FR2714451A1 - Protection system for machines having protective grille panels - Google Patents

Abstract

A post (1) is destined to have mounted on it,protection panels (2) of the type comprising a principal main part (8) extending the length of a rectilinear axis (1a). There are also support side-boards (9) for the panels (2). The main part (8) has a transverse cross-section in the form of a hexagon or pseudo-hexagon. The support side-boards (9) have a first hole (13) crossing a parallel axis to that (1a) of the main core (8) and at least a second threaded hole (14) leading to the first hole (13).

Description

SYSTIXI DB PROTECTION FOR MACHINI OR IQUIVALINT
INCLUDING DB GRILLAIS PROTECTION PANELS
The invention relates to a protection system comprising posts and protective panels such as mesh panels.

 The invention is more particularly intended for the protection of machines but can receive other applications.

 We already know systems of the aforementioned type intended to protect people - operators and / or visitors - from the risks that may arise from the proximity of dangerous machines such as machine tools, mobile machines, packaging machines, robots, etc. .

 A new European standard referenced EN294 specifies the distances between the danger and the protections as a function of the height of the protection and the openings with which the protections are provided.

 The texts specify that the protections must be removable using a tool.

 Most often these protection systems are made on demand which makes them expensive and time consuming to set up.

 Furthermore, the panels used are generally mounted on hinges but it is necessary to provide a clearance equal to at least the thickness of the panel to allow its movement. However, such a game is too important and weakens the protection.

 The invention therefore aims to remedy these various drawbacks and for this purpose it first proposes a post intended for the mounting of protective panels, of the type comprising a main core extending along a rectilinear axis and making rigidly body with the latter, support legs for the panels, in which the core has, in cross-section, a generally hexagonal or pseudo-hexagonal shape. In combination, a support lug is provided with a first through hole with an axis parallel to that of the friend and with at least one second tapped hole opening into the first hole.

 According to other characteristics of the post, the friend has a generally hexagonal flattened symmetrical shape and it comprises two large walls and four small walls connecting in pairs, the two large walls.

 The spacing between the two large walls is of the order of half the width of the large walls.

 A support leg is attached to a pair of small walls by overlapping their junction line forming the edge of the post. Such a support leg extends towards the outside of the pole core in the plane of symmetry P parallel to the two large walls and defined by the two joining lines of the two pairs of small walls. A support tab has, perpendicular to the plane P, a footprint smaller than the overall footprint of the post between the two large walls.

 A first through hole formed in a support tab is disposed away from the junction line of the two small walls of a pair of small walls.

 A second threaded hole is arranged with its axis perpendicular to the plane P. It crosses the support tab on both sides, comprising two sections respectively on one side and the other of the first hole. A single tapped hole is provided per support tab.

 The post comprises at least one pair of support legs facing one another and spaced from one another along the axis of the post. It has two pairs of support legs on one side and on the other side of the post, the legs being located in two transverse planes.

 The post also has, at one end, a fixing plate integral with the core.

 The first hole has the function of allowing the mounting of a trunnion of association of a protective panel and the second hole has the function of fixing a locking screw of said trunnion or of a fixing panel.

 According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a protective panel specially intended for a post as just described. This panel comprises a frame placed at the periphery of a grid or equivalent, and, on two longitudinal members forming part of this frame, parallel to each other and spaced from one another, two pairs of members for fixing to the support legs of the post.

 Such a fixing member is either in the form of a support tab, or in the form of a locking tab. The support lug extends the panel, is orthogonal to the spar with which it is associated and it is provided with a through hole with an axis parallel to that of the spar. The locking tab extends the panel, is orthogonal to the spar with which it is associated and it is slightly offset from the median plane of the panel by being provided with a through hole of axis orthogonal to that of the spar.

 Such a protective panel comprises, on the same first spar, two support legs opposite one another and spaced from one another along the axis of the first spar and, on the same second spar, two locking tabs facing each other and spaced from each other along the axis of the second spar.

 The hole provided in the locking tab is in the form of a lumen extending along the axis of the second spar.

 According to a third aspect, there is proposed a protection system comprising posts and panels as just mentioned associated with locking parts.

 Such a locking piece can be constituted by the same common pin able to cooperate, without substantial play, with a first hole of a support leg of the post and a hole of a support leg of the panel, the two holes being placed opposite and close to each other, the trunnion being held in place by a locking screw screwed into the second threaded hole of the support leg of the post, the arrangement allowing rotation of the panel relative to the post around the axis of the journal.

The locking piece can also be constituted by a head screw, capable of being screwed into a second tapped hole of a support leg of a post, against which a blocking tab of the panel comes into locking, the screw passing through. the hole with which this locking tab is provided, the head of the screw blocking the latter.

 In one possible embodiment, the panel forms a door.

 The respective planes of symmetry P of two neighboring posts are either coincident or parallel to each other, or perpendicular to each other.

 The overall distance between two large walls of a post is substantially equal to the overall size of a protective panel.

 The axis of the first hole in a support leg of the post is spaced from the edge opposite the post by a value equal to at least half the thickness of the panel.

 The dimensions of the posts and panels allow an efficient realization of these and a standardized assembly by successive steps.

The other characteristics of the invention will result from the description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figures 1a and 1b are two schematic views respectively in elevation and from above of a protection system according to the invention, this system comprising two posts and two coplanar panels, one of which is shown completely and the other only partially.

 FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic elevation view on a larger scale, partial, of the post of the system according to FIGS. 1a and 1b.

 FIG. 3 is a schematic view in cross section of the post according to FIG. 2.

 Figure 4 is a schematic front view of a possible embodiment of a panel of the type that can be implemented in the system shown in Figures la and lb.

 Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of Figure 1b showing the association of a panel and a post.

 Figure 6 is a schematic elevational view showing a possible embodiment in which a panel forms door.

 Figures 7a and 7b are two schematic views from above illustrating two possible embodiments of protection systems according to the invention forming an angle.

 FIG. 8 illustrates the model character of the system which has just been described.

 In one embodiment of the invention, the protection system comprises a plurality of posts 1, arranged with their vertical axes, these posts 1 being fixed to the ground and supporting, between them, protective panels 2 by means of locking pieces 3, to which we will return later.

 The posts 1 considered here are rectilinear and the panels 2 are generally flat and planar.

 In other possible embodiments, a post 1 may comprise several sections that are parallel to each other, that follow one another, offset, one with respect to the other. Such an embodiment allows for example to bypass an obstacle. Similarly, a panel 2 can, in other embodiments, be curved so as to form an angle.

 The posts 1 and the panels 2 are preferably made of metal, protected if necessary from corrosion or coated with a decorative paint, or with a protective material.

 Optionally, they can be made of an appropriate plastic material meeting the desired resistance requirements.

 A protective panel 2 comprises a frame 4 placed at the periphery of a mesh or equivalent 5. In the preferred embodiment considered, the mesh 5 has rectangular meshes and is produced from metallic wires.

 Other embodiments are however possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

 The frame 4 comprises a first and a second spar 6a, 6b respectively, intended to be placed vertically when the system is mounted and two respectively high and low crosspieces 7a, 7b.

 In the most general case, a post 1 is interposed between two panels 2 placed on either side.

Where appropriate, a post 1 may be associated with only one panel when, for example, this post is itself placed against a wall.

 The post l comprises a main dome 8, extending along the axis la, and, rigidly integral with the latter, support tabs 9 for the panels 2.

 The friend 8 has in cross section, a general hexagonal or pseudo-hexagonal shape. More particularly, it has a flattened shape symmetrical with respect to the axis la.

 To this end, the core is defined by two large walls 10 and four small walls 11 which connect, by two pairs, the two large walls 10.

 The two large walls 10 have the same width between them, are parallel and placed opposite one another. The small walls have the same width between them.

 The two small walls il of each pair are inclined with respect to each other at an angle more especially equal to or close to 90. In other embodiments this angle is between 300 and 604. Consequently, a large wall 10 and a small adjoining wall 11 are inclined relative to each other with an angle more especially equal or close to 1350 but which can be included in other realizations between 120 and l50.

 In an embodiment giving excellent results, the width of the large walls 10 is equal to or of the order of 70 mm and that of the small walls it is equal to or of the order of 24 mm. The ratio of the widths between a large wall 10 and a small wall is therefore of the order of 3.

 Furthermore, the spacing between the two large walls 10 is of the order of half the width of these same large walls 10. This overall spacing is therefore, in this case, equal to or of the order of 35 not.

 The post 1 can be made of metal, the aisle 8 being hollow. At one of its ends, the post comprises a fixing plate 12 which is integral with the panel 8. In the embodiment shown, this plate extends transversely with respect to the axis la. Other embodiments are possible in which the plate 12 is replaced by an equivalent anchoring device. Such a plate 12, like the support legs 9, can be made of metal and the attachment to the core 8 can be made by welding.

 In such an embodiment, the aisle 8 has a thickness equal to or of the order of 3 mm.

 A support tab 9 is provided with a first through hole 13 with an axis parallel to the axis la and with at least one second tapped hole 14 opening into the first hole 13, and on the opposite side, in the peripheral face of support leg.

 In this case, a support lug 9 is attached to a pair of small walls 11 by overlapping their junction line 15 forming an edge of the post.

 More particularly, a support tab 9 extends towards the outside of the core 8 in the plane of symmetry P which is parallel to the two large walls 10 and defined moreover by the two edges 15.

 A support lug 9 has, perpendicular to the plane P, overall overall dimensions less than the overall overall dimensions of the post 1 between its two large walls 10. This structure is particularly clearly visible in FIG. 3.

 Such a support lug 9 can be made of one-piece metal and be limited by two faces 16 parallel to the plane P, a rounded end opposite to the edge 15 and a re-entrant die 18 capable of coming to be pressed against the friend 8 overlapping the edge 15, as already indicated.

 As follows from the above, the spacing between the two faces 16 is substantially less than the spacing between the two large walls 10, for example of the order of half.

 The first hole 13 is placed away from the edge 15 by a value equal to at least half the thickness of the panel 2.

 Preferably, the panel 2 has an overall size which is substantially equal to the overall spacing between the two large walls 10.

 In the embodiment considered where the panel 2 has a transverse overall dimensions of the order of 35 mm, the first hole 13 has its axis spaced from the edge 15 by a value at least equal to or of the order of 17, 5 n.

 The second tapped hole 14 is arranged with its axis perpendicular to the plane P. Preferably, a second single tapped hole 14 is provided per lug, but the hole 14 passes through the support lug 9 right through, thus comprising two sections of on one side and on the other of the first hole 13. This arrangement allows greater ease of assembly and an appropriate location of the screw cooperating with the tapped hole 14.

 In principle, the post 1 has four legs 9, namely two pairs of one side and two pairs on the other side of the post 1, the legs 9 being located in two transverse planes (located horizontally when the system is mounted).

 When a post is intended to receive a single panel, it may only be provided with a single pair of support legs 9 these being opposite one another and spaced apart along the axis of the post.

 With the preferred embodiment described above, the spacing between the two edges 15 is equal to or of the order of 105 mm, while the distance between the axes of the first holes 13 located on either side of the post is equal or of the order of 125 n.

 As will be seen later, the first hole 13 has the function of allowing the mounting of an association pin of a protective panel forming part of the locking pieces 3. The second hole 14 has the function of fixing of a locking screw, either of said journal, or of a protective panel 2 then forming part of the locking parts 3 provided for this purpose.

 The panel 2 comprises, on its two longitudinal members 6a, 6b, two pairs of fastening members 19a, 19b to the pattessupport 9 of corresponding posts 1.

 A fixing member 19a is in the form of a support lug extending the panel 2, orthogonal to the first spar 6a. This tab 19a is provided with a through hole 20 whose axis is parallel to that of the spar 6a.

 It is provided on a first spar 6a two support legs 19a, placed opposite one another and spaced from one another along the axis of the first spar.

 The support lugs 19a cooperate with two lugs 9 located on the same side of the post 1. For this purpose, there is provided a locking piece 3 then constituted by a pin 3a common to the two lugs 9, 19a. This pin 3a is able to cooperate without substantial play with the first hole 13 of the support tab 9 and the hole 20 of the support tab 19a. These two holes 13, 20 are placed opposite and close to one another. The pin is held in place in the support lug 9 by a locking screw 21 screwed into the threaded hole 14, and coming to interfere with the pin 3a.

 In practice, one of the support tabs 19a of the panel, for example the upper support tab, comes to rest on the corresponding support tab 9 of the post 1.

Preferably, there is then a certain clearance along the axis la between the lower support lug 9 of the post 1 and the corresponding support lug 19a of the panel.

 preferably, the lower tab 19a of the panel is placed below the corresponding tab 9 of the post.

 The mounting method then consists in threading the pin 3a in the upper support tab 9 of the post 1, letting it project upwards. The panel 2 can then be carried by the panel 1, the pin 3a being threaded into the hole 20. Preferably, it is interposed between the two upper tabs 9, 19a a washer.

 The two lower tabs 9, 19a can be placed facing each other and a pin 3a threaded into the holes 13, 20 also facing each other to prevent any untimely movement of the panel 2. This last pin can be blocked by means of a locking screw 21 screwed in the tapped hole 14 of the lower tab 9.

 The fastening member 19b is in the form of a locking tab also extending the panel 2, orthogonal to the side members 6b. This locking tab 19b is slightly offset from the median plane of the panel (corresponding in the case of FIG. 1b to the plane P). This tab 19b is provided with a through hole 22 whose axis is orthogonal to that of the spar 6b. This hole forms a light extending along the axis of the beam 6b. This embodiment allows the adjustment of the panel and its fixing.

 On the same second spar 6b, there are two locking tabs 19b facing each other, coplanar, spaced from one another along the axis of the spar 6b.

 With regard to lug l9b, the locking piece 3 is constituted by a head screw 3b which is capable of being screwed into the tapped hole 14 of a lug 9 belonging to the post 1. The head of the screw 3b comes in blocking against the tab 19b, the body of the screw itself passing through the hole 22. In this way, the tab 19b itself comes into locking against a face 16 of the tab 9 of the post 1. However, the post 1 and the adjacent panel 2 remain in the extension of one another thanks to the mounting offset of the tab 19b and to the smaller footprint of the tab 9 relative to the post 1, as has already been mentioned .

 The two support legs 19a are placed along an axis parallel to the axes of the first beams 6a, 6b, slightly outward of the two locking tabs 19b of the second beam 6b. In this embodiment, the end part of a hole forming a lumen 22 is located substantially at the same horizontal level as the internal face of the support lug 19a, considering the mounted system.

 A panel 2 as just described can be produced according to standardized dimensions in width (counted in the horizontal direction). The overall size between the first and second longitudinal members 6a, 6b therefore varies in equal successive steps, in particular equal to or of the order of 250 mm from a base value equal to or of the order of 230 mm.

 In Figure 6, there is shown a particular embodiment forming a door. In this case, it is fixed to a second spar 6b of the panel 2, a plate forming a bolt 23 capable of cooperating with a plate 24 forming a blocking of the bolt 23 itself fixed on the adjacent post 1. Preferably, a gantry 25 is provided attached to the two posts 1 on which the pivoting door is mounted.

 The door can be mounted with opening inwards or outwards.

 As a consequence of the standardized production of the panels 2, the distance between two neighboring posts 1 can vary by a pitch of 125 mm from a minimum spacing of 375 mm.

 A post as described above can have an axial height of up to 1,810 mm.

 The lower support lugs 9 are located at a distance of the order of 214 n from the plate 12, and the upper lugs 9 at a distance of the order of 1.786 n from this same plate.

 The panel 2 may have a height (corresponding to the length of the beams 6a, 6b) equal to or of the order of 1,620 pin, the tabs 19a, 19b being located at the free end portions of the beams 6a, 6b.

Claims (40)

IBVINDICATIONS  1. Post (1) intended for mounting protective panels (2), of the type comprising a main dome (8) extending along a rectilinear axis (la) and, rigidly forming a body with it, support lugs (9) for the panels (2), characterized in that the web (8) has, in cross-section, a generally hexagonal or pseudo-hexagonal shape; and, in combination by the fact that a support tab (9) is provided with a first hole (13) passing through an axis parallel to that (la) of the core (8) and at least one second hole threaded (14) opening into the first hole (13).  2. Pole according to claim 1, characterized in that ease has, in cross section, a generally flat hexagonal shape symmetrical with respect to the axis of the pole (1) and is defined by two large walls (10) of the same width between them, parallel and facing each other, and four small walls (11) of the same width between them, connecting, in pairs, the two large walls (10).  3. Pole according to claim 2, characterized in that the two small walls of each pair of small walls (11) are inclined relative to each other with an angle between 30 and 60 and more especially equal or close 900.  4. Pole according to claim 2, characterized in that a large wall (10) and a small wall (11) adjoining are inclined relative to each other with an angle between 120 and 150e and more especially equal or near 135v.  5. Post according to claim 3, characterized in that the width ratio between a large wall (10) and a small wall (11) is of the order of three.  6. Post according to claim 2, characterized in that the spacing between the two large walls (10) is of the order of half the width of the large walls (10).  7. Post according to claim 2, characterized in that a support tab (9) is attached to a pair of small walls (11, overlapping their junction line (15) forming the edge of the post.  8. Post according to claim 7, characterized in that a support tab (9) extends towards the outside of the friend (8) of the post in the plane of symmetry P parallel to the two large walls (10), and defined by the two joining lines (15) of the two pairs of small walls (11); and by the fact that a support lug (9) has perpendicular to the plane P, a footprint smaller than the overall footprint of the post (1) between the two large walls (10).  9. Post according to claim 8, characterized in that the first through hole (13) formed in a support leg (9) is disposed away from the junction line (15) of the two small walls of a pair of small walls (11), in particular with a value at least equal to or of the order of 17.5 mm.  10. Post according to claim 8, characterized in that a second threaded hole (14) is arranged with an axis perpendicular to the plane P.  11. Pole according to claim 8, characterized in that a second threaded hole (14) passes through the support lug (9) right through including two sections on one side and the other of the first hole (13 ).  12. Post according to claim 1, characterized in that there is provided a threaded hole (14) by bracket (9).  13. Pole according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one pair of support legs (9) facing one another and spaced from one another, along the axis (la) of the post (1>.  14. Post according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises two pairs of support legs (9) on one side and on the other side of the post (1), these legs (9) being located in two planes transverse.  15. Pole according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, at one end a plate tel2) fixing body with blade (8).  16. Pole according to any one of claims 1 and 15, characterized in that it is made of metal, the core (8) being hollow and the lugs (9) and the fixing plate (12) being associated with have it (8) by welding.  17. Pole according to claim 16, characterized in that the web (8) has a thickness equal to or of the order of 3 mm.  18. Post according to claim 14, characterized in that the distance between the axes of the first hole (13) of the two pairs of support legs (9) is equal to or of the order of 125 mm.  19. Pole according to claim 2, characterized in that the width of the large walls (10) is equal to or of the order of 70 mm, the width of the small walls (11) is equal to or of the order of 24 mm, the overall spacing between the two large walls (10) is equal to or of the order of 35 mm, the spacing between the two joining lines of the two pairs of small walls (11) is equal to or of the order of 105 mm.  20. Post according to claim 1, characterized in that the first hole (13) has the function of allowing the mounting of an association pin of a protective panel (2) and the second hole (14) has for function the fixing of a locking screw of said trunnion or of a protective panel (2).  21. Protective panel, specially intended to be mounted on a post according to claims 1 to 20, characterized in that it comprises a frame (4) placed at the periphery of a grid (5) or equivalent and, on two longitudinal members (6a, 6b) forming part of this frame (4), mutually parallel and spaced from one another, two pairs of fastening members (19a, 19b) to the support legs (9) of the post ( 1).  22. Panel according to claim 21, characterized in that a fixing member (19a) is in the form of a support lug extending the panel (2) orthogonal to the beam (6a) with which it is associated, said support lug (19a) being provided with a through hole (20) with an axis parallel to that of the spar (6jazz  23. Panel according to claim 22, characterized in that it comprises on the same first spar (6a) two support legs (19a) facing one another and spaced from one another along the axis of the first spar (6a).  24. Panel according to claim 21, characterized in that a fixing member (19b) is in the form of a locking tab extending the panel (2), orthogonal to the spar (6b) with which it is associated, said locking tab (19b) being slightly offset from the median plane of the panel (2) and being provided with a through hole (22) of axis orthogonal to that of the spar (6b).  25. Panel according to claim 24, characterized in that the hole (22) forms a lumen extending along the axis of the second spar (6b).  26. Panel according to one of claims 24 and 25, characterized in that it comprises on a same second spar (6b) two locking tabs (19b) facing one another and spaced apart from one the other along the axis of the second spar (6b).  27. Panel according to any one of claims 21 to 26, characterized in that the two support lugs (19a) of the first spar (6a) are placed along an axis parallel to the two axes of the first and second spar ( 6a, 6b), slightly towards the outside of the two locking tabs (19b) of the second spar (6b), the end part of a light-shaped hole (22) of a locking tab (21) of the second spar (6b) being substantially located at the same level as the internal face of the support tab (19a) of the first spar (6a).  28. Panel according to any one of claims 21 to 27, characterized in that it has an overall thickness equal to or of the order of 35 mm.  29. Panel according to any one of claims 21 & 27, characterized in that the overall size between the first (6a) and second (6b) beams varies in equal successive steps.  30. Panel according to claim 29, characterized in that the pitch is equal to or of the order of 250 n.  31. Panel according to claim 29, characterized in that the successive steps are counted from a basic value equal to or of the order of 230 n.  32. Protection system comprising posts according to any one of claims 1 to 20, arranged vertically, fixed to the ground, supporting protective panels according to any one of claims 21 to 31, by means of locking pieces (3 ).  33. Protection system according to claim 32, characterized in that a locking piece (3) is constituted by the same common pin (3a) capable of cooperating without substantial play with a first hole (13) of a tab- support (9) of the post (1) and a hole (14) of a support lug (9> of the panel (2), these two holes being placed opposite and close to each other, the pin (3a) being held in place by a locking screw (21) screwed into the second tapped hole (14) of the support lug (9) of the post (1), the arrangement allowing rotation of the panel (2) by relative to the post (1) around the axis of the journal (3a).  34. Protection system according to claim 33, characterized in that the two support legs (9) of the post (1) are interposed between the two support legs (19a) of the panel (2).  35. Protection system according to claim 32, characterized in that a locking piece (3) is constituted by a head screw (3b) capable of being screwed into a second threaded hole (14) of a support lug (9) of the post (1), against which a blocking lug (19b) of the panel (2) comes into lock, the screw passing through the hole (22) with which this blocking lug (19b) is provided, the head of the screw (3b) blocking the latter.  36. Protection system according to claim 32, characterized in that it is fixed on a second spar (6b) of the panel (2) a plate forming a bolt (23) and on a post (1) a plate (24) forming blocking member of the bolt (23).  37. Protection system according to claim 32, characterized in that two neighboring posts (1) have their respective planes of symmetry P coincident or parallel or perpendicular to each other.  38. Protection system according to claim 32, characterized in that the spacing of two neighboring posts (1) can vary by 125 mm, from a minimum spacing of 375 mm.  39. Protection system according to claim 32, characterized in that the overall distance between the two large walls (10) of a post (1) is substantially equal to the overall size of a panel (2) protection.  40. Protection system according to claim 32, characterized in that the axis of the first hole (13) of a support lug (9) of the post (1) is spaced from the edge opposite the post (1) , of a value equal to at least half the thickness of the panel (2).