Patent ID: 7054791

Claim:
Method for monitoring a device used to guide an energy source ( 14 ), such as a handling device ( 12 ), for applying energy to a work piece ( 16 , 18 ) that is positioned with the energy source within a protective cabinet enclosed by protective walls, wherein the energy source ( 14 ) moves at a speed V and the speed V of the moved energy source is established as the current speed V akt , characterized in that a minimum speed V min , which is dependent upon the power emitted by the energy source ( 14 ), and at least one characteristic parameter of the protective walls that enclose the protective cabinet is established or preset; in that the current speed V akt of the energy source is compared with the minimum speed V min ; and in that if the current speed should drop below the minimum speed V min , the energy source, which operates at V akt >V min at constant power or nearly constant power, is deactivated immediately or following expiration of a period of time during which the actual speed is allowed to remain below the minimum speed.