Machine element or mechanism – Elements – Guards
Patent
1997-12-12
2000-05-30
Luong, Vinh T.
Machine element or mechanism
Elements
Guards
74609, 74612, F16P 100
Patent
active
060678771
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a safety cover structure for covering working sections such as a drive section and an operating section of an automatic machine from the outside so as to be capable of being opened and closed to ensure safety.
BACKGROUND ART
Recently, automatic machines are in wide use as labor saving machines, whereby various works are performed automatically, including loading and matching of materials, assembly and inspection of products. In such automatic machines, working sections such as a drive section and an operating section are usually covered from the outside to ensure safety.
FIG. 18 shows an example of a conventional safety cover structure, in which a safety cover 1 is supported by a support column 3 mounted centrally of an automatic machine 2 to cover working sections (not shown). The safety cover 1 is formed in the shape of a by-split box, with divided edge portions in the central part of the cover 1 being supported by the support column 3 through a hinge 4.
For opening the cover 1, it is sprung up, as shown in FIG. 18. The safety cover 1 is a so-called gull wing type cover. Various works, including inspection and servicing, for the working sections are performed from below the safety cover 1 thus opened by spring-up.
However, since the safety cover structure in such a conventional automatic machine is the gull wing type in which the front and rear portions of the safety cover 1 are sprung up with respect to the central part, both side portions are sprung up only to a slight extent although the front and rear portions are sprung up high and are opened largely. It is difficult to perform works for the working sections inside the safety cover 1 from below the side portions which are sprung up only slightly and opened only a little. Thus, there has been the problem that the working efficiency is poor.
Moreover, there always is a fear that the safety cover 1 may drop. Therefore, it is desired to think out some effective measure for preventing such drop of the cover.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-mentioned conventional problem and it is an object of the invention to provide a safety cover structure for an automatic machine which cover structure can be opened large and wide sufficiently over the whole circumference of the automatic machine.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a safety cover structure for an automatic machine which cover structure can be locked its open state automatically to ensure the safety thereof.
According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, there is provided a safety cover structure for an automatic machine, comprising a plurality of support columns arranged in a surrounding relation to the automatic machine; a top board supported by the support columns to cover the automatic machine; a safety cover disposed vertically movably between adjacent said support columns; a connecting member having flexibility and connected to the safety cover to suspend the safety cover; guide means for guiding the connecting member from the support column to the top board; a tension arm supported horizontally and pivotably by the top board and connected with the connecting member; and urging means connected to the tension arm to urge the tension arm in a rising direction of the safety cover.
Preferably, a lock mechanism for locking the safety cover in an open state and releasing the locked state with a closing motion of the safety cover is disposed between the safety cover and each said support column adjacent thereto.
Preferably, the guide means comprises first and second vertical sheaves mounted respectively to the support columns positioned on both sides of the safety cover to guide a pair of the connecting members from the vertical to the horizontal direction, the paired connecting members being connected to both sides of the safety cover; a horizontal sheave mounted to the top board in proximity to the first vertical sheave to guide h
REFERENCES:
patent: 3848721 (1974-11-01), Smit
patent: 4630431 (1986-12-01), Schlueter et al.
patent: 5205074 (1993-04-01), Guhl et al.
patent: 5479837 (1996-01-01), Kyle
patent: 5605232 (1997-02-01), Bickle
patent: 5640747 (1997-06-01), Donnelly
Luong Vinh T.
Sankyo Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
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