Band saw

A tensioning mechanism for a band saw including a frame coupled with an upper band wheel which operationally engages a band saw blade, comprising:

• a tension spring assembly operationally engaged with an upper arm of the frame, the tension spring assembly applying a tensioning force to the upper band wheel;
• a cam assembly operationally engaging with the tension spring assembly, the cam assembly for applying a rotational force to the tension spring assembly;
• and
• a cover assembly adjustably coupled with the cam assembly, the cover assembly including a handle for enabling a user to selectively engage the cover assembly with the cam assembly in an index position, the handle having a first tensioning position and a second tensioning position for translating the user selected tensioning force to the tension spring assembly through the cam assembly;
• and
• an index indicator coupled with the cover assembly, the index indicator for indicating the index position for the cover assembly to enable the translation of the desired tensioning force,
• wherein the index indicator enables the quick selection by the user of the amount of tensioning force to be applied to the band saw blade.

A band saw having a frame coupled with a lower band wheel, the lower band wheel operationally engaged by a motor, an upper band wheel, the upper band wheel vertically aligned with the lower band wheel and operationally engaging a band saw blade, and an upper arm including a sliding tension bracket, the sliding tension bracket coupled with the upper band wheel, comprising:

• a recessed area defined within the sliding tension bracket;
• a tension spring assembly having a tension spring disposed within the recessed area, the tension spring for applying a tensioning force which is translated through the sliding tension bracket to the upper band wheel;
• a cam assembly operationally engaging with the tension spring assembly, the cam assembly for applying a rotational force to the tension spring;
• and
• a cover assembly adjustably coupled with the cam assembly, the cover assembly including a handle for enabling a user to selectively engage the cover assembly with the cam assembly in an index position, the handle having a first tensioning position and a second tensioning position for translating the user selected tensioning force to the tension spring assembly through the cam assembly;
• and
• an index indicator coupled with the cover assembly, the index indicator for indicating the index position for the cover assembly to enable the translation of the desired tensioning force,
• wherein the index indicator enables the quick selection by the user of the amount of tensioning force to be applied to the band saw blade based on the size of the band saw blade.

A method for adjusting the tension of a band saw blade operationally coupled with an upper band wheel of a band saw, comprising:

• positioning a tension mechanism comprising a tension spring assembly operationally engaged with the upper band wheel, a cam assembly coupled with the tension spring assembly, a cover assembly which may be selectively engaged with the cam assembly by a user, and an index indicator enabling the user to quickly determine an index position of the cover assembly based on the size of the band saw blade, followed by at least one step selected from the group consisting of;
• positioning the cover assembly, relative to the cam assembly, in the index position indicated by the index indicator, and rotating a handle of the cover assembly from a first tensioning position to a second tensioning position whereby the tension spring assembly moves the upper band wheel in a first linear direction increasing tension on the band saw blade;
• and
• rotating the handle to the first tensioning position from the second tensioning position whereby the tension spring assembly moves the upper band wheel in a second direction decreasing tension on the band saw blade.