Abstract: An optoelectronic monitoring device (1) with at least one light source (2) and at least one receiving element (4) which receives light from light source (2) that was reflected by an object. The receiving element determines the distance of the object. A testing unit (5-7) of the monitoring device checks the functionality of the receiving element (4) and modifies light received by the receiving element so that the receiving element (4) receives light which has been falsified by a predetermined or a known amount. A corresponding testing method is also described.

Abstract: A potentially dangerous machine is secured to protect against injuries and has first and second tool parts that define an opening gap between them. At least the first tool part is movable relative to the second tool part in a movement direction during an operating cycle for deforming a workpiece between them by reducing a size of the opening gap in the movement direction. The protected zone precedes the first tool part and extends over at least a portion of the opening gap in the direction of relative movement. The protected zone is monitored with an optoelectronic sensor, and a danger signal is generated in response to a breach of the protected zone. When the size of the opening gap in the movement direction becomes smaller than the protected zone, the size of the protected zone is correspondingly reduced until during subsequent closing movements of the first tool part substantially the entire opening gap is within the protected zone.

Abstract: In a method for the monitoring of a monitored zone next to and/or in an apparatus having at least one driven movable part, video images are used which were detected in time sequence by at least two video cameras whose fields of view overlap at least partly in an overlap region in the monitored zone. On the basis of the first video images detected by a first one of the video cameras, a first recognition and/or tracking of virtual objects is carried out and, on the basis of the second video images detected by a second one of the video cameras, a second recognition and/or tracking of virtual objects is carried out, the virtual objects corresponding to real objects at least in the overlap region.

Abstract: A method and device for monitoring a monitored area with at least one camera (4) and in which the monitored area has a contrast strip (12) with at least one bright partial strip (13) and/or at least one dark partial strip (14) that extend in the longitudinal direction. A control unit (11) recognizes the obscuration of a minimum area of the bright partial strip (13) and/or the dark partial strip (14) as the entry of an object (5) into the monitored area. The control unit (11) detects from an image of the camera (4) the obscuration in columns which are oriented transverse to the contrast strip (12).

Abstract: A method and an optoelectronic sensor are provided for ensuring the safety of a machine tool having a first tool part carrying out working movements in the direction of a second tool part. The sensor monitors a three-dimensional protected field between the tool parts of the machine tool. At the start of a working movement of a first tool part of the machine tool, the extent of the protected field in the direction of the working movement is smaller than the extent of the open gap between the tool parts. On a continued working movement, the extent of the protected field is continuously reduced and the protected field is held in the center of the open gap. Thereafter, on a further continued working movement, the extent of the protected field is maintained and the protected field is held in the center of the open gap. The sensor is finally deactivated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for securing a machine tool comprising a first tool part that carries out work movements in the direction of a second tool part in order thereby to carry out a machining process on a workpiece, wherein an optoelectronic sensor monitors a three-dimensional protected field between the tool parts in that light is transmitted along an open gap formed between the tool parts by means of a transmitter device and is detected by means of a receiver device which includes a matrix of light-sensitive elements, wherein the first tool part is stopped if individual light-sensitive elements or specific groups of the light-sensitive elements do not receive any light. In the method in accordance with the invention, relative positions between individual workpiece areas or measured values related to individual workpiece areas are determined from the signals delivered by the light-sensitive elements.

Abstract: An optoelectronic monitoring device (1) with at least one light source (2) and at least one receiving element (4) which receives light from light source (2) that was reflected by an object. The receiving element determines the distance of the object. A testing unit (5-7) of the monitoring device checks the functionality of the receiving element (4) and modifies light received by the receiving element so that the receiving element (4) receives light which has been falsified by a predetermined or a known amount. A corresponding testing method is also described.

Abstract: A potentially dangerous machine is secured to protect against injuries and has first and second tool parts that define an opening gap between them. At least the first tool part is movable relative to the second tool part in a movement direction during an operating cycle for deforming a workpiece between them by reducing a size of the opening gap in the movement direction. The protected zone precedes the first tool part and extends over at least a portion of the opening gap in the direction of relative movement. The protected zone is monitored with an optoelectronic sensor, and a danger signal is generated in response to a breach of the protected zone. When the size of the opening gap in the movement direction becomes smaller than the protected zone, the size of the protected zone is correspondingly reduced until during subsequent closing movements of the first tool part substantially the entire opening gap is within the protected zone.

Abstract: A method and an optoelectronic sensor are provided for ensuring the safety of a machine tool having a first tool part carrying out working movements in the direction of a second tool part. The sensor monitors a three-dimensional protected field between the tool parts of the machine tool. At the start of a working movement of a first tool part of the machine tool, the extent of the protected field in the direction of the working movement is smaller than the extent of the open gap between the tool parts. On a continued working movement, the extent of the protected field is continuously reduced and the protected field is held in the center of the open gap. Thereafter, on a further continued working movement, the extent of the protected field is maintained and the protected field is held in the center of the open gap. The sensor is finally deactivated.

Abstract: A method and a sensor for the securing of a hazardous zone of a moving tool having a point of attack is disclosed. A monitored zone with a boundary surface is monitored whose cross-section extends along an arc of a circle or beyond it, wherein the center of the arc of a circle is arranged spaced apart from the point of attack of the tool in the direction of movement of the tool, and wherein the arc of a circle has a radius which is at least so large that the boundary surface of the monitored region extends—at least on the operator side—up to the point of attack of the tool or radially beyond the boundary surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for securing a machine tool comprising a first tool part that carries out work movements in the direction of a second tool part in order thereby to carry out a machining process on a workpiece, wherein an optoelectronic sensor monitors a three-dimensional protected field between the tool parts in that light is transmitted along an open gap formed between the tool parts by means of a transmitter device and is detected by means of a receiver device which includes a matrix of light-sensitive elements, wherein the first tool part is stopped if individual light-sensitive elements or specific groups of the light-sensitive elements do not receive any light. In the method in accordance with the invention, relative positions between individual workpiece areas or measured values related to individual workpiece areas are determined from the signals delivered by the light-sensitive elements.

Abstract: In a method for the monitoring of a monitored zone next to and/or in an apparatus having at least one driven movable part, video images are used which were detected in time sequence by at least two video cameras whose fields of view overlap at least partly in an overlap region in the monitored zone. On the basis of the first video images detected by a first one of the video cameras, a first recognition and/or tracking of virtual objects is carried out and, on the basis of the second video images detected by a second one of the video cameras, a second recognition and/or tracking of virtual objects is carried out, the virtual objects corresponding to real objects at least in the overlap region.

Abstract: A zone is monitored with an optoelectronic sensor. Light is transmitted in accordance with a structured light pattern in the direction of the monitored zone and is received from the monitored zone. The received light is converted into received signals and the received signals are evaluated with respect to the presence of an object, or with respect to a movement of an object, in the monitored zone. The light is transmitted and/or received in accordance with at least two different light patterns.

Abstract: A method and a sensor for the securing of a hazardous zone of a moving tool having a point of attack is disclosed. A monitored zone with a boundary surface is monitored whose cross-section extends along an arc of a circle or beyond it, wherein the center of the arc of a circle is arranged spaced apart from the point of attack of the tool in the direction of movement of the tool, and wherein the arc of a circle has a radius which is at least so large that the boundary surface of the monitored region extends—at least on the operator side—up to the point of attack of the tool or radially beyond the boundary surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cell for an ophthalmic lens, for testing the latter with an optical inspection system, said cell comprising a hollow space (11, 31) which is filled with a liquid and has an axis (12, 32) coinciding, in the test position, with the optical axis of an inspection system and, in the test position of the cell, is delimited from above by a viewing glass (13, 33) for the optical test and has, underneath the viewing glass, a test trough (14, 34) for the ophthalmic lens.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus, in particular to a bending apparatus, including at least one movable apparatus part; an operating device for the operation of the apparatus, with at least one first signal for the actuation of the apparatus and one second signal for the stopping of the apparatus being able to be triggered via the operating device; a protection device for the monitoring of a protected zone of the apparatus; and a device for the selective adaptation of the protected zone before the actuation of the apparatus, with the device for the adaptation of the protected zone being able to be acted on by means of a third signal of the operating device. Alternatively, the device for the selective adaptation of the protected zone can include a voice input device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the operation of a monitoring device in which a pre-determined monitored zone is monitored by means of at least one optoelectronic sensor, safety radiation detectable by means of the sensor is transmitted into the monitored zone by means of at least one radiation source and an operating zone coinciding at least partly with the monitored zone is illuminated by means of a lighting device by means of illumination radiation visible to the human eye, wherein the radiation source and the lighting device are operated coordinated with one another such that the safety radiation and the illumination radiation differ from one another at least with respect to a radiation parameter open to a differentiated evaluation. The invention moreover relates to a monitoring device.

Abstract: A method of controlling at least one safety-specific function of a machine. The method includes monitoring a monitoring region with at least one location-resolving and time-resolving sensor, where the monitoring region includes a safety boundary which separates off a danger region and defines a safe distance from a danger zone of the machine. The method also includes detecting at least one of a position, a movement direction and a movement speed of an object. The method also includes establishing a position of the safety boundary in a variable manner depending on the at least one of a detected position, movement direction and movement speed of the object. The method also includes triggering the safety-specific function of the machine when entry into the danger region by the object is detected. An apparatus corresponding to the method is also described.

Abstract: The invention enables more objective defect evaluation of ophthalmic lenses, especially contact lenses, to take place through the combination of the schlieren method with the transmitted light method, with the result that the advantages of these two different systems are combined. The schlieren method is in a position to illustrate the edge of a contact lens and its ruptures, in high contrast, for the CCD camera. Likewise, tears and surface defects can be made visible. Using the transmitted light method, the bubbles may be suitably prepared for the camera.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the triggering of an image recording by means of at least one camera system in which at least one part region of an image recording surface of the camera system is acted on by means of at least one radiation source in a non-recording state, the signal thereby derived from the image recording surface is supplied to an evaluation device and is evaluated as a non-recording signal and, on a change of the non-recording signal, the image recording is triggered automatically. The invention further relates to a camera system.