Keywords
Citation
(2001), "Injection moulding plant gets safety upgrade from Castel", Industrial Robot, Vol. 28 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2001.04928aaf.005
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited
Injection moulding plant gets safety upgrade from Castel
Injection moulding plant gets safety upgrade from Castel
Keywords Injection moulding, Safety, Electrolux AB
Castell Safety International Ltd has recently supplied safety access systems to one of the largest injection moulding plants in the UK, operated by Electrolux Outdoor Products.
As part of an internal assessment of the plant's existing safety equipment, and ongoing site improvements, Castell was invited by Caraline Robinson, technical controller at Electrolux, to design a trapped key safety system as previous safety measures had proven to be unreliable. The system had to ensure that access to the mould-removing robots was impossible when the machinery was in operation, while allowing swift access to the guarded area when necessary (see Plate 4).
Owing to high production demands on both staff and machinery, Castell needed to ensure that the installation of any system would cause the minimum of delay and disruption to the plant.
Plate 4 Trapped
key safety system, designed by Castell
It was decided that a trapped key system fitted to the access doors of each moulding machine's perimeter guard should be fitted. The operator starts the entry procedure by isolating the control circuit of the robot via a safety relay and through a KS20 key-driven switch. This key is then used in the isolation lock of the AIE door interlock, which in turn releases a personnel key that is taken by the operator into the area. Provision is also made within the area to switch the robot into step mode via a second KS20 switch.
The new system is a heavy-duty mechanical unit, which ensures both reliability and longevity in the harsh conditions of the plant. With the safety system being located on the door, fast access is enabled, ensuring a minimum of production downtime.
For further information, please contact: Nick Cowen. Tel: +44 (0)208 200 1200; Fax: +44 (0)208 205 0055; e-mail: sales@castell.co.uk