Jul 13, 2021Paris-based locking technology company Comitronic-BTI has released a new safety lock that relies on radio frequency identification to be activated or released. With the technology, personnel can shut down power or machinery upon entering a restricted space or accessing a machine for maintenance, and no one else can inadvertently put them in danger by turning the power back on. That's because the unique ID number or code of that key is required to restore operations. The device is being deployed for securing machines, as well as doors to secured areas, in manufacturing settings. New customers include U.S. manufacturers and industrial worksites where heavy equipment needs to be maintained.
There is an inherent risk associated with the operation of machinery in the manufacturing environment, which can include electrical incidents or operating errors that could injure or kill those operating or maintaining a machine. Traditionally, companies use a mechanical key to turn equipment on and off prior to maintenance, or a padlock to restrict access to a secure area, such as a secured rooftop, or to machines with dangerous movements or inertia, like those found in sewing rooms.
The Lockgard
However, such manual locking systems can invite human error, says Hélène Lamazou, Comitronic-BTI's export sales director. Employees might not notice that a padlock has been opened, for instance, or they might fail to spot an individual working on equipment, and then turn on the power while that worker is vulnerable to mechanical moving parts or electric current.
Comitronic-BTI, based in Bordeaux, manufactures machine-safety and automation components that come with digital intelligence, as well as a mechanical locking function. The company, launched in 1981, has been making non-contact, multi-coded safety switches since 1994. Most recently, it has released the Lockgard system, leveraging 125 kHz LF RFID technology, which it is selling globally. The company says its solution targets safety first, while also ensuring consistent equipment operation. The challenge is thus to implement simple and operational solutions to avoid operating errors that could cause shutdowns or injuries.
The Lockgard comes with a built-in LF RFID reader and an RFID key with a code dedicated to that reader. (The company utilizes 16 million unique codes for its RFID products.) The device automatically learns the key's RFID code the first time it is switched on, Lamazou says, "so there is no need to follow up with a PC or software." The device could be used to lock a door, or it could be attached to a rotary switch. In either case, it would be connected to the mechanics required to turn the power and operation of equipment on or off.
The system is available in two versions, the Lockgard M1 and M2, and both mechanical locking devices are triggered by RFID tag reads. The M1 is used with a rotary switch to manage a piece of equipment. If maintenance personnel need to perform work on a ceiling fan, for instance, they can utilize the system to turn off that fan, with assurance that only they can turn it back on, and only when it is safe to do so. If the motor of a fan or other device is running, the electrical contacts in the Lockgard will be closed and the auxiliary lines will be open.
The key comes with a unique ID number or code that is authorized for use with a particular lock, and it is locked into position so that the locking device's built-in reader can interrogate the RFID code. To switch off the electricity or machine, users activate the unlocking command by turning the rotary switch to the "off" position. They can turn the key and release the bolt, and the RFID key can then be removed. "The user can take the key with them and do their work in safe conditions," Lamazou explains.
The second, larger version, the M2, operates similarly but is focused on access to a fenced or gated area or room. The device can be attached to a door or gate, as well as to the rotary switch that disables the machinery inside a secured area. While in the locked position, the Lockgard bolt is extended, thereby locking the door shut. The RFID key in the device transmits its ID number to the reader, which keeps the lock activated.
If an individual requires access to a room containing cutting machines, or in which sewing is under way, they can turn the RFID key counterclockwise, view a red indicator light and remove the key. Only then can they enter the room or area. Even if someone were to come along and could not see the maintenance worker inside the area, it would be impossible for them to close the gate without the key, preventing them from turning the power back on.
The Lockgard is typically attached to a company's programmable logic controller, with which users might utilize a touchscreen wired to a company's safety PLC or safety relay monitor information regarding switch status. Companies can use that data as they choose. For example, they could track how often or when individuals entered a room or shut off power to a given machine. The LED indictor could also show that a bad RFID code was being read (indicting the wrong key) with a single pulse. Businesses looking to provide an extra key for a lock could request it during the purchasing process, and Comitronic-BTI would provide several keys with the unique ID number specific to that lock.
"The idea is to reduce risk," Lamazou states, "so typically, only two keys are recommended for a single device." The company opted to employ RFID so that it would be impossible for unauthorized parties to duplicate the keys. Because the solution only accepts a single code, and since the keys cannot be duplicated, businesses can be assured the keys will not end up in the wrong hands. If a key is broken, lost or stolen, Comitronic-BTI can provide an erasing key that will reset the code in the RFID reader, then present a new key that will be stored in the device.
To date, the Lockgard system has been used by businesses that need to mechanically lock their equipment, such as printing machines. Those deploying the system include companies with palletizing, packaging or robotics machines, for instance, as well as others at which production takes place within fenced areas. "This is a niche market," Lamazou says, involving customers that have, until now, simply used padlocks. However, she adds, "You cannot compare the two technologies."
Another RFID-enabled version of the solution, slated for release this October, will be intended for larger machines with inertia, such as those used in sawmills, or at plants where recycling or other large-scale operations take place. The Lockgard system is priced at £274 ($326) and comes with an IP65 rating.
