Debris removal system for a power tool

A powered hand tool comprising:

• a housing including a handle portion arranged to provide a grip point for a user;
• a first blade tire rotatable about a first axis and a second blade tire rotatable about a second axis, the first axis and the second axis positioned a non-zero distance from one another and arranged substantially parallel to one another;
• a continuous saw blade positioned to extend around a portion of the first blade tire and a portion of the second blade tire;
• a motor positioned at least partially within the housing and operable to drive the first blade tire to move the blade along a continuous path to cut a workpiece;
• and
• a debris removal system having an abrasive member positioned substantially within the housing and an actuator portion positioned at least partially outside of the housing, the debris removal system movable between a first position and a second position in which the abrasive member is operable to clean a portion of one of the first blade tire and the second blade tire, wherein the actuator portion includes a sensor and an automatic actuator, and wherein the automatic actuator moves the abrasive member from the first position to the second position in response to a signal from the sensor.

A method of cleaning a powered hand tool having a continuous saw blade, the method comprising:

• rotating a first blade tire to rotate the continuous saw blade and a second blade tire;
• sensing a condition related to the powered hand tool that is indicative of a level of debris collected during operation of the powered hand tool;
• generating a signal in response to the condition exceeding a predefined level;
• moving an automatic actuator from a non-actuated position to an actuated position in response to the signal;
• and
• moving an abrasive member in response to movement of the automatic actuator from a first position to a second position in which the abrasive member is operable to clean a portion of one of the first blade tire and the second blade tire.