Actuator

Abstract

An actuator (3) for a safety switch (2) with an actuator head (8), said actuator head being mounted to a core body (6) by means of a connection element (7). The actuator head (8) has, at least in parts, a larger cross section than the connection element (7). The connection element (7) is rigid in the axial direction. The actuator head (8) is held in a base position by means of the connecting element (7). In this base position, the longitudinal axis of the connection element (7) runs at an angle of inclination to the surface of the core body (6).

Claims

1. An actuator (3) for a safety switch (2) with an actuator head (8), said actuator head being mounted to a core body (6) by means of a connection element (7), the actuator head (8) at least in sections having a larger cross section than the connection element (7), the connection element (7) being rigid in the axial direction and the actuator head (8) being held by means of the connection element (7) in a base position in which the longitudinal axis of the connection element (7) runs at an angle of inclination to the surface of the core body (6), the safety switch (2) has a latching unit (12) by means of which the actuator (3) can be held in a latched position, wherein the latching unit (12) has an arrangement of latching jaws (14) that delimits an insertion opening (A) through which the actuator head (8) can be inserted into a latching position, and wherein the latching jaws (14) in latched positions grip behind the actuator head (8) and hold the actuator (3) in the latching position, and the actuator head (8), when passing the latching jaws (14), deflects the latching jaws (14) from the latched position.

2. The actuator (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator head (8) is a body formed rotationally symmetric to the longitudinal axis of the connection element (7).

3. The actuator (3) according to claim 2, characterized in that the actuator head (8) is sphere-shaped or has an oval or polygonal cross section.

4. The actuator (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator head (8) can be deflected along a plane extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the connection element (7) and/or the connection element (7) is made of an elastically deformable material.

5. The actuator (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection element (7) has an at least approximately constant cross section over its entire length.

6. The actuator (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection element (7) is made of a metallic material, wherein in particular the connection element (7) is a steel cable.

7. The actuator (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the base position the longitudinal axis of the connection element (7) runs along a straight line oriented perpendicular to the surface of the core body (6).

8. The actuator (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the length of the connection element (7) is adjustable.

9. The actuator (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that its core body (6) forms a receptacle by means of which the actuator (3) can be mounted in or on a door.

10. The actuator (3) according to claim 9, characterized in that the core body (6) has two circular disc-shaped segments (25, 26), connected by a cylindrical segment (27), which protrude beyond the cylindrical segment (27).

11. The actuator (3) according to claim 9, characterized in that the connection element (7) protrudes with the actuator head (8) from a first front side of the core body (6) and a handle element (28) is arranged on the opposite front side of the core body (6).

12. The actuator (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the core body (6) is a slot nut (29) which can be integrated into a profile (30).

13. The safety switch arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator head (8) is automatically alignable by a deflection motion towards the insertion opening (A).

14. The safety switch arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety switch (2) has a locking unit (17) assigned to the latching unit (12), which effects a locking of the actuator (3) in the latched position.

15. The safety switch arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the latched position of the actuator (3) is monitored by capturing signals from a transponder (10) in the actuator (3) in a reader unit of the safety switch (2), wherein the transponder (10) is integrated in the actuator head (8) or in the core body (6).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained below based on the drawings. The following is shown in:

(2) FIG. 1 Exemplary embodiment of the safety switch arrangement in accordance with the invention with a safety switch and an actuator.

(3) FIG. 2 Longitudinal cross section of the actuator of the safety switch arrangement according to FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 Longitudinal cross section of the safety switch according to FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4A Depiction of a section of the safety switch from FIG. 1 with the components of a latching unit and a locking unit with locking deactivated

(6) FIG. 4B Depiction of a section of the safety switch from FIG. 1 with the components of a latching unit and a locking unit with locking activated

(7) FIG. 5A One state of the latching unit and locking unit during insertion of the actuator into a latched position

(8) FIG. 5B Another state of the latching unit and locking unit during insertion of the actuator into a latched position.

(9) FIG. 5C A further state of the latching unit and locking unit during insertion of the actuator into a latched position.

(10) FIG. 6 Another embodiment of the actuator.

(11) FIG. 7 Variant of the embodiment according to FIG. 6.

(12) FIG. 8 Another embodiment of the actuator.

(13) FIG. 9A Integration of the actuator into a profile without a slot cover

(14) FIG. 9B Integration of the actuator into a profile with a slot cover

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(15) FIG. 1 shows schematically an exemplary embodiment of a safety switch arrangement 1 with a safety switch 2 and actuator 3.

(16) This safety switch arrangement 1 can be used, for example, to secure a safety door that serves as access to a hazard area. The actuator 3 can be arranged on the door, the safety switch 2 can be arranged on a frame bounding the door opening which is closed by the safety door.

(17) The components of the safety switch 2 are integrated into a housing 4 from which a cable connector 5 protrudes for connection to external units.

(18) As is evident from FIG. 1 and, in particular, FIG. 2, the actuator 3 has a core body 6 in which a connection element 7 is mounted. The connection element 7 is formed by an elongated body, the cross section of which is at least approximately constant over its entire length.

(19) The connection element 7 is mounted in the core body 6 with its first free end such that the longitudinal axis of the connection element 7 is oriented perpendicular to the surface of the core body 6. An actuator head 8 is mounted at the other end of the connection element 7. In the present case, the actuator head 8 is sphere-shaped. In principle, the actuator head 8 can also be formed by another body with rotational symmetry. In principle, the actuator head 8 can also have a polygonal cross-section. In any case, the actuator head 8 has a larger cross-sectional area than the connection element 7, such that the actuator head 8 projects across its entire cross-sectional plane beyond the connection element 7.

(20) In principle, the connection element 7 can be made of plastic or a metallic material. In the present case, the connection element 7 is made of a short piece of steel cable.

(21) In general, the connection element 7 is made of a material that ensures high rigidity of the connection element 7 in the axial direction and which maintains the connection element 7 in its base position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, especially when the effects of gravity are present. At the same time, the connection element 7 has flexibility, i.e., elastic deformability, such that when exposed to forces, it can be deformed such that the actuator head 8 can be pivoted out along a plane extending transversely to the longitudinal axis.

(22) As shown in FIG. 2 with the double arrow, the connection element 7 is mounted in a guide 9 of the core body 6 such that it can be led out of or inserted into, in particular, pulled out of or pushed into the core body 6, such that the length of the part of the connection element 7 protruding beyond the core body 6 can be varied. The connection element 7 can be fixed at any position.

(23) As is further evident from FIG. 2, a transponder 10 is mounted in the actuator head 8. Alternatively, the transponder 10 can be mounted in the core body 6.

(24) As shown in FIG. 3, a reading unit in the form of a reading coil 11 is arranged in the safety switch 2. The reading coil 11 can be used to receive signals sent by the transponder 10 in the actuator head 8 when the actuator 3 has been moved into a latched position in the safety switch 2, as shown furthermore in FIG. 3.

(25) For secure latching of the actuator 3 in its latched position, the safety switch 2 has a latching unit 12, the components of which are shown in a top-down view in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The latching unit 12 is located in the region behind the front wall 4a of the housing 4 of the safety switch 2.

(26) In the latched position of the actuator 3, the actuator head 8 is within a guide channel 13 in the safety switch 2. The components of the latching unit 12 grip behind the actuator head 8, thereby latching the actuator 3, i.e., the actuator 3 is secured against slipping out of the safety switch 2.

(27) In the present case, the latching unit 12 has three identically-formed latching jaws 14 arranged concentrically such that their first free ends delimit an insertion opening A. The longitudinal axes of the latching jaws 14 extend in the radial direction. The extensions of these longitudinal axes intersect at the center of the insertion opening A. Each latching jaw 14 is spring-mounted by means of a spring unit 15 which in the present case is formed by a single spring. The spring forces keep the latching jaws 14 in their latched position shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

(28) The latching jaws 14 are arranged in a rotationally-symmetrical manner relative to one another at offsets of 120°. Each latching position of the latching jaws 14 is monitored with a retro-reflective sensor 16.

(29) The latching unit 12 has an associated locking unit 17. The locking unit 17 has a disc-shaped link 18. The outer contour of the link 18 has a toothing 19 that engages with a cog wheel 20. The cog wheel 20 can be placed into rotational motion by means of an electric drive in the form of an electric motor 21, whereby the link 18 also rotates about a rotational axis extending perpendicular to the disc axis.

(30) A mechanical auxiliary unlatching element 22 is associated with the electric motor 21. For example, in the unpowered state of the safety switch 2, the electric motor 21 and thereby also the link 18 can be mechanically rotated by actuating the auxiliary unlatching element 22, e.g., with a screwdriver.

(31) The link 18 has a central cavity within which the latching jaws 14 of the latching unit 12 are arranged. The cavity is delimited by a wall segment of the link 18 that forms an inner contour.

(32) The symmetry of the inner contour matches the symmetry of the latching jaws 14. Accordingly, the inner contour has three identically formed segments 23, rotated by 120°, that serve to lock the latching jaws 14 in place. Two adjacent segments 23 are each connected by an intermediate segment 24 of the inner contour. The intermediate segments 24 are also identically formed.

(33) FIG. 4A shows the locking unit 17 with deactivated locking function. Here the link 18 is rotated by means of the electric motor 21 in a rotary position in which the intermediate segments 24 are in the region of the latching jaws 14. The intermediate segments 24 are formed such that they are at a distance from the rear, second free ends. In this way, the latching jaws 14 can be displaced against the spring forces of the spring unit 15 from their latched positions and can be moved in the direction of the intermediate segments 24.

(34) FIG. 4B shows the locking unit 17 with activated locking. Here the link 18 is rotated by means of the electric motor 21 into a rotary position in which the segments 23 of the inner contour are in the region of the latching jaws 14. The segments 23 of the inner contour bear tightly against the latching jaws 14 such that a movement of the latching jaws 14 from the latched positions is blocked, which effects a locking function.

(35) The transition from the state of deactivated locking (FIG. 4A) into the state of activated locking (FIG. 4B) is achieved through further rotating the link 18 by 60° in the direction shown in FIG. 4A. By further rotating the link 18 another 60°, a state with deactivated locking is reached again, and so on.

(36) The functioning of the latching and locking of the safety switch arrangement 1 is explained based on FIGS. 5A to 5C.

(37) In the starting position, for example, with open safety door, the actuator 3 is at a distance from the safety door. When the safety door is closed, the actuator 3 is moved into a latched position inside the safety switch 2.

(38) To do so, first the actuator head 8 is moved against the insertion opening A. Since the actuator head 8 can be arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the connection element 7 because of the elastic deformability of the connecting element 7, the actuator head 8 self-centers itself at the insertion opening A. The diameter of the actuator head 8 is larger than the diameter of the insertion opening A. Therefore, when the actuator head 8 is moved against the insertion opening A, the pressure forces exerted by the actuator head 8 on the latching jaws 14 deflect the latching jaws 14 out of their latched position. This is possible since the locking of the locking unit 17 is deactivated, i.e., the intermediate segments 24 are in the region of the latching jaws 14. This situation is depicted in FIG. 5A. The actuator head 8 is in the region of the expanded insertion opening A. The latching jaws 14 are pushed out and back from their latched positions by the actuator head 8 and bear against the intermediate segments 24.

(39) Then the actuator 3 is inserted farther into the safety switch 2, until it is in the latched position depicted in FIG. 3. In this latched position, the actuator head 8 has passed the latching jaws 14. The latching jaws 14 are therefore returned to their latched position by the spring forces, such that their free ends bear against the connection element 7 of the actuator 3 with little play. The latching jaws 14 then grip behind the actuator head 8, whereby the actuator 3 is securely latched by the spring forces that keep the latching jaws 14 in their latched positions. Locking is still deactivated. This state is shown in FIG. 5B. In this state, the actuator can still be unlatched under load, since the actuator 3 can be pulled by force out of the latching unit 12.

(40) Next, as depicted in FIG. 5C, locking is activated, such that the link 18 is rotated against unlocking.

(41) When the safety switch arrangement 1 according to the invention is used to secure a safety door serving as access to a hazard area, the safety switch 2 can, when the actuator 3 is latched and locked, emit a switching signal that can be used to release a hazardous system within the hazard area for operation.

(42) FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the actuator 3 according to the invention. The actuator 3 again has a core body 6, a connection element 7, as well as a sphere-shaped actuator head 8. A transponder, which is not shown, can be arranged in the actuator head 8 or core body 6.

(43) The connection element 7 protrudes perpendicularly from the surface of the core body 6 and has the shape of a cylinder. In general, the connection element 7 can have other shapes. For example, the connection element 7 can be a steel cable.

(44) The core body 6 is formed as a receptacle that can be inserted, in particular, snapped into place in a recess of a safety door, the core body 6 in the latter case being elastically deformable, which is not mandatory, however.

(45) The core body 6 has two circular disc-shaped segments 25, 26, which are separated by a cylindrical segment 27. The axes of symmetry of these segments coincide with the longitudinal axes of the connection element 7. The diameters of the circular disc-shaped segments 25, 26 are larger than the diameter of the cylindrical segment 27. In general, the segments 25, 26, 27 can also have other geometries.

(46) The actuator 3 can be mounted in a recess of the door such that the edge of the door bounding the recess tightly abuts the cylindrical segment 27. The circular disc-shaped segments 25, 26 of the core body 6 then overlap external and internal wall segments of the door adjacent to the edge, thereby securing the actuator head 8 against slipping out of the door.

(47) FIG. 7 shows a variant of the embodiment according to FIG. 6. The actuator 3 according to FIG. 7 has the same structure as the actuator 3 according to FIG. 6; however, a handle element 28 with which a person can open and close the door is additionally provided on the front side of the core body 6 facing away from the actuator head 8.

(48) FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the actuator 3 according to the invention with a core body 6, a cylindrical connection element 7 and a sphere-shaped actuator head 8.

(49) In this case, the core body 6 is formed by a slot nut 29. A transponder 10 can be integrated into the actuator head 8 or the slot nut 29.

(50) The core body 6 formed as the slot nut 29 can be simply integrated into a profile 30 by inserting it into a profile slot 31 of the profile 30 (FIG. 9A), where it is fixed with a grub screw, not shown here, which engages with a hole 32 of the slot nut 29.

(51) As FIG. 9A shows, the slot nut 29 is mounted in the profile slot 31 such that the face of the slot nut 29, from which the connection element 7 exits, is mounted with an inward offset vis-à-vis the outside 33 of the profile 30.

(52) As FIG. 9B shows, a profile slot cover 34 can be placed on the slot nut 29 such that it covers the slot nut 29 and is flush with the outside of the profile 30. Thus, only the connection element 7 with the actuator head 8 protrudes outwards beyond the profile slot cover 34.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(53) (1) Safety switch arrangement (2) Safety switch (3) Actuator (4) Housing (4a) Front wall (5) Cable connection (6) Core body (7) Connection element (8) Actuator head (9) Guide (10) Transponder (11) Reading coil (12) Latching unit (13) Guide channel (14) Latching jaw (15) Spring unit (16) Retro-reflective sensor (17) Locking unit (18) Link (19) Toothing (20) Cog wheel (21) Electric motor (22) Auxiliary unlatching element (23) Segments (24) Intermediate segment (25) Circular disk-shaped segment (26) Circular disk-shaped segment (27) Cylindrical segment (28) Handle element (29) Slot nut (30) Profile (31) Profile slot (32) Hole (33) Outside (34) Profile slot cover (A) Insertion opening