Translation stop for use in power equipment

• US 20020020265A1
• Filed: 09/17/2001
• Published: 02/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sawstop Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: SD3, LLC
• Inventors: Huebner, Randall J., Fanning, David A., Gass, Stephen F., Fulmer, J. David
• Granted Patent: US 6,957,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/62.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/001 Measuring or control devices, e.g. for automatic control of work feed pressure on band saw blade measuring in general G01; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/0092 actuating braking or stopping means
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 5/38 Devices for braking the circular saw blade or the saw spindle; Devices for damping vibrations of the circular saw blade, e.g. silencing vibration-damping of sawing machines or devices working with circular saw blades B23D47/005
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/12 with means, e.g. feelers, which in case of the presence of a body part of a person in or near the danger zone influence the control or operation of the machine F16P3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/01 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/081 With randomly actuated stopping means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/089 Responsive to tool characteristic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7693 Tool moved relative to work-support during cutting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7722 Support and tool relatively adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7726 By movement of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/773 Work-support includes passageway for tool [e.g., slotted table]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7788 Tool carrier oscillated or rotated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8858 Fluid pressure actuated

Abstract

Woodworking machines are disclosed having a blade adapted to cut workpieces, and an actuating mechanism operable to move the blade toward the workpiece. The machines also include a detection system configured to detect one or more dangerous conditions between a user and the blade, and a reaction system configured to stop the movement of the blade toward the user upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system.

Claims

1. An up-cut chop saw, comprising:

a frame having a surface adapted to support a workpiece;

a rotatable blade configured to cut workpieces by moving from below the surface of the frame to at least partially above the surface of the frame;

at least one motor configured to drive the blade;

at least one actuating mechanism operable to move the blade upward at least partially above the surface of the frame;

a detection system configured to detect one or more dangerous conditions between a user and the blade; and

a reaction system configured to stop the upward motion of the blade upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system.

2. The saw of claim 1, where the one or more dangerous conditions include accidental contact between a user and the blade.

3. The saw of claim 1, further comprising a guard structure configured to at least partially shield a user against accidental contact with the blade, and where the one or more dangerous conditions include contact between a user and at least a portion of the guard structure.

4. The saw of claim 3, where the reaction system is configured to prevent operation of the actuation mechanism to move the blade upward if contact between a user and the portion of the guard structure is detected by the detection system.

5. The saw of claim 1, where the one or more dangerous conditions include contact between a user and a defined portion of the frame.

6. The saw of claim 5, where the surface of the frame defines a slot adapted to allow at least a portion of the blade to pass through, and where the defined portion of the frame is adjacent the slot.

7. The saw of claim 5, where the reaction system is configured to prevent operation of the actuation mechanism to move the blade upward if contact between a user and the defined portion of the frame is detected by the detection system.

8. The saw of claim 1, where the reaction system is configured to retract the blade below the surface of the frame upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system.

9. The saw of claim 1, where the actuating mechanism is further operable to lower the blade below the surface of the frame after the blade has been moved at least partially above the surface of the frame, and where the reaction system is configured to operate the actuating mechanism to lower the blade upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system.

10. The saw of claim 9, where the actuating mechanism includes at least one fluid-actuated cylinder operable to raise and lower the blade.

11. The saw of claim 9, further comprising at least one brace member coupled to move upward with the blade, and where the reaction system includes a brake mechanism configured to engage the brace member and stop the upward motion of the blade upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system.

12. The saw of claim 1, further comprising at least one brace member coupled to move upward with the blade, and where the reaction system includes a brake mechanism configured to engage the brace member and stop the upward motion of the blade upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system.

13. The saw of claim 1, where the blade is electrically insulated from the frame.

14. The saw of claim 1, further comprising a rotatable spindle, where the blade is mounted on the spindle, and where the spindle is electrically insulated from the frame.

16. The saw of claim 15, where the actuating mechanism includes a pneumatic cylinder.

17. The saw of claim 16, further comprising a control system configured to operate the pneumatic cylinder, and where the control system is configured to operate the pneumatic cylinder to move the spindle downward upon detection of contact between a user and the blade by the detection system.

18. The saw of claim 15, where the actuating mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder.

19. The saw of claim 18, further comprising a control system configured to operate the pneumatic cylinder, and where the control system is configured to operate the pneumatic cylinder to move the spindle downward upon detection of contact between a user and the blade by the detection system.

20. The saw of claim 15, where the reaction system is configured to retract the blade below the upper surface upon detection of contact between a user and the blade by the detection system.

21. The saw of claim 15, where the detection system is configured to detect contact between a user and a defined portion of the frame, and where the reaction system is configured to stop upward movement of the spindle and blade upon detection of contact between a user and the defined portion of the frame by the detection system.

22. The saw of claim 15, further comprising a guard structure configured to at least partially shield a user against accidental contact with the blade, and where the detection system is configured to detect contact between a user and at least a portion of the guard structure, and where the reaction system is configured to stop upward movement of the spindle and blade upon detection of contact between a user and the portion of the guard structure by the detection system.

24. The machine of claim 23, further comprising means for retracting the blade away from the user upon detection of such accidental contact between a user and the blade.

15. An up-cut chop saw, comprising:

a frame having an upper surface configured to support a workpiece;

a rotatable spindle;

a circular blade mounted on the spindle;

an actuating mechanism configured to move the spindle upward to raise the blade at least partially above the upper surface;

a detection system configured to detect accidental contact between a user and the blade; and

a reaction system configured to stop upward movement of the spindle and blade upon detection of contact between a user and the blade by the detection system.

23. A woodworking machine having a frame and operative structure that includes a circular blade, where the operative structure is controllable to move the blade upward at least partially through the frame, the machine comprising:

means for detecting accidental contact between a user and the blade; and

means for stopping upward movement of the blade upon detection of such accidental contact between a user and the blade.