Light Curtain Muting Methods

The safety light curtain has become so ubiquitous that it is all too easy to regard it as a simple on off device a fail safe fit and forget substitute for protective fencing.

Light curtain muting methods.

The value of light curtains is greater than many realize having functions and features relevant for machine safety factory control and productivity. The first method involves using the light curtain controller to initiate the muting and generally results in disabling the sensing field. In normal operation if a light curtain detects an object it causes the safety system to stop any hazardous motion in the hazardous area. First we test the safety light curtain and latch reset with mute off.

The terms muting and blanking are frequently used incorrectly. When enabled a function block is purple with a 3 second count down timer. This post will help clarify the difference between the two so the correct safety light curtain functionality is chosen and the machine runs safely. From the instant the first of the two muting sensors is cleared.

After 3 seconds the status output and mute function turn off. When used with a safety light curtain muting enables the safety function to be temporarily. The second uses control reliable auxiliary circuits or machine controller circuits and would result in the bypassing of the light curtain s output signal. In nearly any industry that manufactures a product there are automatic feeder systems and conveyor applications that can be optimized simply by using muting.

Muting and light curtains. Also the status output for the mute light changes to green. Muting sensors shall be positioned beyond the light curtain in the dangerous area. The timer monitoring the 4 seconds shall be a safety related item.

Muting shall be desabled as soon as the light curtain is cleared and not later than 4 seconds max. Four common machine safeguarding flaws and how to avoid them.