Banner Engineering Corporation

Matthew Michael Gelineau

John Klesk

Michael Shawn Bechtold

Charles Lee Osborn

Calvin James Sargent

Dean C Erickson

Matthew John Schmitt

Curtis Rosenow

Charles Dolezalek

William Theunissen

Nick Olsen

Bruce Becker

Calvin Sargent

Bill Rust

Nathan Casteel

Scott Eliason

Apparatus and associated methods relate to an alignment system including an alignment source module (ASM) and an alignment indicator module (AIM) configured to be releasably coupled to a first unit and a second unit, respectively, of a pair of optoelectronic arrays. In an illustrative example, the ASM may be oriented, when coupled, to emit an optical beam in substantial alignment with a first optical axis of the first unit. The AIM may, for example, be configured, when coupled, to provide a visible indication when the optical beam is within a predetermined near-alignment orientation range relative to a second optical axis of the second unit. Each of the AIM and the ASM may, for example, be configured to axially couple along respective longitudinal axes of the first unit and the second. Various embodiments may advantageously facilitate manipulation of the pair of optoelectronic arrays into near alignment with each other.

Field installable laser alignment tool

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a side-mounted field-installable indication module (SMFIIM) configured to reflect a status of a manufacturing area (e.g., a status of a machine, status of a light curtain). In an illustrative example, the SMFIIM may include a light emitting module configured to emit a visual indicium corresponding to the status of the manufacturing area, and a coupling member configured to be releasably captured within a longitudinally extending channel of a housing of a light curtain. After installation, for example, the SMFIIM may be disposed on a side of and substantially parallel to the housing. The light emitting module may emit the visual indicium in an emitting plane oriented at an angle less than 90° to a plane tangential to a mounting surface of the light curtain housing. Various embodiments may advantageously provide a wide viewing angle of the light emitting module around the lighting curtain.

Field installable light curtain side status module

Safety controller

Apparatus and associated methods relate to activating a blanking programming mode, such as fixed blanking (FB) or floating blanking (FLB), for example, for at least one user-selectable light curtain segment proximally connected to a distal-most segment in a string of cascaded light curtain segments. In an illustrative example, the selective activation may be initiated in response to a request signal from a remote request generator. The remote request generator may, in some examples, communicate the request signal to initiate the programming mode via a wireless communication link. In some embodiments, a request interface module may receive the request signal while releasably plugged into a terminal end of the distal-most segment. In various implementations, the remote selective activation may advantageously empower operators to rapidly configure cascaded light curtain systems that require programming modes for functions such as, for example, FB, FLB, or reduced resolution.

User selectable remote programming for cascade-connected light curtains

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a light curtain protection system having a passive optical module arranged to receive, from an active optical module, a light signal such that a reflector reflects, through a polarization control module, the light signal to be received by a receiver in the active optical module. In an illustrative example, the polarization control module includes a half-wave plate aligned with the reflector to impart a first predetermined polarization to the reflected light signal such that the reflected light signal corresponds to a second predetermined polarization when received by the receiver. The polarization control module includes optical elements, such as, for example, a linear polarizer, to receive the reflected light such that the optical elements polarizes the received reflected light signal to correspond to a predetermined polarization. In some examples, the light curtain protection system may advantageously require operating power only for the active optical module.

Light curtain protection system featuring a passive optical module

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a modular plug-in accessory including a connector for making pluggable electrical connection to a cascading electrical output port for providing cascading connection from an elongate light curtain, the accessory comprising an omni-directional light indicator to illuminate a light signal indicative of a status of the light curtain, wherein the accessory is configured to releasably make or break operative connection to the end cap containing the output port while the end cap is sealably connected to an end of the light curtain. In an illustrative example, the accessory may plug in directly to the terminal end of a light curtain. The receiving light curtain may be connected at the distal end of a string of light curtains. In some examples, the accessory may provide high visibility status indication information about any of the light curtain segments in the string of light curtains.

Field installable light curtain status module

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a quick-connector conversion system having a front cover and a rear module. In an illustrative example, the front cover includes apertures from which a plurality of connector ports extend through. Each connector port of the plurality of connector ports is in electrical communication with a first communication module. A rear module includes a second communication module electrically connected to a plurality of input/output (I/O) terminals such that when the front cover aligns with the rear module, the first communication module pluggably connects to the second communication module. When the first communication module and the second communication module are pluggably connected, the plurality of connector ports electrically connects to the plurality of the I/O terminals.

Quick-connector conversion system for safety controller

Growing community of inventors

Blaine, MN, United States of America

Matthew Michael Gelineau