ljósorkan

Ljósorkan is an industrial safety device that consists of a series of laser or infrared beams arranged in a grid to create an invisible barrier. When any object interrupts the beam, the device immediately generates an alarm or activates a control system to stop machinery. The term is Icelandic and is equivalent to the English light curtain or laser safety curtain.

The device works by projecting multiple parallel beams between a transmitter and a receiver. The beams are typically made of near‑infrared light, invisible to the human eye, and are spaced at intervals from 1 to 5 centimeters. In normal operation all beams are detected by the receiver; interruption of even a single beam triggers the safety logic. Modern ljósorkan units incorporate redundancy and fail‑safe algorithms to guarantee a rapid shutdown of the associated equipment within milliseconds.

Ljósorkan are widely used in manufacturing and processing facilities where high‑speed machinery such as presses, lathes, saws, and robots operate. They are also common in laboratories, food processing plants, and during aircraft maintenance to protect operators from moving parts. In addition to safety, ljósorkan can be used for motion detection, object counting, and environmental monitoring in industrial automation systems.

The first commercially available light curtains appeared in the 1970s, driven by growing occupational safety regulations. In Iceland, the industry has adopted ljósorkan in accordance with European Union safety standards such as ISO 13855 and IEC 60947‑5‑4. These standards specify performance classes, beam density, and response times.

Installation of a ljósorkan requires careful alignment and periodic testing to maintain reliability. Calibration involves setting photocell thresholds, verifying beam integrity, and ensuring no look‑through or interference from ambient light. When used correctly, ljósorkan provide an effective barrier that enhances worker safety while maintaining productivity.