However, such protective gear is not without drawbacks. Operators have to manoeuvre while dragging a heavy blast hose, which can easily become entangled or get caught on something, and inside the suit it can become excessively hot, causing discomfort to the operator. Furthermore, the view window in the hood provides a view that is at times too limited.

[0006] While robotic manipulators could mitigate these issues, their development and implementation are prohibitively expensive. Therefore, there exists a need for improved operator body protection equipment that addresses these drawbacks in a cost-effective manner.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention, amongst other objects, to provide operator body protection equipment that alleviates issues associated with traditional blast suits and hoses in an economically viable way.

[0008] Said object is achieved by operator body protection equipment for protecting an operator from an industrial operation performed by operating industrial operation equipment in an industrial process environment, such as a blast room, wherein the operator body protection equipment comprises a movably arranged operator compartment arranged for accommodating an operator, optionally for accommodating an operator therein, and provided with at least one wall member arranged for shielding the operator from said operation and provided with at least one operating opening arranged for enabling the operator to, from inside and / or from one side of the operator compartment, access industrial operation equipment outside of the operator compartment or on a side of the wall member opposite the operator through the at least one operating opening and operate the operation equipment to perform the operation in said environment.

[0009] As the operator can operate the operation equipment from inside the operator compartment, the operation can be performed without an expensive robotic manipulator and without the need for the operator to wear a safety suit of the type conventionally used. This solution is more cost-efficient than robotic manipulators and can be easily retrofitted into existing industrial process environments without the need for expensive equipment. Furthermore, the present solution can reduce discomfort to the operator as, compared to the suit, the interior of the operator compartment can be more easily kept at a comfortable temperature and / or the operator can be better protected against noise and / or dust. The operator compartment may be dimensioned to allow the operator to stand therein, i.e., to be comfortably positioned inside the compartment in a standing manner also during operation. The compartment may be about 2 metres in height and at least 0.5 metre in width. As such, the operator body protection equipment enhances overall comfort and safety during, e.g., abrasive blasting operations.

[0010] As the operator compartment is movably arranged, the operator compartment can move with respect to and / or within the industrial process environment such that the operator accommodated by and / or inside the operator compartment can access operation equipment at different positions and / or from different sides to perform the operation at different positions and / or from different sides. To be movably arranged, the operator compartment may be provided with a set of wheels, or arranged movable by a rail system or other kinematic arrangement as described in more detail below.

[0011] The operator compartment may be walled in such a way that the operator therein is fully surrounded by one or more walls. The compartment may be, e.g., box-shaped or cylindrical or the like. As such, the compartment forms a capsule or operating cabin for the operator. Preferably, the operator compartment is provided with an access portion arranged for enabling the operator to respectively enter and exit the operator compartment in a convenient manner. For instance, the access portion may be a door. For example, the access portion can be provided on a side of the operator compartment that is not the side of the at least one operating opening. For example, the access portion may be provided opposite to the at least one operating opening. Said at least one wall member is made of a suitable material for protecting an operator inside the compartment from the industrial operation.

[0012] The wall member may be provided with only one operating opening, for instance one for a single arm of the operator. The one opening may alternatively be sufficiently large for both arms of the operator to access industrial operation equipment outside of the operator compartment. It is however preferred if the operator compartment is sealed against dust from the industrial process environment as much as possible. Preferably, the compartment is protected against the ingress of dust in accordance with IP5X. Thereto, the at least one operating opening preferably comprises a glove hole provided with a protective glove attached thereto and extending away from the compartment for an arm of the operator in the operator compartment to be placed in the glove, such that the operating opening is sealed by the glove and also the arms of the operator can be optimally protected. For optimal protection of the operator, the protective glove preferably meets the requirements of an international standard like ISO 14877:2002 and / or EN 420:1994. It may be preferred if the wall member of the operator compartment is provided with a pair of operating openings. This way, the operator can access equipment outside of the compartment with both arms, each in one respective opening, while being optimally shielded from the operation. In this case, preferably each operating opening comprises a glove hole provided with a protective glove attached thereto for an arm of the operator in the operator compartment to be placed in the glove.

[0013] The operator compartment may be provided with a view window arranged for enabling the operator in the operator compartment to view said operation. Hereto, the view window, facing outwards from the compartment in a viewing direction, is preferably tilted such that the viewing direction has a downward component. The view window is made of a suitable transparent material. Compared to the hood conventionally worn by the operator, the operator compartment can be advantageously provided with a bigger view window. For instance, the at least one wall member may be provided with the view window or be fully transparent.

[0014] If multiple wall members are provided, it may be advantageous if more than one, or sometimes even all wall members are provided with their own operating opening. However, in other cases only one of the wall members in such a case is provided with an operating opening.

[0015] The operator body protection equipment can be used in various applications. In particular, in addition to blast rooms, the operator body protection equipment can also be used for protecting an operator in an industrial process environment other than a blast room, such as in a cleaning room and, more generally, other spaces in which heavy, dirty, unsafe and / or noisy work is to be carried out.

[0016] An industrial process environment such as the ones discussed previously can be defined by a set of walls, so that any debris generated by the operation is contained within said environment. Herein, the term “walls” can refer to the physical walls of an environment such as the aforementioned blast room, which as an example can be a container, or by any border or similar that acts as an end of the industrial process environment. In such a case, the wall member of the operator compartment can cover an opening in at least a first wall of the set of walls defining the industrial process environment.

[0017] A preferred embodiment of the operator body protection equipment further comprises a motion system arranged for selectively moving the operator compartment with respect to and / or within the industrial process environment. The motion system thereby functions as a positioner for selectively repositioning the operator compartment with respect to and / or within said environment. The operator compartment may be motorised. The motion system preferably comprises a drive system for driving movement of the operator compartment.

[0018] Further, the motion system preferably comprises a controller arranged for controlling movement of the operator compartment with respect to and / or within the industrial process environment. Preferably, the controller is arranged in or on the operator compartment such that the operator can control said movement while accommodated by or from inside the compartment. The controller may comprise at least one foot pedal arranged in and / or on the operator compartment for controlling the movement of the operator compartment.

[0019] The motion system may be arranged for selectively translating the operator compartment along at least a first horizontal axis. Preferably, the motion system is arranged for translating the operator compartment selectively along the first horizontal axis and selectively along a second horizontal axis that is orthogonal to the first horizontal axis. The first and / or second axis is preferably straight. In one embodiment, the first horizontal axis coincides with the first wall of the set of walls defining the industrial process environment. In an additional embodiment, the second horizontal axis can coincide with a second wall of the set of walls.

[0020] In one embodiment, the motion system comprises a first and second storage roller and a sheet of support material, wherein the sheet of support material is rolled around both storage rollers, and wherein the motion system is configured to:

[0021] - cause the sheet to unroll from the first storage roller and roll on the second storage roller during a movement of the storage rollers in a first direction, e.g. a clockwise direction; and

[0022] - cause the sheet to unroll from the second storage roller and roll on the first storage roller during movement of the storage rollers in a second direction, e.g. a counter-clockwise direction, and wherein the at least one wall member of the operator compartment is fixedly attached to at least a part of the sheet of support material. This way, movement of the rollers results in movement of the sheet of support material, which accordingly results in a movement of the operator compartment. Preferably, the sheet of support material comprises an opening into which the operator compartment is fitted. Preferably, said opening is the same opening as the opening in at least the first wall that is covered by the wall member.

[0023] It is noted that depending on the orientation and placement of the rollers it is possible that both rollers need to roll in the same direction, or in opposing directions, in order to either simultaneously roll / unroll or unroll / roll and thus provide movement to the operator compartment, which the skilled person would understand all are encompassed within this preferred embodiment. This could thus mean that the first direction of the first and second storage rollers is the same direction, e.g. a clockwise direction and the second direction of the first and second storage rollers is the same direction, e.g. a counter clockwise direction; or that the first direction of the first and second storage rollers is an opposite direction, e.g. a clockwise direction for the first storage roller and a counter-clockwise direction for the second roller and wherein the second direction of the first and second storage rollers is an opposite direction, e.g. a counter-clockwise direction for the first storage roller and a clockwise direction for the second storage roller.

[0024] The sheet of support material can for example be a cloth, a woven or unwoven textile, or any other material that is relatively flexible and thus can be rolled around the storage rollers without needing to apply tremendous forces. Such materials can reduce the need for maintenance, and are also easily replaceable in case of failure or damage of the sheet.

[0025] It is advantageous if the motion system further comprises a tensioner, which is configured to tension the sheet of support material. In order to ensure the weight of the operator compartment and / or equipment is properly carried by the operator body protection equipment, rather than the operator himself, it is important that the sheet of support material does not sag, and thus actually supports the operator compartment. A reduction in sag can be further provided by a guidance system for the sheet of support material.

[0026] In a different embodiment, the motion system instead comprises two foldable walls, wherein the wall member of the operator compartment is arranged in between ends of said foldable walls, so that if one of the walls folds, while the other unfolds, the wall member and thus the operator compartment move in the direction of the folding wall. Alternatively, the operator compartment could be suspended in rails or similar in which it can slide in order to enable movement of the operator compartment.

[0027] In one such embodiment, the operator compartment comprises a footplate member that is fixedly attached to the wall member, arranged for supporting the operator on the operator compartment. If the controller and a foot pedal have been provided, they may be disposed on said footplate member. The footplate member may comprise wheels in order to slide with minimized friction, or could be placed on a set of rails or similar. Alternatively, it could be suspended from the wall member, so that it is above the floor, without touching it, in order to provide smooth movement. According to a further preferred embodiment of the operator body protection equipment, the motion system is arranged to be fixedly installed in or adjacent to the industrial process environment. In one embodiment, the motion system comprises a rail system comprising at least a first rail arranged parallel to the first horizontal axis for translating the operator compartment along the first horizontal axis, like in a so-called gantry crane. For example, the rail system may be arranged in or on the floor of the industrial process environment such that the operator compartment can be installed thereon. Alternatively, the rail system may be arranged on or below a raised structure such that the operator compartment can be arranged suspended therefrom. As such, the motion system may comprise a crane system like a bridge crane, which comprises a pair of parallel rails and a beam, referred to as a travelling bridge, spanning the gap between the rails and travelling along the rails parallel to the first horizontal axis. The operator compartment is preferably arranged to be translated along the travelling bridge parallel to the second horizontal axis.

[0028] If the set of walls is present, depending on the structural layout of the industrial process environment, the motion system can be installed in the environment, so that it can provide movement along at least one of the walls defining the industrial process environment, or can be placed at the edge, or just outside / adjacent to the industrial process environment. Either way, fixedly installing it in such a location can provide the structural rigidity needed to safely accommodate an operator that operates from the outside of the industrial process environment.

[0029] Additionally, or alternatively, the motion system may be arranged for selectively translating the operator compartment along a vertical axis. For instance, the compartment may be selectively lifted and lowered by a hoist mechanism. Additionally or alternatively, the footplate member of the operator compartment may be selectively lifted and lowered by a lifting mechanism.

[0030] The controller then preferably comprises at least two foot pedals arranged in or on the operator compartment for selectively controlling the movement of the operator compartment along the respective axes. In some embodiments, the controller might comprise even more foot pedals, such as respective pedals configured for large movements, or for precise movements.

[0031] Various kinematic arrangements for moving the operator compartment can be envisaged, such as a Cartesian configuration, which includes at least two translations, or a cylindrical configuration which may include a rotation and a translation of the operator compartment respectively about a vertical axis and along a radial axis orthogonal to the vertical axis. Hereto, the motion system may comprise a single, pivotable support arm that is telescopic or along which the operator compartment can be translated, while the aforesaid bridge crane is an example of a Cartesian motion system.

[0032] A further preferred embodiment of the operator body protection equipment further comprises a support frame to which the operator compartment is mounted. The support frame in one embodiment is suspended from, or supported by, the motion system. For instance, the support frame may comprise a movable undercarriage. The operator compartment is preferably rotatably mounted to the support frame such that the operator compartment, in particular the at least one wall member, is rotatable relative to the support frame about a vertical axis. For instance, the operator compartment may be rotatably suspended from a mounting portion of the support frame. This way, the operator inside the compartment can view or access operation equipment from different directions, and / or view or perform the operation from different directions. Preferably, the mounting portion of the support frame comprises a bearing arranged to rotatably support the operator compartment. In another embodiment, the support frame is placeable on a floor, for example a floor of the industrial process environment, and carries the motion system and operator compartment. If a guidance system for the sheet of support material is present, preferably this is incorporated into the support frame. Furthermore, the fixed installation of the motion system to the industrial process environment can be accommodated by a connection of the support frame to e.g. walls of the process environment.

[0033] A further preferred embodiment of the operator body protection equipment is arranged for moving at least a component of said operation equipment together with the operator compartment. For instance, in the case of a blasting operation, the blast hose may be conveniently moved together with the operator compartment such that the operator can operate the blast system without having to drag the often heavy hose along. Also, the risk of entanglement or of the hose getting caught on something can be reduced. Specifically, the operator body protection equipment may comprise an operation equipment holding portion, or holder, arranged for holding operation equipment such as a blast hose or blast gun. Preferably, one of the operator compartment, the support frame or the moving system may be provided with the holding portion. For example, the holding portion may be connected to the support frame or motion system for moving, e.g., along a rail of the motion system or a sheet of support material of the motion system such that the operator does not have to carry the full weight of the held operation equipment.

[0034] Preferably, the support frame comprises a footplate member arranged for supporting the operator in the operator compartment. More specifically, the support frame may further comprise a frame member fixedly coupling the footplate member to said mounting portion of the support frame. As the footplate member is part of the support frame, the operator is supported by (or stands on) part of the support frame. As such, if the operator compartment is rotatable relative to the support frame as described above, the compartment can be manually rotated by the operator supported by the support frame inside the compartment. Such manual rotatability may be preferred in particular applications, particularly those wherein an electrical rotary drive may pose an explosion hazard whereas a hydraulic drive may undesirably decrease the possible movement speed and / or increase the complexity and / or cost of the equipment. In some applications, a pneumatic or hydraulic rotary drive may be suitable, but generally said manual rotatability can be at least as convenient and more (cost) efficient. Preferably, said at least one foot pedal is arranged on the footplate member. This way, the operator can conveniently control the movement of the operator compartment.

[0035] A further preferred embodiment of the operator body protection equipment further comprises an air supply system arranged to supply breathing air into the operator compartment during said operation. By supplying breathing air into the operator compartment, a pressure inside the operator compartment may be increased relative to a pressure in the industrial process environment outside of the operator compartment. The resulting overpressure inside the operator compartment can contribute to preventing, e.g., dust or abrasive particles in the industrial process environment from entering the operator compartment. Hereto, the air supply system may comprise an air-feed hose, preferably attached to a pressurised air supply. Additionally, or alternatively, the air supply system may include a pump or other pressure regulator, arranged to pressurise the air supply. Said slight overpressure can be particularly advantageous in the aforesaid embodiment in which the wall member of the operator compartment is rotatable relative to the footplate member of the support frame as, due to this rotatability, there may be a gap between the wall member and the footplate member, which gap may not be fully sealed. The overpressure can then prevent the ingress of dust into the compartment via said gap.

[0036] Preferably, the operator compartment is provided with an access portion arranged for enabling the operator to respectively enter and exit the operator compartment. This can for example be a set of steps usable by the operator to reach the footplate of the operator compartment from ground level, such as a floor of a workshop.

[0037] It is noted that many of the embodiments of the motion system described throughout this document are described as being placed along at least one wall of the industrial process environment. However, in order for the operator to be able to perform the operation on multiple sides of a workpiece, it is also possible for any of said embodiments to be placed along at least two walls of the industrial process environment, so that the second horizontal axis coincides with a second wall. Even more preferably, the motion system runs along at least three walls of the industrial process environment, or most preferably along all walls of the industrial process environment. This way, a workpiece can be operated on from all sides, thus increasing versatility of the operator body protection equipment.

[0038] Further provided is a method of performing an industrial operation such as abrasive or nonabrasive blasting in an industrial process environment, the method comprising the steps of: providing operator body protection equipment according to any of the embodiments described herein; arranging the operator compartment of the operator body protection equipment in or adjacent to said environment; providing, in said environment and optionally outside of the operator compartment, industrial operation equipment for performing said operation; accommodating an operator inside and / or by the operator compartment, wherein, from the operator compartment, optionally from inside the operator compartment, the operator accesses said operation equipment through the at least one operating opening of the operator compartment and operates the operation equipment to perform said operation in said environment.

[0039] Preferably, the method further comprises the step of selectively moving the operator compartment within or with respect to the industrial process environment, preferably by means of the motion system of the operator body protection equipment. The step of moving the operator compartment preferably includes moving at least a component of said operation equipment together with the operator compartment, preferably by holding at least part of the operation equipment by means of the holding portion of the operator body protection equipment.

[0040] The method may further comprise the step of supplying breathing air into the operator compartment while the operator performs said operation, preferably by means of the air supply system of the operator body protection equipment. Preferably, a pressure inside the operator compartment is higher than a pressure in the industrial process environment outside of the operator compartment.

[0041] Said operation may be abrasive blasting, wherein the operation equipment comprises a blast system. The method may further comprise the steps of providing an object in the industrial process environment and operating the blast system to blast a surface of the object. Further provided is an industrial operation system, comprising industrial operation equipment for performing an industrial operation such as abrasive blasting, and an enclosure for accommodating said operation equipment therein, and optionally an operator therein, for performing said operation inside the enclosure, wherein the industrial operation system preferably further comprises operator body protection equipment according to any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the operator compartment of the operator body protection equipment is movably arranged in or adjacent to the enclosure. The industrial operation system may be a blast room. The operation equipment may comprise a blast system arranged for blasting a surface of an object in the enclosure.

[0042] In one embodiment of the industrial operation system, it further comprises an object-supply system arranged for moving an object, on which said operation is to be performed, into the enclosure. This has the advantage that the operator does not have to carry the object into the enclosure by themselves, and thus does not have to lift any heavy weight. This is especially useful when the operation has to be performed on larger and / or heavier objects. Additionally, using an objectsupply system can make it easier to place the object in roughly the same spot every time, which can lead to a lower variance in the operation across multiple objects.

[0043] In particular, the object-supply system can comprise a conveyer extending from outside the enclosure into the enclosure through an inlet and / or an outlet of the enclosure. This way, it is possible to incorporate the operation system into a larger industrial system, as the conveyers can be connected to an existing conveyer network. On the other hand, the industrial operation system can this way also be used as a standalone, and objects can be fed into the inlet by placing them on the conveyer extending from the inlet by e.g. a crane or other suitable methods. Said conveyers can be of any suitable type, such as roller conveyers or conveyer belts.

[0044] It is especially useful if the conveyer comprises a first conveyer part and a second conveyer part, wherein the first conveyer part extends through the material inlet and the second part extends through the material outlet, wherein the first and the second conveyer part are spaced apart from each other to define, inside the enclosure, an operation area for performing said operation therebetween. This operation area can be used by the operator to e.g. manoeuvre around the object, without having to lean on or over the conveyer parts, as well as being used for actually performing said operation. In a further preferred embodiment of the industrial operation system, it further comprises an object-rotation system arranged for rotating an object, on which said operation is to be performed, inside the enclosure. As it is possible the operator will have to perform an operation on multiple sides of the object, it is advantageous if they can easily reach all of the sides of the object without having to move their equipment, which can be achieved by an object-rotation system.

[0045] In particular if the industrial operation comprises abrasive blasting, it is advantageous if the object can be rotated, as the object is then to be blasted from fewer directions. This enables a considerable reduction of the amount of waste in the form of, e.g., dust and used abrasive particles, and thereby a reduction of power use by the system extracting the dust and particles from the enclosure. Such systems are used for dust collection and / or abrasive material reclamation, and are typically energy- intensive. As their power use can be reduced, the overall carbon-dioxide emissions resulting from the industrial operation can be reduced. Preferably, the object-rotation system is arranged for rotating the object about at least two orthogonal axes, for example a horizontal axis and the vertical. This way, all sides of different types of objects can be successively blasted from the same direction. This further enables a reduction of the amount of waste.

[0046] Said object-rotation system can comprise at least one holder, arranged for holding the object inside the enclosure, and a rotatable drive member connected to the holder for rotating the held object. It is especially useful if the at least one holder is arranged to hold the object in said operation area, as this can allow an operator of the system to easily perform the operation on said object.

[0047] In a further embodiment, the rotatable drive member comprises an axially rotatable shaft, arranged horizontally, and the at least one holder comprises one or more straps suspended from the shaft to each form a lower loop portion. Straps come with the advantage that they are relatively flexible, and thus can be adjusted to objects of different shapes and sizes, which can ensure that the industrial operation system can accommodate a wider variety of objects and operations. Furthermore, small movement of the object can still be possible when held by the straps, which can provide an operator with more flexibility when performing the operation.

[0048] Said shaft can be arranged vertically translatable for moving the one or more straps between a lowered position, in which the one or more lower loop portions are positioned for receiving said object, and a raised position, in which the one or more lower loop portions are positioned for rotatably holding said object. This way, the object-rotation system can interact with the objectsupply system by picking up an objects that has entered the enclosure and then rotating it as desired, after which the object can be placed back on the object-supply system. Furthermore, by raising the object, the bottom side of it will become available for the operator to perform an operation on.

[0049] It can be advantageous if the industrial operation system further comprises one or more strap guiders respectively disposed below the one or more straps and arranged to receive and laterally expand the respective lower loop portions while lowering the one or more straps toward the lowered position. In particular, the one or more strap guiders can be gutter members extending longitudinally in a U-shaped manner. When the straps are expanded laterally, it can become easier to insert an object in them without the straps getting in the way. As the straps are relatively flexible, once the shaft is raised they will become more narrow, and thus can still support the object while lifting it. It is possible for the straps guiders to be standalone parts. However, they can also be connected to the conveyer of the object-supply system.

[0050] The one or more straps can be endless straps looped around the shaft. This has an added advantage, as the object can is fully encircled by such an endless strap, which can reducing the chance of the object slipping and / or falling. This increases the safety for the operator, while also reducing any damage to the object. Furthermore, endless straps can be rotated endlessly as well, which pairs nicely with the rotational nature of the shaft and can eliminate the need to repeatedly reverse the direction of rotation when continuously rotating the object.

[0051] Additionally or alternatively, the object-rotation system can comprise a support platform for supporting said object, wherein the support platform is arranged rotatable about a vertical axis. This could for example be a turntable, on which the object can be placed and rotated so the operator does not have to move around in order to be able to perform an operation on multiple sides of the object. Therefore, the operator also does not have to carry around any heavy equipment that might be necessary in order to perform said operation. When used in tandem with the rotational abilities of the shaft and loops, this can allow for even more degrees of freedom, offering the operator additional flexibility.

[0052] In yet a further embodiment of the industrial operation system, it further comprises a sealing door arranged to provide access into the enclosure. Said access can for example be used by the operator to enter and exit the enclosure. It can also be used as an alternative to the object-supply system, as objects can be directly placed in the enclosure through said access. The sealing door is preferably controlled by hydraulics, but alternatively can be controlled pneumatically, electrically, or by hand. Furthermore, the industrial operation system can comprise a waste receptacle arranged at the bottom of the enclosure for collecting waste produced by said operation inside the enclosure. As operations such as blasting are abrasive operations, they generally lead to a lot of waste material. This can lead to visibility problems, as well as reducing the workability of the object. Therefore, it is advantageous to collect the waste produced in the enclosure in the waste receptacle. This waste receptable can then be emptied at set intervals, for example after an operation has finished, rather than having to clean the entire enclosure every time. Alternatively, the waste receptacle can be continuously emptied, for example by connecting it to a conveyer or an extraction system.

[0053] In one embodiment, the waste receptacle has an upper surface facing the inside of the enclosure. It is especially advantageous if said upper surface is made of an elastomer. Preferably this elastomer is rubber, but any suitable elastomer could be used interchangeably. The waste produced by operations such as blasting is generally very abrasive, and can thus damage the industrial operation system. As the upper surface is generally the place that is impacted the most by said waste, having it be made of an elastomer can create a protective layer thus reducing the damage done to the rest of the operation system.

[0054] Preferably, the industrial operation system further comprises at least one connecting means that is arranged to be connected to the connecting means of another industrial operation system. This connecting means could for example a series of holes and corresponding pins, a combination of interlocking protrusions and notches, or connections for shared power supply of the industrial operation systems.

[0055] Although, in the above, the industrial operation system is said to preferably comprise the operator body protection equipment as described herein, the further features of the industrial operation system that are described above, such as the object-supply system, the object-rotation system, the sealing door and the waste receptacle, can also be advantageously implemented in the system without the operator body protection equipment of the present disclosure. For some industrial operations, it may still be recommended to provide at least some equipment to protect the operator, such as protective gear like a hood, a suit and / or gloves.

[0056] Further provided is an industrial operation chain, comprising at least two industrial operation systems comprising the at least one connecting means as described hereabove, wherein the at least two industrial operation systems are connected to each other by their at least one connecting means. For some operations, it can be beneficial if more space is available to the operator. Therefore, it can be advantageous to link multiple industrial operation systems together, so that the available operational space in the enclosure can be increased.

[0057] It is possible for the at least two industrial operation systems to be of different types, e.g. one comprises the sealing door and one comprises the object-rotation system. This way, a modular industrial operation chain is provided, thus increasing the versatility. Depending on the specific operation that needs to be performed, as well as the maximum size of the object that the operation needs to be performed on, a user can create a specific setup catering to their needs. Also, multiple operation systems can be linked together and places in series or in parallel, to create a manufacturing chain. It could also be beneficial to connect two systems each comprising the operator body protection apparatus as described above, with a further system comprising the object-supply system, so that multiple operators can work on an object simultaneously. Other combinations are of course also possible.

[0058] The industrial operation system disclosed herein enables minimising the size of the enclosure. This way, the power use by the system can be reduced considerably, in particular the power use by the (energy-intensive) system that extracts the dust and particles from the enclosure. As the power use can be reduced, the overall carbon-dioxide emissions resulting from the industrial operation can be minimised.

[0059] Further provided is a method of upgrading an existing industrial operation system, the existing system comprising industrial operation equipment for performing an industrial operation such as abrasive blasting, and an enclosure for accommodating said operation equipment therein, and optionally said operator therein, for performing said operation inside the enclosure, the method comprising the steps of: providing operator body protection equipment according to any of the embodiments described herein; movably arranging the operator compartment of the operator body protection equipment in or adjacent to the enclosure, preferably as described herein.

[0060] The step of movably arranging the operator compartment in the enclosure may comprise fixedly installing the motion system of the operator body protection equipment in or adjacent to the enclosure.

[0061] In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figures 1 and 2 represent a first embodiment and Figures 3-6 represent a second embodiment and Figures 7 - 13 represent another embodiment. Throughout the drawings, like elements are indicated by like reference signs.

[0062] Figures 1 and 2 schematically depict a blast room 10 comprising an enclosure 11 in the form of a shipping container, shown with its ceiling and a wall removed to reveal its interior. The blast room 10 further comprises sandblasting equipment including a blast gun 12 and an abrasive supply hose 13 connected to the gun 12 for supplying the abrasive from a source installed outside the container 11.

[0063] An operator body protection apparatus 1 has been built into the blast room 10 and comprises an operator cabin or capsule 2 in which an operator 20 can stand while sandblasting. The capsule 2 comprises a front wall 21, a rear side 22, two side walls 23, 24 and a ceiling 25 to shield the operator 20 from dust created in the blast room 10 by the sandblasting operation, but may alternatively comprise, e.g., a single cylindrical wall instead of the four walls 21, 22, 23, 24. The rear side 22 is provided with a door to enable the operator 20 to respectively enter and exit the capsule 2 in a convenient manner. The capsule 2 is about 2 metres high, 0.6 metre wide and 0.3 metre deep, to allow an operator of average size to comfortably stand therein. The front wall 21 is provided with a pair of arm holes 26, 27 to enable the operator 20 to hold the blast gun 12 and to direct the blast gun 12 at a workpiece 9 to sandblast the workpiece 9 while standing inside the capsule 2. The operator 20 may wear protective gloves to protect the arms extending through the arm holes 26, 27. Alternatively, the holes 26, 27 may be provided with respective protective gloves attached thereto (not shown). The front wall 21 is further provided with a downwardly tilted view window 28 to enable the operator 20 to view the workpiece 9 while sandblasting.

[0064] The capsule 2 is mounted into a rectangularly C-shaped frame 3. Specifically, the capsule 2 is suspended from the upper part of the frame 3 via a bearing (not shown) and is thereby rotatable relative to the frame 3 about an axis parallel to the z-direction. The frame 3 comprises a footplate 30 on which the operator 20 stands, such that the operator 20 can manually rotate the capsule 2 by accordingly moving the arms that extend through the arm holes 26, 27. To move the capsule 2 around within the container 11 , for instance from the position as shown in Figure 1 to the position as shown in Figure 2, the operator body protection apparatus 1 further comprises a motion system 4 of the bridge crane type, which comprises a pair of parallel rails 41 installed in an upper region of the container 11 and a travelling bridge 42 spanning the gap between the rails 41 and travelling along the rails 41 in the x-direction. The capsule 2 and the frame 3 together are suspended from the bridge 42 via a hoist mechanism travelling along the bridge 42 for selectively moving the capsule 2 together with the frame 3 along the y- and z-directions. To control the movement in at least the x- and y-directions from inside the capsule 2, the footplate 30 is provided with two or more foot pedals (not shown). The support frame 3, or (as shown in Figures 1 and 2) the capsule 2, may be provided with a holder 5 holding the blast hose 13 such that the blast hose 13 is automatically moved together with the capsule 2. This way, the operator 20 does not have to drag the blast hose 13 along.

[0065] During the sandblasting operation, breathing air is continuously supplied into the capsule 2 via an air-feed hose 6 of an air supply system installed outside of the container 11. The resulting slight overpressure in the capsule 2 can prevent the ingress of dust via the gap around the footplate 30.

[0066] Moving on now to Figure 3, in which another embodiment of the blast room 10 is shown, again comprising the operator body protection apparatus 1 but which, in this case, can also be omitted. A first conveyer part 61 is disposed at an inlet 62, through which a workpiece 9, in this case a steel beam, is fed into the enclosure 11. On the other side of the blast room 10, the workpiece 9 can exit the enclosure 11 on a second conveyer part 64 through an outlet 65. As the first and second conveyer parts 61, 64 are spaced apart from each other, an operation area 66 is defined between them in which an operator 20 can perform the blasting operation. The first and second conveyer parts 61, 64 together form an object-supply system 60. The first and second conveyer parts 61, 64 herein comprise a series of rollers. Alternatively however, the conveyers could be e.g. belt conveyers, pneumatic conveyers or other suitable types of conveyers. Aside from the object-supply system 60, an object-rotation system 70 is also present in the enclosure 11, which has been depicted in an isolated view in Figure 4.

[0067] Once a workpiece 9 has been fed into the enclosure 11 , it will slide in a set of straps 71 , which are suspended from a shaft 72 disposed in the top of the enclosure 11. The shaft 72 is arranged to be movable in a vertical direction, thus being able to lift the workpiece 9 with the straps 71 by moving the shaft 72 towards its raised position. Furthermore, the shaft 72 is arranged to be able to be axially rotatable. Thus, while the shaft 72 is in its raised position and the workpiece 9 is lifted, the workpiece 9 can be rotated by rotating the shaft 72. Two U-shaped strap guiders 75 are provided, directly under the straps 71 , so that the straps will collide with them and expand laterally once the shaft 72 is lowered, allowing the object to be removed from the straps easily. The strap guiders 75 are connected to the first and second conveyer parts 61,64, such that the straps can fit between two of the rollers of the conveyer and land on the strap guiders 75.

[0068] At the underside of the operation area 66, a turntable 73 is disposed. Depending on the workpiece 9 that is being operated on, it can be placed on said turntable 73 in order to be rotated. Such a workpiece can either be entered through the inlet 62 but can also be placed directly on the turntable 73. Referring back to Figure 3 now, a sealing door 67 has been provided on the front side of the blast room 10 for the purpose of this direct placement. The operator can also use this sealing door 67 in order to enter and / or leave the enclosure 11.

[0069] Furthermore, a waste receptacle 68 has been provided at the floor of the enclosure 11. Said waste receptable has an upper surface 69, which is made of an elastomer, in this case rubber. As the operator 20 performs the blasting operation on the workpiece 9, bits of steel will be blasted of at high speeds. If said bits were to hit the blasting room, it is likely to get damaged. However, as rubber is, when compared to metals, relatively resistant to abrasion, this upper surface 69 protects the blasting room 10 from being damaged. The waste can be gathered in the waste receptacle 68, which has been provided with slits 74 so that it can be carried by a forklift to be emptied once its full.

[0070] It is possible that the blast room 10 comprises a number of modular components 80, 81. Two such components are shown in Figures 5 and 6. In Figure 5, a modular component 80 is depicted comprising the object-supply system 60 and object-rotation system 70 as described in the paragraphs hereabove, as well as the sealing door 67 and waste receptacle 68. In Figure 6, a modular component 81 is depicted comprising the operator body protection apparatus 1 which comprises the capsule 2. The components 80, 81 comprise connecting means (not shown in the drawing) so that they can be connected together to form a complete blasting room 10, such as the one of Figure 3.

[0071] Another embodiment of the operator body protection equipment 1 is shown in figure 7, which is installed next to an industrial process environment such as a blast room, comprising an enclosure 11 (shown in figures 8 and 13), and comprises an operator compartment 2 in which an operator 20 can stand while performing an operation, such as sandblasting, so that the operator body protection apparatus 1 is between the operator and the operation. The enclosure 11 is defined by at least a set of sidewalls l la,l lb,l lc,l ld, shown schematically in figure 8 and 13 by dashed lines, but preferably also comprises a floor and a ceiling, which can be the floor and the ceiling of building the industrial process environment has been placed in. The operator compartment 2 comprises a wall member 21 to shield the operator 20 from dust created in the blast room by the sandblasting operation, but may alternatively comprise multiple walls to further shield the operator 20. The wall member 21 covers an opening in one of the sidewalls of the blast room. In this embodiment, the wall member 21 is provided with a pair of operating openings 26, in this case arm holes, to enable the operator 20 to access and hold equipment needed for the operation, such as a blast gun and to direct said equipment at a workpiece present in the enclosure 11 to sandblast the workpiece while standing on the operator compartment 2. The operator 20 may wear protective gloves to protect the arms extending through the arm holes 26. Alternatively, the holes 26 may be provided with respective protective gloves attached thereto (not shown). In this embodiment, the wall member 21 is further provided with a downwardly tilted view window 28 to enable the operator 20 to view the workpiece while sandblasting.

[0072] The operator body protection equipment 1 in this embodiment comprises a motion system for moving the operator compartment 2 with respect to the industrial process environment, which is mounted on a support frame 3. Said motion system comprises a first storage roller 50, and a second storage roller 51. A sheet of support material 52 is disposed on these storage rollers 50,51. The wall member 21 is attached to said sheet of support material 52, so that movement of the sheet of support material 52 causes the wall member 21, and accordingly the operator compartment 2 as a whole, to move in tandem. The sheet of support material 52 can be caused to move by moving the storage rollers 50,51 in clockwise direction, thereby unrolling the sheet of support material from the first storage roller 50 and rolling it onto the second storage 51 , thereby causing the operator compartment 2 to move to the right as seen in figure 7 or by moving the storage rollers 50,51 in counter-clockwise direction, thereby causing the operator compartment 2 to move to the left. This way, the operator compartment 2 can be selectively moved along a horizontal axis, the horizontal axis coinciding with one of the side walls of the enclosure 11.

[0073] It is noted that in the embodiments shown in figures 7 and 8, movement of the operator compartment 2 requires both storage rollers 50,51 to move in the same direction, e.g. both clockwise directions or both counter-clockwise directions, resulting in respectively right and left movement of the operator compartment 2. However, by adjusting the placement and / or orientation of the storage rollers 50,51 , it could also be that movement in a clockwise direction results in movement of the operator compartment 2 in the left direction, rather than the right. Similarly, a setup can also be achieved wherein left movement requires a movement in the clockwise direction of the first storage roller 50, and simultaneously a movement in the counter-clockwise direction of the second storage roller 51 , or vice-versa. All such setups fall under the scope of the embodiment as shown.

[0074] The motion system shown herein further comprises a footplate 30, fixedly connected to the wall member 21 on which the operator 20 stands, through which the operator 20 can control the movement of the operator compartment 2. To control the movement in at least the horizontal direction while standing on the operator compartment 2, the footplate 30 is provided with two or more foot pedals (not shown). Furthermore, a cable guide 53 is provided so that any cables running from the foot pedals or the equipment do not get tangled. The frame 3 or the wall member 21, may be provided with a holder holding the equipment such that the equipment is automatically moved together with the operator compartment 2. This way, the operator 20 does not have to drag the equipment along.

[0075] Figure 8 shows another angle of the operator body protection equipment 1. It can be seen that the footplate 30 is movable along a path, for which it is equipped with a set of wheels 54. Alternatively, the footplate 30 could be suspended from the wall member so that it is not in contact with the ground, or could be placed in a rail system in order to guide its movement. Further visible is a tensioner 55, used to ensure sufficient tension in the sheet of support material, so that it does not sag. The sag is further prevented by the frame 3, which may comprise guiding slots through which the sheet of support material is moved in order to keep it in the correct position with respect to the frame 3. The frame 3 further extends away from the operator 20, in order to ensure that the operator body protection apparatus is balanced and cannot topple.

[0076] It is noted that, while not visible due to the schematic nature of the figures, the enclosure 11 and the operator body protection equipment 1 form a tight connection, e.g. there are no airgaps or any other similar holes that would allow debris or other to move from the inside of the enclosure 11 to the operator compartment 2, thus shielding the operator 20 from the process happening inside the enclosure 11. However, holes or similar may still be provided to the enclosure 11 for e.g. connection to a venting system, waste receptacle, or other desired systems as long as these holes are not directly exposed to the operator 20.

[0077] In the embodiment of the operator body protection equipment 1 shown in the example of figures 7 and 8, the movement of the operator compartment 2 is arranged so that it runs along a single side wall I la of the enclosure 11. However, other embodiments exist wherein the motion system is set up so that it spans multiple side walls of an enclosure 11 of an industrial process environment. In such a setup, it may be necessary for the wall member 21 to be made of a relatively flexible material, so that it, alongside the sheet of support material 52, can pass around a corner. A schematic top view of an example of such a setup is given in figure 13, further comprising guidance rollers 56 placed in the corners of the operator body protection equipment 1. In this example, the operator compartment 2 is able to be moved along three of the four sidewalls Ila, 11b, lid of the enclosure 11, as well as partly along the fourth sidewall 11c. In this embodiment, the storage rollers 50,51 are spaced apart so that the enclosure can be accessed through an opening 57 between said storage rollers 50,51. Moving on now to figure 9, in which an embodiment of a blast room 10, comprising an enclosure 11 , is shown, comprising the operator body protection equipment 1 of figures 7 - 8 installed in the back wall but which, in this case, can also be omitted. In this and the following figures, the storage rollers 50,51 are not shown. A first conveyer part 61 is disposed at an inlet 62, through which a workpiece 9, in this case a steel beam, is fed into the enclosure 11. On the other side of the blast room 10, the workpiece 9 can exit the enclosure 11 on a second conveyer part 64 through an outlet 65. As the first and second conveyer parts 61, 64 are spaced apart from each other, an operation area 66 is defined between them in which an operator 20 can perform the blasting operation. The first and second conveyer parts 61, 64 together form an object-supply system 60. The first and second conveyer parts 61, 64 herein comprise a series of rollers. Alternatively however, the conveyers could be e.g. belt conveyers, pneumatic conveyers or other suitable types of conveyers. Aside from the object-supply system 60, an object-rotation system 70 is also present in the enclosure 11, which has been depicted in an isolated view in Figure 10.

[0078] Once a workpiece 9 has been fed into the enclosure 11 , it will slide in a set of straps 71 , which are suspended from a shaft 72 disposed in the top of the enclosure 11. The shaft 72 is arranged to be movable in a vertical direction, thus being able to lift the workpiece 9 with the straps 71 by moving the shaft 72 towards its raised position. Furthermore, the shaft 72 is arranged to be able to be axially rotatable. Thus, while the shaft 72 is in its raised position and the workpiece 9 is lifted, the workpiece 9 can be rotated by rotating the shaft 72. Two U-shaped strap guiders 75 are provided, directly under the straps 71 , so that the straps will collide with them and expand laterally once the shaft 72 is lowered, allowing the object to be removed from the straps easily. The strap guiders 75 are connected to the first and second conveyer parts 61,64, such that the straps can fit between two of the rollers of the conveyer and land on the strap guiders 75.

[0079] In a lower part of the operation area 66, a turntable 73 is disposed. Depending on the workpiece 9 that is being operated on, it can be placed on said turntable 73 in order to be rotated. Such a workpiece can either be entered through the inlet 62 but can also be placed directly on the turntable 73. Referring back to figure 9 now, a sealing door 67 has been provided on the front side of the blast room 10 for the purpose of this direct placement. The operator can also use this sealing door 67 in order to enter and / or leave the enclosure 11.

[0080] Furthermore, a waste receptacle 68 has been provided at the floor of the enclosure 11. Said waste receptable has an upper surface 69, which is made of an elastomer, in this case rubber. As the operator 20 performs the blasting operation on the workpiece 9, bits of steel will be blasted of at high speeds. If said bits were to hit the blasting room, it is likely to get damaged. However, as rubber is, when compared to metals, relatively resistant to abrasion, this upper surface 69 protects the blasting room 10 from being damaged. The waste can be gathered in the waste receptacle 68, which has been provided with slits 74 so that it can be carried by a forklift to be emptied once its full.

[0081] It is possible that the blast room 10 comprises a number of modular components 80, 81. Two such components are shown in figures 11 and 12. In figure 11, a modular component 80 is depicted comprising the object-supply system 60 and object-rotation system 70 as described in the paragraphs hereabove, as well as the sealing door 67 and waste receptacle 68. In Figure 12, a modular component 81 is depicted comprising the operator body protection apparatus 1 which comprises the operator compartment 2. The components 80, 81 comprise connecting means (not shown in the drawing) so that they can be connected together to form a complete blasting room 10, such as the one of figure 9. The drawings and the above description serve to illustrate specific embodiments of the invention and do not limit the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Operator body protection equipment for protecting an operator from an industrial operation performed by operating industrial operation equipment in an industrial process environment, such as a blast room, characterised by a movably arranged operator compartment arranged for accommodating an operator, optionally accommodating an operator therein, and provided with at least one wall member arranged for shielding the operator from said operation and provided with at least one operating opening arranged for enabling the operator to, from inside and / or from one side of the operator compartment, access industrial operation equipment outside of the operator compartment and / or on a side of the wall member opposite the operator through the at least one operating opening and operate the operation equipment to perform the operation in said environment.

2. Operator body protection equipment according to claim 1 wherein the industrial process environment is defined by a set of side walls.

3. Operator body protection equipment according to claim 2, wherein the wall member covers an opening in at least a first side wall of the set of side walls defining the industrial process environment.

4. Operator body protection equipment according to any of claims 1 - 3, further comprising a motion system arranged for selectively moving the operator compartment within and / or with respect to the industrial process environment.

5. Operator body protection equipment according to claim 4, wherein the motion system is arranged for selectively translating the operator compartment along at least a first horizontal axis6. Operator body protection equipment according to at least claims 3 and 5, wherein the first horizontal axis coincides with the first side wall.

7. Operator body protection equipment according to claim 6, wherein the motion system is arranged for translating the operator compartment selectively along the first horizontal axis and selectively along a second horizontal axis, wherein the second horizontal axis coincides with a second side wall of the set of side walls.

8. Operator body protection equipment according to claim 7, wherein the second horizontal axis is orthogonal to the first horizontal axis.

9. Operator body protection equipment according to any of claims 4 - 8, wherein the motion system comprises a first and second storage roller and a sheet of support material, wherein the sheet of support material is rolled around both storage rollers, and wherein the motion system is configured to:- cause the sheet to unroll from the first storage roller and roll on the second storage roller during movement of the storage rollers in a first direction; and- cause the sheet to unroll from the second storage roller and roll on the first storage roller during movement of the storage rollers in a second direction, and wherein the at least one wall member of the operator compartment is fixedly attached to at least a part of the sheet of support material.

10. Operator body protection equipment according to claim 9, wherein the first direction of the first and second storage rollers is the same direction, e.g. a clockwise direction and the second direction of the first and second storage rollers is the same direction, e.g. a counter-clockwise direction; or wherein the first direction of the first and second storage rollers is an opposite direction, e.g. a clockwise direction for the first storage roller and a counter-clockwise direction for the second roller and wherein the second direction of the first and second storage rollers is an opposite direction, e.g. a counter-clockwise direction for the first storage roller and a clockwise direction for the second storage roller.

11. Operator body protection equipment according to any of claims 9 - 10, wherein the sheet of support material is a cloth.

12. Operator body protection equipment according to any of claims 9 - 11, wherein the motion system further comprises a tensioner, which is configured to tension the sheet of support material.

13. Operator body protection equipment according to any of claims 4 - 8, wherein the motion system comprises: at least one foldable wall, and / or at least one suspension element from which the wall member is suspended.

14. Operator body protection equipment according to any of claims 6 - 13, wherein the motion system comprises a footplate member that is fixedly attached to the wall member, arranged for supporting the operator on the operator compartment.

15. Operator body protection equipment according to any of claims 6 - 14 and at least claim 2, wherein the motion system is placed along at least two side walls of the industrial process environment, preferably along at least side three walls of the industrial process environment, more preferably along all side walls of the industrial process environment.

16. Operator body protection equipment according to any of claims 6 - 15, further comprising a support frame to which the operator compartment is mounted.

17. Operator body protection equipment according to claim 5, wherein the motion system is arranged for translating the operator compartment selectively along the first horizontal axis and selectively along a second horizontal axis that is orthogonal to the first horizontal axis.

18. Operator body protection equipment according to claim 4, 5 or 17, further comprising a support frame to which the operator compartment is mounted.

19. Operator body protection equipment according to claim 18 and any of the preceding claims, wherein the support frame is suspended from, or supported by, the motion system.

20. Operator body protection equipment according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the operator compartment is rotatably mounted to the support frame, the operator compartment being rotatable relative to the support frame about a vertical axis.

21. Operator body protection equipment according to claim 18, 19 or 20, wherein the support frame comprises a footplate member arranged for supporting the operator in the operator compartment.

22. Operator body protection equipment according to claims 20 and 21, wherein the operator compartment is rotatably suspended from a mounting portion of the support frame, wherein the support frame further comprises a frame member fixedly coupling the footplate member to the mounting portion.

23. Operator body protection equipment according to any of claims 1 - 5 or 18 - 22, further comprising an air supply system arranged to supply breathing air into the operator compartment during said operation.

24. Operator body protection equipment according to any of claims 4 - 23, wherein the motion system is arranged to be fixedly installed in or adjacent to the industrial process environment.

25. Operator body protection equipment according to any of the preceding claims 4-24, wherein the motion system is further arranged for moving at least a component of said operation equipment together with the operator compartment.

26. Operator body protection equipment according to any of the preceding claims 4-25, wherein the motion system is arranged for selectively translating the operator compartment along a vertical axis.

27. Operator body protection equipment according to any of the preceding claims 4-26, wherein the motion system comprises a controller arranged for controlling movement of the operator compartment within and / or with respect to the industrial process environment.

28. Operator body protection equipment according to claim 27, wherein the controller comprises at least one foot pedal arranged in the operator compartment for controlling the movement of the operator compartment.

29. Operator body protection equipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the operator compartment is provided with a view window arranged for enabling the operator in the operator compartment to view said operation.

30. Operator body protection equipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wall member of the operator compartment is provided with a pair of operating openings.

31. Operator body protection equipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one operating opening comprises a glove hole provided with a protective glove attached thereto for an arm of the operator in the operator compartment to be placed in the glove.

32. Operator body protection equipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the operator compartment is provided with an access portion arranged for enabling the operator to respectively enter and exit the operator compartment.

33. Method of performing an industrial operation such as abrasive blasting in an industrial process environment, the method comprising the steps of:- providing operator body protection equipment according to any of the preceding claims;- arranging the operator compartment of the operator body protection equipment in or adjacent to said environment;- providing, in said environment and optionally outside of the operator compartment, industrial operation equipment for performing said operation;- accommodating an operator inside, by, or on the operator compartment, wherein, from the operator compartment, optionally from inside the operator compartment, the operator accesses said operation equipment through the at least one operating opening of the operator compartment and operates the operation equipment to perform said operation in said environment.

34. Method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of selectively moving the operator compartment within and / or with respect to the industrial process environment.

35. Method according to claim 34, wherein the step of moving the operator compartment includes moving at least a component of said operation equipment together with the operator compartment.

36. Method according to any of claims 33 - 35, the operator body protection equipment comprising an air supply system, further comprising the step of supplying breathing air into the operator compartment while the operator performs said operation.

37. Method according to claim 36, wherein a pressure inside the operator compartment is higher than a pressure in the industrial process environment outside of the operator compartment.

38. Method according to any of preceding claims 33 - 37, wherein said operation is abrasive blasting, wherein the operation equipment comprises a blast system, wherein the method comprises the steps of providing an object in the industrial process environment and operating the blast system to blast a surface of the object.

39. Industrial operation system, comprising industrial operation equipment for performing an industrial operation such as abrasive blasting, and an enclosure for accommodating said operation equipment and optionally an operator therein for performing said operation inside the enclosure, wherein the industrial operation system further comprises operator body protection equipment according to any of the preceding claims 1-32, wherein the operator compartment of the operator body protection equipment is movably arranged in or adjacent to the enclosure.

40. Industrial operation system according to claim 39, the system being a blast room, wherein the operation equipment comprises a blast system arranged for blasting a surface of an object in the enclosure.

41. Industrial operation system according to any of claims 39 - 40, wherein the industrial operation system further comprises an object-supply system arranged for moving an object, on which said operation is to be performed, into the enclosure.

42. Industrial operation system according to claim 41, wherein the object-supply system comprises a conveyer extending from outside the enclosure into the enclosure through an inlet and / or an outlet of the enclosure.

43. Industrial operation system according to claim 42, wherein the conveyer comprises a first conveyer part and a second conveyer part, wherein the first conveyer part extends through the inlet and the second part extends through the outlet, wherein the first and the second conveyer part are spaced apart from each other to define, inside the enclosure, an operation area for performing said operation therebetween.

44. Industrial operation system according to any of claims 39 - 43, wherein the industrial operation system further comprises an object-rotation system arranged for rotating an object, on which said operation is to be performed, inside the enclosure.

45. Industrial operation system according to claim 44, wherein the object-rotation system comprises at least one holder, arranged for holding the object inside the enclosure, and a rotatable drive member connected to the holder for rotating the held object.

46. Industrial operation system according to at least claims 43 and 45, wherein the at least one holder is arranged to hold the object in said operation area.

47. Industrial operation system according to claim 45 or 46, wherein the rotatable drive member comprises an axially rotatable shaft, arranged horizontally, and wherein the at least one holder comprises one or more straps suspended from the shaft to each form a lower loop portion.

48. Industrial operation system according to claim 47, wherein the shaft is arranged vertically translatable for moving the one or more straps between a lowered position, in which the one or more lower loop portions are positioned for receiving said object, and a raised position, in which the one or more lower loop portions are positioned for rotatably holding said object.

49. Industrial operation system according to claim 48, wherein the industrial operation system further comprises one or more strap guiders respectively disposed below the one or more straps and arranged to receive and laterally expand the respective lower loop portions while lowering the one or more straps toward the lowered position.

50. Industrial operation system according to claim 49, wherein the one or more strap guiders are gutter members extending longitudinally in a U-shaped manner.

51. Industrial operation system according to any of claims 47-50, wherein the one or more straps are endless straps looped around the shaft.

52. Industrial operation system according to any of claims 44 - 51, wherein the object-rotation system comprises a support platform for supporting said object, wherein the support platform is arranged rotatable about a vertical axis.

53. Industrial operation system according to any of claims 39 - 52, wherein the industrial operation system further comprises a sealing door arranged to provide access into the enclosure.

54. Industrial operation system according to any of claims 39 - 53, wherein the industrial operation system further comprises a waste receptacle arranged at the bottom of the enclosure for collecting waste produced by said operation inside the enclosure.

55. Industrial operation system according to claim 54, wherein the waste receptacle has an upper surface facing the inside of the enclosure, wherein the upper surface is made of an elastomer, preferably rubber.

56. Industrial operation system according to any of claims 39 - 55, further comprising at least one connecting means that is arranged to be connected to the connecting means of another industrial operation system.

57. Industrial operation chain, comprising at least two industrial operation systems according to claim 56, wherein the at least two industrial operation systems are connected to each other by their at least one connecting means.

58. Industrial operation chain according to claim 57, wherein the at least two industrial operation systems are of different types, e.g. one comprises the sealing door and one comprises the object-rotation system.

59. Method of upgrading an existing industrial operation system, the existing system comprising industrial operation equipment for performing an industrial operation such as abrasive blasting, and an enclosure for accommodating an operator and said operation equipment therein for performing said operation inside the enclosure, the method comprising the steps of:- providing operator body protection equipment according to any of the preceding claims 1-32;- movably arranging the operator compartment of the operator body protection equipment in or adjacent to the enclosure.

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