Abstract: Methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as power saws to detect contact between a person and the blade of the saw. Woodworking machines and memory devices for use in woodworking machines having safety systems designed to detect a dangerous condition between a human and a dangerous portion of the woodworking machine and to trigger some action to mitigate the dangerous condition are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as power saws to distinguish contact between a person and the blade of the saw from contact between the blade and wet or green wood. Woodworking machines and memory devices for use in woodworking machines having safety systems designed to detect a dangerous condition between a human and a dangerous portion of the woodworking machine and to trigger some action to mitigate the dangerous condition are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as table saws to distinguish contact between a person and the blade of the saw from contact between the blade and wet or green wood. The methods and woodworking equipment may include predictive blade stop algorithms that prevent unnecessary activations of a safety brake during coast down of a blade and continued protection in the event a main power switch is turned off.

Abstract: Woodworking machines are disclosed having electrically conductive cutting tools adapted to cut workpieces. The machines include a contact detection system capacitively coupled to the cutting tool, and adapted to detect contact between a person and the cutting tool. The machines also include a reaction system configured to cause one or more predetermined actions to take place upon detection of contact between a person and the cutting tool by the contact detection system.

Abstract: A pencil sharpener that facilitates the sharpening of pencils by any one or more of the following: preventing injury; automatically sharpening pencils without manual manipulation; providing status indicators during sharpening; and/or allowing varying degrees of sharpness to be selected.

Abstract: Methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as table saws to distinguish contact between a person and the blade of the saw from contact between the blade and wet or green wood. The methods and woodworking equipment may include predictive blade stop algorithms that prevent unnecessary activations of a safety brake during coast down of a blade and continued protection in the event a main power switch is turned off.

Abstract: Improved methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as table saws to distinguish contact between a person and the blade of the saw from contact between the blade and wet or green wood.

Abstract: A tree processing vehicle comprising a prime mover and a pair of tracks for propelling the tree processing vehicle, the prime mover being in a driving relationship with the tracks. The tree processing vehicle also comprises an operator cabin comprising a front side, a rear side, and a pair of lateral sides between the front side and the rear side. A first one of the lateral sides defines an access opening allowing an operator to enter or exit the operator cabin. The operator cabin also comprises a door for closing the access opening and a set of controls for allowing the operator to control the tree processing vehicle. The tree processing vehicle also comprises a pair of arms pivotally movable across a range of angular positions.

Abstract: Methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as table saws to distinguish contact between a person and the blade of the saw from contact between the blade and wet or green wood. The methods and woodworking equipment may include predictive blade stop algorithms that prevent unnecessary activations of a safety brake during coast down of a blade and continued protection in the event a main power switch is turned off.

Abstract: A power tool comprises a base unit and a motor unit. The base unit includes a handle and a first electrical connector. The motor unit includes an electric motor and a second electrical connector. The motor unit is configured to be releasably connected to the base unit. An electrical connection is established between the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector when the motor unit is properly connected to the base unit. A sensor is configured to determine whether the motor unit is properly connected to the base unit.

Abstract: A pencil sharpener that facilitates the sharpening of pencils by any one or more of the following: preventing injury; automatically sharpening pencils without manual manipulation; providing status indicators during sharpening; and/or allowing varying degrees of sharpness to be selected.

Abstract: Methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as table saws to distinguish contact between a person and the blade of the saw from contact between the blade and wet or green wood. The methods and woodworking equipment may include predictive blade stop algorithms that prevent unnecessary activations of a safety brake during coast down of a blade and continued protection in the event a main power switch is turned off.

Abstract: Improved methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as table saws to distinguish contact between a person and the blade of the saw from contact between the blade and wet or green wood.

Abstract: A stump cutter controller and operator presence system includes one or more capacitive sensors in each of the three control levers that control movement of the cutter wheel. A sensor circuit measures changes in the capacitance of the sensors. The controller automatically disengages a drive clutch and applies a brake to the cutter wheel when the controller senses that an operator has left the operating station—which is assumed when the operator has not touched any one of the three control levers of the operator station for a predetermined time. The controller logic is set to allow the clutch to remain engaged during a delay period, of predetermined duration, to permit the operator to move a hand off of one control lever to another control lever. Also, a grace period, of varying duration based on the speed of the cutter wheel, may be provided during which the clutch is reengaged if an operator returns to the controls.

Abstract: Woodworking machines including cutting tools and motors adapted to drive the cutting tools are disclosed. The machines also include a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between the cutting tool and a person, and a reaction system adapted to perform a specified action upon detection of the dangerous condition. The machines further include a control system adapted to test the operability of at least a portion of the detection system and/or the reaction system. The control system is adapted to disable the motor if the tested portion is inoperable. The control system also includes a test mode to test whether the detection system is working, to test whether various materials would be detected by the detection system, and/or to test whether various materials would trigger the reaction system.

Abstract: A woodworking machine is disclosed. The machine includes a cutting tool and a motor adapted to drive the cutting tool. The machine further includes a detection system to detect a dangerous condition between the cutting tool and a person, such as a person coming into contact with the cutting tool. A reaction system is provided to disable the cutting tool, such as by covering, blocking, destroying, wrapping, etc., upon detection by the detection system of the dangerous condition.