TÜV-SÜD-certified solution for safe monitoring of cardboard feed

With optical detection on the carton magazine or cardboard feed on carton erectors, a new TÜV SÜD-certified solution from Pilz prevents operator from reaching into the machine through the empty material infeed opening and injuring themselves.

While there is sufficient packaging in the magazine, the packaging acts as natural protection. The opening is covered, and it is impossible to reach into the danger zone while the packaging plant is running. If the number of cartons in the magazine reaches or falls below the defined minimum, this will be detected by optical sensors – two per infeed device. These shut down the outputs via a safety controller – the small controller PNOZmulti 2 for applications configured via a software tool, or the safety relay myPNOZ for batch size 1 infeed solutions. The machine is in stop mode until packaging is again in place.

The solution complies with performance level (PL) d and category (Cat.) 3 of EN ISO 13849-1 or SIL 2 of IEC 62061 and ensures minimised downtimes and higher productivity – for greater efficiency in the secondary packaging sector. Certification saves users time during design, configuration and commissioning. Even integration into existing applications and retrofitting is easily implemented. As a result, the application can be adapted flexibly and individually at any time. Also, there is no need for additional protective measures such as safety fences or similar guards, so the space can be used more efficiently.

For machines with a small function range, the package includes the modular safety relays myPNOZ: the tailor-made batch size 1 solution can be used immediately via plug & play and is available as a pre-configured unit. The small controller PNOZmulti 2 is used for more large-scale projects. With this, safe automation projects can be implemented flexibly via a graphical configuration software tool. What’s more, if necessary, two cardboard magazines can be monitored simultaneously with just one base unit.

Both safety controllers monitor the optical sensors – installed directly on the infeed opening – which register the status of the cardboard boxes. Additional safety functions such as e-stop, safety gates or light curtains can also be implemented.

Further information on safe packaging automation and the new solution is available here. And you can view an animation of the cardboard feed monitoring solution here.