Waldkirch, November 2007 – The new V300 WS safe camera system from SICK is space-saving, rapid and suitable for hand protection. It is the first device of its type for Category 3 protection of hazardous points-of-operation in compliance with EN 61496-1 (SIL2 according to IEC 61508). Thus access openings on assembly, handling and industrial robots, inspection machines, and other manually operated work stations involving cyclical or occasional access can now be monitored with the vision system – with optimum safety and without barriers.

The new system, mounting and connection concept means that in some cases enormous cost savings can be achieved per work station compared to other safety solutions.

Safety on the edge

The V300 WS is electro-sensitive protective equipment based on image-processing technology. The sensor’s illumination and receiver are integrated in a single housing – as are its supplementary Reset and Electronic Device Monitoring (EDM) functions. The compact triangular housing allows mounting in or on the corner of a work station’s grooved section frame, i.e. in a location in which the sensor is largely protected against impacts or misalignment. A reflector is attached on the opposite side of the mounting location. With its 110° angle of view, the camera system automatically detects the entire length and breadth of the reflector area and aligns the monitoring field on it with a resolution of 20 mm. The V300 WS responds within 20 ms if anyone reaches into the machine while it is running, and immediately stops the process.

Permanent self-monitoring

In order to ensure maximum safety and availability, the V300 WS permanently monitors the reflector strip for dirt, holes, damaged areas or objects placed upon it. When a problem has been detected it can be pinpointed via the LED indicators, because each of the four indicators “monitors” a different segment within the field of view of the V300 WS. If the reflector strip can no longer be cleaned or is too damaged, the full functionality of the V300 WS can rapidly be restored by simply attaching a new reflector strip.

Opens up barrier-free monitoring opportunities

Ergonomic workplaces can now be achieved with the V300 WS, offering comfortable and effective work. The device is easily and dependably mounted with just two screws. Even as a single sensor, the V300 WS generates a diagonal protective field with a maximum range of 1.41 m, to protect openings with dimensions of 1 m x 1 m. If the access opening is larger, it is possible to connect two devices to one another via the standard synchronisation input and thus double the size of the protective field. Two safe camera systems are also the perfect solution when two adjoining sides require protection: there is no need for a central brace on the corner junction so operators can gain access to the machine without any barrier, e.g. to insert or remove larger workpieces.

Safety in the appropriate Category

The V300 WS is the ideal solution for the Safety Categories 3 or PL“d” and SIL2 not covered by light curtains. Users can employ a more reasonably priced Category 3 system for those applications that do not require Safety Category 4 according to the risk analysis.

If the risk analysis indicates a Category 2 protection requirement, SICK’s safety portfolio offers the right solution here, too – the “little brother”: the V200 WS.