Industrial safety scanners – how they differ from Thermosafety

Manufacturing companies differ significantly in many respects. However, despite the differences in their production lines and processes, they have several things in common. One of these is attention to worker safety.

Safety scanners – one of the basic ways to ensure safety in the factory

They are used wherever constant access to the machine is necessary. Examples include an assembly station, from which a person periodically retrieves finished parts or a palletizing station.

Safety scanners can be mounted both vertically and horizontally. The first mounting method allows for replacing safety curtains and serves similar purposes. The result of the second mounting method is to delineate an area. It is most often used to designate a danger zone near or around a machine.

What makes Thermosafety different from a safety scanner?

Contrary to appearances, this is a legitimate question, because both devices:

  • designate danger zones and monitor them,
  • stop the machine or slow down its operation if the boundaries of the hazardous zone are violated,
  • resume machine operation when the danger zone is not violated.

The devil, as usual, is in the details. Thermosafety safety system distinguishes between people and the rest of the environment. To help understand this key difference in operation, it is worth demonstrating it in a practical application.

1. When the zone is empty

When there is no object in the danger zone, both devices do not stop the machine’s operation.

2. When a person enters the zone

Both devices take the appropriate action – stop the machine’s operation.

3. Unplanned human presence in the zone

If a worker is in the danger zone and another mistakenly restarts the machines, Thermosafety will stop their operation. In the case of the safety scanner, the machines will continue to operate until the laser is cut.

4. An object enters the danger zone

The safety scanner reacts and stops the machine. Thermosafety recognizes that the object is not human, so it takes no action.

Designating danger zones with a 3D safety scanner and Thermosafety

3D safety scanners also allow the designation of different danger zones and the definition of an alarm for each. However, safety scanners offer less flexibility in defining them.

There are more differences in favor of Thermosafety!

This is not the end of the differences between one system and another. Others include:

  • the function to record events (scanners do not have such a function),
  • the shape of the base of the designated zone is fully customizable (3D scanners do not offer such an option).

Warning and monitoring of traffic in hazardous areas

THERMOSAFETY LITE is a camera system designed to detect people as well as forklifts. It is a solution whose main application is  monitoring intersections with limited visibility, where pedestrians and forklifts often cross their paths.

The device consists of a stereovision camera and an AI system that analyzes the observed image and 3D space. When a human is detected, the device displays selected warning signals.

The device offers a unique networking capability, improving the range and accuracy of human detection – the functionality of the device can be expanded by connecting it to the THERMOSAFETY HUB.

Examples of TS LITE applications

CROSSINGS AND INTERSECTIONS "AROUND THE BEND"

Carts and other industrial vehicles pose the greatest danger when they appear suddenly. THERMOSAFETY LITE will monitor hidden areas and send warnings when a vehicle and worker are in the path of a collision.

SMALL COMMON AREAS

THERMOSAFETY LITE can monitor areas where forklifts and pedestrians often move in the same area. A warning signal that lights up when pedestrians and forklifts are in the same area can prevent unpleasant situations.

WYJŚCIA NA ŚCIEŻKĘ

Exits from the corridors directly onto the path are troublesome to secure. With THERMOSAFETY LITE, we can inform the approaching cart already in the corridor. Likewise, we will warn the cart driver of an approaching employee before the employee opens the door!

The THERMOSAFETY HUB allows for the construction of a network of THERMOSAFETY LITE devices. The High-Performance Server supports up to 8 stereovision cameras and is equipped with a PLC to control the devices.

High performance allows you to expand functionality! Using the power of the THERMOSAFETY HUB server allows you to combine observed areas, delineate warning zones, and history and analyze events. All with increased precision and detection performance.

Examples of TS HUB applications

LARGE UNLOADING ZONES

Large plazas with increased cart traffic are areas where drivers should be extra careful. Such areas can be monitored using several THERMOSAFETY LITE devices and when people are detected, drivers can be informed of their presence.

COMPLEX INTERSECTIONS

Using THERMOSAFETY HUB with several THERMOSAFETY LITE cameras, we can monitor several, different sections of the same intersection. Recognition of approaching people or oncoming carts will allow effective traffic management at this location.

CLOSED PRODUCTION AREAS

Some production areas are protected from the entry of workers. Their presence is allowed only at certain times. By combining THERMOSAFETS LITE, we can observe large production lines and alert people to entry at specific times.

Online system for event analytics

With selected THERMOSAFETY systems you will analyze the detailed history of events!