DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING A LOCKED AND CLOSED STATE OF A SPACE-SEPARATING DEVICE IN A RELEASABLE MANNER

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for maintaining a locked and closed state of a space-separating device (2) in a releasable manner, in particular a protective device of a machine (4) having a first part (6) with an opening and a second part (8), said parts being movable relative to one another, the opening therefore being at least partially closable, wherein the device (1) comprises a latch (18) by means of which the closed state of the space-separating device (2) may be locked, a holding element (30) by means of which the latch (18) may be kept in the latched position, and a release element (36) by means of which the catch of the latch (18) may be released, and wherein the catch of the latch (18) may be lifted by a rotational movement of the release element (36) relative to the latch (18).

Description

This invention relates to a device for maintaining a locked and closed state of a space-separating device in a releasable manner, in particular the protective device of a machine.

In production engineering, for example, among other things, for safety reasons, machines and systems are set up within a space which is separated from the exterior and in which a person is not permitted to remain during operation of the machine. But in order, for example, to have access to the machine for maintenance work, the space-separating device generally has a closable opening. Generally speaking, operation of the machine conversely should only be possible when the opening is closed and the closed state is locked. Access to the machine is only possible when the locking of the closed state is neutralized.

DE 203 15 959 U1 discloses a device for monitoring the state of such a space-separating device, in which it is ensured that a person located within the separated space is not able to close the space-separating device and lock it from the inside since otherwise there would be the risk that the machine could started inadvertently or intentionally while a person is located within the space-separating device.

DE 196 32 962 A1 discloses a door actuation device by means of which from the interior of the space-separating device a latch which locks the closed state can be transferred into its unlocking position, and thus the space-separating device can be opened, but conversely the latch cannot be transferred into its locking position, however, this being possible only from the outside. In this way a type of “escape unlocking” is implemented.

DE 10 2005 057 108 A1, which was published at a later date, discloses a safety switch for producing a release signal depending on the position of a movable protective door. The part which is to be attached to the protective door has an actuator which can be moved between a first and a second position. The part which is to be attached to the frame has a recess which the actuator in the second position can engage. Furthermore. there is a blocking element to block the actuator in the second position.

DE 298 24 200 U1 discloses a device which enables an individual who is inadvertently locked within the protective enclosure to leave this protective enclosure. At the same time, the machines which are located within the protective enclosure can only be operated when the door on which the device is located is not only closed, but locked.

The object of this invention is to provide a generic device which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. In one embodiment the device is intended to enable not only locking of the closed state of the space-separating device, but, moreover, maintaining the locked and closed state, for example, as long as the machine located within the space-separating device is in an operating state which is hazardous to people, for example, when the machine is running down after it has been turned off. In one embodiment, in spite of maintaining the locked and closed state, it is to be possible for the locking of the latch to be neutralized from within the space-separating device. The device is intended to ensure permanently reliable and safe operation.

The object is achieved by the device specified in claim 1. Special embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

The space-separating device can be in particular protective hoods, protective doors, or also an arrangement of partitions or separating gratings by which the inner region around a machine, such as a machine tool or an industrial robot, is separated from an outer region in which individuals can remain even during operation of the machine. The first part of the space-separating device can be designed, for example, as a frame part, while conversely, a second part such as, for example, a door or window is movable. In the case of a door, conventionally the second part is pivotally coupled to the first part or is movably guided thereon.

The device has a latch by means of which the closed state of the space-separating device can be locked. In one embodiment the latch is movably supported in the device and can be transferred from the retracted position into the locking position by means of an actuation element, such as a knob, and thus can engage a latch receiver by blocking it and can lock the closed state. By means of the holding element the latch can be blocked in its locking position and thus the locked and closed state of the protective device can be blocked and maintained closed.

One or more sensors can detect the closed state of the protective device, locking of the closed state and/or maintaining the locked and closed state and can signal it to a device which controls the machine. It can be established, for example, by this control that the machine can be started only when the space-separating device is closed, the closed state is locked and/or the locked and closed state is blocked. The blocking and/or the neutralization of the blocking can take place likewise in a signal-controlled manner, for example, the control can provide for the blocking of the latch to be neutralized only when the machine is in the safe state, for example, a machine tool or an industrial robot is stopped, so that it cannot pose a danger to people. The blocking and/or release can be driven in a controlled manner for this purpose.

In one embodiment the holding element is spring-loaded and can, for example, engage the latch and block it as soon as the latch and holding element have sufficiently approached one another. The blocking can also be neutralized by a controllable drive, for example, by means of an electromagnet or a piezoelectric drive. Alternatively, the holding element can also be kept spring-loaded in a non-blocking position and can be transferred by a drive into the state which blocks the latch in its locking position. In another alternative embodiment, the holding element can also have two stable states between which is it possible to switch back and forth by means of a drive.

The device moreover has a release element by means of which the blocking of the latch can be neutralized. It is to be possible to actuate this release element from the inside of the space-separating device, optionally even against the action of a driving or spring force which acts on the holding element. This ensures that a person located within the space-separating device is easily able, in particular without actuating an EMERGENCY OFF button, to neutralize the maintaining of the locked and closed state. Optionally, by neutralizing the blocking of the latch the device can produce a signal which signals to be machine control that the machine is to be transferred into the safe operating state, for example, is to be turned off.

The blocking of the latch can be neutralized by the rotary motion of the release element relative to the latch. In one embodiment the release element is located pivotally supported on the latch for this purpose. Reliable neutralization of the blocking of the latch thus can be enabled with simple mechanical elements.

In one embodiment, following the rotary motion, the release element together with the latch can be moved and thus the locked and closed state of the space-separating device can also be neutralized, whereupon the space-separating device can be opened. In one embodiment the actuating element located within the space-separating device dictates dynamic coupling in only one direction, specifically in the direction of neutralizing the locking position of the latch, conversely in the other direction there is trip-free mechanism which prevents the position located within the space-separating device from being able to transfer the latch into is locking position.

In one embodiment the release element is a dual-arm lever which can be turned around an axis of rotation. The configuration as a dual-arm lever can implement different force and path ratios, for example, a relatively high torque for neutralizing the blocking of the latch can be made available with comparatively small actuating forces. Conversely, a correspondingly large lever arm can make available a comparatively large path, for example, for lifting the holding element out of a catch depression and thus for neutralizing the blocking of the latch. Moreover, the interval between delivering the force for neutralizing the blocking of the latch on the one hand and the position of the lever in contact with the holding element on the other hand can be chosen to be large. In this way the mechanical elements which are necessary for actuation can be located within the device such that the design is small. Alternatively or in addition, the actuating elements which are located on the inside and outside for neutralizing the blocking of the latch on the one hand and the actuating elements provided for transferring the latch into its locking position on the other can be located at a distance to one another; this is especially advantageous for some applications.

In one embodiment the release element can be actuated by means of a knob. The initial rotary motion of the knob at the outset results in rotary motion of the release element with which the locking of the latch can be neutralized. As turning continues there is linear motion of the latch out of the locked position.

The release element can be turned, for example, by means of an element which is movably supported in the device and which is connected to the first knob by way of a coupling device. The coupling device in this case converts the rotary motion of the first knob by 90° into linear motion of the displacement element. For this purpose the coupling device can have a first and second lever which are hinged to one another at an articulation point as a hinged joint. The first lever is nonrotatably connected to the first knob. The second lever is connected directly or indirectly to the displacement element by way of other elements. When the first lever is turned, the displacement element is moved. As a result first the blocking of the latch can be neutralized and then the latch can be guided out of its locking position. In the reverse direction there is no motion coupling between the displacement element and the latch, in particular not with respect to linear motion.

In one embodiment the device has a second knob which can be actuated from the outside of the space-separating device, specifically located on the outside of the device. By means of the second knob, the latch can be moved into its position which locks the closed state. In one embodiment the axes of rotation of the first and second knob have an offset to one another. On the one hand, this has the advantage that each part of the space-separating device to which the device is attached need not be provided with a through hole for the common axis of rotation of the two knobs, as is necessary in the prior art; this metal-cutting at the installation site is disadvantageous for many reasons. On the other hand, the offset of the two axes of rotation ensures that in the closed state of the space-separating device there are no light gaps which are disadvantageous especially when within the space-separating device there is a laser machining device and the emergence of laser light from the space-separating device must be reliably prevented.

In one embodiment the latch and/or the holding element are made such that they positively engage one another in the position which blocks the latch. For example, the latch can have a recess with a catch flank in which the holding element catches in the position which blocks the latch. The positive locking ensures that the resulting self-locking can implement a high holding force without correspondingly high drive forces having to be made available by a motor. This is especially advantageous because the release element optionally must overcome those forces which activate the holding element.

In one embodiment, the device has a first sensor by means of which the position of the latch which locks the closed state of the space-separating device can be signaled. The first sensor can be a safety switch as is conventionally used in safety engineering. In addition to contact safety switches in which a mechanically encoded actuator is introduced into the switch head and triggers a switching process there, so-called non-contact or electronic safety switches can also be used which wirelessly transmit signals between an actuator and a read head. In one embodiment there is an actuator in the form of a transponder on the latch and in the position which locks the closed state of the space-separating device the actuator moves into the response region of a read head so that only in the position of the latch which locks the closed state of the space-separating device is signal transmission between the read head and the transponder possible. In one embodiment the transponder is located near the jacket surface of the latch and the read head is located near or on the wall of the pertinent latch receiver. Alternatively, the actuator can also be located on or near the face-side end of the latch.

In one embodiment the device has a second sensor by means of which the position of the holding element which blocks the latch can be signaled. This second sensor can also be made generally as a non-contact safety switch. The holding element could be made specifically as a coupling element, for example, for signal coupling between the transponder which is located on the latch and the read head. Fundamentally, the first and the second sensor can be made separately. Alternatively, it is possible by means of the holding element to couple the transponder of the first sensor to a second read head of the second sensor so that there would be only one transponder on the latch. In this case it would also be possible to separately detect whether the latch is in its blocking position and whether the locked position is blocked by the holding element. In another alternative, signal coupling between the transponder and read head of the first sensor could only be possible when the holding element is in its position which blocks the latch.

In one embodiment, the second sensor is an optical or magnetic sensor, such as a photoelectric barrier or a Hall sensor. Sensors such as these can be easily configured in a small design and optionally also directly on a circuit board. The holding element can be made as a pivotable lever, with a catch projection which is located at a distance from the axis of rotation for interaction with the lock.

Other advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description in which with reference to the drawings embodiments of the invention are detailed. In this connection, the features referred to in the claims and in the specification can each be essential for the invention individually by themselves or in any combination.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of one embodiment of a device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged cutaway view of the embodiment,

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cutaway view of the embodiment,

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged cutaway view of the embodiment, and

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the device.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of one embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention for maintaining the locked and closed state of the space-separating device 2, in particular the protective device of a machine 4, in a releasable manner. A first stationary part 6 has an opening which can be closed by a second part 8. The first and second part 6, 8 can be moved relative to one another and in this way the opening can be at least partially closed. In the illustrated embodiment the second part 8 is a door which can be turned around the first axis 10 according to the first arrow 12. The open state of the door is shown by the broken lines. A person can enter the interior of the space-separating device 2 through the opening and can, for example, equip, maintain, or repair the machine 4. During operation of the machine 4, a person is not permitted or is not to remain within the space-separating device 2.

For this purpose the device 1 has a first component 14 which is located on the first part 6 and a second component 16 which is located on the second part 8. The first component 14 has a receiver for a latch 18 which is movably supported in the second component 16 and by means of which the closed state of the space-separating device 2 shown in solid lines can be locked so that the space-separating device 2 cannot be opened in this state.

The locked state can be signaled by means of a safety switch by way of a first connecting line 22 on a control device 20 which controls the machine 4 according to the filed control program by way of a second connecting line 24. Conversely, the machine 4, by way of the second connecting line 24, delivers feedback about the operating state to the control device 20 and the control device 20 can control the device 1, for example, with respect to maintaining the locked state. The safety switch in the embodiment has a read head 26 which is located on the first component 14 and an actuator 28 which is located on the latch 18, signal exchange between the read head 26 and actuator 28 being possible only in the illustrated locked state.

The device 1 moreover has a holding element 30 which is located in the first component 14 in the embodiment and which can be pivoted around a second axis 32 according to the arrow 34. The latch 18 can be blocked in the illustrated locking position by the holding element 30. The holding element 30 and the latch 18 are positively engaged. In the embodiment the holding element 30 for this purpose engages a recess in the latch 18, the recess having a catch flank by which self-locking arises relative to the reset motion of the latch 18.

By means of a release element 36 (FIG. 2) the blocking of the latch 18 can be neutralized, specifically, the holding element 30 can be lifted out of its position shown in FIG. 1. The blocking is neutralized by a first actuating element which can be actuated from the interior of the space-separating device 2 and which in the embodiment is formed by a first knob 42 which can be turned around a third axis 38 according to the third arrow 40. Following the neutralization of the blocking of the latch 18, as the first knob continues to turn, the latch is retracted into the second component 16 so that the locking of the closed state is also neutralized and the second part 8 can be opened.

In one embodiment, the holding element 30 can be manually disengaged from the latch 18 only in this way, specifically not by the second actuating element which is accessible from the outside of the space-separating device 2 and which in the embodiment is formed by a second knob 48 which can be turned around the fourth axis 44 according to the fourth arrow 46. With the second knob 48 the second part 8 can be closed and by turning the second knob 48 the latch 18 can be extended into the illustrated locking position.

The space-separating device 2 in the embodiment is a protective cab or a protective grating in which flat elements are attached to profiled rails 50 which run perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of FIG. 1 and to which the components 14, 16 of the device 1 can also be attached. As is apparent from the schematic of FIG. 1, the third axis 38 of the first knob 42 and the fourth axis 44 of the second knob 48 which run parallel to one another have an offset to one another so that it is not necessary to drill through the profile rails 52 into the interior of the space-separating device 2 for passage of the fourth axis 44.

FIG. 2 shows a cutaway view of the embodiment of the device I which has been enlarged compared to FIG. 1. The first component 14 is connected to the first profile rails 50 and thus to the first part 6 (FIG. 1) by connecting means which are not shown. Within the first component 14 the holding element 30 is mounted to be able to pivot around the second axis 32 which runs perpendicular to the plane of the drawing and in the illustrated maintained locked state, with its projection 54 which has been formed on the end side, it engages a recess 56 of the latch 18.

The essentially cylindrical latch 18 which in cross section can be shaped to be circular or essentially rectangular consists in this embodiment of a plastic base part, with a metal insert part 58, specifically, a metal sheet which has been bent into a U-shape in cross section. The insert part 58 forms the recess 56 and is used in particular to accommodate the blocking forces. In a part which has been inserted into the latch receiver 60 in the illustrated locked and blocked state, near the jacket surface on the latch 18 there is an actuator 28 which is made as a transponder and which can be read out from the read head 26 only in the illustrated position so that the locked and closed state of the space-separating device 2 can be signaled.

The projection 54 of the holding element 30 and the recess 56 in the insert part 58 each form a surface which are essentially parallel to one another and enclose a right angle with the direction of motion of the latch 18 for unlocking. In an attempt to retract the latch 18 by turning the second knob 48 around the fourth axis 44, this results in positive locking between the latch 18 and the holding element 30 by which very high holding .forces can be applied. The control device 20 or, for example, a manual EMERGENCY OFF can route the holding element 30 out of its holding position, for example, by an electromagnet 62 which is located in the first component 14 being energized and thus the magnet armature 64 coming into contact with the arm opposite the projection 54 relative to the second axis 32 and the holding element 30 turning counterclockwise in FIG. 2.

Regardless of such a controlled neutralization of holding, it is moreover possible, by turning the first knob 42 around the third axis 38, to move a displacement element 66 within the second component 16 such that a release element 36 is turned clockwise around a fifth axis 68 which runs perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 2 and, in this way, with its section assigned to the holding element 30 comes into contact with the holding element 30 and lifts it in the course of rotary motion out of the recess 56 and thus neutralizes holding. Conversion of the rotary motion of the first knob 42 into linear motion of the displacement element 66 takes place by way of a coupling device which has a first and second lever 82, 86 and which is shown in a side view in FIG. 5. Coupling of the motion between the second knob 48 and the latch 18 can take place in a similar manner.

When the first knob 42 is turning, the displacement element 66 and a pin 70 located thereon are moved to the right in FIG. 2. In this way the pin 70 comes into contact with the oblique surface 72 and the linear motion of the pin 70 is converted into rotary motion of the release element 36 by interaction of the pin 70 with the oblique surface 72. The release element 36 is made as a lever which has two arms relative to the fifth axis 68, the action surface of the displacement element 66 lying on the side opposite the contact surface for the holding element 54 relative to the fifth axis 68. The axis pin for supporting the release element 36 is formed by the latch 18 or is fixed on it.

FIG. 3 shows a cutaway view of the embodiment of device I corresponding to FIG. 2, however, here in the state in which the first knob 42 is turned around the third axis 38 so far that the pin 70 is moved completely along the oblique surface 72 and is held in a sector-shaped receiver 74 of the release element 36. In this state the release element 36 is turned maximally around the fifth axis 68 and thus the holding element 30 is lifted completely out of the recess 56 so that holding is neutralized. As the first knob 42 continues to turn and thus as the displacement element 66 continues to move, the pin 70 entrains the release element 36 and by way of support on the fifth axis 68 also the latch 18 and moves the latter in FIG. 3 to the right so that the latch 18 emerges completely from the latch receiver 60 and accordingly the locking is also neutralized.

If the holding element 30, for example, is monitored in its position by means of a photoelectric barrier or a Hall sensor, the state shown in FIG. 3 can be signaled such that there is no longer any holding. At the same time it can also be signaled by way of the actuator 28 and the read head 26 that the space-separating device 2 is still in a closed and locked state.

FIG. 4 shows an enlargement comparable to FIGS. 2 and 3 in the state of the device 1 in which the latch 18 is retracted almost completely into the second component 16 by complete tuning of the first knob 42. The displacement element 66 is located like the latch 18 on its rear stop. Continued turning of the first knob 42 in the direction of rotation which has led to neutralization of blocking is no longer possible.

Based on the existing motion coupling, on the outside of the space-separating device 2 the second knob 48 is now in its end position which is opposite relative to FIG. 2 and has been turned back in particular by turning the first knob 42. In the illustrated state the second part 8 (FIG. 1) can be opened relative to the first part 6. The actuator 28 is no longer located in the read region of the read head 26 so that the unlocked state can be signaled. If it is necessary or advantageous that the closed state of the second part 8 still is to be signaled, an additional safety switch can be located, for example, on the facing end sides of the first and second part 6, 8 which independently of the locking position of the latch 18 signals the closed position of the second part 8.

For relocking from the position shown in FIG. 4 the latch 18 must again be introduced into the latch receiver 60. This is not possible by turning the first knob 42 because the displacement element 66 in FIG. 4 is indeed moved to the left, but there is no respective motion coupling with the latch 18. This reliably prevents that a person located on the inside of the space-separating device 2 can move the latch 18 into its position which locks the closed state. Rather, for this purpose the second knob 48 must be turned and the latch 18 must be moved out of the second component 16.

On or near its face-side end, the latch has a bevel 76. With the latter the latch 18 can lift the holding element 30 out of its position which is shown in FIG. 4, in which the holding element 30 with its projection 54 projects over the recess 56 into the latch receiver 60. When the latch 18 has been fully inserted into the latch receiver 60, the projection 54 in turn engages the recess 56 and blocks the latch 18 in its locking position. In this motion of the latch 18, based on the motion coupling between the release element 36 and the displacement element 66, especially due to the contact of the sector-shaped receiver 74 with the pin 70, the first knob 42 undergoes a reset motion until it again assumes the initial position shown in FIG. 2.

Preferably, the holding element 30 integrally forms an action surface 90 which is accessible from the outside of the device 1, in any case after removing a cover, by means of which holding can be manually neutralized, preferably with a suitable tool.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the device 1 which is offset by 90° relative to FIGS. 2 to 4, in particular of the component 16 from the direction of the position of the first knob 42. A coupling device is shown by means of which the rotary motion of the first knob 42 is converted into linear motion of the displacement element 66. FIG. 5 corresponds to the position of the latch 18 in FIG. 2. A square 78 which can be turned by a first knob 42 is nonrotatably connected by its shape to a driver shaft 80 which in turn is nonrotatably connected to the first lever 82. At the articulation point 84 which is formed, for example, by a pin, the first lever 82 is connected to the second lever 86 which is in turn connected to the displacement element 66 at a position spaced apart from the articulation point 84, is articulated in particular at another articulation point 88 on the displacement element 66. In this way, as the first knob 42 turns around the third axis 38 which runs perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of FIG. 5, the displacement element 66 is moved back and forth, there being motion coupling with the release element 36 only in one direction.

Claims

1. A device (1) for maintaining a locked and closed state of a space-separating device (2) in a releasable manner, in particular the protective device of a machine (4) having a first part (6) with an opening and a second part (8), which parts can be moved relative to one another and in this way the opening can be at least partially closed, the device (1) having a latch (18) by means of which the closed state of the space-separating device (2) can be locked,a holding element (30) by means of which the latch (18) can be blocked in its locking position,and a release element (36) by means of which the blocking of the latch (18) can be neutralized,and the blocking of the latch (18) can be neutralized by a rotary motion of the release element (36) relative to the latch (18).

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the release element (36) is a dual-arm lever which can be turned around an axis (68).

3. The device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the first arm of the lever neutralizes the blocking of the latch (18) during rotation and the force for turning the release element (36) can be delivered on the second arm.

4. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the release element (36) can be turned by means of a displacement element (66) which is movably supported in the device (1).

5. The device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that there is motion coupling between the displacement element (66) and the release element (36) only in one direction of motion of the displacement element (66) which neutralizes the blocking of the latch (18).

6. The device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the release element (36) can be actuated by means of a first knob (42) which is connected to the displacement element (66) by way of a coupling device.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the coupling device converts the rotary motion of the first knob (42) into the linear motion of the displacement element (66).

8. The device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the coupling device has a first lever (82) and a second lever (86) which are hinged to one another at an articulation point (84), and that the first lever (82) is nonrotatably connected to the first knob (42) and the second lever (86) is connected to the displacement element (66) at a position at a distance from the articulation point (84).

9. The device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the device (1) has a second knob (48) by means of which the latch (18) can be moved into the locked position, and that the axes of rotation (38, 44) of the first and second knob (42, 48) have an offset to one another.

10. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that following the rotary motion by means of which the blocking of the latch (18) can be neutralized, the release element (36) together with the latch (18) can be moved and thus the locking position of the latch (18) can be neutralized,

11. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the latch (18) and the holding element (30) positively engage one another in the position which blocks the latch (18).

12. The device (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the latch (18) has a recess (56) with a catch flank in which the holding element (30) catches in the position which blocks the latch (18).

13. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (1) has a first sensor by means of which the position of the latch (18) which locks the closed state of the space-separating device (2) can be signaled.

14. The device (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the first sensor is a safety switch which wirelessly transmits signals.

15. The device (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the first sensor has a read head (26) and an actuator (28) which interacts with the read head (26), preferably a transponder which is located on the latch (18), and that only in the position of the latch (18) which locks the closed state of the space-separating device (2) is signal transmission between the read head (26) and the transponder (28) possible.

16. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (1) has a second sensor by means of which the position of the holding element (30) which blocks the latch (18) can be signaled.