Feed system for a drill press

A drill press comprising:

• a base for supporting said drill press on a surface;
• a housing supported on said base, said housing defining an opening;
• a spindle positioned for movement relative to said housing along an axis and for rotation about said axis, said spindle having an end adapted to support an output element, said spindle being movable along said axis between a lowered position, in which the output element is engageable with a workpiece, and a raised position, in which said output element is out of engagement with the workpiece;
• a motor supported by said housing and operable to rotatably drive said spindle;
• a feed system for moving said spindle between the lowered position and the raised position, said feed system being supported by said housing such that a portion of said feed system is exposed through said opening;
• and
• a flexible barrier member supported by said housing to cover said exposed portion of said feed system.

A drill press comprising:

• a base for supporting said drill press on a surface;
• a housing supported on said base, said housing defining an opening;
• a spindle positioned for movement relative to said housing along an axis and for rotation about said axis, said spindle including
• a first spindle member fixed axially relative to said housing, and
• a second spindle member axially movable relative to said first spindle member and relative to said housing, said second spindle member having an end adapted to support an output element, said second spindle member being movable along said axis between a lowered position, in which the output element is engageable with a workpiece, and a raised position, in which said output element is out of engagement with the workpiece;
• a motor supported by said housing and operable to rotatably drive said spindle;
• a drive system supported by said housing and connected between said motor and said first spindle member;
• a feed system for moving said second spindle member between the lowered position and the raised position, said feed system being supported by said housing so that a portion of said feed system is exposed through said opening, said feed system including
• a sprocket rotatably supported by said housing,
• an endless flexible member movably engaging said sprocket and connected to said spindle such that rotation of said sprocket moves said spindle between the lowered position and the raised position,
• a collar housing a portion of said second spindle member so that said second spindle member is rotatable relative to said collar, said collar being movable relative to said housing, and
• a retaining member connectable with said flexible member to connect said spindle to said flexible member, said retaining member including a retaining plate removably connected to said collar so that said flexible member is retained between said collar and said retaining plate so that movement of said feed mechanism moves said collar with said second spindle member;
• and
• a flexible barrier member supported by said housing to cover said exposed portion of said feed system, said barrier member having an expanded condition when said spindle is in the raised position, wherein movement of said spindle from the raised position to the lowered position compresses said barrier member, and wherein subsequent movement of said spindle from the lowered position to the raised position causes said barrier member to return to the expanded condition.