MHW Magazine News and stories from the Materials Handling Industry
The new MLD300 and MLD500 ranges of multiple light beam devices include an innovative and low cost three beam transceiver.
Leuze electronic’s new range of Multiple Light beam safety Devices (MLD) are totally new designs and include numerous features, one of which is the innovative range of 3 beam transceivers which replace traditional 4 beam transceivers.
At launch the MLD family is an extensive one, with the MLD300 range providing ‘Type 2’, ‘SIL 2’ and Performance level ‘d’ units and the MLD 500 range being ‘Type 4’, ‘SIL3’, ‘PLe’ devices. Within both ranges, there are three different levels of functionality, much like the different trim levels offered for a particular model of car. Continuing the theme of a car range, the most basic MLD 310 or MLD 510 models offer functions like automatic reset and LED display which previously have only been available on more expensive units. The MLD 320 and MLD 520 models offer start/restart interlock, contactor monitoring and configurable operating modes, with the range topping MLD 330 and MLD 530 the most ‘feature rich’ offering integrated control of parallel or sequential muting for example. All of the features are selected according to the units wiring connection, for example connecting two pins together, there is no need to configure the devices using a PC.
Extra’s such as integrated laser alignment at the top and bottom of the columns, or an integrated muting lamp can be added to numerous models.
Multiple Light-beam safety Devices are widely used in a variety of applications ranging from simple access guarding, to safeguarding combined with Muting for example at points where pallets leave guarded areas, plus wide-area perimeter guarding.
The MLD family includes transceiver models which are ideally suited to access guarding and safeguarding with Muting. A transceiver is a combined transmitter / receiver in one unit, with the other column being a passive reflector which does not require an electrical connection. Transceivers are popular because they offer cost savings at installation needing only a wired connection on one side, namely at the transceiver.
Traditionally transceivers have been 2 or 4 beam units because the reflecting column works like a periscope with a mirror reflecting the incoming signal down the inside of the column on then back out to the receiver from a mirror at the bottom. A 4 beam system is therefore a 2 beam system in the top half of the column and another 2 beam system in the bottom half of the column.
In many applications a 2 beam system does not provide adequate protection of the machinery and the next step up is a 4 beam system in order to get a middle beam.
Leuze electronic’s innovative 3 beam MLD transceivers use technology from its multi-beam light curtains to precisely switch the two transmission beams so that they can be detected and identified by a single receiver unit. This innovation reduces manufacturing costs, which combined with other design features such as optics within the end-caps, enables the MLD family of Multiple Light beam safety Devices to offer more features for less money than the units they replace.
The 2 and 3 beam transceivers have a range of 8m, but the both MLD 300 and MLD 500 series include 2, 3 and 4-beam transmitter and receiver systems, which offer a range of 70m.
Installation is made easier and hence quicker by a new patented mounting system which provides full flexibility in the choice of mounting height within the matching device columns rather than being constrained by the position of pre-drilled mounting holes. The MLD units can also easily be aligned using the new bayonet style of swivel mount which enables swift alignment and provides reliable mounting – examples of Leuze electronic ‘the sensor people’ providing industrial solutions that reduce costs.
