The new Allen-Bradley GuardShield 450L safety light-curtain system from Milton Keynes-based Rockwell Automation Ltd (www.rockwellautomation.com) has been designed to enhance safety, while improving productivity through innovative transceiver technology.

Unlike traditional safety light curtains based on pre-defined transmitter and receiver units, GuardShield 450L features a patented transceiver design that uses plug-in modules to establish each unit’s function as a transmitter or receiver. Once powered up, the transceiver learns its functions from the plug-in module.

Manfred Stein, global product manager (safety light curtains), said: “When systems are based on traditional transmitter/receiver architecture, customers need to buy multiple light-curtain models to accommodate different features. Now, they can purchase identical GuardShield 450L sticks and customise the features with different plug-ins.”

Five-pin plug-ins are available for basic on/off functionality, while eight-pin plug-ins provide manual and automatic restart with external device monitoring.

To further simplify set-up, advanced function settings are configured through dual in-line package switches located on the plug-in module.

Suitable for hand and finger detection, and offered in a range of protective heights, the light-curtain system is also equipped with an active protective field that senses over the entire length of the transceiver.

This feature reduces the inactive sensing areas that generally appear at the top and bottom of some light curtains.

In contrast to traditional light-curtain systems, the active sensing field and compact design allow customers to install GuardShield 450L inside a machine frame.