Structures for supporting splitters of cutting tools

• US 8,151,676 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2008
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Original Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Inventors: Shibata, Yoshinori, Tanaka, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Laura M.
• Application Number:
  US12/155,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20080302445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 831/021, 834/772, 834/78, 834/402, 835/81, 834/771, 301/16, 144182-184, 144/40
• US Class Current: 83/102.1
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 19/02 for circular saws
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 19/08 Accessories for keeping open the saw kerf, e.g. riving knives or wedge plates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/2077 By kerf entering guide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7684 With means to support work relative to tool[s]
• 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

Abstract

A support structure for a splitter of a cutting tool includes a lock device and a moving device. The lock device can lock and unlock the splitter at a storage position. The moving device can move the splitter from the storage position to an ejected position, in which a part of the splitter extends above an upper surface of a table of the cutting tool, when the lock device unlocks the splitter at the storage position.

Claims

1. A support structure for a splitter of a cutting tool having a table, comprising:

a guide device constructed to permit movement of the splitter between an operational position and a storage position;

a lock device constructed to lock and unlock the splitter at either of the operational position and the storage position, at least a part of the splitter extending upward from an upper surface of the table when the splitter is in the operational position, and the entire splitter being positioned below the upper surface of the table when the splitter is in the storage position; and

an ejecting device constructed to automatically move the splitter from the storage position to an ejected position between the operational position and the storage position upon unlocking of the splitter at the storage position, the ejecting device including an engaging member and a biasing device coupled to the engaging member,

wherein;

as the splitter is moved from the operational position toward the storage position, the engaging member engages the splitter when the splitter reaches the ejected position, and the engaging member maintains engagement of the splitter until the splitter reaches the storage position; and

the biasing device accumulates the movement force of the splitter from the ejected position to the storage position as a biasing force in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the splitter.

2. The support structure as in claim 1, wherein the ejecting device comprises an operation lever for a remote operation of the splitter for the movement from the storage position to the ejected position.

3. The support structure as in claim 1, wherein:

the splitter has an engaging hole engageable with the engaging member; and

the engaging member does not engage the engaging hole during the movement of the splitter between the operational position and the ejected position.

4. The support structure as in claim 3, wherein the biasing device is a tension spring connected between the engaging member and the guide device.

5. The support structure as in claim 1, wherein the splitter moves between the operational position and the storage position within a plane parallel to the splitter.

6. A cutting tool comprising:

a table having an upper surface;

a cutting blade constructed to cut a workpiece placed on the upper surface of the table;

a splitter proximate the cutting blade and constructed to enter a kerf of the workpiece formed by the cutting blade, the splitter being movable between a first position and a second position relative to the table, and the splitter being movable between the first position and the second position within a plane that is parallel to the splitter;

a lock device constructed to lock and unlock the splitter at the first position;

a moving device constructed to automatically move the splitter from the first position to the second position upon unlocking of the splitter at the first position by the lock device, the moving device comprising a first biasing device arranged and constructed to apply a biasing force to the splitter to move the splitter from the first position to the second position; and

an engaging device coupled to the first biasing device and arranged and constructed to engage and disengage the splitter, so that the biasing force is applied to the splitter when the engaging device engages the splitter,

wherein the engaging device can engage the splitter as the splitter moves from the second position to the first position and the engaging device can disengage the splitter as the splitter moves from the first position to the second position by the biasing force of the first biasing device.

7. The cutting tool as in claim 6, wherein:

the first biasing device comprises a tension spring; and

the engaging device comprises an engaging member pivotally connected to the tension spring.

8. The cutting tool as in claim 6, further comprising a second biasing device constructed to bias the engaging device in an engaging direction with the splitter.

9. The cutting tool as in claim 6, further comprising an operation device coupled to the lock device, wherein the operation device includes an operation member operable at a position remote from the lock device.

10. The cutting tool as in claim 6, wherein:

substantially the entire splitter is positioned below the upper surface of the table when the splitter is in the first position; and

at least a part of the splitter extends upward from the upper surface of the table when the splitter is in the second position.

11. The cutting tool as in claim 6, wherein the first biasing device is configured to accumulate the moving force of the splitter from the second position to the first position as the biasing force in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the splitter.