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Safety Design and CE Assessment of Pinch Points on the Smart Infeed 100

Explanation of the inherent safety measures and CE conformity considerations for identified pinch zones

Context

This article explains the safety design considerations of the Smart Infeed 100 regarding potential pinch points identified during CE conformity evaluations.

It provides clarification on the inherent safety measures implemented in the product design and explains why additional guarding is not required for the identified zones under normal operating conditions.

Overview of the CE Risk Assessment Approach

The Smart Infeed 100 has been evaluated through internal CE conformity assessments following applicable machinery safety principles.

The assessment considered:

  • The likelihood of entrapment or draw-in

  • The potential severity of injury

  • The ability of the design to inherently mitigate torque transmission

  • Operator interaction during normal operation

Based on this analysis, the Smart Infeed 100 is considered safe to operate in open configurations without additional guarding for the zones described below.

Zone 1 – Downstream Roller Interface

Zone 1 was categorized as low risk with minor potential consequences.

The evaluation determined that:

  • The downstream roller geometry minimizes the possibility of draw-in

  • The roller design tends to expel objects from the gap rather than pull them inward

  • The mechanical configuration does not promote sustained entrapment

This design behavior significantly reduces the risk of injury in this area.

Zone 2 – Perpendicular Surface and Roller Ends

Zone 2 involves a surface perpendicular to the moving part.

The safety analysis identified the following mitigating design elements:

  • Rollers are equipped with free-spinning end caps

  • Motors feature a low-friction plastic surface

  • A free-spinning washer is integrated at the motor center

These components do not transmit torque.

Additionally:

  • The perpendicular surface orientation would require excessive lateral force to generate meaningful torque transfer

  • The configuration does not support sustained mechanical capture

Based on these factors, no additional guarding was deemed necessary for this zone.

Emergency Stop Configuration

For immediate operator protection, the Smart Infeed 100 includes:

  • A position-adjustable emergency stop (E-stop)

For applications requiring dual-sided access:

  • An optional second E-stop is available as an accessory

This ensures rapid intervention capability when required by the application setup.

Clarification on Safety Instructions in the Manual

The safety instructions provided in the Smart Infeed 100 manual are intentionally broad.

These statements are designed to:

  • Cover a wide range of application contexts

  • Ensure safe handling across different installation environments

  • Address servicing and maintenance scenarios

If required for specific CE certification processes, safety instructions may be reviewed and clarified to distinguish between:

  • Normal operation

  • Servicing or maintenance activities

Conclusion

The Smart Infeed 100 incorporates inherent safety design principles that minimize torque transmission and reduce draw-in risk in identified pinch zones.

Internal CE conformity assessments have determined that additional guarding is not required for the described areas during normal operation.