Machine safety protection system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A power saw safety system comprising:
- a. a motor configured to drive a cutting blade;
b. a protective barrier between the cutting blade and a user;
c. a detection system coupled to the protective barrier to detect a close proximity between the user and the protective barrier and, upon detection, outputting a detecting signal; and
d. a control system receiving the detecting signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tool safety system minimizes the likelihood of injury by detecting when a body part is in close proximity to a moving part of the tool. Upon detecting, a control system can provide one or more of moving the tool, disabling the moving part, or producing a warning signal.
254 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A power saw safety system comprising:
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a. a motor configured to drive a cutting blade;
b. a protective barrier between the cutting blade and a user;
c. a detection system coupled to the protective barrier to detect a close proximity between the user and the protective barrier and, upon detection, outputting a detecting signal; and
d. a control system receiving the detecting signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of minimizing the risk of injury to a user of a power saw, where the power saw includes a moving cutting blade, the method comprising:
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a. providing a protective barrier between the cutting blade and the user;
b. detecting a close proximity between the user and the protective barrier; and
c. selectively providing a warning signal or stopping motion of the saw blade, upon detecting the close proximity.
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26. A method of minimizing the risk of injury to a user of a cutting tool, were the cutting tool includes a moving cutting blade, the method comprising:
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a. detecting a close proximity between the user and a portion of the cutting tool not including the cutting blade; and
c. selectively providing a warning signal or stopping motion of the saw blade, upon detecting the close proximity. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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27. A machine for cutting a workpiece comprising:
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a. a support structure having a cutting area;
b. a motor to drive a cutting tool having a blade, wherein the cutting tool is associated with the support structure and adapted to move at least partially into the cutting area to cut the workpiece;
c. a detection system to detect close proximity between a user and a selected portion of the cutting tool that does not include the blade; and
,d. a control system adapted to stop motion of the cutting tool upon detection of close proximity by the detection system. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 32)
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33. A machine for cutting a workpiece comprising:
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a. a tool having a motor to drive a blade for cutting the workpiece; and
,b. a detection system that includes a portion of the tool other than blade adapted to function as a capacitive probe to search for a preselected capacitance level and when the preselected capacitance level is located the detection system outputs a detecting signal. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A method of detecting close proximity to a tool having a motor to drive a blade comprising:
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a. providing a capacitive probe on a portion of the tool other than the blade; and
,b. sensing whether a user is in close proximity to the probe by detecting a capacitance of the user.
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36. A method of providing a safety system on a power tool having a motor to drive a blade, comprising:
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a. providing a capacitive probe on a portion of the tool other than the blade, wherein the probe detects the presence of a portion of a user'"'"'s body when that portion is in close proximity to the portion of the tool; and
,b. providing a control system to receive a signal from the capacitive probe indicative of the presence of a portion of a user'"'"'s body in close proximity to the portion of the tool, wherein the control system is adapted to selectively provide a warning signal or a stopping motion of the blade.
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Specification