A method is provided for detecting a substance, preferably human tissue, in the vicinity of a mobile tool, wherein the substance to be detected has different electrical characteristics from a material that can be processed by the mobile tool. In the method, a change is detected in a capacitance formed by the tool and a counter electrode that is electrically insulated from the tool. A periodic change in the capacitance is detected and the change is produced by the presence of the substance in a region in relation to the tool and by a periodic change in a geometrical characteristic of the tool in this region as the tool moves.

Machines with safety systems are disclosed. The machine may take the form of woodworking machines including table saws, band saws, miter saws, hand-held circular saws, pneumatic chop saws, radial-arm saws, jointers, planars, routers and shapers. The machines may include an operative structure configured to perform a task, where the operative structure includes a cutting tool adapted to move in at least one motion, and a safety system adapted to detect the occurrence of an unsafe condition between a person and the cutting tool and for mitigating the unsafe condition. The safety system may include a detection subsystem and a reaction subsystem. The machine may also include a bypass or override mode where in an injury mitigation system is disabled for certain cuts.

Machines with safety systems are disclosed. The machine may take the form of woodworking machines including table saws, band saws, miter saws, hand-held circular saws, pneumatic chop saws, radial-arm saws, jointers, planars, routers and shapers. The machines may include an operative structure configured to perform a task, where the operative structure includes a cutting tool adapted to move in at least one motion, and a safety system adapted to detect the occurrence of an unsafe condition between a person and the cutting tool and for mitigating the unsafe condition. The safety system may include a detection subsystem and a reaction subsystem. The machine may also include a bypass or override mode where in an injury mitigation system is disabled for certain cuts.

A power tool is provided including a brushless direct-current (BLDC) electric motor having a stator and a rotor. The power tool includes power switches including high-side switches and low-side switches disposed on a direct-current (DC) bus line between a power supply and the electric motor, and a controller configured to electronically brake the motor by simultaneously closing the high-side switches or the low-side switches to electrically short the stator windings. In an embodiment, the controller is configured to monitor a voltage of the DC bus line, and if the voltage of the DC bus line is lower than a voltage threshold, execute electronic braking by toggling between closing the high-side switches and closing the low-side switches over braking cycles, and if the voltage of the DC bus line is greater than the voltage threshold, execute braking by closing only the high-side switches or the low-side switches over the braking cycles.

A power tool is provided including a brushless direct-current (BLDC) electric motor having a stator and a rotor. The power tool includes power switches including high-side switches and low-side switches disposed on a direct-current (DC) bus line between a power supply and the electric motor, and a controller configured to electronically brake the motor by simultaneously closing the high-side switches or the low-side switches to electrically short the stator windings. In an embodiment, the controller is configured to monitor a voltage of the DC bus line, and if the voltage of the DC bus line is lower than a voltage threshold, execute electronic braking by toggling between closing the high-side switches and closing the low-side switches over braking cycles, and if the voltage of the DC bus line is greater than the voltage threshold, execute braking by closing only the high-side switches or the low-side switches over the braking cycles.

A tool device, in particular a saw device, having a tool for processing a workpiece located in a working area. The tool device includes a tool braking device for braking a tool rotary movement of the tool, and a multi-joint arrangement by means of which the tool can be pivoted selectively in a feed direction into the working area or in a removal direction out of the working area. The multi-joint arrangement is designed to, while maintaining the pivotability of the tool, absorb and/or redirect forces occurring during braking of the tool rotary movement, so that the tool is not pivoted in the feed direction by the forces occurring during braking of the tool rotary movement or is pivoted in the removal direction by the forces occurring during braking of the tool rotary movement.

A tool device, in particular a saw device, having a tool for processing a workpiece located in a working area. The tool device includes a tool braking device for braking a tool rotary movement of the tool, and a multi-joint arrangement by means of which the tool can be pivoted selectively in a feed direction into the working area or in a removal direction out of the working area. The multi-joint arrangement is designed to, while maintaining the pivotability of the tool, absorb and/or redirect forces occurring during braking of the tool rotary movement, so that the tool is not pivoted in the feed direction by the forces occurring during braking of the tool rotary movement or is pivoted in the removal direction by the forces occurring during braking of the tool rotary movement.

A work apparatus has a work tool driven by a combustion engine. A brake assembly has a brake element for braking the work tool as it slows down. In a braking position of the brake assembly, the work tool is braked, while, in a stand-by position of the brake assembly, the brake element enables the movement of the work tool. The brake element is held in the stand-by position by a holding force from an electromagnet supplied with energy by an electric generator driven by the engine, for which purpose, in the stand-by position of the brake assembly, a holding current is supplied to the electromagnet. To extend the holding time as the engine slows down, an operating parameter of the engine is monitored and, after a limit value of the operating parameter is reached, the holding current supplied to the electromagnet is reduced.

A handheld work apparatus has a tool and a brake assembly for the tool. The brake assembly has an actuating element which acts on a brake element of the brake assembly. The actuating element is movable between a fixed position wherein the tool is not braked, and a released position, wherein the brake element brakes the tool. To fix the actuating element in the fixed position, an electromagnet is provided. The electromagnet interacts with an anchor on the actuating element. The anchor is mounted via a pivot joint on an anchor pin to be pivotable about a pivot axis. A guide includes a guide part connected to the anchor and a guide part connected to the yoke, wherein, in the fixed position of the actuating element, the guide parts guide the anchor relative to the yoke in a transverse direction of an outrigger of the apparatus.

A handheld work apparatus has a tool and a brake assembly for the tool. The brake assembly has an actuating element which acts on a brake element of the brake assembly. The actuating element is movable between a fixed position wherein the tool is not braked, and a released position, wherein the brake element brakes the tool. To fix the actuating element in the fixed position, an electromagnet is provided. The electromagnet interacts with an anchor on the actuating element. The anchor is mounted via a pivot joint on an anchor pin to be pivotable about a pivot axis. A guide includes a guide part connected to the anchor and a guide part connected to the yoke, wherein, in the fixed position of the actuating element, the guide parts guide the anchor relative to the yoke in a transverse direction of an outrigger of the apparatus.