Patent ID: 7690592

Claim:
An interlock system, comprising: a housing ( 1 ) containing an electrically powered drive motor ( 30 ); the housing presenting a support surface ( 2 ) capable of supporting thereon in latching engagement a base of a receptacle ( 3 , 4 ) adapted to contain a processing tool ( 22 , 23 ) intended to be driven in rotation by said motor ( 30 ) and having a lid or cover ( 24 , 25 ) intended to close said receptacle ( 3 , 4 ) for safe operation when said processing tool ( 22 , 23 ) is driven by said motor ( 30 ); actuator means ( 21 , 22 ) responsive to operative placement of said lid or cover ( 24 , 25 ) upon said receptacle ( 3 , 4 ) actuate an interlock switch control means ( 31 ) disposed in said housing ( 1 ) thereby permitting electrical current to flow to said motor ( 30 ) only when said receptacle ( 3 , 4 ) is latched to said housing ( 1 ) and said receptacle ( 3 , 4 ) so latched is safely closed by said lid or cover ( 24 , 25 ); said support surface ( 2 ) supporting a plurality of discrete upstanding latch members ( 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ) distributed in a predetermined pattern thereon for latching said receptacle ( 3 , 4 ) to the housing ( 1 ) for operation; each of said latch members containing respective elements ( 10 , 11 ) for temporarily latching to said housing ( 1 ), at different times and by interaction with their respective bases ( 26 , 27 ), a first receptacle ( 3 ) having a base ( 26 ) conforming to a first predetermined receptacle base configuration and a second receptacle ( 4 ) having a base ( 27 ) conforming to a second predetermined receptacle base configuration, different from the first receptacle base configuration, and in that at least one ( 5 ) of said latch members ( 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ) presents (a), by way of a first aperture ( 12 ), operational access for an actuator means responsive to the closure by the lid or cover ( 24 ) of said first receptacle ( 3 ) to actuate said interlock switch control means ( 31 ) and (b), by way of a second aperture ( 13 ), operational access for an actuator means ( 21 ) responsive to the closure by the lid or cover ( 25 ) of said second receptacle ( 4 ) to actuate said interlock switch control means ( 31 ), whereby said interlock switch control means ( 31 ) is actuated to permit the flow of electrical current to said motor ( 30 ) only when a receptacle ( 3 , 4 ) having one of said predetermined receptacle base configurations is latched to said housing ( 1 ) and said receptacle ( 3 , 4 ) so latched is safely closed by its lid or cover ( 24 , 25 ).