Patent Publication Number: US-2006009139-A1

Title: Cutting machine with environment control arrangement

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This is a divisional application that claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C.§119 to a non-provisional application, application Ser. No. 10/354,229, filed Jan. 31, 2003, now allowed, and another divisional application of the above non-provisional application, application Ser. No. 11/071,635, filed Mar. 2, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
      1. Field of Invention  
      The present invention relates to a cutting machine, and more particularly to a cutting machine with an environment control arrangement which is capable of effectively collecting the residual particles during the cutting process so as to reduce the pollution of spitting out of the residual particles and to prevent the motor from sucking the residual particles thereinto.  
      2. Description of Related Arts  
      Conventional cutting machines are widely used in various industries for provision of rapid and high quality cutting of such construction and manufacturing materials as granite, marble, slate, pave, brick, ceramics, and masonry. A conventional cutting machine generally comprises a supporting frame, a cutting platform slidably mounted on the supporting frame, and a cutter head which is movably overhung on top of the cutting platform and comprises a cutting blade driven by a motor to cut a work piece laid and fixed on the cutting platform.  
      In order to effectively cut the work piece, the motor must provide a higher horsepower to drive the cutting blade to rotate. Therefore, the rotational force of the cutting blade can cut the work piece with a sharp edge. However, residual particles are formed while the cutting blade is rotatably cutting on the work piece, wherein the rotational force of the cutting blade will spit the residual particles everywhere.  
      It is worth mentioning that in order to cut the work piece, a cutting area of the cutting blade must be penetrated through the work piece, wherein the cutting area is defined at an outer circumferential portion of the cutting blade to incise the work piece. In other words, the width of the cutting area of the cutting blade must be smaller than the radius of the cutting blade.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates that when the cutting area of the cutting blade is penetrated through the work piece, the rotational force of the cutting blade will mainly spit the residual particles rearwardly. Accordingly, the residual particles will not only be spit on the entire supporting frame but also be spit out of the cutting platform. Even though a bottom tray is capable of partially collecting the residual particles, most of the residual particles are spread at the surroundings. Therefore, the residual particles are considered as one of the air pollutions and are hazardous for the user since the residual particles may enter into the user&#39;s body during inhalation.  
      Moreover, in order to maintain a higher rotational speed of the cutting blade, the cutting machine must be designed to suck the air from outside to cool down the relatively high temperature of the motor. General speaking, the motor has a plurality of ventilating holes provided on a casing so that air from outside can be sucked into the casing by a cooling fan through the ventilating holes to achieve the cooling effect. However, the residual particles will also be sucked into the motor with air through the ventilating holes during operation. Therefore, the motor may be burned or permanent damage while the residual particles gradually accumulate to the motor.  
      For the environmental concern, we want to have a control of air and land pollution to save out lives. However, the making of the residual particles during the cutting process cannot be avoided. Therefore, a solution must be find out to prevent not only the motor get burnt from sucking the residual particles thereinto but also the residual particles spitting out to hazard our health.  
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
      A main object of the present invention is to provide a cutting machine with an environment control arrangement which can effectively collect the residual particles when the work piece is cut by the cutting blade, so as to avoid the air and land pollution.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a cutting machine with an environment control arrangement which comprises an end collecting tray upwardly extended from a bottom collecting tray of the cutting machine for preventing the residual particles from spreading out of the cutting machine.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a cutting machine with an environment control arrangement, wherein the cutting machine does not require altering the original design in order to incorporate the environment control arrangement with the cutting machine, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of the bottom collecting tray with the end collecting tray.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a cutting machine with an environment control arrangement, wherein an inlet of a suction source is provided on the end collecting tray to effectively collect the residual particles so as to prevent the residual particles entering into the user&#39; body during inhalation.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a cutting machine with an environment control arrangement, wherein an air intake structure of a motor assembly of the cutting machine can prevent the residual particles from entering into the motor assembly so as to prevent the motor assembly get burnt or permanent damage by the residual particles.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a cutting machine with an environment control arrangement, wherein the motor assembly is capable of increasing both air sucking effect and cooling effect by circulating the intake fresh air and discharging hot air.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a cutting machine with an environment control arrangement, wherein the air intake structure is adapted to be incorporated to all kinds of motor assembly.  
      Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a cutting machine, comprising: 
          a cutting support frame comprising a bottom collecting tray and a cutting table mounted thereon for supporting a work piece;     a motor assembly, which is supported on the bottom collecting tray, comprising a driving motor and a driving shaft extended therefrom being driven to be rotated by the driving motor;     a cutting head arrangement comprising a cutting blade coaxially mounted to the driving shaft at a position overhanging the cutting table, wherein the cutting blade has a cutting area defined at an outer circumferential portion thereof when the cutting blade cuts the work piece; and     an environment control arrangement, comprising:     an end collecting tray, which is upwardly extended from the bottom collecting tray, having a collecting chamber for collecting residual particles of the work piece while the cutting blade cuts the work piece, wherein the end collecting tray must be upwardly extended to a position above the cutting area of the cutting blade; and     a suction source having a sucking inlet provided at a lower portion of the end collecting tray for collecting the residual particles within the collecting chamber by means of sucking effect.        

      These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a conventional cutting machine, illustrating the directions of the residual particles spitting out from the work piece.  
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective views of a cutting machine with an environment control arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the cutting machine with the environment control arrangement according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the residual particles being collected within a collecting chamber of the environment control arrangement without a detouring guide mounted thereto.  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the cutting machine with the environment control arrangement according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the residual particles being collected within a collecting chamber of the environment control arrangement with a detouring guide mounted thereto.  
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a suction source of the environment control arrangement of the cutting machine according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a sectional perspective view of a motor assembly of the environment control arrangement of the cutting machine according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the directions of the intake fresh air and the discharged hot air without the sucking motor.  
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the motor assembly of the motor assembly of the environment control arrangement of the cutting machine according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2A, 2B  and  3  of the drawings, a cutting machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the cutting machine comprises a cutting support frame  10  comprising a bottom collecting tray  11  and a cutting table  12  mounted thereon for supporting a work piece, and a motor assembly  20 , which is supported on the bottom collecting tray  11 , comprising a driving motor  21  and a driving shaft  211  being driven to be rotated by the driving motor  21 .  
      The cutting machine further comprises a cutting head arrangement  30  comprising a cutting blade  31  coaxially mounted to the driving shaft  211  at a position overhanging the cutting table  12 , wherein the cutting blade  31  has a cutting area  311  defined at an outer circumferential portion thereof when the cutting blade  31  cuts the work piece.  
      The cutting table  12  is slidably mounted on the bottom collecting tray  11  wherein the work piece is placed on the cutting table  12  in such a manner that when the cutting table  12  is slid towards the cutting head arrangement  30 , the work piece is cut by the cutting blade  31 . During the cutting process, the residual particles are produced and spitted from the work piece, wherein the bottom collecting tray  11  is capable of collecting the residual particles when the residual particles are dropped down from the cutting table  12 .  
      The cutting machine further comprises an environment control arrangement  40  comprising an end collecting tray  41 , which is upwardly extended from the bottom collecting tray  11 , having a collecting chamber  411  for collecting residual particles of the work piece while the cutting blade  31  cuts the work piece, wherein the end collecting tray  41  must be upwardly extended to a position above the cutting area  311  of the cutting blade  31 , and a suction source  42  having a sucking inlet  421  provided at a lower portion of the end collecting tray  41  for collecting the residual particles within the collecting chamber  411  by means of sucking effect.  
      According to the preferred embodiment, the end collecting tray  41  is securely mounted on a rear end portion of the bottom collecting tray  11  to form a L-shaped member, wherein the end collecting tray  41  has a concave reflecting surface  412  to form the collecting chamber  411  for collectively reflecting the residual particles in such a manner that when the residual particles of the work piece are spitted towards the concave reflecting surface  412 , the residual particles are collected within the collecting chamber  411  so as to prevent the residual particles bounce back to the cutting table  12 , as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
      Alternatively, the end collecting tray  41  can be integrally extended from the bottom collecting tray  11  to form a L-shaped one-piece member so as to strengthen the rigid structure of the cutting support frame  10  of the cutting machine. As it is mentioned in the background, when the cutting blade  31  cuts the work piece, the cutting area  311  of the cutting blade  31  must be penetrated through the work piece. In other words, the cutting area  311  of the cutting blade  31  is a contact area of cutting blade  31  that contacts with the work piece during cutting process. It is worth mentioning that the residual particles are irregularly spitted out from the work piece towards the bottom collecting tray  11  and the end collecting tray  12  when the cutting area  311  of the cutting blade  31  contacts with the work piece. Therefore, the end collecting tray  41  must be extended from the bottom collecting tray  11  to a position above the cutting area  311  of the cutting blade  31  during the cutting process, so as to block the residual particles spitting out of the collecting chamber  411  of the end collecting tray  41 , as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 2B , the bottom collecting tray  11  has a guiding channel  111  protruding upwardly wherein the guiding channel  111  has a slanted bottom side  1111  downwardly extended to the end collecting tray  41  for guiding the residual particles towards the sucking inlet  421 . It is worth to mention that lubricant may need during cutting operation of the cutting machine, so that the lubricant with the residual particles will be blocked by the guiding channel  111  and guided to flow towards the end collecting tray  41 . In other words, it is impossible to collect all the residual particles far away from the sucking inlet  421  unless a stronger sucking force is applied. Therefore, the guiding channel  111  can substantially guide the residual particles on the bottom collecting tray  11  with a distance from the sucking inlet  421 . In addition, even there is no lubricant, the guiding channel  111  is capable of creating an airflow within the bottom collecting tray  11  to guide the residue particulars towards the sucking inlet  421 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 4 , the environment control arrangement  40  further comprises a detouring guide  43  for detouring the residual particles towards the sucking inlet  421  of the suction source  42  wherein the detouring guide  43  comprises a guider wall  431 , having a plurality of guiding through grooves  4311  provided thereon, detachably mounted at an opening of the collecting chamber  411  of the end collecting tray  41  and a plurality of guiding fins  432  rearwardly and inclinedly extended from the guider wall  431  in such a manner that when the residual particles spit to the collecting chamber  411  through the guiding through grooves  4311 , the residual particles are blocked and detoured by the guiding fins  432  towards the sucking inlet  421  of the suction source  42 .  
      Accordingly, each of the guiding fins  432  is formed by cutting three cuts on the guider wall  431  and bending the guiding fins  432  rearwardly and inclinedly. Therefore, the guiding fins  432  are integrally extended from the guider wall  431  at top edges of the guiding through grooves  4311  respectively. Moreover, by adjusting an inclined angle of each of the guiding fins  432  with respect to the guider wall  431 , the residual particles are detoured to spit towards the sucking inlet  421  of the suction source  42  when the residual particles hit the guiding fins  432  through the guiding through grooves  4311 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , the suction source  42  comprises a collection pen  51  and means  52  for sucking the residual particles from the sucking inlet  421  to the collection pen  51 .  
      The collection pen  51  comprises a standing frame  511  having a top frame  5111 , a collecting bag  512  having a top opening supported by the top frame  5111  of the standing frame  511  to define a collection cavity  5121  within the collecting bag  512 , and a cover guide  513  which is supported on the top frame  5111  of the standing frame  511  and comprises a plurality of dust guiders  5131  extended downwardly into the collection cavity  5121  in such a manner that when the sucking means  52  sucks the residual particles to the cover guide  513 , the residual particles hit the dust guiders  5131  and drop into the collection cavity  5121  of the collection bag  512 .  
      Accordingly, a circumference of the cover guide  513  is smaller than that of the top frame  5111  of the standing frame  511  to define an air gap  510  therebetween for allowing air escaping from the collection cavity  5121  to outside. Moreover, an air filter  514  is mounted at the air gap  510  for filtering the air flowing to outside so as to prevent the residual particles escaping from the collection cavity  5121 .  
      The sucking means  52  comprises a directing cylinder  521  supported on the cover guide  513 , an extension hose  522  extended from the sucking inlet  421  to the directing cylinder  521 , and a suction motor  523  operatively connected to the extension hose  522  for reducing an air pressure at the sucking inlet  421  such that the residual particles are sucked at the sucking inlet  421  and collected in the collection cavity  5121  through the extension hose  522  and the directing cylinder  521 .  
      Accordingly, a diameter of the extension hose  522  is smaller than that of the directing cylinder  521 , in such a manner that a speed of the residual particles is slowed down while entering to the directing cylinder  521  from the extension hose  522 . Therefore, once the residual particles are slowed down within the directing cylinder  521 , the residual particles hit the dust guiders  5131  and drop into the collection cavity  5121  of the collection bag  512 . In other words, no interference by the high speed sucking residual particles occurs within the directing cylinder  521 , so as to enhance the collection of the residual particles in the collection cavity  5121  of the collection bag  512 .  
      As it is mentioned in the background, in order to achieve the environment control purpose, the residual particles must be not only stopped from spreading in the air but also prevent from entering into the motor assembly  20 . Therefore, the environment control arrangement  40  must comprises the motor assembly  20  which prevent the residual particles from entering thereinto to damage the driving motor  21 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the motor assembly  20  further comprises a motor case  22  having an open inlet end  221  at one side thereof and an open outlet end  222  at another opposed side to define a motor cavity  223  to dispose the driving motor  21 , and a cooling fan  24  rotatably connected to the driving motor  21  within the motor cavity  223 , so that when the cooling fan  24  is driven to rotate by the driving motor  21 , the cooling fan  24  sucks in air through the open inlet end  21  of the motor case  22  and discharges the air through the open outlet end  222  thereof.  
      The motor assembly  20  further comprises an air intake hood  23  sheltering around the motor case  22  to define an air intake passage  231  between the air intake hood  23  and the motor case  22  to communicate with the open inlet end  221  of the motor case  22 , wherein the air intake hood  23  has an air intake window  232  communicating the air intake passage  231  with outside and an air discharging slot  233  communicating with the open outlet end  222  of the motor case  22 . Therefore, the air sucked by the cooling fan  24  via the air intake window  231 , the air intake passage  231 , and the open inlet end  221  to cool down the driving motor  21  is discharged through the air discharging slot  233 .  
      Accordingly, a diameter of the motor case  22  is smaller than that of the air intake hood  23  in such a manner that when the motor case  22  is sheltered by the air intake hood  23 , the air intake passage  231  is formed between a circumferential wall of the motor case  22  and a circumferential wall of the air intake hood  23 .  
      Moreover, a width of the motor case  22  is shorter than that of the air intake hood  23  such that when the motor case  22  is encirclingly covered by the air intake hood  23 , an air chamber  230  is defined at an inner side portion of the air intake hood  23  around the open inlet end  221  of the motor case  22 .  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a structural relation between motor case  22  and the air intake hood  23  while the driving motor  21  and the cooling fan  24  are not installed into the motor case  22 , wherein the  FIG. 6  mainly illustrates the direction of the air sucking from the air intake window  232 , passing through the motor cavity  223  and, discharging from the air discharging slot  233 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the air is sucked into the air intake passage  231  through the air intake window  232  and is detoured to the air chamber  230  so as to enter into the motor cavity  223  through the open inlet end  221  of the motor case  22 .  
      Therefore, the sucking effect of the motor assembly  20  will be highly increased by generating a circulated motion of air cycle in the air intake hood  23  so that more air will be sucked into the motor cavity  223  through the air intake window  232  for dissipating the heat of the driving motor  21 . In other words, the cooling effect of the motor assembly  20  will be highly increased to cool down the driving motor  21  so as to prolong the service life span thereof.  
      The air intake window  232  is formed at a mid-portion of the air intake hood  23  at a position between the open inlet end  221  and the open outlet end  222  of the motor case  22 . Moreover, the air intake window  232  is positioned at an upper portion of the motor assembly  20  to suck the fresh air into the motor case  22  in order to lower the motor&#39;s noise and decrease the pollution of the motor&#39;s interior.  
      Moreover, an air filtering guide  25  is mounted on the air intake hood  23  at the air intake window  232  such that when the fresh air is sucked into the air intake passage  231  through the air intake window  232 , the air filtering guide  25  functions as a first blockage to initially filter the fresh air so as to prevent the residual particles entering into the motor cavity  223 .  
       FIG. 7  mainly illustrates the relationship between the driving motor  21  and cooling fan  24  within the motor cavity  223 , so as to show the flow of fresh air passing therethrough. According to the preferred embodiment, the driving motor  21  is embodied as a universal motor, wherein the cooling fan  24  is positioned closed to the open outlet end  222  of the motor case  22  in such a manner that the heat generated by the driving motor  21  is sucked by the cooling fan  24  and dissipated by the flow of fresh air.  
      It should not be limited that the driving motor  21  is embodied as an induction motor wherein the cooling fan  24  is positioned closed to the open inlet end  221  of the motor case  22  to suck the fresh air towards the driving motor  21  for dissipating the heat thereof.  
      In view of above, the end collecting tray  41  is capable of effectively collecting the residual particles during the cutting process so as to stop the residual particles spreading in the surroundings. Then, the suction source  42  can collect all the residual particles within the collecting chamber  411 . Moreover, the motor assembly  20  can prevent the residual particles from entering into the motor cavity  223  in order to prevent the driving motor  21  from being damaged by the residual particles. Therefore, the cutting machine can archive the environment control when the cutting machine incorporates with the environment control arrangement  40 .  
      One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.  
      It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure form such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.