Distance sensor

#The present invention relates to a safe optoelectronic distance sensor for monitoring a hazardous zone at a movable machine part having a protected zone and to a method of monitoring a protected field at a movable machine part having at least one safe optoelectronic distance sensor. The invention further relates to a movable machine part having a safe optoelectronic distance sensor.

#Functions are resulting more and more in today's production environment in which people have to work hand in hand with robots in close spaces. Protection of a person from the robot is in this respect not possible by mechanical protective devices such as fences or barriers, but must rather be transposed into the direct environment of the robot.

#To make this kind of cooperation possible in principle, robot manufacturers have developed robots having a force limitation. The maximum force a robot can exert before the movement is automatically stopped can be set here such that a force effect cannot produce serious injury in the event of a collision of the robot with a person. The motor control and the rotary encoder which carry out a positional determination of the robot arm are safety components with corresponding certification.

#The invention will also be explained in the following with respect to further advantages and features with reference to the enclosed drawing and to embodiments. The Figures of the drawing show in:

#FIG. 1: at least one safe optoelectronic distance sensor at a movable machine part;

#FIG. 2: a plurality of distance sensors at a tool;

#In the following Figures, identical parts are provided with identical reference numerals.

#FIG. 1 shows a safe optoelectronic distance sensor 1 for monitoring a hazardous zone 2 at a movable machine part 3 having a protected zone 4, wherein the safe distance sensor 1 is arranged at the movable machine part 3, wherein a tool 5 is arranged at the movable machine part 3, wherein a plurality of distance sensors 1 are arranged in a modular manner and wherein the protected zone 4 is adapted to the tool 5.

#A plurality of compact and inexpensive distance sensors 1 are integrated in a total system and can be arranged in any desired number and in any desired directions at the movable machine part 3.