Patent ID: 7448241
Filing Date: 2008-11-11
Classification: B30B,F16P

Abstract:
1. A safety system for use with a machine having a moving part arranged to move through a known path of movement, the safety system characterised by comprising: at least one light emitting means arranged at one end of the part to emit light, the axis of the emitted light being aligned to illuminate a region around at least a portion of said path of movement including, in use, a forward edge of the part; at least one light receiving means arranged at an opposite end of the part to receive light from one or more of the light emitting means which has passed through said region; and a processing and control means arranged to receive information from the light receiving means and thereby recognise the presence of one or more shadowed regions within vertical and horizontal extents of said illuminated region on the light receiving means cast by obstructions in the region; wherein the illumination of the region is such that the processing and control means has sufficient information to determine boundaries of the or each shadowed region and control movement of the part dependent on said information.