Zone Control Systems Complex packaging machine systems often comprise a number of potentially hazardous machines linked together by a common conveyor system. Light curtains are often used for safeguarding the large open areas across the industrial conveyors between each machine system, to protect personnel from injury should they walk along the conveyor from one machine zone to the next.Safety zone control may be very simple or it can be very complex in applications that require multiple zone isolation systems.

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Mute Indication In some machinery applications it may be desirable to provide visual indication to personnel that the safety light curtain is in a muted condition. To satisfy this requirement Smartscan have introduced a high reliability mute beacon, employing bright light emitting diodes as the light source.The beacon can be supplied for direct integration onto the light curtain receiver column, or as a separate self-contained unit for mounting remotely. In order to meet the European requirements for monitoring the mute indicator a special monitor module can be provided. The mute beacon monitor module is factory fitted inside the receiver column of an 8000 Series light curtain. The module continuously monitors the electrical current from the beacon LED’s. Should one or both groups of beacon LED’s fail to illuminate the drop in power will be detected by the monitor module, forcing the light curtain into a lockout condition, thus stopping the potentially dangerous machine.
Figure 4 Figure 5 Model 083-502 with Integrated Mute Beacon Smartscan Remote Mounting Stackable Industrial beacons Figures 4 and 5 above, show a zone control system in its simplest form. One machine connected to a common conveyor system. The conveyor feeds pallet loads into and out of the potentially dangerous packaging machine. Light curtain LC1 mounted across the conveyor is connected to the machinery electrical control system. Should a person attempt to walk along the conveyor, through the light curtain’s detection field, then the light curtain’s safety output contacts will de-activate, in-turn stopping all hazardous movement of the machine. 8000 SERIES8000 SERIES