Removable pulley wheel arrangement and associated band saw apparatus

An idler pulley wheel arrangement for a bandsaw, comprising:

• a non-rotating idler shaft;
• an idler pulley wheel assembly positioned on the shaft, wherein the idler pulley wheel assembly includes a pulley wheel with a central opening, a bushing positioned within the central opening, and bearings positioned between an outer surface of the bushing and an inner surface of the pulley wheel, the inner surface of the pulley wheel defining the central opening of the pulley wheel, wherein the pulley wheel is rotatable relative to the bushing and an inner surface of the bushing contacts an outer surface of the shaft for preventing relative rotation therebetween;
• and
• a latch mechanism mounted on an end of the shaft and including a latch part connected to the end of the shaft for movement between a first position defining a latching state of the mechanism in which a portion of the latch part extends beyond an outer surface of the shaft and a second position defining a non-latching state of the mechanism in which the latch part is positioned entirely within or in substantial alignment with the outer surface of the shaft, wherein the idler pulley wheel assembly can be slid off the end of the shaft when the latch mechanism is in the non-latching state.

An idler pulley wheel arrangement for a bandsaw, comprising:

• a non-rotating idler shaft;
• an idler pulley wheel assembly positioned on the shaft for rotation relative thereto;
• and
• a latch mechanism positioned on an end of the shaft and including a latch part movably connected to the end of the shaft for movement between a first position defining a latching state of the mechanism in which a portion of the latch part extends beyond an outer surface of the shaft and a second position defining a non-latching state of the mechanism in which the latch part is positioned entirely within or in substantial alignment with the outer surface of the shaft, the latch mechanism further including a catch positioned on the end of the shaft for holding the latch part in the non-latching state, wherein the idler pulley wheel assembly can be slid off the end of the shaft when the latch mechanism is in the non-latching state.