Table saw with improved safety system

• US 8,291,797 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2010
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sawstop Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: SD3, LLC
• Inventors: Gass, Stephen F., Fanning, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PRONE, JASON D
• Application Number:
  US12/807,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20110056351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 83D/IG.1, 83/58, 83/62, 83/621, 83/63, 83/72, 83/767, 837/88, 835/81, 834/712, 834/771, 834/772, 835/221.2, 835/26, 833/971, 144/154.5, 144/356, 144/384, 144/391, 144/427, 144/286.5, 297/08, 292/54, 294/13, 324/550, 324/424, 408/5, 56/109, 56/113, 192/192.A, 192/129.R, 192/130, 102/202.7, 89/15.6, 137/68.12, 137/72, 137/76, 188/5, 188/6, 188/110, 188/189, 169/57, 169/59, 169/42, 169/DIG.3, 74/2, 403/2, 403/28, 411/2, 411/39, 411/390, 335/1, 335/242, 335/132, 318/362, 241/32.5, 337/239, 337/148, 337/1, 337/5, 337/10, 337/17, 337/140, 337/170, 337/190, 337/237, 337/401, 337/290, 337/404, 337/405, 218/2, 218/154, 307/639, 307/328, 307/115, 307/326, 307/142, 307/117, 307/126, 307/131, 451/409, 280/806, 297/480, 187/69, 187/77, 187/89, 187/189, 187/216, 187/166, 187/72.3, 340/679, 340/680, 340/686.1, 340/687, 340/686.3, 340/686.6
• US Class Current: 83/63
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 47/025 of tables
• 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: B26D 7/24 arranged to disable the operating means for the cutting member
• 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 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: B27G 19/06 for band or strap 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 3/14 the means being photocells or other devices sensitive without mechanical contact
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/148 using capacitive technology
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/01 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/04 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/081 With randomly actuated stopping means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/088 Responsive to tool detector or work-feed-means detector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/089 Responsive to tool characteristic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/091 Responsive to work sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/141 With means to monitor and control operation [e.g., self-regulating means]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/162 : With control means responsive to replaceable or selectable information program
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/175 : With condition sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/178 : Responsive to work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/541 : Actuation of tool controlled in response to work-sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/613 : Work guard
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7693 : Tool moved relative to work-support during cutting
• 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 83/7734 : With guard for tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7788 : Tool carrier oscillated or rotated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/85 : Signal; e.g., alarm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8773 : Bevel or miter cut

Abstract

A table saw having a reaction system configured to take a predetermined action to mitigate injury upon detection of a dangerous condition is disclosed. The reaction system has a component in a predetermined orientation relative to the blade and the component is configured to maintain its orientation relative to the blade as the blade is raised and lowered.

Claims

1. A table saw comprising:

a frame including a table defining a planar work surface, where the table has a front and a back;

an arbor supported by the frame;

a rotatable blade on the arbor and extendable up through the work surface;

a feed direction extending parallel to the plane of the work surface from the front to the back of the table so that a user can place a work piece on the table in front of the blade and slide the work piece in the feed direction toward the back of the table to contact the blade and cut the work piece;

an adjustment mechanism configured to selectively raise and lower the blade relative to the table without changing the angle of the blade relative to the work surface;

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

a reaction system configured to take a predetermined action to mitigate injury upon detection of the dangerous condition, where the reaction system has a component in a predetermined orientation relative to the blade, and where the component is configured to maintain its orientation relative to the blade as the blade is raised and lowered relative to the table.

2. The table saw of claim 1 where the predetermined action is to decelerate the blade.

3. The table saw of claim 1 where the dangerous condition is contact between a person and the blade.

4. The table saw of claim 1 where the dangerous condition is proximity between a person and the blade.

5. A table saw comprising:

a frame including a table defining a planar work surface, where the table has a front and a back;

an arbor supported by the frame;

a rotatable blade on the arbor and extendable up through the work surface;

a feed direction extending parallel to the plane of the work surface from the front to the back of the table so that a user can place a work piece on the table in front of the blade and slide the work piece in the feed direction toward the back of the table to contact the blade and cut the work piece;

an adjustment mechanism configured to selectively raise and lower the blade relative to the table without changing the angle of the blade relative to the work surface;

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

reaction means for mitigating injury upon detection of the dangerous condition, where the reaction means maintains a predetermined orientation relative to the blade as the blade is raised and lowered relative to the table.