New TR4 Direct product family: Intelligent door control with non-contact safety switches

Oct 26, 2012

With the new TR4 Direct product family, SICK extends the range of non-contact transponder safety switches. Compact design, cascadability, as well as the highest possible protection against tampering are their special features.

The TR4 Direct transponder safety switches fulfill performance level PL e in accordance with EN ISO 13849 as well as safety integrity level SIL3 in accordance with IEC 61508 - doing so even if in a machine up to 30 devices are connected in series to one safety controller in order to save inputs. Each of the TR4 Direct features two OSSD safety outputs, thus permitting simple and direct connection to a safety controller.

TR4 Direct in rectangular design

Overall, ten variants are available in cylindrical and rectangular design with different actuators and features. In this way, they open up diverse options for safety-relevant, non-contact protection, among others of safety doors and removable guards. The response range of up to 25 mm permits high tolerances for door misalignments, thus avoiding shutdowns due to incorrect alignment as well as vibrations, and guaranteeing in this way trouble-free, high machine availability.

 

Multicoded and unique coded variants against manipulations

TR4 Direct in cylindrical design

TR4 Direct transponder safety switches provide protection against manipulation that matches the customers respective wishes and requirements: Whereas multicoded sensors can be activated by any multicoded actuator and already guarantee good protection against tampering, unique-coded sensors can be actuated only by means of a special, taught-in code, thus offering the highest possible protection against tampering

 

Integrated monitoring of the response range

As an option, the TR4 Direct product family offers safety sensors with integrated boundary area indicator. It indicates if the actuator, with the sensor active, is within the boundary area of the response range, i.e. the signal or the sensor field, respectively, is weak. This approach is helpful when commissioning the machine or as a warning during ongoing operation.

Door control with TR4 Direct

 

Integrated magnets ensure safe door retention

Some of the safety sensors of the TR4 Direct product family are equipped with integrated magnets. Through their retaining force, they pull the actuator toward the sensor, holding the protective device closed with a certain degree of force in case of shocks or vibrations. Doing so makes inadvertent opening of the guards more difficult, increasing availability of the machine.