Patent Application
20070295183
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
With reference to
Persons skilled in the art will recognize that carriage assembly 40 may threadably engage support columns 30. Persons skilled in the art are directed to U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,621, which is incorporated herein by reference, for further information on how the carriage assembly 40 is mounted unto the support columns 30 to allow adjustment of the distance between carriage assembly 40 and base assembly 20. Nonetheless, persons skilled in the art will recognize that base assembly 20 may be movably mounted unto support columns 30 to allow adjustment of the distance between carriage assembly 40 and base assembly 20.
Adjustment of carriage assembly 40 relative to the base assembly 20 is accomplished by the user rotating handle assembly 50. Traditionally, the user would use cutterhead height adjustment knob 60 and scale 70 to determine the distance carriage assembly 40 has traveled and the relative distance between the cutterhead (not shown) and the workpiece (not shown). However, as discussed below, the present invention preferably provides a sensory feedback system that can be used, for example, to replace the need for referring to scales or adjustment knobs or to augment the use of scales or knobs to determine the distance carriage assembly 40 has traveled and the relative distance between the cutterhead and the workpiece. Although only the example of the carriage assembly 40 is discussed, persons skilled in the art will recognize that the sensory feedback systems can be used with any adjustment mechanisms in the planer 10.
Turning to
As part of the adjustment mechanisms employed by exemplary table saw 100, the angle of blade relative to table 110 may be changed. In a preferred embodiment, the cradle may be provided with a bevel sector gear (not shown) thereon. The bevel sector gear has a rack (not shown) which meshes with a worm drive (not shown) disposed on bevel shaft (not shown), which is rotated via bevel crank wheel 160. When bevel crank wheel 160 is rotated, the bevel shaft and its worm drive rotate. The worm drive meshes with the rack, causing the cradle and blade 155 to rotate, thus changing the bevel angle of blade 155 relative to table 110. For further discussion of the bevel angle adjustment mechanism, persons skilled in the art are directed to U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,303, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Customarily, the user would use scale 170 to determine the bevel angle of blade 155 relative to table 110. However, as discussed below, the present invention preferably provides a sensory feedback system that can be used, for example, to replace the need for referring to scales or to augment the use of scales to determine the bevel angle of blade 155. Although only the example of the blade 155 bevel angle is discussed, persons skilled in the art will recognize that the sensory feedback systems can be used with any adjustment mechanisms in the table saw 100, including those, for example, that permit adjustments to the height of blade 155 with respect to table 110 and those that permit adjustments to fences 180 and 190 on table 110 of table saw 100.
Referring to
The exemplary embodiment of drill press 200 also preferably includes cylindrical casting 260 disposed about column 210. Cylindrical casting 260 provides an interface between worktable assembly 270 and column 210 of drill press 200. In a preferred embodiment, cylindrical casting 260 may translate vertically along column 210 or may rotate about column 210 allowing worktable assembly 270 to translate or rotate about column 210. In addition, cylindrical casting 260 provides a mechanism 280 to allow the user to rotate worktable assembly 270 with respect to column 210.
Conventionally, the user would use a scale preferably located on cylindrical casting 260 to determine the angle of worktable 270 relative to column 210. However, as discussed below, the present invention preferably provides a sensory feedback system that can be used, for example, to replace the need for referring to scales or to augment the use of scales to determine the angle of worktable 270. Although only the example of the adjustments to worktable 270 is discussed, persons skilled in the art will recognize that the sensory feedback systems can be used with any adjustment mechanisms in the drill press 200, including, for example, those that permit adjustments to the chuck 240 with respect to the worktable 270.
Turning to
With reference to
Feedback system 300 also preferably includes an actuation portion 320 having at least one notch 330, but preferably a plurality of notches 330. In a preferred embodiment, notches 330 are formed such that they are located at a predetermined distance from each other. Actuation portion 320 may be any portion of the power tool adjustment mechanism that couples to a power tool adjustment mechanism user interface. For example, looking at the above discussed power tools, rotating handle assembly 50 of planer 10 may couple with actuation portion 320, bevel crank wheel 160 of table saw 100 may couple with actuation portion 320, and adjustment mechanism 280 of drill press 200 may couple with actuation portion potion 320.
In a preferred embodiment, feedback system 300 also includes at least one biasing member 340 and at least one detent member 350. Biasing member 340 preferably is coupled with stationary portion 310 at one end and coupled with detent member 350 at the other end. Detent member 350 preferably is configured and dimensioned to engage notches 330 on actuation portion 320. In another preferred embodiment, notches 330 could be located on stationary portion 310 and detent member 350 and biasing member 340 could be located on actuation portion 320.
In an exemplary use, when the user manipulates the power tool adjustment mechanism, for example, rotating handle assembly 50 of planer 10, rotating bevel crank wheel 160 of table saw 100, or rotating adjustment mechanism 280 of drill press 200, actuation portion 320 of feedback system 300 is actuated. In a preferred embodiment, when actuated, actuation portion 320 rotates with respect to stationary portion 310 allowing detent member 350 to engage and disengage from notches 330. More specifically, detent member 350, which in a preferred embodiment is a ball detent, is biased towards actuation portion 350 by biasing portion 340, which in a preferred embodiment is a spring. As actuation portion 320 rotates, detent member 350 abuts an outer surface of actuation portion 320 until engaging one of the notches 330. As actuation portion 320 continues to rotate, detent member 350 will disengage from notch 330 and again abut the outer surface of actuation portion 320 until the next notch 330. The engagement and disengagement of detent member 350 with notch 330 will provide the user with tactile and audible feedback. Additionally, since the notches 330 are placed at predetermined locations, each engagement and disengagement of detent member 350 with notch 330 can be tied to a certain amount of adjustment of the power tool adjustment mechanism thereby indicating to the user how much adjustment has been done without the need to refer to a scale. For example, each engagement and disengagement of detent member 350 with notch 330 can indicate 0.X degree of beveling of blade 155 on table saw 100.
In another preferred embodiment, the depth of notches 330 can be varied giving the user additional tactile and audible feedback. For example, if there are four notches 330 on actuation portion 320, one notch 330 may be larger than the other notches, so when detent member 350 engages and disengages the larger notch 330, that can indicate something in addition to what the remaining notches 330 indicate. Turning back to the table saw 100 example, the larger notch 330 feedback could indicate X degree of beveling of blade 155 on table saw 100 while the remaining notches 330 could indicate 0.X degree of beveling.
Turning to
Feedback system 400 also preferably includes an actuation portion 420 having a plurality of engagement members 425. In a preferred embodiment, engagement members 425 are formed such that they are located at a predetermined distance from each other. Actuation portion 420 may be any portion of the power tool adjustment mechanism that couples to a power tool adjustment mechanism user interface. For example, looking at the above discussed power tools, rotating handle assembly 50 of planer 10 may couple with actuation portion 420, Fences 180 or 190 of table saw 100 may couple with actuation portion 420, and adjustment mechanism 280 of drill press 200 may couple with actuation portion potion 420. In another preferred embodiment, stationary portion 410 may include engagement members 425 and actuation portion 420 may include biasing arms 425.
In an exemplary use, when the user manipulates the power tool adjustment mechanism, for example, rotating handle assembly 50 of planer 10, sliding fence 180 on table 110 of table saw 100, or rotating adjustment mechanism 280 of drill press 200, actuation portion 420 of feedback system 400 is actuated. In a preferred embodiment, when actuated, actuation portion 420 moves with respect to stationary portion 410 allowing biasing arms 415 to engage and disengage engagement members 425. As actuation portion 420 moves, biasing arms 415 also move and continue to abut engagement members 425 until tips 435 of biasing arms 415 abut engagement members 425. Continued movement of actuation portion 420 after this point results in biasing arms 415 disengaging from engagement members 425 and moving into recesses 430 until continued movement re-engages biasing arms 415 with engagement members 425. The engagement and disengagement of biasing arms 415 with engagement members 425 will provide the user with tactile and audible feedback. Additionally, since the engagement members 425 are placed at predetermined locations, each engagement and disengagement of biasing arms 415 with engagement members 425 can be tied to a certain amount of adjustment of the power tool adjustment mechanism thereby indicating to the user how much adjustment has been done without the need to refer to a scale. For example, each engagement and disengagement biasing arms 415 with engagement members 425 can indicate X.X inches of movement of fence 180 on table saw 100.
Turning to
Feedback system 500 also preferably includes an actuation portion 520 having at least one, but preferably a plurality of detent members 525. Detent members 525 are preferably located in cavities 530, which are longer than the length of detent members 525 thereby allowing detent members 525 to translate within the cavities 530. In a preferred embodiment, detent members 525 preferably are configured and dimensioned to engage grooves 515 on stationary portion 510. In another preferred embodiment, grooves 515 could be located on actuation portion 510 and detent member 525 could be located on stationary portion 510.
In an exemplary use, when the user manipulates the power tool adjustment mechanism, for example, rotating handle assembly 50 of planer 10, moving fence 180 of table saw 100, or rotating adjustment mechanism 280 of drill press 200, actuation portion 520 of feedback system 500 is actuated. In a preferred embodiment, when actuated, actuation portion 520 moves with respect to stationary portion 510 allowing detent member 525 to engage and disengage from grooves 515. More specifically, as actuation portion 520 is moved, detent members 525 abut an outer surface of stationary portion 510 until engaging one of the grooves 515. As actuation portion 520 continues to move, detent members 525 will disengage from grooves 515 and again abut the outer surface of stationary portion 510 until the next groove 515. The engagement and disengagement of detent members 525 with grooves 515 will provide the user with tactile and audible feedback. Additionally, since the grooves 515 are placed at predetermined locations, each engagement and disengagement of detent members 525 with grooves 515 can be tied to a certain amount of adjustment of the power tool adjustment mechanism thereby indicating to the user how much adjustment has been done without the need to refer to a scale. For example, each engagement and disengagement of detent member 525 with grooves 515 can indicate X.X inches of movement of fence 180 on table saw 100.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, although only select power tools were described with respect to the present invention, it should be understood that the present invention is applicable to any power tool that includes an adjustment mechanism.
