Method for operating a technical installation, and technical installation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12460770-B2
Application number	US-202218570812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2022
Priority date	Jun 15, 2021
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

In a method for operating a technical installation that includes an outer zone, a danger zone, an access zone which provides for access from the outer zone to the danger zone, a light curtain for monitoring the access zone, and at least one mobile system: a protective field is generated and activated in the access zone by the light curtain before entry of the at least one mobile system into the access zone; when the at least one mobile system approaches the access zone, a mobile communication unit of the at least one mobile system transmits a request signal to a stationary communication unit of the light curtain; and after reception of the request signal by the stationary communication unit the protective field is deactivated by the light curtain. A technical apparatus is configured to carry out the method.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A method for operating a technical installation that includes an outer zone, a danger zone, an access zone that provides access from the outer zone to the danger zone, a light curtain adapted to monitor the access zone, and at least one mobile system, comprising:
generating and activating a protective field in the access zone by the light curtain before entry of the mobile system into the access zone; in response to approach by the mobile system to the access zone, transmitting, by a mobile communication unit of the mobile system, a request signal to a stationary communication unit of the light curtain to temporarily deactivate the protective field; and in response to reception of the request signal by the stationary communication unit, deactivating the protective field by the light curtain.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the protective field is partially deactivated by the light curtain in response to the reception of the request signal by the stationary communication unit.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the protective field is completely deactivated by the light curtain in response to the reception of the request signal by the stationary communication unit.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising reactivating the protective field in response to an exit of the mobile system from the access zone.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the request signal is transmitted from the mobile communication unit of the mobile system to the stationary communication unit of the light curtain by light communication.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in response to the approach of the mobile system to the access zone and in response to the mobile system being a predetermined distance from the protective field, the mobile communication unit of the mobile system transmits the request signal to the stationary communication unit of the light curtain.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , further comprising detecting, by a detection unit of the mobile system, in response to the mobile system being at the predetermined determined distance from the protective field, by detecting a marking, that is stationary with respect to the light curtain.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one mobile system includes a plurality of mobile systems.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile system includes an autonomous driving vehicle.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the autonomous driving vehicle includes a drive device, an electrical energy storage device adapted to supply power to the drive device, and a control device adapted to control the drive device.

11 . A system, comprising
an outer zone; a danger zone; an access zone that provides access from the outer zone to the danger zone; a light curtain adapted to monitor the access zone; and at least one mobile system; wherein the system is adapted to perform the method recited in claim 1 .

12 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the mobile system includes an autonomous driving vehicle.

13 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the autonomous driving vehicle includes a drive device, an electrical energy storage device adapted to supply power to the drive device, and a control device adapted to control the drive device.

14 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the mobile system includes a mobile communication unit adapted to transmit a request signal by light communication.

15 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the light curtain includes a stationary communication unit adapted to receive a request signal by light communication.

16 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the mobile system includes a detection unit adapted to detect a marking arranged stationary with respect to the light curtain.

17 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one mobile system includes a plurality of mobile systems.

18 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the mobile communication unit includes an LED adapted to transmit the request signal.

19 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the mobile communication unit includes a photocell adapted to receive the request signal.

20 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the light curtain includes a first column and a second column that are offset from each other in a horizontal direction and that extend parallel to each other in a vertical direction.

21 . The system according to claim 20 , wherein the first column includes a plurality of light sources arranged offset from each other in the vertical direction, and the second column includes a corresponding plurality of light sensors arranged offset from each other in the vertical direction.

22 . The system according to claim 21 , wherein the light sources include laser diodes, and the light sensors include photocells.

Assignees

• Sew Eurodrive Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• SCHäFER THOMAS
• Wanjek Andreas

Classifications

• G01V8/20

  using multiple transmitters or receivers · CPC title

• G05D2105/28

  of freight · CPC title

• G05D1/656

  Interaction with payloads or external entities · CPC title

• F16P3/144 Primary

  using light grids · CPC title