Muting is the safe, automatic and temporary suspension (silencing or dimming) of electrosensitive protective equipment (light curtain, light barrier or laser scanner) during operation. For example, it allows material to be transported into and out of a danger zone (continuous muting is also possible and is called blanking). The muting cycle consists of four phases and must be identified via a muting lamp.
Special sensors are used to ensure the muting controller only starts the muting cycle when the material is being transported through the protected field. The sensors must be arranged in such a way that a person cannot activate the muting sensors. If a person should access the protected area, the potentially dangerous movement is shut down immediately.
Sensor arrangement
When arranging the muting sensors, a distinction is made between sequential and cross muting.
- With a sequential arrangement, multiple sensors are connected one after the other; they must be activated or deactivated consecutively in a certain sequence.
- The arrangement of the two sensors with cross muting is, as the name suggests, crossed. They must both be activated simultaneously to initiate the muting cycle.
Application areas for muting
Typical application areas include the automotive industry, on palletising and drink dispensing machines, or in the manufacture of stone products (concrete blocks, tiles etc.).
The various muting functions
