Relay apparatus and safety switching device with relay apparatus

A relay apparatus, comprising:

• input ports;
• output ports;
• a dual-armature first relay comprising:
• a first contact group comprising a number n≥2 of first normally closed contacts arranged parallel to each other that are moveable between open and closed positions by a first common armature;
• and
• a second contact group comprising n second normally closed contacts arranged parallel to each other that are moveable between open and closed positions by a second common armature, wherein the first and second normally closed contacts are arranged electrically in series in pairs;
• and
• a second relay with a number m<n of normally closed contacts that are arranged parallel to each other and that are moveable between open and closed positions by a third common armature, wherein:
• the first and second normally closed contacts of the dual-armature first relay and the normally closed contacts of the second relay are positively driven,
• the dual-armature first relay and the second relay are arranged electrically in series with one another between the input ports and the output ports such that the relay apparatus has plural parallel switching paths, and
• a normally closed contact of the second relay is arranged electrically in series with a first normally closed contact of the first contact group in m switching paths.