Antipinch

Antipinch refers to a safety feature designed to detect and prevent injury or damage caused by pinching between moving parts. It is used in many machines with moving doors, lids, or actuators, including consumer electronics, consumer appliances, and industrial systems.

Antipinch systems detect pinch conditions by monitoring indicators such as motor current, force, torque, torque ripple, or physical deformations, as well as by using mechanical, capacitive, or optical sensors. When a potential pinch is detected, the control system typically stops motion, or reverses direction, and may reduce speed or apply safeguarding measures to minimize injury risk. Some implementations use soft-start or torque control to limit harmful contact.

Common applications include automotive components such as power windows, sunroofs, and automatic trunks, where sensors halt or reverse movement if an obstacle is encountered. In buildings, automatic doors and gates employ antipinch protection to prevent contact with users. In industrial robotics and automation, antipinch features protect operators and parts by detecting unexpected resistance in grippers, conveyors, or safety enclosures. Domestic appliances with movable doors or lids, such as washing machines or dishwashers, may also incorporate antipinch sensing.

Safety and standards coverage varies by domain but generally falls under broader machinery safety guidelines. Relevant concepts include safe operating procedures, reliable fault-tolerant control systems, and appropriate emergency stop or manual override mechanisms. Compliance often involves ensuring sensors and controls can detect pinch conditions with sufficient speed and accuracy and fail safely if a fault occurs.