US 6,784,415 B2Granted

Method of installing a multi-beam photoelectric safeguard system and method of adjusting its optical axes

AssigneeKeyence Corporation

InventorsMotohiro Kudo, Tetsu Inoue

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Abstract

A method of installing a multi-beam photoelectric safeguard system for making a light curtain of closely aligned light beams closely to a pressing machine first positions main light emitting and detecting devices (11, 12). The method next mounts a projecting portion (21) to the pressing machine and identifies optical axes interrupted by the projecting portion (21). Subsequently, after setting a sub light detecting device (13) adjacent to one side of the projecting portion (21), the method adjusts optical axes between the sub light detecting device (13) and the main light emitting device (11). Finally, after setting a sub light emitting device (14) adjacent to the other side of the projecting portion (21), the methods adjusts optical axes between the sub light emitting device (14) and the main light detecting device (12).

A method of installing a multi-beam photoelectric safeguard system for making a light curtain with a number of light beams around an interfering object, said multi-beam photoelectric safeguard system including:

a main light emitting device having a plurality of light emitting elements aligned in an array at equal intervals;
a main light detecting device disposed in an opposed relationship with said main light emitting device and having a plurality of photodetectors equal in number to said light emitting elements and arranged in an array at regular intervals;
a sub light detecting device disposed adjacent to one side of said interfering object interrupting a light beam of at least one optical axis of said light curtain, and including at least one photodetector capable of detecting a light beam from said main light emitting device;
a sub light emitting device disposed adjacent to the other side of said interfering object and capable of emitting a light beam toward said main light detecting device;
and
said light curtain including a main detection area defined between said main light emitting device and said main light detecting device, a first sub detection area defined between said main light emitting device and said sub light detecting device, and a second sub detection area defined between said sub light emitting device and said main light detecting device,
said method comprising:
(a) positioning said main light emitting device and said main light detecting device relative to each other and identifying a blanking optical axis interrupted by said interfering object among said light beams between said main light emitting device and said main light detecting device;
(b) placing said sub light detecting device adjacent to one side of said interfering object and thereafter positioning same relative to said main light emitting device by moving said sub light detecting device;
and
(c) placing said sub light emitting device adjacent to the other side of said interfering object and thereafter positioning same relative to said main light detecting device by moving said sub light emitting device.

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Abstract

Claims13