Abstract: A device and method of extracting a broken extractor are provided. The fastener extractor includes a shaft with a pre-formed center hole situated longitudinally and interiorly in the fastener extractor. An extractor removal tool is provided that is pre-formed to engage the pre-formed center hole in the extractor for removing a broken extractor and debri.

Abstract: A fastener-driving tool includes a housing, a workpiece-contacting element movable between a rest position and an activated position, and a trigger movable between a rest position and an activated position. The tool includes an actuation lever movably connected to the trigger and a control valve including an actuating pin and an electromagnet where the actuating pin is movable between a rest position and an activated position. In a powered mode, the electromagnet is energized and attracts the actuation lever to the actuating pin and hold the actuation lever and the actuating pin in respective activated positions such that the tool is actuated each time the workpiece-contacting element contacts a workpiece. In a non-powered mode, the electromagnet is not energized such that the tool is actuated each time the workpiece-contacting element and the trigger are each moved from the rest position to the activated position in a designated sequence.

Abstract: Provided is a stepless variable auto stroke hydraulic breaker system capable of reducing impact energy reflected in the event of an idle blow by detecting a frequency of vibrations generated when a chisel breaks objects such as bedrocks using a vibration sensor, operating according to a short stroke if the frequency of vibrations does not exceed a preset frequency, and automatically switching the short stroke into a long stroke if the frequency of vibrations exceeds the preset frequency. The breaker system includes a vibration sensor configured to detect vibrations generated when a chisel breaks rocks, a transmitter provided with the vibration sensor and configured to transmit signals generated from the vibration sensor, a receiver configured to receive the signals transmitted from the transmitter, and a stepless variable auto stroke hydraulic breaker controlled by a reception micro controller unit (MCU) of the receiver.

Abstract: A machine-tool device includes at least one control and/or regulation unit. The at least one control and/or regulation unit is configured to (i) at least one of control and/or regulation of a drive unit and (ii) determine at least one actual rotational speed of the drive unit from a signal of at least one sensor element taking the form of an acceleration sensor. The machine-tool device further includes at least one sensor unit which includes the at least one sensor element taking the form of the acceleration sensor.

Abstract: A tool for an air hammer uses a ball peen striking head having a machined striking surface to concentrate impact forces on a defined area while reducing slippage of the striking surface from the target area.

Abstract: A portable power tool is disclosed. The tool has a tool holder in which a tool can be moveably inserted on a working axis in a striking direction. A percussion mechanism has a striker coupled via a pneumatic chamber to an exciter moved periodically along the working axis and an intermediate striker arranged in the striking direction downstream from striker. The intermediate striker is guided in a slide bearing with a tolerance coaxially to the working axis. The intermediate striker has a ring-shaped bead. A hollow-cylindrical backstop is arranged in the striking direction upstream from the bead. The backstop is moveably guided on a sliding surface with radial play along working axis. The radial play is at least three times as large as a tolerance of the guide of the intermediate striker in the slide bearing.

Abstract: A cushion device is used for a cylinder of a pneumatic tool, and the pneumatic tool contains: a body, a cylinder, a valve unit, a piston member, and a cushion washer. The body includes a grip and a fitting sleeve having a chamber, a closing face, and an opening. The cylinder is slidably fitted in the chamber, partially extends out of the fitting sleeve from the opening, and includes a room and an abutting portion. The valve unit is mounted between the room and the abutting portion. The piston member is accommodated in the room and slides along a movement axis. The cushion washer is made of a flexible rubber, is mounted in the chamber, and abuts against the closing face and the pressing face. The cushion washer includes at least one open segment which has at least one air groove each having a mouth parallel to the movement axis.

Abstract: A ratchet tool includes a cylindrical ratchet handle. The ratchet handle has an accommodation cavity therein. A multi-tool assembly is provided in the accommodation cavity and rotatable relative to the accommodation cavity. The present invention has a simple structure and is convenient for use. Multiple tools are provided to become one-piece. The entire contour is cylindrical, which is convenient for the user to hold the ratchet tool.

Abstract: An electric tool is disclosed. The tool includes an electric motor, a battery, a monitoring device for monitoring a monitoring operation-value limit, where the monitoring operation-value limit lies above an operation-value limit of the battery, an adjustable resistor component, and an operation-value controller for setting at least one operation-value of the electric motor by a pulse width modulation (PWM) duty cycle. The PWM duty cycle is a first value that is derivable from a current setting of the adjustable resistor component or a second value that corresponds to a PWM duty cycle last used for setting the at least one operation-value plus an offset value. A lower of the first value or the second value is selected for the PWM duty cycle, if an operation-value of the battery lies above the monitoring operation-value limit.

Abstract: A power tool, in particular a portable power tool, has a housing, at least one motorized drive unit, and at least one sensor device. The at least one motorized drive unit is mounted in and the at least one sensor device is mounted in or on the housing. The at least one sensor device has an electronic unit and at least one sensor arranged on the electronic unit. At least one of the housing, the sensor device, and the electronic unit has at least one bearing for mounting. The bearing contains at least one resilient element configured to damp or reduce vibrations between the housing and the electronic unit.

Abstract: A spindle lock assembly (410, 710) for a power tool (10) includes a first rotatable part (904, 704) fixedly connected to an output member (404) of a power tool transmission (16), and a second rotatable part (426, 726) fixedly connected to the power tool output spindle (430) and operatively engaging the first rotatable part. A lock ring (908, 708) surrounds the first and second rotatable parts. The lock ring being is retained in the housing in a substantially stationary manner with a dampener (954, 754) disposed between the lock ring and the power tool housing (772) and to dampen movements of the lock ring relative to the housing in a rotational direction. The spindle lock assembly transmits rotary motion from the transmission output member to the output spindle when the rotary output member is being driven by the motor and inhibits transmittal of rotary motion from the output spindle to the transmission output member when the output spindle is driven by an external force.

Abstract: A finger ratchet tool includes a body having a top part on the top thereof, and a ratchet device connected to the underside of the body. Two flanges extend radially from the top part. A connection portion extends from the body. A mounting member has a C-shaped collar which has an opening, and a rod is connected between two ends of the opening. A matching face is defined in the inner periphery of the C-shaped collar. Two recesses are defined in the inner periphery of the C-shaped collar and each have two ends. The rod is pivotably connected to the connection portion, and the C-shaped collar is mounted to the top part. The flanges are engaged with the recesses. The mounting member provides a larger diameter when grasping the finger ratchet tool.

Abstract: An adjustable tool handle for holding a tool during use provides an improved handling of tools during use of tools that are difficult to use on their own, specifically L-shaped hexagonal and round wrenches. The adjustable tool handle includes a tool handle body with a handle and an adjustable opening for receiving a tool. In order to place a tool within the tool handle, a user opens the tool handle and places the tool within the handle. After the tool is placed within the handle the tool is held in place by a holding component. The tool handle is also usable with a removable ratcheting mechanism. When the ratcheting mechanism is attached to the tool handle, the ratcheting mechanism couples with a plurality of bits or sockets of different sizes and different types.

Abstract: A tool caddy with vertical inner and outer compartment support sections. The inner and outer sections are made of a semi-rigid, semi-flexible material such as thermoplastic and joined to each other at their respective upper ends by a saddle. The support sections are generally pre-formed to fit the tapering radius of a selectable container and each support section has at least one compartment.

Abstract: An extensible apparatus for locating attachment points includes a first end piece, a main track fixed at its proximal end to the first end piece and extending from the first end piece to its distal end, an auxiliary track extending along and extensible distally from the main track, and a auxiliary end piece fixed to the distal end of the auxiliary track. The first end piece has a flat rearward face for placement against a wall. The tracks extend in parallel with the flat rearward face of the first end piece. A main shuttle is slidably movable along the main track, and an auxiliary shuttle is slidably movable along the auxiliary track. Each shuttle includes a rearwardly protruding marker.

Abstract: A master-slave system (1) according to the present invention includes at least one master displacement sensor (Pm1 to Pm3) for measuring a master displacement for a master robot, at least one slave displacement sensor (Ps1 to Ps3) for measuring a slave displacement for a slave robot, a master target displacement calculating device (2) for mapping the slave displacement and thereby obtaining a master target displacement which is a target value for the master displacement corresponding to the slave displacement, and a master actuator (Am1 to Am3) for generating a master driving force to position-control the master robot on the basis of the master target displacement and the master displacement. The mapping is predefined such that a set of master target displacements excludes a singular configuration for the master robot. The master-slave system (1) renders it possible to solve a singular configuration problem for both the master robot and the slave robot.

Abstract: A flexible tool comprising: a plurality of rigid members spaced along a longitudinal axis; a plurality of flexible members extending between the plurality of rigid members and being arranged to enable the plurality of rigid members to diverge from the longitudinal axis and define a work volume for the flexible tool, at least some of the plurality of flexible members being unevenly spaced around the longitudinal axis, and/or a physical characteristic of at least some of the plurality of flexible members varying along the longitudinal axis, to cause the work volume and/or stiffness of the flexible tool to be asymmetric relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Robots have the capacity to perform a broad range of useful tasks, such as factory automation, cleaning, delivery, assistive care, environmental monitoring and entertainment. Enabling a robot to perform a new task in a new environment typically requires a large amount of new software to be written, often by a team of experts. It would be valuable if future technology could empower people, who may have limited or no understanding of software coding, to train robots to perform custom tasks. Some implementations of the present invention provide methods and systems that respond to users' corrective commands to generate and refine a policy for determining appropriate actions based on sensor-data input. Upon completion of learning, the system can generate control commands by deriving them from the sensory data. Using the learned control policy, the robot can behave autonomously.

Abstract: Setting a target region determined based on a positional relationship between an object and a holding unit at a time of holding the object with the holding unit, acquiring measurement data on a plurality of objects, recognizing positions and orientations of the plurality of objects based on the acquired measurement data and a three-dimensional shape model of the objects, calculating a position of the set target region for each of the plurality of recognized objects based on the recognized positions and orientations of the plurality of objects, performing interference judgment about interference between the holding unit and the object in an order determined based on the positions of the target regions, and causing the holding unit to hold one of the plurality of recognized objects based on a result of the performed interference judgment.

Abstract: In order to set control with a high degree of freedom while taking into account a time response waveform, a robot control apparatus includes a control section that acquires a driving position of a driving section that drives a robot and a detection value of an operation force operating on the robot detected by a force detector, and controls the driving section based on the detection value, a first setting value, and a second setting value; a first display section that displays a detection waveform that is a time response waveform of the detection value; a second display section that displays a storage waveform that is a time response waveform of the operation force stored in a storage medium in advance; and a receiving section that receives setting of at least the second setting value.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a method and a robot for projecting the one or more graphics on the surface of a user environment. The method may include determining robot velocity data describing one or more of an angular velocity and a linear velocity of the robot. The method may include determining graphical data describing one or more graphics for projection on the surface of a user environment based on the angular velocity and the linear velocity of the robot. The one or more graphics may include one or more arrows describing a past behavior of the robot and a pending behavior of the robot. The method may include projecting the one or more graphics on the surface of the user environment so that a user present in the user environment with the robot may have access to information describing the past and pending behavior of the robot.

Abstract: A robot controller includes a first time-series data obtaining part for obtaining first data used for fault diagnosis in time series and store the first data as first time-series data, a second time-series data obtaining part for obtaining second data used for extraction of the first data which is used for the fault diagnosis in time series and store the second data as second time-series data, a time specification part for specifying extraction time of the first data used for the fault diagnosis based on the second time-series data, a data extraction part for extracting the first data corresponding to the extraction time, and a diagnosis performing part for performing the fault diagnosis of the robot based on the first data extracted by the data extraction part.

Abstract: A robotic device having an arm including an actuator and inertial sensor, a first calculator adapted to calculate an angular velocity and an angular acceleration of the actuator based on a rotational angle data from an angle sensor, a second calculator adapted to calculate one of an angular velocity and an angular acceleration of the arm based on an output detected by the inertial sensor, and a comparator adapted to compare one of the angular velocity and the angular acceleration calculated by the first calculator and one of the angular velocity and the angular acceleration calculated by the second calculator with each other, and it is determined that the inertial sensor is at fault if an absolute value of the difference between the actuator and the arm in one of the angular velocity and the angular acceleration in the comparison section is larger than a threshold value.

Abstract: A robot control apparatus comprises a contact detection unit which judges whether or not a robot is in contact with an object other than the robot, and an operation direction monitor unit which detects an operation direction of the robot after the robot comes in contact with the object and monitors operation of the robot. After the robot comes in contact with the object, the operation direction monitor unit permits operation of the robot being within a permissible range and inhibits operation of the robot falling outside the permissible range.

Abstract: A detection device and a detection method are provided for robot-induced loads that can act upon the human body in contact with the robot during a working process. The robot-induced loads, in particular forces, are measured by the measuring device (16) of an external sensing device (2). The measuring device (16) is suitably positioned and oriented in this process in the working area of an industrial robot (3) by means of a positioning device (15).

Abstract: A method for position correction of a machine relative to a work piece. The machine may be provided with an end effector. The work piece may be engaged with the end effector. A force or a moment resulting from engaging the work piece with the end effector may be measured. A pose error may be determined from the force and/or the moment, wherein the pose error may define a misalignment of the end effector. The end effector may be repositioned an amount equal to the pose error to correct the misalignment. One application may involve torqueing nuts with a nut runner, which may be accomplished through the use of an automated machine such as a robot.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically operating a camera includes a controller for controlling the movement of a robotically controlled camera. The controller includes a processor and a computer readable medium having instructions for controlling the camera. The system determines a task to be performed and, based on the determined task, determines a camera control scheme that corresponds to the task. The camera control scheme includes rules for controlling the camera. The system receives input parameters in the form of particular tools being used and the position and movement of the tools. The input parameters can be automatically determined by the controller via a video image produced by the camera. The controller will move the camera in response to particular movement of the tools and the particular rules of the determined control scheme that correspond to the particular movements.

Abstract: A robot includes an arm, to which a tool can be attached, and which is capable of moving the tool to a position where the tool and a reference point can be imaged by a first imaging section and a second imaging section, and the arm is controlled using an offset of the tool to the arm, the offset being derived based on first image data of an image of the tool attached to the arm and the reference point taken by the first imaging section at each of three or more positions of the tool, and second image data of an image of the tool attached to the arm and the reference point taken by the second imaging section at each of the three or more positions of the tool.

Abstract: A robotic system includes a processor that is programmed to determine and cause work site measurements for user specified points in the work site to be graphically displayed in order to provide geometrically appropriate tool selection assistance to the user. The processor is also programmed to determine an optimal one of a plurality of tools of varying geometries for use at the work site and to cause graphical representations of at least the optimal tool to be displayed along with the work site measurements.

Abstract: A system for wirelessly operating an end effector and a robotic arm of a robotic assembly includes a remote control having a sensor for generating movement data corresponding to a movement of the remote control by a user, and a primary switch operable to commence a logging of spatially defined points present in the generated movement data. The system also includes a receiver in wireless communication with the remote control, a processor communicably coupled to the receiver, and a controller communicably coupled to the processor, the memory, and an actuator associated with the robotic assembly. The receiver receives the movement data from the sensor. The processor logs the spatially defined points in a memory in response to the primary switch being actuated. The controller commands the actuator for initiating movement of at least one of the robotic arm and the end effector based on the logged spatially defined points.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to various improvements in soft robotic actuators, and techniques for manufacturing the improvements. For example, techniques for manufacturing a rigidizing layer for reinforcing a soft robotic actuator is provided. In another embodiment, a soft robotic actuator having integrated sensors is described. A flexible electroadhesive pad for achieving a conformal grip is also described. Still further, exemplary embodiments provide hydraulically-actuated soft robotic grippers, which allows for a reduction in the size of the actuation system and improved underwater operation.

Abstract: A device for gripping a cylindrical object comprises two gripping springs and an actuator, wherein: each gripping spring comprises a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an arcuate section disposed therebetween; the gripping springs are disposed on the device such that the first ends are pivotally coupled to the device, and the arcuate sections oppose each other so as to define an opening through which the cylindrical object is inserted; and the actuator is mechanically coupled to at least one of the second ends of the gripping springs such that movement of the actuator causes the arcuate sections of the gripping springs to grip the cylindrical object when inserted into the opening.

Abstract: An object is to provide a covering material and a covering structure of a robot gripping portion capable of providing proper gripping performance depending on various objects to be gripped so as to grip the objects and is solved by a covering material disposed on a surface of a base material 11 having a function of gripping an object, including an inner layer 121 made up of an elastic body and an outer layer 122 made up of an elastic body coming into contact with the object when gripping the object on a surface of the inner layer 121, the inner layer 121 being made up of the elastic body having a tackiness and having a hardness lower than the outer layer 122, the outer layer 122 having one or more penetrating portions 13 penetrating to the inner layer 121 such that when a stress acts at the time of gripping of the object, a portion of the inner layer 122 enters the penetrating portion 13 or protrudes from the penetrating portion 13 depending on a magnitude of the stress.

Abstract: A male member and tool changer for downsizing and preventing damage to proximity sensors; a male member includes a cam adapted to pivot between an engagement position at which the cam engages with a lock pin of a female member and a disengagement position at which the cam moves out of the engagement, and a cylinder unit adapted to pivot the cam between the engagement position and the disengagement position. A first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor are assembled onto a cylinder sidewall of the cylinder unit and first and second detection surfaces of the proximity sensors are revealed in a cylinder chamber. The first detection surface is placed at a position facing on a piston when the cam is located at the disengagement position and the second detection surface is placed at a position facing on the piston when the cam is located at the engagement position.

Abstract: An adjustable cable fitting for a thru-arm cable of a robotic welding torch includes a female member formed of an elongated tubular body having a forward end, a rear end, and a through hole extending axially from the forward end to the rear end. The forward end includes a nose portion for connection to a welding cable. A male member is cooperable with the female member in a telescoping manner. The male member includes a shaft received in the through hole of the female member, a receiver connected to the shaft for receiving a power pin, and a through hole extending axially through the shaft and receiver. A nut is disposed on the shaft for locking a position of the shaft relative to the female member. Adjustment of a disposition of the male member relative to the female member varies an effective length of the power cable.

Abstract: A rotatable coupling includes an input housing rotatably coupled to an output housing by a tube fixed to the output housing and on which tube the input housing rotates. The coupling includes two magnetic flux concentrators disposed about the tube and defining therebetween an annular cavity, a first concentrator fixed to the input housing and a second concentrator fixed to the output housing, such that relative rotation of the housings causes relative rotation of the concentrators on either side of the annular cavity. The coupling includes concentric coils disposed within the annular cavity that permit power transfer across the coupling, a first coil fixed to the input housing and a second coil fixed to the output housing; an emitter fixed to the input housing; and a receiver fixed to the output housing and positioned to receive the signals from the emitter during the relative rotation of the housings.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus having a changed region detection unit performs a process that includes repeating a cycle. The cycle includes causing a projection unit to project a pattern, that includes light and dark portions, onto target objects, causing an image capturing unit to capture an image of the target objects while the pattern is being projected by the projection unit, and causing a holding unit to hold one of the target objects based on a captured image obtained by the image capturing processing. Based on a reference boundary position corresponding to a boundary between the light and dark portions in the pattern in the captured image obtained in a previous cycle and a target boundary position in the captured image obtained in a current cycle, the changed region detection unit detects a changed region with a change between the previous cycle and the current cycle.

Abstract: A folding knife having an improved locking engagement mechanism that will maintain and hold the knife in an open locked use position or in a locked folded position. The improved locking engagement provides a spring urged dual locking bar engaged directly on the knife blade for an improved imparted force transfer. A positional locking activation safety button is resiliently registerably against an apertured pivot arm extension of the locking bar for locking and unlocking engagement.

Abstract: A box cutter structure includes a shell, a swinging member pivoted to the shell, a blade carrier slidingly disposed in the shell, and a linkage mechanism including first and second linkages. Two ends of the first linkage are pivoted respectively to the blade carrier and an end of the second linkage, and the other end of the second linkage pivoted to the tail end. An elastic recovery mechanism is connected with the blade carrier and the shell and has a tendency to actuate the blade carrier toward the tail end. When the swinging member swings toward the shell, the pivoting portion is pushed and abutted by the swinging member and moves forward, and the first linkage swings about the pivoting portion and pushes the blade carrier to move toward the blade-projecting end.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to pen cutters. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a pen cutter apparatus with an auto-retractable blade. Embodiments of the pen cutter apparatus are further comprised of a tether-hole and a blade slider button.

Abstract: An adjustable hair trimmer blade set is provided, including a blade chassis, a blade platform linearly displaceable relative to the blade chassis, a stationary blade secured to the blade platform, and a moving blade constructed and arranged for slidable linear reciprocation relative to the stationary blade in a direction of cutting action. An offset rod has at least one offset cam lobe and is rotatably engaged in the chassis along an axis generally parallel to the direction of cutting action. A retaining spring has at least one loop engaged by the offset rod for holding the spring in operational relationship to the chassis.

Abstract: A shaving apparatus (1) provided with at least one cutting unit (3) comprising an external cutting member (4) and an internal cutting member (5) which is drivable relative to the external cutting member in at least one driving direction P. The internal cutting member comprises at least one cutting element (10) comprising a cutting edge (11) being movable along a cutting path (12) whilst being driven in the at least one driving direction. The external cutting member comprises at least one hair-entry aperture (8) which is bounded by at least a first and a second wall portion of the external cutting member, at least the first wall portion (13) comprising a cutting edge A for cooperation with the cutting edge of the internal cutting member.

Abstract: A shaving razor cartridge with a housing having a first pair of spaced apart blade contact surfaces on a common wall that are spaced apart from a second pair of spaced apart blade contact surfaces on another common wall. A blade member having a base with a rear wall. The rear wall contacts both pairs of spaced apart blade contact surfaces during a shaving stroke. The first pair of spaced apart blade contact surfaces are spaced apart by a first distance that is less than a distance between the pair of common walls.

Abstract: A shaving razor cartridge with a housing having a guard at a front portion of the housing, a cap at a rear portion of the housing, a first blade support member positioned between the guard and the cap. The first blade support member has a first blade retention member spaced apart from a second blade retention member to define a first blade slot. The first blade support defines at least one rinse opening in communication with the first blade slot and extending completely through the housing.

Abstract: A shaving razor cartridge with a housing having a guard and a cap. At least one blade is mounted to the housing. The at least one blade has a cutting edge. At least one blade registration member is mounted to the housing. A blade retention member secures the at least one blade between the blade registration member and the blade retention member. The blade registration member has an unsupported region having a span of 0.25 mm to 5 mm between a pair of supported regions.

Abstract: A power operated knife comprises a blade supporting structure supporting an annular blade for rotation about a central axis. The blade and blade supporting structure are engageable along bearing contact locations that are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the axis so that the blade is stabilized both radially and axially as the knife operates. The blade supporting structures comprises a split blade housing member that is radially expandable and contractible to receive the blade. The split blade housing member and blade engage along relatively short lines of bearing contact that serve to minimize friction and blade heating when the knife operates. The bearing locations are spaced apart both circumferentially around the blade perimeter and in the direction of the axis so that the blade position is stabilized during operation of the knife.

Abstract: The tapered cutter guide includes a generally rectangular body having a long first edge and opposite thereto a long second edge. A depending rail is positioned along the first edge of the tapered cutter guide, the rail having an inner guide edge and an outer cutting edge with the inner guide edge and the outer cutting edge being spaced apart in parallel relation by a width selected to correspond to a desired sewing expanse. A tapered section is provided along the second edge to provide a sharp edge of the tapered cutter guide opposite from the first edge, the tapered section rising at an acute angle from the sharp edge towards the inner guide edge. There is also a flat top section between the first and second edge, and a flat inner section parallel to the top section adjoining the inner edge to the tapering section. An associated method of use is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for rotation punching, comprising a punching cylinder (1), which is rotatable about a punching cylinder axis (2), a counter-pressure cylinder (3), which is rotatable about a counter-pressure cylinder axis (4), wherein the counter-pressure cylinder (3) has raceways (6), on which the punching cylinder (1) or the raceways thereof can run on running surfaces (7), and further comprising an adjusting device, by which the gap dimension between the punching cylinder and the counter-pressure cylinder (1, 3) can be adjusted, and an additional cylinder, the additional cylinder being designed as a support shaft (17), on which the counter-pressure cylinder (3) is directly supported.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting source material in the form of a thin moving web includes a rotating cutting cylinder having an outwardly extending mounted blade and a closely spaced support member. Disposed between the blade-bearing lateral surface of the cutting cylinder and the support member, and in contact with the support member, is a movable, generally flat anvil strip adapted to engage, position and support the thin web to allow the rotating blade to sever the web material. The anvil strip is displaced in a reciprocating manner between a retracted position at the beginning of the blade's cutting stroke and an activated position at the end of the cutting stroke, prior to return of the anvil strip to its initial retracted position.

Abstract: A chop saw includes a base assembly and a saw assembly pivotally attached to the base assembly. The base assembly has a workpiece-supporting plane. The saw assembly has a blade and a motor driving the blade. A hinged connection between the base assembly and a saw assembly allows a user to rotate the saw assembly from a position where the plane of the blade extends through the workpiece-supporting plane to a position where the plane of the blade does not extend through the workpiece-supporting plane. In such position, the plane of blade may be substantially parallel to the workpiece-supporting plane. A switch or sensor may detect when the saw assembly is in the pivoted position so that the motor cannot be activated in such position.