Small safety interlock switch for machine builders
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Rockwell Automation - Allen-Bradley Guardmaster product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Mar 8, 2001
The global demand by machine builders for miniaturisation of safety equipment is being met, and exceeded, by Guardmaster's new Elf, the smallest safety interlock switch of its type currently available
The global demand by machine builders for miniaturisation of safety equipment is being met, and exceeded, by Guardmaster's new Elf, the smallest safety interlock switch of its type currently available.
The new Elf integrates 2 N/C (normally closed contacts into an IP67 (watertight and dustproof) housing measuring just 75mm x 25mm x 29 mm.
The new Elf has been designed for use on small/medium duty equipment such as printers, packaging machines, labellers and copiers which, until now, have been unable to accommodate safety interlocks with 2 safety contacts, due to space restrictions.
The new Elf is a tongue actuated safety interlock switch designed to fit at the opening edge of sliding, hinged or lift off guards.
With its dual entry slots and rotatable head, the new Elf can offer up to 8 different options for actuator entry making it extremely versatile and easy to install.
Operation of the switch is achieved by the insertion of the specially profiled stainless steel actuator, which should be permanently fixed to the leading edge of the guard door.
The actuator integrates a "flexible resilient" member, which allows the Elf to operate on small radii guard doors (15Omm).
For use in more demanding applications, or on even smaller radii guard doors (60mm), the new Elf can be supplied with an optional GD2 kit.
This comprises a stainless steel actuator guide and a flexible actuator.
Together these improve both the mechanical alignment and mechanical life of the switches.
The flexible actuator offers the advantage of allowing for any misalignment between guard doors.
Its action is facilitated by an alignment guide, on the GD2 metal end cap, which aids its entry.
The end cap also provides a solution on misaligned guard doors where the actuator will often strike the end cap first.
This is not a problem as the robust end cap is designed to withstand these knocks.
Despite its small size the new Elf benefits from forced guided contacts and a tamper resistant mechanism, features which allow machinery to be safeguarded in full compliance with the Machinery Directive.
The safety switch also conform to a wide range of international standards, including EN1088, EN292, EN60947-5-1 and EN60204-1.
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