Patent ID: 7210383
Filing Date: 2007-05-01
Classification: B23D,B26D,B27B,B27G,F16P,G05B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A woodworking machine comprising: a conductive cutter adapted to cut a workpiece; a motor adapted to drive the cutter; a contact detection system electrically coupled to the cutter to impart an electrical signal thereto, where the electrical signal has a voltage amplitude, where the voltage amplitude is changed when a person contacts the cutter, where the contact detection system is adapted to identify contact between a person and the cutter as a reduction in the voltage amplitude of the signal on the cutter of at least 5% within 100 microseconds, and where the contact detection system is adapted to distinguish contact between the person and the cutter from at least one other event generating a comparable amount of change in the voltage amplitude based on the time during which the change in the voltage amplitude occurs; and a reaction system adapted to cause a predetermined action to take place upon detection of contact between the person and the cutter by the contact detection system.