Cutting tool safety system

• US 6,920,814 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sawstop Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: SD3, LLC
• Inventors: Fanning, David A., Gass, Stephen F., Fulmer, J. David
• Primary Examiner(s): ASHLEY, BOYER DOLINGER
• Application Number:
  US09/929,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20020017183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• Field of Search: 83/621, 83/58, 834/713, 834/90, 835/89, 834/86, 834/85, 834/772, 834/771, 834/77, 834/73, 834/81, 835/81, 834/91, 834/78, 83D/IG.1, 144/287, 144/154.5, 144/356, 144/382, 144/384, 144/391, 144/427, 144/286.5, 144/251.1, 144/251.2, 144/251.3, 30380-382, 301/663, 303/88, 303/90, 303/92, 305/04, 303/91, 409/182, 408/5, 408/6, 408/7, 408/710
• US Class Current: 83/62.1
• 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 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: 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 B23D47/005 takes precedence
• 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: 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: Y10S 408/71 Safety device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/01 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/14 Responsive to condition of Tool or tool-drive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/089 Responsive to tool characteristic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7697 Tool angularly adjustable relative to work-support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7705 Adjustable angular relationship
• 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 83/7763 Tool carrier reciprocable rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8773 Bevel or miter cut

Abstract

A woodworking machine is disclosed. The machine includes a cutting tool and a motor adapted to drive the cutting tool. The machine further includes a detection system to detect a dangerous condition between the cutting tool and a person, such as a person coming into contact with the cutting tool. A reaction system is provided to disable the cutting tool, such as by covering, blocking, destroying, wrapping, etc., upon detection by the detection system of the dangerous condition.

Claims

1. A woodworking machine comprising:

a support structure;

a cutting tool supported by the support structure, where the cutting tool includes a cutting portion;

a motor adapted to drive the cutting tool;

a detection system to detect a dangerous condition between the cutting tool and a person; and

a reaction system adapted to cover the cutting portion of the cutting tool with a flexible material upon detection by the detection system of the dangerous condition.

2. The machine of claim 1, where the flexible material is a fabric material.

3. The machine of claim 1, where the flexible material is a metal material.

4. The machine of claim 1, wherein the cutting tool is circular with cutting edges disposed around a perimeter and the reaction system is adapted to wrap a strip of material around the perimeter of the cutting tool.

5. The machine of claim 1 where the flexible material is a metal sheet.

6. The machine of claim 1 where the flexible material is metal mesh.

7. The machine of claim 1 where the flexible material is plastic.

8. The machine of claim 1 where the reaction system is adapted to wrap the flexible material around the cutting portion.

9. The machine of claim 1 where the machine is a jointer.

10. The machine of claim 1 where the machine is a saw.

11. The machine of claim 1 where the machine is a shaper.

13. The machine of claim 1 where the flexible material is a rubber material.

14. The machine of claim 1 where the flexible material is metal foil.

12. A woodworking machine comprising:

an electrically conductive cutter;

a detection system adapted to detect contact between a person and the cutter, where the detection system is adapted to capacitively impart an electric signal on the cutter, and to detect the occurrence of a determined change in the electric signal on the cutter; and

a reaction system associated with the detection system and the cutter, where the reaction system covers the cutter with a flexible material upon detection of contact between the person and the cutter by the detection system.