Swivel Bending Machine Safety Barrier for Operator Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bending machines face challenges in ensuring operator safety during manual operation, particularly with manually controlled swivel bending machines, where operators must be aware of their surroundings to avoid hazards, and safety barriers can obstruct access and be damaged in confined spaces.
Innovation Solution
A bending machine with a variable-size safety barrier system that can be moved between access and shut-off states, allowing for secure operation while facilitating easy loading and unloading, and featuring independently movable safety barriers with a drive unit and optical detection for enhanced safety monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed safety barriers are installed to define the safety-relevant work area, then safety is improved, but accessibility for loading workpieces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The safety barrier is designed as a movable structure that can dynamically change its position between a first position (blocking access during operation) and a second position (allowing access during loading). This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by adapting the barrier's state to the current operational phase, ensuring both safety during bending and accessibility during loading.
2Reliability
If fixed safety barriers are installed to protect the work area, then safety is improved, but the barriers may be damaged in confined spaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The movable safety barrier can be retracted to a second position that clears the loading path, preventing damage from forklifts or other equipment in confined production halls. This resolves the contradiction by removing the barrier from vulnerable positions when not actively needed for safety.
3Reliability
If optical detection units are attached to fixed barriers, then safety monitoring is improved, but the barriers obstruct access to the work area deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The optical detection units are attached to the movable safety barrier, allowing them to move with the barrier between blocking and clear positions. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the detection units to clear the access path when the barrier is retracted, eliminating obstruction while maintaining monitoring capability.
4Ease of operation
If removable barriers are used to improve accessibility, then ease of operation is improved, but safety is compromised deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system provides feedback that links the safety barrier position to the operational state of the bending machine. The barrier automatically moves to the blocking position when the machine is in operation, ensuring safety without requiring manual intervention. This resolves the contradiction by making the barrier's protective function automatic and reliable while maintaining accessibility when needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures reliable protection of the safety-relevant work area, reduces the risk of unauthorized modifications, and prevents damage from confined spaces, while allowing for convenient access and operation, thus enhancing overall safety and usability.
Implementation Method 1
optical detection unit (40) which is adapted to generate a detection signal when a person enters the safety-relevant work area (12)
Data Source
AI summary
A bending machine, in particular a swivel bending machine, is provided that defines a safety-relevant work area in which an operator of the bending machine is present during its operation, loading, unloading or the like, having a safety module comprising a safety barrier which provides a variable-size shield for the safety-relevant work area such that a shut-off state and an access state can be generated, wherein in the shut-off state access to the safety-relevant work area is at least partially restricted and wherein in the access state access to the safety-relevant work area is at least partially granted. A method is provided for processing a workpiece by means of a bending machine.