Patent ID: 8176677

Claim:
An automated guide rail system comprising: a fixed wall including a pair of vertical supports being attached to and extending upwardly from a floor surface and a horizontal support being attached to said vertical supports, said fixed wall being positioned adjacent to a hazardous area; a movable wall being attached to said fixed wall, said movable wall being movable laterally toward or extended away from said fixed wall to increase or decrease a combined length of said fixed and movable walls, said movable wall preventing access to said hazardous area when said movable wall is extended away from said fixed wall; a drive assembly being mounted on said fixed wall and moving said movable wall outwardly from said fixed wall when said drive assembly is actuated; and an actuating assembly being in communication with said drive assembly to actuate said drive assembly when a hazardous condition is determined by said actuating assembly, said actuating assembly including; a control electrically coupled to said drive assembly; a first input device being in communication with said control, said first input device detecting hazardous action in said hazardous area, said hazardous action being a piece of equipment in said hazardous area being turned on; and a second input being in communication with said control, said second input detecting movement adjacent to said fixed wall, said control extending said movable wall if said second input detects movement adjacent to said fixed wall while said first input detects the hazardous action.