Safety Edges & Bumpers: Safety Edges & Bumpers

The safety edge or safety bumper are flexible strips which can be fixed to the edge of a moving part such as a machine table or powered door where there is a risk of a crushing or shearing hazard.

If the moving part that includes the safety edge or bumper strikes operator (or vice versa) the flexible safety edge is depressed and will send a signal to the power source to stop.

A safety edge or safety bumper can be classified as a "trip" device. The safety edge or bumper does not restrict access but will only "sense" it. Both the safety edge and the safety bumper rely entirely on their ability to both sense and switch for the provision of safety therefore it is important the control circuit for the safety edge or safety bumper be control reliable. In general the safety edge and safety bumper should only be used on machines which stop immediately after removal of power.

The safety edge or safety bumper along with a controller, make up a versatile and flexible emergency stop system for use in applications where a machine operator or set-up person must have easy, contiguous access to an E-Stop actuator.

A complete safety edge consists of an aluminum rail, the safety contact, and the safety contact strip. The special shapes of the safety edges (rubber profile) protects the safety contact strip from damage and allows actuation angles for the safety edge to exceed 90 degrees.

Safety bumpers operate in the same manner as the safety edge with the only construction difference being the addition of foam rubber covered in polyurethane to protect any object that comes in contact with the safety bumper.

Markets: Safety mats and edges are sold into many markets. Robotic and industrial manufacturing applications comprise the largest markets

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