Abstract: A machine safety guard for stopping a machine during any phase of operation to prevent injury to workers in which a guard lever is disposed between the worker and the hazardous area of the machine and is connected on one end to a pivot shaft. An activating arm extends from the shaft and has a post for operating a microswitch which is connected to the emergency circuit of the machine. When the guard lever is touched the lever pivots on the shaft, thereby lowering the post from the microswitch, causing the emergency circuit to stop the machine. A counterweight is used to control the sensitivity of the guard lever.

Abstract: A guard apparatus for production machines having hazardous work areas in which injury to the machine operator can occur, in which a guard rod is disposed around the perimeter of the hazardous work area and is attached on one end to an emergency circuit activation mechanism connected by an electric circuit to the emergency stop circuitry of the machine. If the guard rod is deflected either upwardly or downwardly, a switch in the activation mechanism is tripped, causing the emergency circuitry of the machine to go into an emergency off condition, thereby stopping the machine. A second emergency circuit activation mechanism can be connected to the other end of the guard rod to provide a back-up for the operation of the guard apparatus if the first switch fails.