SECURING OF GLOVED INTERVENTIONS

Abstract

A safety device for gloved intervention. A glovebox comprises a wall comprising an opening. A light curtain is in the glovebox. Upon acquisition of an object intervening through the curtain, a machine's operation is stopped. The device comprises a shaft extending inside the glovebox along an axis of rotation, an actuation element actuatable to allow axial movement of the shaft, a housing through which the shaft is guided, and a cover fastened to the shaft to a rotational axis. The housing is fastened to a wall. In a closed state, the cover closes the opening and can switch into an open state with rotational movement. The shaft and the housing are coupled to secure against twisting in a prevention position. The shaft is rotatable, in a rotational position, for switching between closed and open cover states. The curtain can detect the shaft and/or the cover in the rotational position.

Claims

1. A safety device for gloved intervention in a glovebox of a machine, the glovebox comprising a wall, the wall comprising an opening that allows for gloved intervention, wherein a light curtain is arranged in the glovebox coupled to the machine such that, upon acquisition of an object intervening through the light curtain, an operation of the machine is stopped, wherein the safety device comprises: a shaft configured to extend from an outside of the glovebox to an inside of the glovebox along an axis of rotation of the shaft; an actuation element that is actuatable to allow an axial movement of the shaft; and a housing through which the shaft is guided, wherein the housing is configured to be fastened to the wall in a torque-proof manner; and a cover configured to be fastened to the shaft transversely to an axis of rotation of the shaft, wherein the cover is configured, in a closed state, to close the opening and wherein the cover is configured to switch into an open state with rotational movement about the axis of rotation of the shaft and to release the opening, wherein the shaft and the housing are coupled together such that the shaft, together with the cover is secured against twisting in an axial rotation prevention position, and wherein the shaft is rotatable, in an axial rotational position, for switching between the closed state and the open state of the cover, and wherein one or more of the shaft or the cover is detectable by the light curtain in the rotational position.

2. The safety device of claim 1, comprising: a curved path part comprising a guide stretch, wherein the guide stretch is (A) attached to the shaft in a torque-proof and axially non-displaceable manner or (B) integrally integrated with the shaft; and a guide element that is (a) firmly attached to the housing on an inside of the housing or (b) integrally integrated with the housing, wherein the guide element configured to engage in the guide stretch of the curved path part, wherein the rotational position of the shaft is determined by the position of the guide element.

3. The safety device of claim 2, wherein the curved path part comprises an admission opening, wherein the admission opening passes through from the guide stretch to a side of the curved path part facing the guide element in a rotation prevention position, wherein the admission opening is configured to admit the guide element into the guide stretch with an axial movement of the shaft.

4. The safety device of claim 2, further comprising covering part wherein the covering part (i) is firmly attached to the housing on an inside of the housing, or (ii) is integrally integrated with the housing, wherein the covering part comprises a surface configured to interact with a surface of the curved path part such that the shaft is secured against twisting in the rotation prevention position.

5. The safety device of claim 3, wherein the guide stretch comprises a start position and an end position, wherein the curved path part further comprises a recess at an end position of the guide stretch, wherein the recess is connected to the guide stretch, and wherein the guide element is designed is configured to engage in the recess, with an axial movement, to secure the shaft against twisting.

6. The safety device of claim 2, wherein the guide element comprises is a bolt.

7. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the housing is formed integrally or is formed in multiple parts.

8. The safety device of claim 1, further comprising a locking unit configured to prevent, in a locking state, an axial movement of the shaft and to release, in a release state, the shaft, such that the shaft is secured against unintended actuation.

9. The safety device of claim 8, wherein the locking unit comprises a lock preloaded into the locking state using a resilient element.

10. The safety device of claim 9, wherein the resilient element comprises is a compression spring.

11. The safety device of claim 9, wherein the lock comprises an oblique surface configured to allow a transition from the rotational position of the shaft to the rotation prevention position of the shaft with an axial movement of the shaft.

12. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the actuation element is further configured to be actuated by a user to allow for a rotational movement of the shaft about the axis of rotation of the shaft.

13. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the actuation element comprises a clamping lever, a star knob, or an operating tool.

14. A facility, comprising: a glovebox of a machine, the glovebox comprising a wall, the wall defining an opening allowing for gloved intervention; a light curtain coupled to the machine such that, upon acquisition of an object intervening through the light curtain, an operation of the machine is stopped; and a safety device, comprising: a shaft (configured to extend from an outside of the glovebox to an inside of the glovebox along an axis of rotation of the shaft an actuation element that is actuatable to allow an axial movement of the shaft; and a housing through which the shaft is guided, wherein the housing is configured to be fastened to the wall in a torque-proof manner; and a cover configured to be fastened to the shaft transversely to an axis of rotation of the shaft, wherein the cover is configured, in a closed state, to close the opening and wherein the cover is configured to switch into an open state with a rotational movement about the axis of rotation of the shaft and to release the opening, wherein the shaft and the housing are coupled together such that the shaft, together with the cover, is secured against twisting in an axial rotation prevention position, and wherein the shaft is rotatable, in an axial rotational position, for switching between the closed state and the open state of the cover, and wherein one or more of the shaft or the cover is detectable by the light curtain in the rotational position.

15. The facility of claim 14, wherein the housing is firmly attached to the wall to a bottom left side of or to a bottom right side of the opening.

16. The facility of claim 14, wherein the housing is firmly attached to the wall on the outside of the wall.

17. The facility of claim 14, wherein the cover is fastened to the shaft inside the glovebox.

18. The facility of claim 14, the safety device further comprising: a curved path part comprising a guide stretch, wherein the guide stretch is (A) attached to the shaft in a torque-proof and axially non-displaceable manner or (B) integrally integrated with the shaft; and a guide element (that is (a) firmly attached to the housing on an inside of the housing or (b) integrally integrated with the housing, wherein the guide element configured to engage in the guide stretch of the curved path part, wherein the rotational position of the shaft is determined by the position of the guide element.

19. The facility of claim 18, wherein the curved path part comprises an admission opening, wherein the admission opening passes through from the guide stretch to a side of the curved path part facing the guide element in a rotation prevention position, wherein the admission opening is configured to admit the guide element into the guide stretch with an axial movement of the shaft.

20. The facility of claim 18, the safety device further comprising a covering part, wherein the covering part (i) is firmly attached to the housing on an inside of the housing, or (ii) is integrally integrated with the housing, wherein the covering part comprises a surface configured to interact with a surface of the curved path part such that the shaft is secured against twisting in the rotation prevention position.

Description

[0024] The invention will be explained in greater detail in the following, with reference to an embodiment. In the accompanying drawings:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a front view of a glovebox comprising a safety device;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the safety device from FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the glovebox comprising the safety device from

[0028] FIG. 1, wherein the shaft of the safety device is in an axial rotation prevention position;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the glovebox comprising the safety device from

[0030] FIG. 1, wherein the shaft of the safety device is in an axial rotational position;

[0031] FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view of the safety device from FIG. 1;

[0032] FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of the safety device from FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a front view of a glovebox 2 of a machine comprising a safety device 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The glovebox 2 comprises a wall 4 in which an opening 6 is provided which allows for gloved intervention. A ring 8 surrounding the opening is provided on the wall 4, wherein a glove is fastened to the opening, which glove is not shown in FIG. 1. A light curtain 9 is arranged inside the glovebox, which light curtain is coupled to the machine such that the operation of the machine is stopped upon interruption of a light beam of the light curtain 9 by an intervening object.

[0034] As can be seen from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the security device 10 comprises a shaft 12 which extends along an axis of rotation, and a housing 14 through which the shaft 12 is guided, wherein the housing 14 is fastened to the wall 4 in a torque-proof manner, by means of fastening screws 16, to the bottom left of the opening 6. A clamping lever 18 is coupled to one end of the shaft, which clamping lever is preferably designed to be actuated by a user, in order to allow both an axial movement of the shaft along the axis of rotation, and a rotational movement of the shaft about the axis of rotation. The safety device 10 further comprises a cover 20 which is designed to be fastened to the shaft transversely to the axis of rotation, wherein the cover 20 is furthermore designed to close the opening 6, in a closed state, and to switch into an open state by means of a rotational movement about the axis of rotation, and release the opening 6. In order to secure the shaft 12 against inadvertent actuation, and to prevent a machine stop triggered thereby, a locking unit 22 is preferably provided on the housing 14, which locking unit is designed to prevent an axial movement of the shaft in a locking state, and to release this in a release state.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the glovebox 2 comprising the safety device 10 from FIG. 1, wherein the shaft 12 of the safety device 10 is in an axial rotation prevention position, while FIG. 4 is also a plan view of the glovebox 2, wherein the shaft 12 of the safety device 10 is in an axial rotational position. It can be seen that the shaft 12 extends from the outside to the inside of the glovebox 2, along the axis of rotation thereof, wherein the cover 20 is firmly attached to one end of the shaft 12, inside the glovebox 2.

[0036] The shaft 12 and the housing 14 are coupled together such that the shaft 12, together with the cover 20, is secured against twisting in the axial rotation prevention position shown in FIG. 3, wherein it can be seen that the shaft 12 and the cover 20 are not detected by the light curtain 9, in the rotation prevention position. In comparison therewith, in the axial rotational position shown in FIG. 4, the shaft 12 and the housing 14 are coupled together such that the shaft 12 is rotatable, wherein it can be seen that the shaft 12 and/or the cover 20 interrupt a light beam 11 of the light curtain 9, in the rotational position, and thus the operation of the machine is stopped. The safety device 10 is designed such that the shaft 12 is rotatable only if it and/or the cover 20 is detected by the light curtain 9 in the axial rotational position. It is thus possible to ensure that the machine is already stopped before a glove can intervene in the producing machine, such that the risk of injury can be avoided.

[0037] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show, by way of example, the way in which the housing 14 and the shaft 12 can be coupled together, in the embodiment according to the above explanations. As can be seen from FIG. 5, a curved path part 24 is attached to the shaft 12 in a torque-proof and axially non-displaceable manner, wherein the curved path part 24 comprises a guide stretch 26 of a particular length, which is formed as an indentation on a surface of the curved path part 24. A guide element 28 is firmly attached to the housing 14 on the inside, which guide element, in the embodiment, is designed as a bolt 28. The bolt 28 is designed for engaging in the guide stretch 26 of the curved path part 24, wherein the rotational position of the shaft 12 is determined by the position of the guide element 24.

[0038] In order to introduce the bolt 28 into the guide stretch 26, the curved path part 24 comprises an admission opening 29 which is designed to admit the guide element 28 into the guide stretch 26 by means of an axial movement of the shaft 12.

[0039] Before the shaft 12 has reached the rotational position, in which the light curtain 9 is interrupted, the shaft 12 has to be secured against twisting. The safety device 10 thus preferably further comprises a covering part 30, which is integrated on the inside and integrally with the housing 14, wherein the covering part 30 comprises a milled surface which is designed to interact with a milled surface of the curved path part 24, such that twisting of the shaft is prevented in the rotation prevention position.

[0040] The guide stretch 26 of the curved path part 24 comprises a start position and an end position, wherein a recess is provided at the end position of the guide stretch, which recess is not shown here in the drawings. The recess is connected to the guide stretch, wherein the bolt 28 is designed to engage in the recess, by means of an axial movement, in order to secure the shaft 12 against twisting, in a stop position.

[0041] The guide stretch is of a length which is defined by the start position and the end position, wherein the length determines the pivoting range of the cover 20. Depending on the position in which the housing of the safety device is arranged with respect to the opening of the glovebox, the necessary pivoting range of the cover 20 is different, in order to release the opening 6. In the embodiment shown here, the housing 14 is arranged to the bottom left of the opening 6, as a result of which the pivoting range of the cover can be minimized, and can be merely approximately 65°. Furthermore, in variants of the embodiment shown here, a different pivoting range can also be selected, depending on the boundary conditions.

[0042] As a result of the minimized pivoting range, the cover 20 that is pivoted out is not in the field of vision of the user. Furthermore, the bolt 28 is secured in the stop position by means of the gravitational force of the cover, such that it cannot slip out of the recess due to vibrations, and cause the cover to fall down.

[0043] As can be seen from FIG. 6, the locking unit 22 comprises a lock 23 which is secured in the housing 14, against twisting, by means of a surface, and is pressed against the shaft 12, in a locking state, by means of a compression spring 25. Thus, undesired displacement of the shaft 12, and a resulting interruption of the light curtain 9, is not possible. Only when the lock 23 is pulled upwards can the shaft 12 be pushed in the direction of the light curtain 9. As a result, the lock 23 can be released again. On account of an oblique surface of the lock 23, the lock 23 latches back into the locking state, in the event of the shaft 12 returning into its home position. The shaft 12 is thus secured against undesired actuation.

[0044] The mode of operation of the of the safety device 10 according to the embodiment shown can furthermore be summarized, by way of example, in the following steps, with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6:

[0045] Step 1: Release locking By means of pulling out the lock 23 the shaft 12 is unlocked, and can thus be displaced axially.

[0046] Step 2: Displacement (region 1)

[0047] The shaft can be pushed axially in the direction of the glovebox 2. Twisting of the cover 20 is prevented in this region by means of interaction of a milled surface of the curved path part 24 on the shaft 12, and a milled surface of the covering part 30 on the housing 14.

[0048] Step 3: Displacement (region 2) In this region, the shaft can also be pushed axially in the direction of the glovebox 2. In this case, firstly twisting prevention is achieved by means of the curved path part 24. Only when the axial rotational position is reached, in which the bolt 28 is in engagement with the guide stretch 26, is twisting of the shaft 12 possible, wherein the light curtain 9 is interrupted, in the rotational position, by the shaft 12 and/or the cover 20, and the machine stops.

[0049] Step 4: Twisting (opening)

[0050] In the rotational position, the shaft 12 can be rotated together with the cover 20, in order to release the opening 6. The length of the curved path part 24 makes it possible for the pivoting angle of the cover 20 to be limited to a value of 65°. If the end position of the guide stretch 26 is reached, the shaft 12 can be pushed in again by for example 5 mm (axial end stop), and is thus again secured against twisting.