One guard that’s always alert to human entry
September 1st 2004

The new Entry Exit FT-Muting Guard from Leuze Mayser prevents employees becoming entwined in machinery, such as shrink-wrappers, yet allows free flow of approved items.

In many handling applications fork lift trucks are deployed to remove or place palletised loads onto conveying systems or other infeed to automated machines. There is a legal obligation on the company to provide safety guards that will stop the machine should a person move too close to the hazard zone. Fixed guards may be in place either side of the conveyorrun, but the problem area is the load/unload point where clear access is needed.

Safety light barriers monitor openings and protect staff. Leuze Mayser points out, however, that as the palletised load is placed on the conveyor it will trigger the safety light barrier and close all machinery functions unless the FT-Muting Guard is used.

The guard momentarily negates or ‘mutes’ the action of the safety light barrier during the load and collection operations by linking the light barrier via muting controls to inductive loops in the floor.

As the fork truck arrives at the drop off or pick-up point, its mass is detected by inductive loops. These mute the operation of the safety beam, allowing infeed or discharge of a pallet without affecting the action of the shrink wrap machine.

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