IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,609,259
Granted Patent B2
US 12,609,259 · App. 18/229,184 · Granted Apr 21, 2026

Safety switch having a lock function using an electromagnet

Inventor: Hiroshi Kashima (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
H01H50/44H01H47/22H01H50/36
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,609,259
App. No.
18/229,184
Granted
Apr 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A safety switch that has a lock function using an electromagnet and a member to be magnetized is downsized. The safety switch includes: a detection unit that detects that a movable actuator is within a predetermined range; a safety signal output unit that outputs a safety signal based on a detection result obtained by the detection unit; an electromagnet; a lock input unit that receives a lock instruction for locking movement of the actuator; a drive control unit that drives the electromagnet based on the lock instruction received via the lock input unit; and an attachment portion which is formed on the electromagnet and fixes a switch body to an installation place of the switch body.

Claims (50)

1 . A safety switch comprising:

a detection unit that detects that a movable actuator is within a predetermined range, the movable actuator includes a member to be magnetized on which a surface to be attracted is formed;

a safety signal output unit that outputs a safety signal based on a detection result indicating whether the movable actuator is within the predetermined range, obtained by the detection unit;

an electromagnet on which an attraction surface corresponding to the surface to be attracted is formed;

a lock input unit that receives a lock instruction for locking movement of the movable actuator;

a drive control unit that drives the electromagnet to cause the attraction surface of the electromagnet and the surface to be attracted of the movable actuator to be attracted to each other based on the lock instruction received via the lock input unit; and

an attachment portion which is formed on the electromagnet and fixes a switch body to an installation place of the switch body, wherein

the attachment portion is formed on a magnetic body of the electromagnet, and

the magnetic body comprises a yoke portion of the electromagnet.

2 . The safety switch according to claim 1 , wherein the electromagnet includes a protrusion formed to protrude outward from the attraction surface when the attraction surface is viewed from a front, and the attachment portion is provided on the protrusion.

3 . The safety switch according to claim 2 , wherein the protrusion is formed on the electromagnet in such a manner that the protrusion is spaced apart from the member to be magnetized in a normal direction of the attraction surface when the attraction surface and the surface to be attracted are attracted to each other.

4 . The safety switch according to claim 1 , wherein the electromagnet has an outer peripheral surface formed to surround a central axis intersecting a center of the attraction surface, and an end of the attachment portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface.

5 . The safety switch according to claim 1 , further comprising a resin housing that accommodates the detection unit, the output unit, and the drive control unit,

wherein the electromagnet is connected to the resin housing, and

the attraction surface and the attachment portion formed on the electromagnet are exposed.

6 . The safety switch according to claim 5 , further comprising an output unit that is formed on the resin housing and outputs the safety signal.

7 . The safety switch according to claim 1 , wherein

the detection unit includes a first coil for transmission and reception of a wireless signal to detect that the movable actuator is within the predetermined range,

the electromagnet includes a second coil that is driven by the drive control unit to generate a magnetic field for causing the attraction surface of the electromagnet and the surface to be attracted of the movable actuator to be attracted to each other, and

the first coil and the second coil are wound in different directions.

8 . The safety switch according to claim 7 , further comprising a resin housing that accommodates the detection unit,

wherein the attraction surface and the attachment portion formed on the electromagnet are exposed.

9 . The safety switch according to claim 1 , wherein

the detection unit includes a first coil for transmission and reception of a wireless signal to detect that the movable actuator is within the predetermined range,

the electromagnet includes a protrusion formed to protrude outward from the attraction surface when the attraction surface is viewed from a front,

the first coil is provided in such a manner that, when the attraction surface is viewed from the front, the attraction surface is circular, a distance between the first coil and a center of the circle in a radial direction of the circle is equal to or less than a distance between a tip portion of the protrusion and the center of the circle in the radial direction of the circle, and a position of the first coil in a circumferential direction of the circle overlaps a position of the protrusion in the circumferential direction of the circle.

10 . The safety switch according to claim 9 , wherein

the electromagnet includes a second coil that is driven by the drive control unit to generate a magnetic field for causing the attraction surface of the electromagnet and the surface to be attracted of the movable actuator to be attracted to each other, and

the first coil and the second coil have winding directions identical to each other.

11 . The safety switch according to claim 1 , wherein the electromagnet is attached to a metal member through the attachment portion.

12 . The safety switch according to claim 1 , wherein the drive control unit drives the electromagnet to cause the attraction surface of the electromagnet and the surface to be attracted of the movable actuator to be attracted to each other based on the detection result obtained by the detection unit and the lock instruction received via the lock input unit.

13 . The safety switch according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion is a plurality of attachment portions formed on the magnetic body of the electromagnet.

14 . A safety switch comprising:

a detection unit that detects that a movable actuator is within a predetermined range, the movable actuator includes a member to be magnetized on which a surface to be attracted is formed;

a safety signal output unit that outputs a safety signal based on a detection result indicating whether the movable actuator is within the predetermined range, obtained by the detection unit;

an electromagnet on which an attraction surface corresponding to the surface to be attracted is formed;

a lock input unit that receives a lock instruction for locking movement of the movable actuator;

a drive control unit that drives the electromagnet to cause the attraction surface of the electromagnet and the surface to be attracted of the movable actuator to be attracted to each other based on the lock instruction received via the lock input unit; and

an attachment portion which is formed on the electromagnet and fixes a switch body to an installation place of the switch body,

wherein the electromagnet has an outer peripheral surface formed to surround a central axis intersecting a center of the attraction surface, and an end of the attachment portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface.

15 . A safety switch comprising:

a detection unit that detects that a movable actuator is within a predetermined range, the movable actuator includes a member to be magnetized on which a surface to be attracted is formed;

a safety signal output unit that outputs a safety signal based on a detection result indicating whether the movable actuator is within the predetermined range, obtained by the detection unit;

an electromagnet on which an attraction surface corresponding to the surface to be attracted is formed;

a lock input unit that receives a lock instruction for locking movement of the movable actuator;

a drive control unit that drives the electromagnet to cause the attraction surface of the electromagnet and the surface to be attracted of the movable actuator to be attracted to each other based on the lock instruction received via the lock input unit;

an attachment portion which is formed on the electromagnet and fixes a switch body to an installation place of the switch body; and

a resin housing that accommodates the detection unit, the output unit, and the drive control unit, wherein

the electromagnet is connected to the resin housing, and

the attraction surface and the attachment portion formed on the electromagnet are exposed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2023
From: KASHIMA, HIROSHI
To: KEYENCE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064460/0663 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-127763 · Aug 10, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240055207A1 · Feb 15, 2024
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