Safety methods for use in power equipment

• US 20050066784A1
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sawstop Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: SD3, LLC
• Inventors: Gass, Stephen F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,061,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/58
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 45/06 with a circular saw blade arranged underneath a stationary work-table
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 47/08 of devices for bringing the circular saw blade to the workpiece or removing same therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 47/12 of drives for circular saw blades
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 51/166 Devices for arresting movement of the saw blades B23D51/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 55/08 of devices for guiding or feeding strap saw blades
• 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: B23D 59/005 for preventing collision of saw blades with other machine parts or workpieces
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/0082 by determining whether the operator is in a dangerous position B23Q17/2438 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/0092 actuating braking or stopping means
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/06 Safety devices for circular cutters
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/2438 of an operator or a part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 5/58 Safety devices protecting the operator B23Q11/0089
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 13/14 Braking devices specially designed for band sawing machines, e.g. acting after damage of the band saw blade
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 13/16 Accessories, e.g. for cooling the saw blade
• 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: B27G 19/00 Safety guards or devices specially adapted for wood saws; Auxiliary devices facilitating proper operation of wood saws
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 19/02 for circular saws
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 19/06 for band or strap saws
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 21/00 Safety guards or devices specially designed for other wood-working machines auxiliary devices facilitating proper operation of said wood-working machines
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/00 Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement adjustable bearings F16C23/00, F16C25/00 ; electrically insulating bearings H02K5/173
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2322/39 : General buildup of machine tools, e.g. spindles, slides, actuators
• 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: F16P 3/148 : using capacitive technology
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/08 : Insulating casings
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/161 : radially supporting the rotary shaft at both ends of the rotor H02K5/165, H02K5/167, H02K5/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/10 : Structural association with clutches, brakes, gears, pulleys or mechanical starters
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/108 : with friction clutches
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/116 : with gears
• 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 83/707 : By endless band or chain knife
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7697 : Tool angularly adjustable relative to work-support
• 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 83/7734 : With guard for tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7788 : Tool carrier oscillated or rotated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8773 : Bevel or miter cut

Abstract

Woodworking machines and safety methods for use with those machines are disclosed. The machines include a detection system adapted to detect one or more dangerous conditions between a person and the cutting tools, and a reaction system associated with the detection system. The reaction system is configured to retract the cutting tool at least partially away from the cutting region upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system.

Claims

1. A method for minimizing potential injuries from a woodworking machine having a movable cutting tool, the method comprising:

detecting accidental contact between a person and the cutting tool; and

retracting the cutting tool away from the person in the event accidental contact between the person and the cutting tool is detected.

2. The method of claim 1, where the cutting tool rotates and has angular momentum, and where the step of retracting includes using at least a portion of the angular momentum of the cutting tool to retract the cutting tool away from the person.

3. The method of claim 2, where the cutting tool has one or more teeth adapted to cut workpieces, and where the step of retracting includes moving a braking component into the teeth of the rotating cutting tool.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of stopping movement of the cutting tool in the event accidental contact between a person and the cutting tool is detected.

5. A method of minimizing potential injuries from a woodworking machine, where the woodworking machine includes at least one cutting tool selectively movable into a cutting region to cut workpieces in the cutting region, the method comprising:

detecting contact between a person and the cutting tool; and

stopping the movement of the cutting tool into the cutting region.

6. The method of claim 5, where the cutting tool is a circular blade that spins to cut a workpiece, the method further comprising stopping the spinning of the circular blade upon detecting contact between the person and the circular blade.

7. A method for minimizing potential injuries from a woodworking machine having a movable cutting tool, the method comprising:

a step for detecting accidental contact between a person and the cutting tool; and

a step for retracting the cutting tool away from the person in the event accidental contact between the person and the cutting tool is detected.