A safety cutting tool includes an electrically conductive cutting member, an electric motor for actuating the cutting member, a gripping handle electrically insulated from the cutting tool, a cutting trigger control that can be actuated by the hand of the user gripping the gripping handle, the cutting trigger control being electrically insulated from the cutting tool, an emergency stop device sensitive to a user coming into contact with the cutting member. The emergency stop device is controlled by a comparator comparing an impedance of a first electric circuit comprising the cutting tool and a second electric circuit used as a reference, the first and second circuits having manual contact electrodes provided on at least one of the gripping handle of the tool and the cutting trigger control. A method for controlling such a tool is also disclosed. The tool and method are is-applicable to electric secateurs and shears.

A safety cutting tool includes an electrically conductive cutting member, an electric motor for actuating the cutting member, a gripping handle electrically insulated from the cutting tool, a cutting trigger control that can be actuated by the hand of the user gripping the gripping handle, the cutting trigger control being electrically insulated from the cutting tool, an emergency stop device sensitive to a user coming into contact with the cutting member. The emergency stop device is controlled by a comparator comparing an impedance of a first electric circuit comprising the cutting tool and a second electric circuit used as a reference, the first and second circuits having manual contact electrodes provided on at least one of the gripping handle of the tool and the cutting trigger control. A method for controlling such a tool is also disclosed. The tool and method are is-applicable to electric secateurs and shears.

Control systems to control the operation of a power tool are disclosed. The disclosed control systems are particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to power tools with active injury mitigation technology, and to table saws with active injury mitigation technology, such as jobsite and benchtop table saws. The improved systems, for example, control the supply of power to a motor, enhance reliability, provide redundant safety features, and help to prevent the motor from starting unexpectedly.

Control systems to control the operation of a power tool are disclosed. The disclosed control systems are particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to power tools with active injury mitigation technology, and to table saws with active injury mitigation technology, such as jobsite and benchtop table saws. The improved systems, for example, control the supply of power to a motor, enhance reliability, provide redundant safety features, and help to prevent the motor from starting unexpectedly.

The safety attachment provides preferably 4 video cameras mounted around a bandsaw blade and looking parallel to the blade direction. Each camera CCD sensor is partly scanned in mode 1. In mode 1 an axis corner of each scanned area is aligned with the camera axis, produced to the table, defining a corner of a parallel-sided protected volume including the entire exposed blade. The blade is rapidly braked when the attachment detects a glove intrusion. In the alternative fully scanned mode 2 the protected area extends outside the mode 1 area and a warning only is emitted on intrusion.

The safety attachment provides preferably 4 video cameras mounted around a bandsaw blade and looking parallel to the blade direction. Each camera CCD sensor is partly scanned in mode 1. In mode 1 an axis corner of each scanned area is aligned with the camera axis, produced to the table, defining a corner of a parallel-sided protected volume including the entire exposed blade. The blade is rapidly braked when the attachment detects a glove intrusion. In the alternative fully scanned mode 2 the protected area extends outside the mode 1 area and a warning only is emitted on intrusion.

A device and a method for cutting a loaf of bread in slices having an input compartment adjacent to a set of parallel oblong blades which can be driven back and forth in their longitudinal direction. A pusher movable between a retracted position in relation to the blades and an end cutting position pushes the bread through the blades. A detector is provided to detect the presence of an object in the access opening of an input compartment which cooperates with the blades' drive to stop the movement of the blades when the presence of an object in the access opening is detected. When the presence of an object in the access opening is detected while the pusher is in its retracted position, the movement of the blades starts and the pusher will be moved from its retracted position to the end cutting position when the object is no longer detected in the access opening.

A device and a method for cutting a loaf of bread in slices having an input compartment adjacent to a set of parallel oblong blades which can be driven back and forth in their longitudinal direction. A pusher movable between a retracted position in relation to the blades and an end cutting position pushes the bread through the blades. A detector is provided to detect the presence of an object in the access opening of an input compartment which cooperates with the blades' drive to stop the movement of the blades when the presence of an object in the access opening is detected. When the presence of an object in the access opening is detected while the pusher is in its retracted position, the movement of the blades starts and the pusher will be moved from its retracted position to the end cutting position when the object is no longer detected in the access opening.

An active protection system and method in a portable cutting tool with movable cutting members includes at least: a cutting member stop; a controller/processor triggering the stop upon the detection of a danger condition; a proximal electrode electrically coupled with a tool handle and a distal electrode electrically coupled with the cutting member, to make up an armature of a capacitor, the processing unit feeding an electric output signal into one of the electrodes and detecting an electric input signal on the other electrode. The electric output signal includes different frequencies. A detection unit detecting a complex impedance of the electric input signal at the different frequencies. The processing unit determines a danger condition and causes triggering of the stop based on a value of the magnitude of the complex impedance electric signal and on a phase difference of the impedance electric signal at the different frequencies.

A method for the cutting of material is to be cut by means of a cutting machine which includes a horizontal cutting support for material to be cut, a horizontal cutting blade displaceable in height above the cutting support for cutting the material to be cut supported on the cutting support, a drive motor for the height displacement of the cutting blade, a manual control for the drive motor, and a protection device safeguarding the working region of the cutting machine. The method has the steps of: lowering the cutting blade, when the protection device is not interrupted, by actuating the manual control; and stopping the cutting blade which is being lowered when the protection device is interrupted. Immediately after stopping the cutting blade which is being lowered, the drive motor is operated to reverse the cutting blade under safety monitoring into a nondangerous upper safety location.