A SYSTEM TO DETECT AT LEAST ONE PART OF THE HUMAN, OR ANIMAL BODY. Field of application of the present invention

The present invention relates to a system to detect the presence in, or the approaching towards, a respective zone of interest, of at least one part of the human, or animal body, and at which zone of interest the presence of said at least part of the human, or animal body is not admitted, while the presence of a respective object or product is admitted.

State of the art

Systems to detect the presence in, or the approaching towards, a respective zone of interest, of at least one part of the human, or animal body, and at which zone of interest the presence of said at least part of the human, or animal body is not admitted, while the presence of a respective object or product is admitted, are known, with which however it is not possible to adjust the intervention to the specific situation underway, and undesired and corresponding safeguard actions are obtained, such as, for example, machine downtimes, which instead are not necessary.

Summary of the invention.

Therefore, with the present invention it is desired to propose a new, alternative solution to the solutions known so far, and in particular it is proposed to obviate one or more of the drawbacks referred to above and/or to meet one or more of the needs referred to above, and/or however felt in the art, and in particular deducible from the above.

Therefore, a system is provided to detect the presence in, or the approaching towards, a respective zone of interest, of at least one part of the human, or animal body, and at which zone of interest the presence of said at least part of the human, or animal body is not admitted, while the presence of a respective object or product is admitted; in particular said zone of interest being at, or defined by, a working or processing zone of said object or product, preferentially of a corresponding machine or equipment, especially at which at least one, in particular movable part is present, preferably adapted to operate on a respective object or product, and such as to be able to cause damages or injuries to the respective part of the human, or animal body; il system comprises detection means of at least one part of the human, or animal body, at, or approaching to, said zone of interest, i.e., at, or approaching to, said detection means of at least one part of the human, or animal body; said system is adapted, i.e., said detection means of at least one part of the human, or animal body, are adapted, to activate a corresponding intervention action, in particular when the signal detected, or generated, by the same detection means of at least one part of the human, or animal body, exceeds a corresponding intervention threshold or value; characterized in that said system has, i.e., said detection means of at least one part of the human or animal body have, an intervention threshold or value that is variable, in particular that is variable in a controllable way.

In this manner, it is possible to adjust the intervention to the specific situation underway, and moreover undesired detections and corresponding actions are avoided, such as, for example, machine downtimes which instead are not necessary.

Brief description of the drawings

This and other novel aspects, or respective advantageous implementations, are however set forth in the attached claims, the specific technical characteristics of which can be found, together with corresponding advantages obtained, in the following description, illustrating in detail a merely exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, and which is made with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a first preferred implementation of system according to the present invention applied to a corresponding equipment lacking the product supporting plane;

Fig. IB illustrates a perspective view of the first preferred implementation of system according to the present invention applied to a corresponding equipment with the product supporting plane;

Fig. 1C illustrates a schematic side elevation view of the first preferred implementation of system according to the present invention applied to a corresponding equipment;

Fig. ID illustrates a schematic top plan view of the first preferred implementation of system according to the present invention applied to a corresponding equipment;

Fig. 2 illustrates a diagram showing the intervention threshold to be set for the present system, in order that the latter intervenes only when one part of the human body is added to the product entering the zone of interest; - Fig. 3 illustrates a second preferred implementation of system according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 illustrates a third preferred implementation of system according to the present invention;

Fig. 5 illustrates a diagram showing the variation of the intervention threshold pre-defmed or determined by the present system, as a function of the distance from the movable part or cutting blade.

Detailed description of preferred implementations of the invention

In the attached Figures, a preferred implementation 10 of system to detect the presence in, or the approaching towards, a respective zone of interest 11, of at least one part 19 of the human, or animal body, and at which zone of interest 11 is not admitted the presence of said at least part of the human, or animal body, while the presence of a respective object or product is admitted 13, is illustrated.

In particular said zone of interest 11 is at, or defined by, a working or processing zone of said object or product 13, preferentially of a corresponding equipment or setup 30, especially at which at least one, in particular movable part 302 is present, preferably adapted to operate on a respective object or product 13 and such as to be able to cause damages or injuries to the respective part of the human, or animal body.

For example, as illustrated said movable part, adapted to operate on a respective object or product 13, is composed of a cutting saw 302 of an object or product 13, in particular made of or based on wood.

As can be seen from said Figures, the system 10 comprises means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human, or animal body, at, or approaching to, said zone of interest 11, i.e., at, or approaching to, said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human, or animal body.

Said system 10 is adapted, i.e., said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body, are adapted, to activate a corresponding intervention action, in particular when the signal detected, or generated, by the same means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body, exceeds a corresponding intervention threshold or value 120.

With advantage, as the Figures 1 A to 2 illustrate, in accordance with a first preferred implementation of system, the same system 10 has, i.e., said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body have, an intervention threshold or value 120 that is variable, in particular that is variable in a controllable way.

With further advantage, it is provided that the system 10 has, i.e., said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body have, an intervention threshold or value 120 (for example illustrated in figure 2), that is variable as a function of at least one respective geometric configuration, in particular as a function of a geometric dimension, preferably as a function of the height of said object or product 13 the presence of which is admitted at said zone of interest 11.

With further advantage, it is provided that the system 10 has, i.e., said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body have, an intervention threshold or value 120 that is variable as a function of the type of material of said product or object 13 the presence of which is admitted at said zone of interest 11.

In particular, in figure 2 it is illustrated that the detection means 12 detect a signal of the product, having a respective geometry and made of a specific material, for example wood, which is approaching to the same detection means 12. Since the value detected by the detection means 12 changes differently according to the geometry, in particular the height, of the product, up to the maximum level at these same means 12, besides of the material which the same product is composed of, an intervention threshold 120 has to be set at a level that is higher or just higher than the value detected for the specific geometry or height and the specific material of said product, i.e., said intervention threshold 120 has to be changed as a function of the specific geometry or height of the detected product and/or the material thereof, in particular so that said intervention threshold 120 is in any case lower than the value detected by the detection means 12 for at least one part of the human body, in the matter in question for one hand, of the operator or person in charge, and higher than the value detected for the specific product having a specific geometry, or height, and made of a specific material.

In this manner, it is possible to adjust the intervention to the specific situation underway, and moreover undesired detections and corresponding actions are avoided, such as, for example, machine downtimes which instead are not necessary.

Advantageously, said system 10 has, i.e., said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body have, an intervention threshold or value that is automatically variable.

In this way, it is avoided having to intervene whenever it is necessary to vary said intervention threshold or value 120.

In a particularly advantageous manner, said system 10 has, i.e., said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body have, an intervention threshold or value 120 that is variable as a function of at least one respective geometric configuration, in particular as a function of a geometric dimension, preferably as a function of the height “x” of said object or product 13 the presence of which is admitted at said zone of interest 11, i.e., as a function of a distance of a corresponding surface, in particular upper or upward-facing, by corresponding means 14 for detecting the geometric configuration of said object or product 13, as will however best be seen from the following of the present description.

In this manner, from the specific configuration of the object to be processed it is possible to identify the proper intervention threshold and avoid the occurrence of wrong interventions. Preferably, said means 14 for detecting the geometric configuration of said object or product 13, i.e., for detecting the height thereof, are in the form of a sensor of the so-called ‘time of flight’ type (time of flight sensor, in English). However, it must be understood that other types of sensors suitable for the purpose can also be used. As can be seen from said Figures, in an advantageous manner, said system 10 has, i.e., said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body have, said intervention threshold or value 120 that is variable as a function of the type of material of said product or object 13, the presence of which is admitted at said zone of interest 11. In this manner, the system is able to distinguish if the product is for example a bottle in plastic material, i.e., a piece of wood-based material or other, thus avoiding the occurrence of wrong interventions.

In a particularly advantageous manner, as can be seen from said Figures, said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body are in the form of capacitor means.

In particular, said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body are in the form of capacitor means, could be made as provided for in the Italian patent application No. 102019000003123 entitled “Sistema di sicurezza selettivo ottimizzato” (“Optimized selective safety system”), and the content of which via the present reference has to be considered as an integral part of the present specification.

As can be seen in particular from said figures, with advantage, means 14 for detecting the geometric configuration of said object or product 13 are provided, in particular for detecting a geometric dimension, preferably the height X, of the same object or product 13, i.e., of the distance of a corresponding surface, in particular upper or upward-facing, of the same object or product 13 by the same means 14 for detecting the geometric configuration of said object or product 13.

In a particularly advantageous manner, as can be seen from said Figures, said means 14 for detecting the geometric configuration of said object or product 13 are provided upstream according to the direction A for accessing said zone of interest 11 of said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human, or animal body.

Advantageously, said means 14 for detecting the geometric configuration of said obj ect or product 13 are provided above, and in particular perpendicularly spaced apart from, corresponding means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13 towards said zone of interest 11 of the equipment or setup 30 where the system is provided.

As can be seen from said Figures, in an advantageous manner, means 12 for detecting the material composing, at least in part, said object or product 13 are provided.

With advantage, said means 12 for detecting the material composing, at least in part, said object or product 13 are provided above, and in particular perpendicularly spaced apart from, corresponding means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13 towards said zone of interest 11 of the equipment or setup 30 where the system is provided.

In particular, said detection means of the material composing, at least in part, said object or product 13, are defined by the same capacitor means 12 used for the detection of at least one part of the human or animal body.

Advantageously, as can be seen from said Figures, said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body are provided above, and in particular perpendicularly spaced apart from, corresponding means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13 towards said zone of interest 11 of the equipment or setup 30 where the system is provided, and in particular are located at an opening 15 for accessing said zone of interest 11.

As can be seen from said Figures, in a particularly advantageous manner, electronic processing, or processor means 18 are provided, operating under the control of a corresponding software or program.

In an advantageous manner, as can be seen from said Figures, said electronic processing, or processor means 18, are configured to determine said intervention threshold or value 120 of the system 10, i.e., of said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human, or animal body.

Advantageously, as can be seen from said Figures, said electronic processing, or processor means 18, are connected to said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human, or animal body.

As can be seen from said Figures, with advantage, said electronic processing, or processor means 18, are connected to said means 14 for detecting the geometric configuration of said object or product 13 and are configured to define said intervention threshold or value 120 of said system 10, i.e., of said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body, in response to a corresponding signal, or datum, received by said means 14 for detecting the geometric configuration of the same object or product 13.

In a particularly advantageous manner, as can be seen from said Figures, said electronic processing, or processor means 18, are connected to said means 12 for detecting the material composing, at least in part, said object or product 13 and are configured to define said intervention threshold or value 120 of said system 10, i.e., of said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body, in response to a corresponding signal, or datum, received by the same means 12 for detecting the material composing, at least in part, the same object or product 13. In practice, according to a preferred embodiment, the software or program for controlling the electronic processing, or processor means 18, has predetermined values of intervention threshold 120, each corresponding to a detected shape, or height, of the corresponding object or product to be processed 11 and/or the material composing, at least in part, said object or product to be processed.

Advantageously, as can be seen from said Figures, said electronic processing, or processor means 18 are adapted to command, following the exceeding of the corresponding intervention threshold or value 120, a corresponding intervention action, in particular defined by the blocking of a corresponding activity of said equipment or setup 30, such as the blocking of the cutting activity of said body or product 13, and/or defined by the emission of a corresponding alarm signal, and/or defined by the recording, especially a digital recording, of the specific event, especially of the event of exceeding said intervention threshold or value 120.

As can be seen from said Figures, in an advantageous manner, the present system 10 is employed in a corresponding said equipment or setup 30, in particular said equipment or setup 30 being in the form of a cutting machine of a corresponding object or product 13 in wooden or wood-based material, i.e., which especially comprises means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13 towards said zone of interest or processing 11, in which corresponding cutting means, or cutting saw, 302 for said object or product 13 are provided.

With advantage, as can be seen from said Figures, in practice, said present electronic processing, or processor means 18, receive corresponding data or signals from said means 14 for detecting the geometric configuration of said object or product 13 and/or from said means 12 for detecting the material composing, at least in part, said object or product 13, and establish said intervention threshold or value 120

Advantageously, as can be seen from said Figures, when said electronic processing, or processor means 18, receive a corresponding datum or signal from said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body, if the latter exceeds said determined intervention threshold or value 120, command a corresponding intervention action, in particular for the safeguard of the corresponding part of the human or animal body at, or approaching to, said zone of interest 11. Advantageously, as can be seen from said Figures, means 16 are provided for the optical detection, in particular of said object or product 13, especially in connection with said electronic processing, or processor means 18, of the system, preferably arranged at said zone of interest 11, i.e., at the contour or perimeter, i.e., of at least part of the contour or perimeter, of the same zone of interest 11. With advantage, as can be seen from said Figures, said optical detection means 16 comprise a first front detection member 161, especially transversally positioned anteriorly said zone of interest 11, and/or at the input opening thereinto, which is preferably adapted to provide a signal of start of the processing of said object or product 13, or entry of the object or product 13 into said zone of interest 11. With particular advantage, as can be seen from said Figures, said optical detection means 16 comprise opposite first and second side detecting members 162, 163, especially longitudinally extending and transversally spaced apart from one another, laterally positioned with respect to said zone of interest 11, and in particular extending, preferably starting from said front detection member 161, by a corresponding length, preferentially extending up to beyond said zone of interest 11, i.e., up to beyond the processing zone of said object or product 13; preferably said opposite first and second side detecting members 162, 163 being adapted to track the advancement of the processing activity, i.e., the advancement of the object or product 11 into said zone of interest 11, i.e., in particular for detecting the progression of the cutting advancement of the same object or product 11, and/or to signal the side intrusion, in particular of at least part of the human or animal body 19 towards said zone of interest 11 which is provided, at the same object or product being processed, at a height level that is higher than the determined level for the same object or product, or which is provided, in a position anterior to the one where the same object or product 11 is located, at a level that is lower than the same determined level for the same object or product.

In a particularly advantageous manner, as can be seen from said Figures, signalling means 20 are provided, which are in particular adapted to emit a corresponding light signal, especially in connection with said electronic processing, or processor means 18, of the system.

Advantageously, as can be seen from said Figures, said signalling means 20, in particular adapted to emit a corresponding light signal, have a first and a second signalling statuses, in particular are adapted to emit a first and a second light radiations, preferably a green light radiation and a red light radiation.

Advantageously, as can be seen from said Figures, said signalling means 20, in particular adapted to emit a corresponding light signal, have a first and a second signalling statuses, respectively of operation, in particular of input, carried out correctly or in a compliant manner within said zone of interest 11, and of operation, in particular of input, non-compliant or of intrusion within said zone of interest 11, preferably following which, in particular past a predetermined time interval, i.e., simultaneously to which it is provided to command an intervention action, preferably to block the activity of the equipment 30. In practice, if the advancement towards the zone of interest 11 occurs correctly, said processing means 18 will command the lighting of the green light of said signalling means 20, while if it happens incorrectly, i.e., with one part of the human body, for example with the operator’ s hand positioned incorrectly, for example above said product to be processed, i.e., to be cut, said processing means 18 will command the switching on of the red light of the same signalling means 20, in this case, if the intrusion activity were to continue, it will be provided, in particular after a predetermined time interval, to command an intervention action, i.e., to block the activity of said equipment 30.

With advantage, as can be seen from said Figures, said electronic processing, or processor means 18, are connected to said signalling means 20, and are adapted to set the latter in a first signalling status, respectively of operation, in particular of input, carried out correctly or in a compliant manner within said zone of interest 11, or in a second signalling status of operation, in particular of input, non-compliant or of intrusion within said zone of interest 11, in response to a corresponding signal, or datum, received by said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body.

Advantageously, as can be seen from said Figures, said electronic processing, or processor means 18, are configured to command an intervention action, preferably to block the activity of the equipment 30, in the case an intrusion is detected, in particular of at least one part of the human or animal body, into or towards the zone of interest 11, provided at any height with respect to the plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13, before detecting the geometric configuration and/or the material of said object or product 13, in particular before detecting the height, of the same object or product 13.

Advantageously, as can be seen from said Figures, in practice, after detecting the geometric configuration and/or the material of said object or product 13, in particular before detecting the height, of the same object or product 13, said electronic processing, or processor means 18, are configured to command an intervention action, preferably to block the activity of the equipment 30, in the case an intrusion is detected, in particular of at least one part of the human or animal body, into or towards the zone of interest 11 , according to the approaching direction by said object or product 13 towards and into said zone of interest 11, which intrusion is provided at an height, with respect to the plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13, that is higher than the height determined for the same object or product 11. With particular advantage, as can be seen from said Figures, in practice, said electronic processing, or processor means 18, are configured to command an intervention action, preferably to block the activity of the equipment 30, in the case an intrusion is detected, in particular of at least one part of the human or animal body, into or towards the zone of interest 11, according to a direction other than, in particular transversal to, the approaching direction by said object or product 13 towards and into said zone of interest 11, which intrusion is provided at any height with respect to the plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13, i.e., in particular which is provided at an height that is higher than, equal to, or lesser than the height determined for the same object or product 11.

Advantageously, as can be seen from said Figures, in practice, to be applied on, or used in, an equipment or setup 30 for woodworking, in particular in the form of a circular saw, a table circular saw, especially with or without a movable table, or a squaring machine.

In the subsequent Figures 3 and 4, a second 100 and a third 300 preferred implementations of a system according to the present invention are illustrated, the components of which, that are similar or equivalent to those of the first preferred implementation are marked with the same numeral references as used in the previous preferred implementation and, so as not to overburden the present description, are not reported again in detail.

As can be seen from said Figure 3, the system, of these second and third preferred implementations, as well as that of the first preferred implementation, has, i.e., operates, with an equipment or setup 30 having a protection 40 for the part, in particular the movable part, or saw 302, preferably adapted to operate on a respective object or product 13, and such as to be able to cause damages or injuries to the respective part of the human, or animal body. In practice, in this manner it is possible to have a primary protection for the operator.

As illustrated, said protection 40 is preferably in the form of a protective body, in solid material, having a respective cavity that is adapted at least partially overlap said circular cutting blade 302, i.e., is adapted to wrap superiorly the same blade, in any case leaving a free lower gap between this protective body and the plane 301 for supporting the product, or object, i.e., it has a lower edge that remains spaced apart from said means or plane 301 for supporting the product, or object.

Advantageously, as can be seen from said Figures 3 and 4, the system, of these second and third preferred implementations, comprises means 22 that are adapted to change the position, or mutual distance, between said protection 40 and said part, in particular the movable part, or saw 302, preferably adapted to operate on a respective object or product 13, and such as to be able to cause damages or injuries to the respective part of the human, or animal body, i.e., to change the position, or distance, of said protection 40 with respect to the corresponding plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13, in particular as a function of the respective geometrical dimension or height of said object or product to be processed 13. In this manner, it is possible to adapt the operation to the specific situation underway, while maintaining the highest degree of safety for the operator.

As can be seen from said Figures 3 and 4, in particular, said means 22 that are adapted to change the position, or mutual distance, are in the form of means allowing to change the height of said protection, in particular as a function of the height of an object or product 13 on said plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13.

Advantageously, as can be seen from said Figures 3 and 4, means 401 for supporting said protection 40 are also provided, in particular in a position overlooking said plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13. Especially, said protection 40 is movable with respect to said means 401 for supporting said protection 40 and can be positioned in corresponding and desired positions, preferably in corresponding and desired heights, with respect to said plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13.

As needed, while not being particularly in said Figures 3 and 4, means, or graduated scale, of reference can be provided for a manual adjustment of the height of said protection 40.

With advantage, according to a different version, also not particularly illustrated in said Figures 3 and 4, actuating means for a movement, in particular vertical or in height, of said protection 40 are instead provided, which actuating means can comprise a corresponding actuator that moves said protection 40 with respect to said means or plane 301 for supporting the same protection 40, in particular upwards and/or downwards, preferably under the control of suitable control means preferably of the processor type, however, as it is better understood from the following of the present description, allowing in this manner to operate with an automatic adjustment mode.

With particular advantage, as can be seen from said Figures 3 and 4, said means 22 that are adapted to change the position, or mutual distance, comprise means 14 for detecting the geometric configuration, or height, of the same object or product 13, in particular with respect to said plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13, of the same type or those already illustrated in the first preferred implementation of system.

As can be seen from said Figures 3 and 4, in a particularly advantageous manner, said means 22 that are adapted to change the position, or mutual distance, further comprise electronic processing, or processor means 18, which are configured to provide a datum, in particular to display said datum, of the height at which said protection 40 has to be positioned, as a function of a signal received by said means 14 for detecting the geometric configuration of the same object or product 13, i.e., of the height thereof. In this manner, the operator, operating manually, will be able to arrange said protection 40 at the predetermined safe height for the same operator.

With advantage, operating according to the automating adjustment mode, as can be seen from said Figures 3 and 4, said means 22 that are adapted to change the position, or mutual distance, comprise electronic processing, or processor means 18, that are configured to command the lifting or lowering of said protection 40 in a corresponding position in height, as a function of a signal received by said means 14 for detecting the geometric configuration of the same object or product 13, i.e., of the height thereof, in particular suitably controlling said actuating means of the movement, especially vertical or in height, of said protection 40. In this manner, the system automatically arranges said protection 40 in the position in height of safety for the same operator.

In an advantageous manner, as can be seen from said Figures 3 and 4, in both said first and second preferred implementations of system, means 24 are provided, which detect the distance, or height, of said protection 40 with respect to the plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13, in particular in connection with said electronic processing, or processor means 18.

In this manner, it is possible to be sure of the proper or desired position of said protection 40. With particular advantage, as can be seen from said Figures 3 and 4, said means 24 that detect the distance, or height, of said protection 40 with respect to the plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13, are movable together with, in particular in height, or are integral to, said protection 40.

With advantage, as can be seen from said Figures 3 and 4, said means that detect the distance, or height, of said protection 40 with respect to the plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13, comprise a detecting device, preferably a first and a second detecting devices 24, 24 adapted to detect the position of different points of said protection 40, in particular of points that are longitudinally spaced apart from one another according to the forwarding direction of said object or product 13.

As can be seen from said Figures 3 and 4, advantageously, said means 24 that detect the distance, or height, of said protection 40 with respect to the plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13, i.e., the respective detecting device 24, 24 are, or is, in the form of detection means of the optical type, such as a corresponding photocell.

As can be seen from said Figures 3 and 4, with advantage, said means 22 that are adapted to change the position, or mutual distance, comprise electronic processing, or processor means 18, which are configured to provide a datum, in particular to display said datum, of the height at which said protection 40 has to be positioned, as a function of a signal received by said means 24 that detect the distance, or height, of said protection 40 with respect to the plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13, in particular the same electronic processing, or processor means 18, compare the value received by said means 24, that detect the distance, or height, of said protection 40 with respect to the plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13, with the value received by the means 14 for detecting the geometric configuration of the same object or product 13, i.e., of the height thereof, and determine said datum, of the height at which said protection 40 has to be positioned, especially to ensure the operators’ safety.

As can be seen from said Figures 3 and 4, with advantage, said means 22 that are adapted to change the position, or mutual distance, comprise electronic processing, or processor means 18, which are configured to control the lifting or lowering of said protection 40 in a corresponding position in height, as a function of a signal received by said means 24 that detect the distance, or height, of said protection 40 with respect to the plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13, in particular the same electronic processing, or processor means 18, compare the value received by said means 24 that detect the distance, or height, of said protection 40 with respect to the plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13 with the value received by the means 14 for detecting the geometric configuration of the same object or product 13, i.e., of the height thereof, and command a corresponding lifting or lowering of the protection 40.

In a particularly advantageous manner, as can be seen from said Figures 3 and 4, in both said second and third preferred implementations 100 and 200, means 26 that detect the exit of said object or product 13 to be processed from said zone of interest 11 are provided, which are in particular in connection with said electronic processing, or processor means 18, preferably which are configured to allow the access of a corresponding object or product 13 towards and into said zone of interest 11

In this manner, the system can be immediately made available for the inlet of a new object or product 13.

With advantage, as can be seen from said Figures 3 and 4, said means 26 that detect the exit of said object or product 13 to be processed from said zone of interest 11 are preferably of the encoder, in particular rotary encoder, type, and/or are provided at the exit U of said object or product 13 to be processed from said zone of interest 11 or the rear end, according to the forwarding direction of said object or product 13, of said protection 40. With particular reference to the third preferred implementation 200, the procedure of operation in manual mode first provides for the positioning of the hanging protection 40 on the graduate scale indicating the thickness of the product or that is meant to be processed. At this point, when the object or product to be processed passes through the detecting sensor 14, through the processor means 18 a value of object or product height is given, and via the corresponding sensor 24 to detect the height of the protection 40, the proper positioning of the hanging protection 40 occurs, so that no more than a certain predefined distance between the object or product 13 to be processed and the hanging protection 40 remains, and the operator can manually operate to change it in the case it is wrong. Once the detecting sensor 26 detects the end of the exiting phase of the processed product or object 13 from the zone of interest, the system will be able to accept a new thickness to process.

Also with particular reference to the second preferred implementation 200, the procedure of operation in automatic mode provides that, when the object or product 13 to be processed passes through the detecting sensor 14, through the processor means 18 the positioning in height of the protection 40 is automatically actuated, starting from the corresponding signal received by the sensor 24 to detect the height of the protection 40, thus arranging, or moving the protection 40 to such a height level that no more than a certain predefined and safe distance between the object or product 13 to be processed and the hanging protection 40 remains, so that the operator can thus operate safely. Una Once the detecting sensor 26, detects the end of the exiting phase of the processed product or object from the zone of interest 11, the system will be able to accept a new thickness to process.

With I, in the Figures 2 and 3, the entrance is indicated at the front end of said zone of interest 11, i.e., below said protection 40, according to the forwarding direction of said object or product 13, of said protection 40.

With particular advantage, as can be seen from said figure 3, in accordance with the second preferred implementation of system, said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human, or animal body, at, or approaching to, said zone of interest 11, i.e., at, or approaching to, said detection means of at least one part of the human, or animal body, comprise corresponding optical detection means 12’, in particular of the photocell type, preferably in the form of a plurality of optical devices or photocells, that are aligned to one another 12’a, 12’b, 12’c.

Advantageously, as can be seen from said figure 3, in accordance with the second preferred implementation of system, said optical means 12’ for detecting at least one part of the human, or animal body, at, or approaching to, said zone of interest 11, i.e., at, or approaching to, said detection means of at least one part of the human, or animal body, are arranged at the entrance I into said zone of interest 11, i.e., entering below said protection 40, according to the forwarding direction of said object or product 13, and are in the form of a plurality of optical devices or photocells, in particular in a number of three, that are transversally aligned to one another 12’a, 12’b, 12’c at said entrance I.

In this manner, an undesired, in particular anterior, intrusion, for example of the hand, of a corresponding operator, reaching out above said object or product 13 can be detected.

As can be seen from said figure 3, with advantage, in accordance with the second preferred implementation of system, means 28, 281, 282 are provided, which detect the entry of said object or product 13 into said zone of interest 11, i.e., entering below said protection 40, according to the forwarding direction of said object or product 13, and/or the advancement of this object or product 13 in the same zone of interest 11, i.e., below said protection 40, according to the forwarding direction of said object or product 13.

In this manner, it is possible to know the position of said object or product 13 that is processed.

In an advantageous manner, as can be seen from said figure 3, in accordance with the second preferred implementation of system, said means 28, 281, 282 detecting the entry of said object or product 13 into said zone of interest 11, i.e., entering below said protection 40, according to the forwarding direction of said obj ect or product 13 , and/ or the advancement of thi s obj ect or product 13 in the same zone of interest 11, i.e., below said protection 40, according to the forwarding direction of said object or product 13, are of the encoder, in particular rotary encoder type.

With particular advantage, as can be seen from said figure 3, in accordance with the second preferred implementation of system, said means 28, 281, 282 detecting the entry of said object or product 13 into said zone of interest 11, i.e., entering below said protection 40, according to the forwarding direction of said object or product 13, and/or the advancement of this object or product 13 in the same zone of interest 11, i.e., below said protection 40, according to the forwarding direction of said object or product 13, comprise a device or rotary encoder, in input 281, that is preferably provided at the entrance I of said object or product 13 to be processed in said zone of interest 11 or at the front end, according to the forwarding direction of said object or product 13, of said protection 40, and/or an intermediate device, or rotary encoder 282, that is preferably provided at an intermediate zone of said zone of interest 11, below said protection 40, preferably upstream said part, in particular the movable part, or saw 302, preferably adapted to operate on a respective object or product 13, and such as to be able to cause damages or injuries to the respective part of the human, or animal body.

With advantage, as can be seen from said figure 3, in accordance with the second preferred implementation of system, said means 12 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body that have an intervention threshold or value 120 that is variable, in particular that is variable in a controllable way, i.e., said capacitor detecting means 121, 122are provided at one, i.e., of opposite side openings, respectively defining a corresponding side passage, i.e., defining opposite side passages, for a possible access into said zone of interest 11.

In a particularly advantageous manner, as can be seen from said figure 3, in accordance with the second preferred implementation of system, said means 121, 122 for detecting at least one part of the human or animal body, are provided above, and in particular perpendicularly spaced apart from, the corresponding plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13, i.e., the respective detecting device 24, 24.

As can be seen from said Figures 3 and 5, in a particularly advantageous manner, in accordance with the second preferred implementation 100 of system, means 18 are provided, that are adapted to, in particular said electronic processing, or processor means 18, are configured to, change the intervention threshold of the system 120’, in particular the preset intervention threshold 120, as a function of a geometric dimension, preferably as a function of the height of said object or product 13, in particular being adapted to change said intervention threshold 120’ continuously as a function of the position of said object or product 13, in particular as a function of the approaching and/or moving away, in particular according to the forwarding direction A, from said zone of interest 11, i.e., as a function of the approaching and/or moving away to said part, in particular the movable part, or saw 302, preferably adapted to operate on a respective object or product 13, and such as to be able to cause damages or injuries to the respective part of the human, or animal body.

In this manner, undesired interventions by the system can be avoided.

With advantage, as can be seen from said Figures 3 and 5, in accordance with the second preferred implementation 100 of system, means 18 are provided, that are adapted to, in particular said electronic processing, or processor means 18, are configured to, change the intervention threshold of the system 120’, in particular the preset intervention threshold 120, as a function of a geometric dimension, preferably as a function of the height of said object or product 13, in particular being adapted to change said intervention threshold 120’ as a function of the position of said object or product 13, in particular as a function of the approaching and/or moving away, especially according to the forwarding direction A, from said zone of interest 11, i.e., as a function of the approaching and/or moving away to said part, in particular the movable part, or saw 302, preferably adapted to operate on a respective object or product 13, and such as to be able to cause damages or injuries to the respective part of the human, or animal body.

In practice, when the product or object approaches the movable part or cutting blade, the intervention threshold 120’ is increased correspondingly, i.e., is increased with respect to the preset intervention threshold 120, while when the product object moves away from the same movable part, or cutting blade, the same intervention threshold 120’ is decreased and goes back to the preset intervention threshold 120.

In this manner, undesired interventions by the system can be avoided.

With particular advantage, as can be seen from said Figures 3 and 5, in accordance with the second preferred implementation of system, said electronic processing, or processor means 18, are configured to change the intervention threshold of the system 120’, in particular the preset intervention threshold 120, as a function of a geometric dimension, preferably as a function of the height of said object or product 13, in particular as a function of the signal detected by the means 28, 281, 282 detecting the entry of said object or product 13 into said zone of interest 11, i.e., entering below said protection 40, according to the forwarding direction of said object or product 13, and/or the advancement of this object or product 13 in the same zone of interest 11, i.e., below said protection 40, according to the forwarding direction of said object or product 13, and/or as a function of the signal detected by the said means 26 that detect the exit of said object or product 13 to be processed from said zone of interest 11.

With particular advantage, as can be seen from said Figures 3 and 5, in accordance with the second preferred implementation of system, said electronic processing, or processor means 18, are configured to change the intervention threshold of the system 120’, in particular the preset intervention threshold 120, as a function of a geometric dimension, preferably as a function of the height of said object or product 13, linearly as a function of the distance, i.e., in relation to the approaching and/or moving away from said zone of interest 11, i.e., from said part, in particular the movable part, or saw 302, preferably adapted to operate on a respective object or product 13, and such as to be able to cause damages or injuries to the respective part of the human, or animal body.

With advantage, as can be seen from said Figures 3 and 5, in accordance with the second preferred implementation of system, said electronic processing, or processor means 18, are configured to change the intervention threshold of the system 120’, in particular the preset intervention threshold 120, as a function of a geometric dimension, preferably as a function of the height of said object or product 13, between said preset intervention threshold 120 and a maximum intervention threshold 120’.

As can be seen from said Figures 3 and 4, with advantage, in accordance with the second and third preferred implementation of system, said protection 40 is movable between respective positions, respectively moved away and closed-up positions, in particular perpendicular moved away and perpendicularly closed-up to said part, in particular the movable part, or saw 302, preferably adapted to operate on a respective object or product 13, and such as to be able to cause damages or injuries to the respective part of the human, or animal body, i.e., from the corresponding plane or means 301 for supporting and/or advancing said object or product 13 or plane of reference.

With particular reference to the second preferred implementation 100, the procedure of operation in manual mode first provides for the positioning of the hanging protection 40 on the graduate scale indicating the thickness of the product or that is meant to be processed. At this point, when the object or product to be processed passes through the detecting sensor 14, through the processor means 18 a value of object or product height is given, and via the corresponding sensor 24 to detect the height of the protection 40, the proper positioning of the hanging protection 40 occurs, so that no more than a certain predefined distance between the object or product 13 to be processed and the hanging protection 40 remains, and the operator can manually operate to change it in the case it is wrong.

Meanwhile, the processor means determine the preset value of intervention threshold 120, for the system.

In turn, the detecting sensors 12’a, 12’b, 12’c allow checking that the height of the object or product 13 that is being processed is constant. A variation to such value (outside a corresponding tolerability range) is considered as a part of the body that passes through the front immaterial barrier. Therefore, via the sensor, or rotary encoder, 281, 282, or other means adapted to perform the same task (for example, an optical meter), the advancement during the entry, then the approaching of the object or product to the cutting blade 302 are verified, and the processor means change said intervention threshold 120’, in particular linearly, increasing the threshold value in 120’, so as to avoid that the detection by the capacitive side sensors 121, 122 causes an unsuitable intervention of the system and thus an undesired blocking of the processing.

Furthermore, via a sensor or rotary encoder 26, or other means with the function to perform the same task (for example, an optical meter), the advancement during the exiting phase and the moving away of the object or product from the blade 302 and from the capacitive side sensors 121, 122 are verified, as a consequence changing linearly, i.e., lowering the intervention value of the system again, which system in this manner can be actuated again at the preset threshold value 120.

Once the detecting sensor 26 detects the end of the exiting phase of the processed product or object 13 from the zone of interest 11, the system will be able to accept a new thickness to be processed.

Also with particular reference to the second preferred implementation 100, the procedure of operation in automatic mode provides that, when the object or product 13 to be processed passes through the detecting sensor 14, through the processor means 18 the positioning in height of the protection 40 is automatically actuated, starting from the corresponding signal received by the sensor 24 to detect the height of the protection 40, thus arranging, or moving the protection 40 to such a height level that no more than a certain predefined and safe distance between the object or product 13 to be processed and the hanging protection 40 remains, so that the operator can thus operate safely.

Meanwhile, the processor means determine the preset value of intervention threshold 120, for the system.

In turn, the detecting sensors 12’a, 12’b, 12’c, allow checking that the height of the object or product 13 that is being processed is constant. A variation to such value (outside a corresponding tolerability range) is considered as a part of the body that passes through the front immaterial barrier.

Therefore, via the sensor or rotary encoder 281, 282, or other means adapted to perform the same task (for example, an optical meter), the advancement during the entry, then the approaching of the object or product to the cutting blade 302 are verified, and the processor means change said intervention threshold 120’, in particular linearly, by increasing the threshold value in 120’, so as to avoid that the detection by the capacitive side sensors 121, 122 causes an unsuitable intervention of the system, hence an undesired blocking of the processing.

Furthermore, via the sensor, or rotary encoder 26, or other means adapted to perform the same task (for example, an optical meter), the advancement during the exiting phase and the moving away of the object or product from the blade 302 and from the capacitive side sensors 121, 122 are verified, as a consequence changing linearly, i.e., lowering the intervention value of the system, which system in this manner can be actuated again at the preset threshold value 120. Once the detecting sensor 26 detects the end of the exiting phase of the processed product or object 13 from the zone of interest 11, the system will be able to accept a new thickness to process.

In practice, as is clear, the technical characteristics illustrated above allow, singularly or in a respective combination, achieving one or more of the following advantageous results:

- it is possible to adjust the intervention or the operation to the specific situation underway, and in particular undesired detections and corresponding actions are avoided, such as, for example, machine downtimes which instead are not necessary;

- it is avoided to intervene every time it would be necessary to vary said intervention threshold or value;

- from the specific configuration of the object to be processed, it is possible to identify the proper intervention threshold and avoid the occurrence of wrong interventions;

- the system is able to distinguish if the product is for example a bottle in plastic material, or a piece of wooden material, or other, thus avoiding the occurrence of wrong interventions;

- the operator, by operating manually, will be able to arrange said protection at the indicated, safe height for the same operator;

- the system automatically arranges said protection in the safety position in height for the same operator;

- it is possible to be sure of the proper or desired position of said protection;

- it is possible to detect an undesired, in particular anterior, intrusion, for example of the hand, of a corresponding operator;

- undesired interventions by the system can be avoided.

The present invention is susceptible of obvious industrial application. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will be able to devise a number of modifications and/or variations to be made to the same invention, while remaining within the scope of the inventive concept, as widely explained. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will be able to devise further preferred implementations of the invention which comprise one or more of the characteristics illustrated above of the preferred implementation referred to above, in particular, as set forth in the attached claims. Furthermore, it shall also be understood that all the details of the invention can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.