■For your safety
In using the light curtain, please establish a control system to satisfy the below items in order to ensure safety with a total system.

>>Precautions for use

It is possible to select from among three types according to the worksite

Safety distance greatly shortened to improve productivity

The finger protection type can detect very small objects with a diameter of as small as 14 mm 0.551 in, so that the safety distance based on the ISO 13855 international standard has been shortened from previous models by a maximum of 122 mm 4.803 in.
With production machinery becoming smaller, this helps contribute to improved productivity and more efficient utilization of space.

"ZERO" dead zone

Unit length = protective height, so that no dead zone occurs in the interfaces between light curtains when units are connected in series.
The equipment can be used with confidence because there is no dangerous opening resulting from dead zone.

"ZERO" dead zone when using series mounting

"ZERO" dead zone when using L-shaped setup
(Except for finger protection type)

Up to a maximum of 3 sets can be connected in series

A wide range of variations are available with protective heights of 230 to 1,910 mm 9.055 to 75.197 in (1,270 mm 50.000 in for the finger protection type). Optional cable for series connection can be used to connect up to a maximum of 3 sets (maximum 192 beam channels) in series. The reduced amount of wiring needed lowers costs and also helps to prevent interference.

A muting control function is provided to increase both safety and productivity

The light curtain is equipped with a muting control function that causes the line to stop only when a person passes through the light curtain, and does not stop the line when an object passes through. The muting sensors and muting lamps can be connected directly to the light curtain so that a special controller is not required for muting. This both reduces costs and increases safety and productivity.

・Avoiding line stoppage when a workpiece passes through
The light curtain has a built-in muting function that causes the light curtain to ignore object when two or more of the four muting sensors are interrupted simultaneously as a result of an object passing by. This prevents the line from stopping when an object passes through the light curtain, thereby maintaining productivity. When a person passes through the light curtain, two or more of the muting sensors are not interrupted, and so the muting function is not activated.

Override function allows the line to be restarted smoothly after it has stopped while muting control was active

In the case that the power turns off while the light curtain is being interrupted by an object or in the case that the line stops before the muting conditions have been established (if only one muting sensor has been interrupted), the machinery can be restarted smoothly and safely without removing the object.

Equipped with a safety circuit that does not require an exclusive safety relay unit

The light curtain has a built-in external device monitoring function (such as for fused relay monitoring) and an interlock function. The safety circuit is constructed so that a separate safety relay unit is not needed, and the control board has become smaller to help to contribute to lower costs.

Mutual interference is reduced without need for interference prevention lines

The light curtain is equipped with the ELCA (Extraneous Light Check & Avoid) function which has already gained strong approval in the marketplace for its powerful suppression of mutual interference between light curtains. Because it automatically shifts the scan timing of the light curtain in order to avoid interference, it is not necessary to wire interference prevention lines between machineries, so that the light curtains can be positioned with much greater flexibility.

Reducing the number of malfunctions caused by extraneous light

A double scanning method and retry processing are two new functions exclusive to SUNX that have been established in the workplace as being effective in eliminating the effects of momentary extraneous light from peripheral equipment. The reduction in operating errors caused by extraneous light reduces frequent stopping of machinery and helps to prevent losses in line operating efficiency.

Equipped with a digital error indicator so that error details can be understood at a glance

The system constantly checks the light curtain for problems such as incorrect cable wiring, disconnection, shortcircuits, internal circuit problems, and incoming light problems. If a problem should occur, the same output (OFF signal) as when an object was detected is maintained in order to ensure safety, and the details of the error appear on the digital display. The error details can be checked at a glance without the inconvenience of the previous method of counting the number of LED blinks, so that smooth support is possible if problems occur at startup and during maintenance operations, even if assistance is given via telephone.

Beam-axis alignment indicators show the incident light position can be seen at a glance

Beam-axis alignment indicators display the beam channels of the light curtain in four blocks. When the beam channel at the bottommost channel (or topmost channel), which is used as a reference for beam-axis alignments, is correctly aligned, the LED blinks red. After this, each block lights red as the beam axes successively become aligned. When all channel beam axes are aligned, all LEDs light green. The display also has a stability indicator (STB) added so that setup can be carried out with greater stability.

Supports both PNP and NPN polarities in a single model

The SF4B series combines PNP transistor output and NPN transistor output in a single model. Overseas equipment that uses PNP, replacement with NPN sensors, factories that are positively grounded, and transfer of equipment overseas are all situations where the control circuits for a single model are suitable for use worldwide.

Separate muting control function for each beam channel

The SFB-HC* (optional) Handy-controller can be used to carry out muting control for specified beam channels only. Because individual beam channel can be specified, additional guards to prevent entry are not needed to be set up.

For example, depending on the height of the object, the muting function can be activated for 10 beam channels starting from the bottom, so that if the 11th or subsequent beam channels are interrupted, it is judged that a person has entered the area and the line stops.

* A Handy-controller cannot be used with the SF4B-□-01 and the SF-C14EX-01.

Any valid beam channels can be selected
The SF4B series incorporates a fixed blanking function

The SF4B series is equipped with a fixed blanking function which allows specific beam channels to be selectively interrupted without causing the control output (OSSD) to output the OFF signal. This function is convenient for use with applications in which certain fixed obstacles tend to block specific beam channels. Furthermore, this function provides greater safety as the control output (OSSD) will automatically output the OFF signal if the fixed obstacles are subsequently removed from the sensing area.

Non-specified beam channels can be deactivated
The SF4B series incorporates a floating blanking function

1, 2 or 3 non-specified beam channels can be deactivated. If the number of beam channels that are blocked is less than or equal to the set number of beam channels, then the control output (OSSD) will not output the OFF signal. This function is useful in the event when the positions of obstacles within the sensing area must be changed during object rearrangement, or when object passes through the light curtain's sensing area.