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.

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.

A safety device for a bandsaw includes a frame and a pair of jaws rotatably mounted thereon. The frame is mounted on the framework of the saw with the jaws on either side of the blade. An actuating rod is slidably mounted on the frame. A resilient return member constrains the sliding and a two-way transmission transforms it into a rotation of the pair of jaws. An electromagnetic actuator is rigidly connected to the frame and a retaining member is rigidly connected to the actuator. The rod has a receiving portion which engages with the retaining member when the rod is in a first position relative to the frame. The transmission is arranged so that the jaws are separated from one another when the rod is in the first position.

A safety device for a bandsaw includes a frame and a pair of jaws rotatably mounted thereon. The frame is mounted on the framework of the saw with the jaws on either side of the blade. An actuating rod is slidably mounted on the frame. A resilient return member constrains the sliding and a two-way transmission transforms it into a rotation of the pair of jaws. An electromagnetic actuator is rigidly connected to the frame and a retaining member is rigidly connected to the actuator. The rod has a receiving portion which engages with the retaining member when the rod is in a first position relative to the frame. The transmission is arranged so that the jaws are separated from one another when the rod is in the first position.

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 hand-held band saw has a housing having an opening defining a cut zone. A first wheel and a second wheel are supported by the housing. The first and second wheels define a blade support portion configured to support a continuous blade to be driven through the cut zone. A handle extends from the housing, the handle having a grip portion. A blade guard is coupled to the housing and configured to move between open and closed positions with respect to the housing. The blade guard is configured to cover the blade support portion in the closed position. A chip vent is configured to provide an outlet for workpiece debris formed during a cutting operation, and a tire brush is configured to engage at least one of the first or second wheels to remove workpiece debris from the at least one of the first or second wheels.

A hand-held band saw has a housing having an opening defining a cut zone. A first wheel and a second wheel are supported by the housing. The first and second wheels define a blade support portion configured to support a continuous blade to be driven through the cut zone. A handle extends from the housing, the handle having a grip portion. A blade guard is coupled to the housing and configured to move between open and closed positions with respect to the housing. The blade guard is configured to cover the blade support portion in the closed position. A chip vent is configured to provide an outlet for workpiece debris formed during a cutting operation, and a tire brush is configured to engage at least one of the first or second wheels to remove workpiece debris from the at least one of the first or second wheels.