Band saw with improved safety system
AssigneeSawStop Holding LLC
InventorStephen F. Gass
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A band saw including a frame, at least two, spaced apart, rotatable wheels supported by the frame, a blade looped around the wheels, where rotation of at least one wheel causes the blade to move around the wheels, a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the blade, and a reaction system configured to engage and stop the blade within 10 milliseconds after detection of the dangerous condition is disclosed. The reaction system may be configured to cut and grip the blade.
Claims20
A band saw comprising:
- a frame;
- at least two, spaced apart, rotatable wheels supported by the frame;
- a blade looped around the wheels, where rotation of at least one wheel causes the blade to move around the wheels;
- a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the blade;
- and
- a reaction system configured to engage and stop the blade within 10 milliseconds after detection of the dangerous condition.
A band saw comprising:
- a frame;
- at least two, spaced apart, rotatable wheels supported by the frame;
- a blade looped around the wheels, where rotation of at least one wheel causes the blade to move around the wheels;
- a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the blade;
- and
- reaction means for engaging and stopping the blade within 10 milliseconds after detection of the dangerous condition.
A method of operating a band saw, where the band saw includes a conductive blade, a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the blade, and a reaction system configured to engage and stop the blade within 10 milliseconds after detection of the dangerous condition, the method comprising:
- imparting a signal to the blade;
- monitoring the signal on the blade by the detection system, where the dangerous condition is represented by a predetermined change in the signal on the blade;
- triggering the reaction system upon detection of the predetermined change in the signal on the blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.