Integrated safety system boosts safety and productivity

In an aim to meet customer requirements for worker safety and productivity, many manufacturers make great efforts to design and produce safe machinery that maintains productivity. This was the impetus behind a collaboration between Schneider Packaging Equipment Co. and Ross Controls. The two companies worked together to design an integrated safety system for Schneider Packaging’s machines that would enable safe operator access for routine, repetitive tasks. 

An integrated safety system

To increase safe worker access for routine and repetitive tasks, Schneider Packaging designs its machines with Allen-Bradley GuardLogix programmable automation controllers from Rockwell Automation. This unit was selected because it offers the most flexibility to set up different machine reactions based on input from the safety devices. The system also includes DM2 safety valves from Ross Controls to isolate pneumatic energy, and the Allen-Bradley Bulletin 2030 ElectroGuard Safety Isolation System.

This integrated safety system provides users with a uniform machine that isolates all energy sources prior to any personnel accessing a potentially hazardous area, and helps to ensure that no single point of failure will lead to an unsafe condition. It has the capability to do all of this without adversely affecting the machine’s productivity. 

How it works

When a safety event occurs, the GuardLogix safety controller removes power from the main solenoid coils, which removes the pneumatic energy that creates motion during operation.

The DM2 in the Pneumatic Isolation Module acts as a pneumatic safety relay that blocks the incoming supply of pneumatic energy, and rapidly exhausts downstream pneumatic energy. This helps the system isolate both electrical and pneumatic energy in one swift action.

The valve can also provide feedback about its condition to the control system via a pressure switch, which is used for diagnostics. 

Team work

Integrating the DM2 valve with Rockwell Automation safety controls provides an alternative to lockout, and helps to improve both safety and productivity because the task of locking out has been eliminated from the process in some applications.

To learn more, read the white paper, Boost Safety and Productivity, from Ross Controls and Schneider Packaging Equipment Co. 

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