Cutting tool safety system

• US 7,357,056 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2005
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• 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): Alie; Ghassem
• Application Number:
  US11/190,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20050252187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 835/81, 834/78, 833/971, 83/621, 83D/IG.1, 83/58, 834/771, 834/772, 834/90, 834/85, 834/87, 834/56, 835/90, 836/65, 835/231.2, 83/72, 835/26, 83/768, 834/91, 835/44, 833/97, 834/713, 836/21, 403/2, 411/2, 411/34, 411/550, 303/82, 303/90, 303/91
• US Class Current: 83/478
• 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 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: 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 build up of machine tools, e.g. spindles, slides, actuators in general B23Q
• 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

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 safety mechanism for protecting a user from a cutting edge of a circular blade in a power tool, the safety mechanism comprising:

a guard disposed proximate to the blade, the guard enclosing at least a portion of the cutting edge of the blade to provide a barrier between the enclosed portion of the cutting edge and the user, said guard operable to move between a first position and a second position, where said second position encloses a greater portion of the cutting edge than the first position;

an engagement member disposed on said guard and operable to contact said cutting edge of the blade, where contact of said engagement member with the blade causes said guard to move from said first position to said second position; and

a trigger device operable to deploy said engagement member into contact with the blade.