Abstract: A combination mitre and bevel saw 10 includes an elongate fence guide 74 operatively connected to the saw blade assembly 20 and pivotable between a retracted position and an extended position in the plan of the saw blade 26. A spring 72 biases the fence guide 74 into its retracted position. The fence guide 74 may be pulled down by the saw operator into its extended position so as to indicate the position at which the saw blade 36 will impinge upon the workpiece and so as to allow the setting of two fence members 17a, 17b accordingly. The fence guide 74 includes a leading edge 78, which indicates the width of cut which the saw blade will make in the workpiece and a wider portion 80, trailing the leading edge 78, which indicates the optimum spacing of the fence members 17a, 17b.

Abstract: A tool holder for a rotary and/or chisel hammer is provided with a sleeve body with a central opening for receiving a tool bit with a least one axial locking groove which is closed at both ends for engaging a cylindrical locking body which is located in a through opening in the sleeve body. The sleeve body is surrounded by a displaceable adjustment sleeve which has an area for preventing an outward radial movement of the locking body and which in a displaced position permits the radial outward movement of the at least one locking body. A ring element consisting of several ring segments is located behind the locking body and extends with a support portion into the through opening. With the movement of the locking body it can be displaced to the rear against spring pressure and in its displaced position permits a radially outward movement of the at least one locking body.

Abstract: A locking device (10) is for locking a first member (12) to a second member (14). The first and second members are mounted on a pivot pin (16) of the locking device. A lever (26) has two cams (25) adjacent the pivot pin (16) between cam followers (22a,22b) and which retain each cam (25) in position. The lever (26) is movable between a locking position, in which each cam (25) urges the second member (14) towards the first member (12) to prevent relative rotation therebetween, and a release position (FIG. 2) in which the second member (14) is free to rotate about the pivot pin (16) relative to the first member (12). Such a locking device (10) is particularly suitable for use in releasably holding a bevel block (14) against a mounting block (12) of a chop saw or the like.

Abstract: A table (16) is pivotable about an axis (41) with respect to a frame (14) between two working dispositions. A power tool working assembly (20) may be mounted on the table. A working head (eg blade 32) of the assembly (20) is positionable through an aperture in the table so that it can work on workpieces supported above either side of the table.The table is connected to the frame through an intermediate member (46) which is pivoted to the frame. The table has a first wheel (40) fixed thereto and a belt passes around the first wheel and around a second wheel (50) fixed to the frame (14) around the pivot (51) of the intermediate member. Pivoting of the intermediate member relative to the frame rolls the first wheel inside the belt and rotates the table between bench mode (FIG. 2) and snip-off mode (FIG. 3).

Abstract: An electrically powered tool, in particular an electrically powered tool of the type which includes a shaft assembly of adjustable length, also includes: a handle assembly; a cable entry mounted in the handle assembly; a shaft assembly, one end of which is mounted in the handle assembly; a head mounted at the end of the shaft assembly remote from the handle assembly; an electric motor mounted within the head, and a cable which extends within the shaft assembly from the cable entry to the motor. The shaft assembly is adjustable to allow relative movement between the head and the handle assembly in the radial and/or the axial direction, and the cable follows a path within the shaft assembly which path is defined and which is variable depending on the extent of extension and/or rotation of the head relative to the handle assembly.

Abstract: A processing machine comprises at least three powered guides (13,15,27) for movement along Cartesian axes for a support (12) to hold a tool (21) on a horizontal table (11). Motors (14,16,19) for movement along the three guides are connected to an integrated control device in the machine comprising a microprocessor sending to the motors movement signals reading data for position and moving from memories connected thereto. To the microprocessor are also connected a keyboard (130) for sending command signals and means (131) for display of operating information. The tool 21 is a router having its base (70) still attached so that a dust hood (76) incorporated in the base may be employed for dust extraction. A router (21) has a base (70) joined to a body (60) by columns (62,64), the latter being slidable in sleeves (66) in the body (60). A spring (90) between the base (70) and the body of the router serves as a guard for the router bit (76).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the motors for moving a tool, comprising a control cycle with the steps of calculating first and second parameters indicating the speed to be imparted to the motors to travel at a pre-established nominal speed along first and second segments sequential to each other, and of calculating the absolute value of the difference between first and second parameters. If the difference is less than a pre-established maximum value, the motors are commanded to travel along the first segment at the pre-established nominal speed and are then commanded to travel along the second segment at the pre-established nominal speed.

Abstract: A workcenter comprises a track (14) having a carriage (24) moveable along the track by a screw (32) rotated by a motor (30). The carriage has a bore (42) surrounding the screw. Two sleeve members (160) are received in the bore at either end thereof and surround said screw. The sleeve members are segmented and have threads for engagement with the screw. The sleeve members are pressed radially into engagement with the screw by a spring ring (198). The sleeve members are constructed from deformable plastics material and are screwed onto the screw against the opposite shoulders (163) around the bore in the carriage sufficient to deform the threads so as to take up axial freedom of movement between the carriage and screw. This arrangement allows an inexpensive rolled steel screw having inherent inaccuracies to be employed without loss of positional accuracy.

Abstract: A processing machine comprises at least three powered guides (13,15,27) for movement along Cartesian axes for a support (12) to hold a tool (21) on a horizontal table (11). Motors (14,16,19) for movement along the three guides are connected to an integrated control device in the machine comprising a microprocessor sending to the motors movement signals reading data for position and moving from memories connected thereto, at least one of said memories being enclosed in an external module (125) connected in a removable manner to the microprocessor through a connector arranged toward the outside of the machine. To the microprocessor are also connected a keyboard (130) for sending command signals and means (131) for display of operating information.

Abstract: A saw (10) comprises a frame, a table (12) mounted in the frame and adapted to adopt two positions. A pivot member (14) is on a first side of the table and a saw assembly (16) is pivoted (at 18) to the pivot member. A blade (26) is journalled in the assembly and a motor (22) drives the blade. An upper guard (32) covers an upper portion of the blade and is pivoted to the assembly, while a lower guard (40) covers a lower portion of the blade. A slot in the table permits the blade to protrude through the table.In a first of said two positions of the table, the saw assembly is above the table and the saw is a chop saw for performing plunge cuts on workpieces supported on said first side of the table (FIG. 1). In a second of said two positions, the saw assembly is below the table and the saw is a bench saw for performing cuts on workpieces passed through the blade on a second opposite side of the table (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A grass cutting device suitable for automatic and unattended operation, comprisesat least one drive wheel;a power unit operatively coupled to said drive wheel to propel said device;a cutter mechanism to cut grass over which said device passes andobstacle detection means capable of detecting an obstacle in the path of said device and being operably linked to said power unit to cause said device to retreat and turn away from said obstacle.The grass cutting device preferably further comprisesmechanical long grass detection means arranged to detect long grass in the path of said device.

Abstract: A spool (30) for a rotary cutter, such as a lawn mower edger or trimmer of the type using a flexible line (38) as a cutting member, comprises a core portion (32) and at least two flange portions (34), (36) spaced apart on the core portion (32) for supporting at least one coil of flexible line (38). At least one coiled line member (38) is disposed about the core portion (32) and has a first end (40) secured to the spool (30) and a second end (42) adapted to extend from the coiled line (38) to provide a length of line (12) for cutting.

Abstract: A chop saw comprising a base table (1, 3), a pivot block (11) attached to the base table (3), a pivot member (21) mounted on the pivot block (11) for relative motion therebetween and a saw blade (15) mounted on the pivot member (21) for movement towards and away from the base table (1, 3) to cut a workpiece positioned on the base table (1, 3), wherein a dust extraction passage (74, 75, 76) for enabling a suction apparatus to extract dust from the base table (1, 3) passes through the pivot block (11) and the pivot member (21). Such an arrangement is neat and compact, and yet provides an efficient dust removal facility.