Contact ledge for safety gate of injection molding machine

In a production machine such as, for example, an injection molding machine, as part of a safety gate which is movable between open and closed positions by means of a safety gate drive, a safety mechanism for the interruption of the closing movement of the safety gate, in response to the presence in the path of the safety gate of an object or obstacle, the safety mechanism comprising in combination:

• a straight leading edge on the safety gate extending transversely to the direction of movement of the safety gate;
• a contact ledge extending parallel to the leading edge of the safety gate and ahead of the latter, the contact ledge being attached to the safety gate by means of a pivot connection with a pivot axis which is likewise parallel to the leading edge of the safety gate;
• means for biasing the pivotable contact ledge forwardly away from the leading edge of the safety gate into a rest position in which an obstacle in the path of the closing safety gate causes the contact ledge to pivot rearwardly towards said leading edge, in opposition to the contact ledge biasing means;
• and
• means for switching an electrical circuit of the safety gate drive in response to a rearward pivoting movement of the contact ledge.