Safety system utilizing a passive sensor to detect the presence of a hand of a worker and provide a signal to interrupt the operation of a machine
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A wood chipping machine comprising a safety system, said wood chipping machine including:
- chipping blades that rotate to chip material delivered to the machine;
a feed rollers that grip and feed the material to the chipping blades;
a feed chute that guides material to the feed rollers, the feed chute having walls defining a passage, an open front end for receiving the material and an open rear end adjacent the feed rollers; and
a motor that drives the feed rollers and the chipping blades;
said safety system comprising;
at least one passive sensor incorporated in a band worn by a user of the wood chipping machine;
at least one sensing coil mounted on one of the walls of the chute, the sensing coil generating a signal when the passive sensor is in the passage; and
means for stopping the chipping blades and/or the feed rollers in response to the signal.
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Abstract
A safety system for a machine such as a wood chipping machine. The safety system has a passive sensor that may be worn on the machine operator'"'"'s wrist, a sensing coil mounted to a feed chute of the machine for detecting the proximity of the passive sensor, and control circuitry which is responsive to the sensing coil. The circuitry provides a control signal for use in stopping operation of the machine. In use, the presence of the operator'"'"'s arm in the chute near to parts of the machine that can cause injury will trigger the sensing coil and cause the machine to cease operating, thus circumventing injury to the operator.
99 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A wood chipping machine comprising a safety system, said wood chipping machine including:
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chipping blades that rotate to chip material delivered to the machine;
a feed rollers that grip and feed the material to the chipping blades;
a feed chute that guides material to the feed rollers, the feed chute having walls defining a passage, an open front end for receiving the material and an open rear end adjacent the feed rollers; and
a motor that drives the feed rollers and the chipping blades;
said safety system comprising; at least one passive sensor incorporated in a band worn by a user of the wood chipping machine;
at least one sensing coil mounted on one of the walls of the chute, the sensing coil generating a signal when the passive sensor is in the passage; and
means for stopping the chipping blades and/or the feed rollers in response to the signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification