Pinnacle Systems, Inc. - Safety Light Curtains, Safety Mat Systems and Ergonomic Palm Buttons
Page: Model CA Product Overview

Model CA
Cascading Safety Light Curtain
Product Overview

The Ultimate in Safety - Quality -
Value - Flexibility

Cascading safety light curtains provide the user the ability to connect additional sets of light curtains by daisy chaining multiple emitters and receivers together. The interconnecting cables are factory supplied and the user defines length. The cascading of safety light curtains provides mulitple areas of guarding in any plane (X, Y, Z), while utilizing the control reliable dual safety outputs from the Category 4 safety device for the safety outputs to the machine control. The ability to guard multiple areas on irregular shaped machines by cascading safety light curtains reduces wiring and provides a lower cost yet effective machine guarding solution.

The Model CA Cascading Safety Light Curtain is an infrared safety light curtain that is designed to the IEC 61496 standard. When properly installed, it protects the machine operator by passing an invisible infrared light beam across an area to be guarded and examining whether or not the light beam(s) are blocked. If the light beam(s) are blocked, monitored solid state outputs will open, issuing a “STOP” command to the machines normally closed (N.C.) “STOP” circuit. The CA System is composed of transmitting units (EMITTERS), and receiving unit (RECEIVERS). The entire system is control reliable Category 4 (per IEC 61496). A single fault anywhere within the Model CA will not prevent at least one of the solid state outputs from opening up, (allowing a “STOP” command) when either a beam is broken or an internal fault occurs.

Theory of operation. 
The Model CA Cascading Safety Light Curtain protects an area by projecting a curtain of infrared light. The infrared emitters and receivers face each other across the field to be protected. Each LED pair is spaced along the length of the pylons at regular intervals from .5" (12mm), up to 8" (203mm) depending on the application. The smaller spacing are for finger guarding, the larger spacing are for body protection. The emitter/receiver pairs are scanned sequentially (one at a time) by a very short pulse of infrared light starting from bottom (cable end), and working up to the end, until every beam pair has been scanned. Two 16 bit computers in the first emitter pylon and two 16 bit computers in the first receiver pylon control the operation, as well as cross check each pylon.

The System. 
The Model CA Cascading Safety Light Curtain employs infrared technology in a small sealed NEMA 4 (IP 67) aluminum housing with an infrared passing (daylight filtering) acrylic lens. This system provides harmless invisible protection and an unobstructed view of the guarded area. There are two parts to the Model CA: An Emitter pylon and a Receiver pylon. The Emitter pylon has no outputs. The Receiver pylon contains two monitored solid state 24vdc outputs. Both pylon sets are synchronized to each other electronically as they are connected together with the interconnect cables to the top and bottom of the next set of pylons.

System Safety.
The Model CA Cascading Safety Light Curtain incorporates redundant, and diverse technology that provides a backup for every system that could cause an unsafe condition.

External Device Monitoring (EDM).
A method in which the Model CA Category 4 cascading safety light curtain logic monitors the state of various external control devices. The control devices are external and not part of the Model CAlight curtain pylons. A lockout or stop signal will result if an unsafe state is detected in an external device. The External Device Monitoring (EDM) is an optional function of the Model CA safety light curtain for monitoring the status of external devices such as gate and door switches, safety switches or the main control element of the drive (MPCE). Solid state outputs are turned on separately to be checked and to assure neither output has been shorted, before fully turning on.

Design Criteria.
Designed to meet IEC 61496-1 & 2, UL 1998, UL subject 491, OSHA, ANSI, CSA, ANSI-RIA R15.06-1999

Microprocessor redundancy for both Emitter and Receiver pylons

Redundant, monitored, 24vdc solid state outputs (PNP)

Watchdogs on CPU’s and outputs prevent unintentional output during lockups.

Print this page

Safety Light Curtains
   Safety Light Curtain Comparison
   Model SS Solid State Outputs Safety Light Curtain
   Model SS Product Overview
   Model SS Blanking Options
   Model SS Safety Relay
   Model SS Specs and Dimensions
   Model SS Ordering Procedure
   Model SS Accessories
   Model MG Metal Box Controller and Safety Light Curtain
   Model MG Product Overview
   Model MG Smart Controller
   Model MG Design Criteria
   Model MG Features
   Model MG Dimensions
   Model MG Blanking Options
   Model MG Ordering Procedure
   Model MG Accessories
   Model MG Ethernet Option
   Model DR DIN-rail Controller and Safety Light Curtain
   Model DR Product Overview
   Model DR Smart Controller
   Model DR Design Criteria
   Model DR Features
   Model DR Dimensions
   Model DR Blanking Options
   Model DR Ordering Procedure
   Model DR Accessories
   Model CE Solid State Outputs Global Safety Light Curtain
   Model CE Product Overview
   Model CE Blanking Options
   Model CE Safety Relay
   Model CE Specs and Dimensions
   Model CE Ordering Procedure
   Model CE Accessories
   Model CA Cascading Safety Light Curtain
   Model CA Product Overview
   Model CA Blanking Options
   Model CA Safety Relay
   Model CA Specs and Dimensions
   Model CA Ordering/Pricing Procedure
   Model CA Accessories
   Model PPG Perimeter Guarding
   Model PPG Product Overview
   Model PPG Dimensions
   Model PPG Ordering Procedure
   Model PPG Accessories
Safety Mat Systems
   NSD Safety Mat System
   NSD Product Overview
   NSD No Steel Electrodes?
   NSD Mat Controllers
   NSD Layout Procedure
   NSD Trim Kits
   NSD Ordering Procedure
   NSD Sizing Your System
   NSD Wiring Options
   NSD Safety Modules
   STTS Safety Mat System
   STTS Product Overview
   STTS Design Criteria
   STTS Mat Controllers
   STTS Controller Dimensions
   STTS Layout Procedure
   STTS Trim Kits
   STTS Ordering Procedure
   STTS Sizing Your System
   Direction of Travel Mats
   High-Temp Welding Mats
Ergonomic Palm Buttons
   UltraTouch Product Overview
   What can UltraTouch do for you?
   UltraTouch Benefits
   Ergonomic Palm Button Comparison
   UltraTouch Specifications
   UltraTouch Dimensions
   UltraTouch Models Available
   UltraTouch Ordering Procedure and Finding a Part Number
   UltraTouch Accessories
Programmable Safety Controller
Safety Interlock Switches
   GKM Series
   GKN Series
   GKE Series
   GK Series
   GKR/GKL Series
   GSS Series
   1CPS Series
   2CPS Series
   FF3-21-DC-03
   FF5-21-DC-03
   FF6-10-DC-03
   FFS-11-03
   BX Series
   GSX Series
   CLSX Series
   Stack Lights Product Overview
   Stack Lights Ordering Procedure
   Stack Lights Dimensions
   Stack Lights Specifications
   Stack Lights Wiring Diagrams
   Stack Lights Accessories
   Stack Lights Accessories Mounting Poles
   Stack Lights Accessories Mounting Bases
   Stack Lights Wall Accessories Mount Brackets
Fencing
   Fencing Overview
   Fencing Specifications
   Fencing Styles
   Complies with Safety Standards
   OSHA Table 0-10
   Fencing Warranty
   Proposal Request
E-Stops & Stack Lights
Metal Stamping / Pressroom Products
   Press Control Design Criteria
   Punch Press Clutch/Brake Controls
   Press Automation
   Die Protection
   Tonnage Monitoring
   Programmable Limit Switches
   Time-Based Brake Monitors
Safety Glossary
   Glossary A-C
   Glossary D-F
   Glossary G-I
   Glossary J-L
   Glossary M-O
   Glossary P-R
   Glossary S-U
   Glossary V-Z
Risk Assessment
Repair of Products
Corporate Profile
Standards and Regulations
   1910.211
   1910.212
   1910.213
   1910.216
   1910.217
   Appendix A
   Appendix B
   Appendix C
   Appendix D
   ISO and IEC Standards
   What Does OSHA Do?
   ANSI
   Domestic and International Standards Organizations
   OSHA Concept and Techniques of Machine Guarding

Home
Contact Our Sales Department
Contact Our Service Department