Product category:
Machine Safety Components
News Release from: Schmersal UK | Subject: Safety interlock switches
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 14 October 2003
Safety systems specified for mini cigar
line
A new cigar production machine at Cardiff based JR Freeman incorporates seven safety interlock switches, all monitored by Schmersal safety relays with self-diagnostics.
Cardiff based JR Freeman is the cigar manufacturing division of Gallaher Tobacco Limited, producing such famous brands as Hamlet To facilitate the production of a new miniature tipped-cigar brand, a refurbished Mollins Mk8 machine equipped with a Max tip inserter has been installed at the Cardiff plant
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 14 Mar 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Safety interlock switch can never be bypassed
Schmersal (UK) have introduced a new range of safety interlock switches that are activated by an individually-coded, geometrically-unique, actuating key with 15,000 different combinations.
Safety switches for over 350 packaging machines
United Distillers and Vintners has specified Schmersal safety interlock switches to guard access doors on more than 350 packaging machines at three bottling plants in Scotland
Before production could begin, the machine, which has the capacity to produce cigars at the rate of 1000 per minute, required a new safety guarding system to restrict access to four risk areas.
Following a risk assessment that rated the machine as Category 3, JR Freeman engineer Dave Bonney and his team designed a complete safety system, with Schmersal providing input on the specification of four different types of safety interlock switches, mountings, sizes and various holding force requirements.
In all, seven switches are used on the machine, all monitored by Schmersal safety relays with self-diagnostics.
Two control access to the main motors; two protect the set of drums in the tip inserter; one restricts access to the fast-moving disc that trims the level of tobacco required for each cigar 'rod'; and another is used to protect operators from the high-speed knife that cuts rods into individual cigar lengths.
In addition, a solenoid locking switch is used to control access to the tobacco hopper during routine maintenance.
Commenting on the selection of interlock switch for the safety system, electrical technician Peter Jefferies says: "Schmersal equipment is extremely well engineered and reliable and is used on other machines in the plant.
With their proven performance and on-site technical support they were the obvious choice for this project".
R and M Electrical, Schmersal's authorised distributor for Wales and a supplier to JR Freeman, supplied all the safety components for the system.
• Schmersal UK: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
