Abstract:
A safety system for a machine includes a hand identifying module and a control module. The hand identifying module identifies a hand from an image of a movement range of a particular portion of the machine. The control module sends a control signal in response to the identification of the hand from the image, thereby disabling the machine. The disclosure further provides a safety method.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to safety systems and method, and particularly to a safety system and method for use with a machine with cutting tools. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    An operator could be injured when operating a machine such as a punching machine. For example, if the operator is careless when operating a punching machine his hands or limbs may be damage or severed. 
         [0005]    Thus, there is room for improvement in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawing(s). The components in the drawing(s) are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawing(s), like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an embodiment of a safety system of the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a safety method of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a safety system  3  for a machine  1  such as a punching machine includes a hand gesture sample module  10 , a hand identifying module  12 , and a control module  15 . The safety system  3  is capable of stopping the machine  1  from injuring the operator. In this embodiment, the safety system  3  is a stand alone device external to the machine  1 . However, in other embodiments, the safety system  3  can be attached to the machine  1 . 
         [0010]    The hand gesture sample module  10  stores a plurality of sample hand gesture images such as images of a palm, a lateral view of a palm, or a first without the background. 
         [0011]    An image capturing apparatus  16  such as a video camera or a camera captures images of a movement range of a cutting tool of the machine  1 , and transmits the images to the hand identifying module  12 . The image capturing apparatus  16  can be disposed near to or on the machine  1 . The hand identifying module  12  compares the images captured by the image capturing apparatus  16  with the sample images of hand gestures stored in the hand gesture sample module  10  to identify a hand-shaped profile from the image. Thereby, determining the appearance of a hand or a portion of a hand in the movement range of the cutting tool of the machine  1 . However, in other embodiments, the hand gesture sample module  10  can store a plurality of sample images of finger gestures, and the hand identifying module  12  can identify a finger-shaped profile from the image, thereby determining the appearance of a finger in the movement range of the cutting tool of the machine  1 . 
         [0012]    When a hand-shaped profile is identified in the image, it is determined that a hand appears within the movement range of the cutting tool of the machine  1 . Since the operator can be injured when the operator incautiously puts his/her hands within the movement range of the cutting tool, the control module  15  sends a control signal to the machine  1 , thereby stopping the movement of the cutting tool of the machine. In this embodiment, the control module  15  sends the control signal to a switch  18  of the machine  1  to disable the machine  1 . The switch  18  is capable of connecting/disconnecting the connection between the machine  1  and a power supply  2 . When receiving the control signal from the control module  15 , the switch  18  instantly disconnects the connection between the machine  1  and the power supply  2  to power-off the machine  1 , thereby protecting the operator from being injured. In other embodiments, the control module  15  can send a control signal merely capable of suspending the operation or the movement of the cutting tool of the machine  1 , instead of powering-off the entire machine  1 . 
         [0013]    In addition, the machine  1  can have an alarm apparatus  19  such as an indicator light. When a hand-shaped profile is identified, the control module  15  further sends an alarm signal to the alarm apparatus  19  to enable the alarm apparatus  19 , thereby warning the operator. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a safety method of the present disclosure is as follows. Depending on the embodiment, additional steps may be added, others removed, and the ordering of the steps may be changed. 
         [0015]    In step S 1 , the image capturing apparatus  16  captures images of a movement range of a cutting tool of the machine  1 , and transmits the images to the hand identifying module  12 . 
         [0016]    In step S 2 , the hand identifying module  12  compares the images captured by the image capturing apparatus  16  with the sample images of hand gestures stored in the hand gesture sample module  10 , thereby identifying a hand-shaped profile from the image. However, in other embodiments, the hand identifying module  12  can compare the images captured by the image capturing apparatus  16  with the sample images of finger gestures stored in the hand gesture sample module  10 , thereby determining the appearance of a finger in the movement range of the cutting tool of the machine  1 . If a hand-shaped profile is identified, step S 3  is implemented; otherwise, return to step S 1 . 
         [0017]    In step S 3 , the control module  15  sends &lt;&lt;If you decide to change, do so in the figure&gt;&gt; a control signal to the switch  18  of the machine  1 . When the switch  18  receives the control signal from the control module  15 , the switch  18  instantly disconnects the machine  1  and the power supply  2 , thereby protecting the operator from being injured. However, in other embodiments, the control module  15  can send a control signal merely capable of suspending the operation or the movement of the cutting tool of the machine  1 , instead of powering-off the entire machine  1 . 
         [0018]    In step S 4 , the control module  15  sends the alarm signal to the alarm apparatus  19  to enable the alarm apparatus  19 , thereby warning the operator. 
         [0019]    The disclosed safety system and method utilizes the hand identifying module  12  to analyze the images of the movement range of the cutting tool of the machine  1  which are captured by the image capturing apparatus  16 , thereby determining the appearance of a hand in the movement range of the cutting tool of the machine  1 . If there is a hand appearing near the cutting tool of the machine  1 , the control module  15  instantly directs the switch  18  to disconnect the machine  1  and the power supply  2 , thereby protecting the operator from being injured by the machine  1 . The control module  15  further enables the alarm apparatus  19  to warn the operator. 
         [0020]    While the disclosure has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the range of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.