Disclosed are a control device for a power tool and a power tool provided with the control device. The control device includes an operation control interface which is provided with a manually operated controller; an impedance-measuring safety interface, wherein the impedance-measuring interface includes a first manual contact electrode and a second manual contact electrode which are electrically isolated from each other, and wherein the manual contact electrodes are provided on the controller and extend over a manual bearing surface of the controller. The device is suitable for controlling and ensuring the safe use of power tools, especially electrical tools, such as pruning shears.

A lockout device that can be used independently and/or through a connected system that provides information and warnings of conventional lockout tag, while also able to actively provide information to a user and any other individual or device through a network in the system. The lockout device is paired with a user and enables audible and/or visual warnings to ensure notice of the lockout device as well as warnings to the user through the network of possible tampering.

A lockout device that can be used independently and/or through a connected system that provides information and warnings of conventional lockout tag, while also able to actively provide information to a user and any other individual or device through a network in the system. The lockout device is paired with a user and enables audible and/or visual warnings to ensure notice of the lockout device as well as warnings to the user through the network of possible tampering.

A human-collaborative robot, by which the robot is unlikely to be accidentally operated despite the intention of the human, even if a relatively simple action pattern is determined as a command to the robot. When an external force by a human is applied to the robot, the force is detected by a force sensor. The robot is configured to be stopped when the detected external force exceeds a predetermined threshold. In order to restart the stopped motion of the robot, the human purposely applies the external force to the robot. When a judging section judges that the external force is applied to a specified portion the robot based on a predetermined action pattern, a commanding section commands the robot so that the robot performs a motion which is previously associated with the pattern.

A human-collaborative robot, by which the robot is unlikely to be accidentally operated despite the intention of the human, even if a relatively simple action pattern is determined as a command to the robot. When an external force by a human is applied to the robot, the force is detected by a force sensor. The robot is configured to be stopped when the detected external force exceeds a predetermined threshold. In order to restart the stopped motion of the robot, the human purposely applies the external force to the robot. When a judging section judges that the external force is applied to a specified portion the robot based on a predetermined action pattern, a commanding section commands the robot so that the robot performs a motion which is previously associated with the pattern.

A foreign object detecting device includes: an input unit to which a detection signal is inputted from a sheet-type pressure sensor; a sensor information processing unit configured to, based on the detection signal, generate sensor information indicating an area in a detection area of the pressure sensor to which a pressure is being applied; and a judgement unit configured to compare the sensor information and basic layout information indicating a predetermined area in the detection area to which a pressure is applied, to thereby judge whether a foreign object is present in the detection area.

A device and a method for safety instrumented control of a machine, wherein the machine is equipped with an electric drive, is operated by a person and has at least one metal component capable of causing injury in the event of a mechanical interaction with said person. The device is equipped with a left-hand and right-hand conductive glove in the form of an under-glove, a left-hand and right-hand insulating glove in the form of an over-glove, a control device which controls the electric drive of the machine and to which the conductive gloves can be connected, and a resistance test device of the control device which compares the resistance between the left-hand and right-hand conductive gloves to a predetermined minimum resistance and a predetermined maximum resistance and prevents the drive from being switched on if the detected resistance is less than the minimum resistance or greater than the maximum resistance.

A device and a method for safety instrumented control of a machine, wherein the machine is equipped with an electric drive, is operated by a person and has at least one metal component capable of causing injury in the event of a mechanical interaction with said person. The device is equipped with a left-hand and right-hand conductive glove in the form of an under-glove, a left-hand and right-hand insulating glove in the form of an over-glove, a control device which controls the electric drive of the machine and to which the conductive gloves can be connected, and a resistance test device of the control device which compares the resistance between the left-hand and right-hand conductive gloves to a predetermined minimum resistance and a predetermined maximum resistance and prevents the drive from being switched on if the detected resistance is less than the minimum resistance or greater than the maximum resistance.

A safety system for a power tool having a motor and a cutting tool driven by the motor includes a control device configured to detect a direct contact of a conductive material with the cutting tool, the direct contact of the conductive material with the cutting tool defining a contact event, and a braking device movable between a retracted position and an engaged position. The control device is configured to interrupt electrical power to the motor and control the braking device to the engaged position when the contact event is detected.

A safety system for a power tool having a motor and a cutting tool driven by the motor includes a control device configured to detect a direct contact of a conductive material with the cutting tool, the direct contact of the conductive material with the cutting tool defining a contact event, and a braking device movable between a retracted position and an engaged position. The control device is configured to interrupt electrical power to the motor and control the braking device to the engaged position when the contact event is detected.