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.

There is provided an emergency braking apparatus for stopping travel of the blade of an electrically powered saw of the type incorporating a cutting table through which the blade of the saw passes during a cutting operation. The apparatus comprises a braking jaw and a movable jaw spaced apart from the braking jaw for reception of the blade of the saw between the braking jaw and the movable jaw. The apparatus also comprises a driver for driving the movable jaw from a retracted position into contact with a side face of the blade to force an opposite side the blade against the braking jaw and thereby clamp the blade between the braking jaw and the movable jaw, a pressure chamber for holding a fluid at a predetermined pressure, and an actuator operable in response to an emergency braking signal to release the pressurised fluid in the pressure chamber to drive the driver against the movable jaw whereby the movable jaw is driven into contact with the side face of the blade.

There is provided an emergency braking apparatus for stopping travel of the blade of an electrically powered saw of the type incorporating a cutting table through which the blade of the saw passes during a cutting operation. The apparatus comprises a braking jaw and a movable jaw spaced apart from the braking jaw for reception of the blade of the saw between the braking jaw and the movable jaw. The apparatus also comprises a driver for driving the movable jaw from a retracted position into contact with a side face of the blade to force an opposite side the blade against the braking jaw and thereby clamp the blade between the braking jaw and the movable jaw, a pressure chamber for holding a fluid at a predetermined pressure, and an actuator operable in response to an emergency braking signal to release the pressurised fluid in the pressure chamber to drive the driver against the movable jaw whereby the movable jaw is driven into contact with the side face of the blade.

A safety apparatus for protecting an operator of an electrically powered saw from the blade during operation, the saw being of the type including a cutting table through which the blade passes, comprising: an image processing arrangement operable to sense, within a predefined three-dimensional sensing zone, the presence of a glove worn by the operator which has a colour distinguishable by the image sensor from the colour of an object being cut by the blade, the three-dimensional sensing zone being located in a cutting path of the blade; and an electronic controller communicable with the image sensor and operable to control an arresting mechanism to arrest movement of the blade responsive to the coloured glove being detected within the three-dimensional sensing zone.

A safety apparatus for protecting an operator of an electrically powered saw from the blade during operation, the saw being of the type including a cutting table through which the blade passes, comprising: an image processing arrangement operable to sense, within a predefined three-dimensional sensing zone, the presence of a glove worn by the operator which has a colour distinguishable by the image sensor from the colour of an object being cut by the blade, the three-dimensional sensing zone being located in a cutting path of the blade; and an electronic controller communicable with the image sensor and operable to control an arresting mechanism to arrest movement of the blade responsive to the coloured glove being detected within the three-dimensional sensing zone.

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.

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.

Machine vision apparatus tracks a distinctive object in relation to a hazardous location on a work surface of a modified band saw in two, three, or four (3-D+T) dimensions, and calculates whether to send an “immediate shut-down signal” to the band saw. Cameras and an image processor are mounted on the band saw. The signal causes an integrated blade-arresting or stopping mechanism to immediately shift the idler wheel, removing blade tension and disconnecting the blade which is then braked to a complete, safe stop before an approaching blue-gloved hand can touch the blade.

Machine vision apparatus tracks a distinctive object in relation to a hazardous location on a work surface of a modified band saw in two, three, or four (3-D+T) dimensions, and calculates whether to send an “immediate shut-down signal” to the band saw. Cameras and an image processor are mounted on the band saw. The signal causes an integrated blade-arresting or stopping mechanism to immediately shift the idler wheel, removing blade tension and disconnecting the blade which is then braked to a complete, safe stop before an approaching blue-gloved hand can touch the blade.