Table saw with belt stop
A table saw in one embodiment includes a work-piece support surface, a shaping device support shaft automatically retractable along a retraction path to a location beneath the work-piece support surface in response to a sensed condition, a belt positioned across the retraction path, and a control system configured to cause the shaping device support shaft to retract along the retraction path in response to a sensed condition.
1. A table saw comprising:
a work piece support surface;
a swing arm assembly including a shaping device support shaft, the swing arm assembly automatically retractable along a retraction path from a proximate position whereat the support shaft is proximate to the work piece support surface to a distal position whereat the support shaft is distal to the work piece support surface;
a stop belt positioned across the retraction path; and
a control system configured to cause the swing arm assembly to retract along the retraction path in response to a sensed condition.
2. The table saw of claim 1 , wherein the stop belt comprises a stretchable material.
3. The table saw of claim 2 , wherein the stretchable material comprises a NYLON material.
4. The table saw of claim 1 , wherein the retraction path is substantially linear.
5. The table saw of claim 1 , wherein the retraction path is curved.
6. The table saw of claim 5 , further comprising:
a latch hold mechanism;
a swing arm movable along the retraction path, the shaping device support shaft rotatably supported by the swing arm;
a latch pin movable between a first latch pin position whereat the swing arm is maintained at a first swing arm position and a second latch pin position whereat the swing arm is not maintained at the first swing arm position; and
an actuating device configured to transfer a first force to the latch pin to bias the latch pin in a direction toward the second latch pin position, and, after transferring the first force, further configured to transfer a second force to the swing arm.
7. The table saw of claim 6 , further comprising:
a frame supporting the swing arm, wherein the stop belt comprises a first anchor portion fixedly attached to the latch hold mechanism and a second anchor portion fixedly attached to the frame.
8. The table saw of claim 7 , wherein the first anchor portion is positioned closer to the work piece support surface than the second anchor portion.
9. The table saw of claim 6 , further comprising:
a carriage supported by the frame and supporting the swing arm, the carriage positionable at a plurality of heights with respect to the frame, wherein the retraction path is one of a plurality of retraction paths, each of the plurality of retraction paths associated with a respective one of the plurality of heights, and the stop belt is positioned to intersect each of the plurality of retraction paths.
10. A table saw comprising:
a work piece support surface;
a swing arm movable along a swing arm path from a first swing arm position whereat an arbor shaft rotatably supported by the swing arm is positioned proximate to the work piece support surface and a second swing arm position whereat the arbor shaft is distal to the work piece support surface;
a stop belt positioned across the swing arm path; and
a control system configured to cause the swing arm to move along the swing arm path in response to a sensed condition.
11. The table saw of claim 10 , wherein the stop belt comprises a stretchable material.
12. The table saw of claim 11 , wherein the stretchable material comprises a NYLON material.
13. The table saw of claim 10 , further comprising:
a latch hold mechanism;
a latch pin movable between a first latch pin position whereat the swing arm is maintained at the first swing arm position and a second latch pin position whereat the swing arm is not maintained at the first swing arm position; and
an actuating device configured to generate a first force to bias the latch pin in a direction toward the second latch position, and, after transferring the first force, further configured to transfer a second force to the swing arm.
14. The table saw of claim 13 , further comprising:
a frame supporting the swing arm, wherein the stop belt comprises a first anchor portion fixedly attached to the latch hold mechanism and a second anchor portion fixedly attached to the frame.
15. The table saw of claim 14 , wherein the first anchor portion is positioned closer to the work piece support surface than the second anchor portion.