Anti-kickback device
View Patent ↗An anti-kickback device is disclosed where the device includes a plurality of flexible members, and at least a compliant contact surface in contact with a moving workpiece, where the flexible members provide a biasing force against the workpiece and also resist or prevent kickback of the workpiece as it engages a tool such as a shaper, saw blade, etc. The configuration of the flexible members assures an opposing force to resist kickback.
1. An anti-kickback device for biasing a workpiece on a machine having a work surface that guides the workpiece relative to a tool, said anti-kickback device comprising:
a support frame having at least one slot therein for adjustable attachment relative to the work surface; and
a plurality of elongated flexible members having a first end operatively connected to the support frame, and a free moving second end opposite the first end, said second end being suitable for sliding contact with the workpiece, wherein at least a portion of the second end of each flexible member comprises a deformable material and the deformable material is conformable to a non-planar workpiece surface in order to assure contact between said second end and the workpiece surface;
where the second end of each of the plurality of elongated flexible members remain in conformable contact with said workpiece and provide a biasing force against the surface of the workpiece.
2. The anti-kickback device according to claim 1 wherein the flexible members remain in frictional contact with said workpiece and further provide a counter-reactive force in response to kickback of the workpiece.
3. The anti-kickback device according to claim 1 further including an adjustable expansion member placed within a channel of the work surface to attach the support frame to the work surface.
4. The anti-kickback device according to claim 1 wherein said frame is attached to the work surface using a magnetic force.
5. The anti-kickback device according to claim 1 , wherein each of said elongated flexible members are formed from a compliant material.
6. The anti-kickback device according to claim 5 , wherein the compliant material further includes a rubber compound, and where at least the ends of said flexible members are coated with the rubber compound.
7. The anti-kickback device of claim 1 further comprising an adjustment mechanism associated with the support frame for attaching, adjusting and securing the support frame relative to the work surface.
8. The anti-kickback device according to claim 1 , wherein each of said elongated flexible members are formed from a foam material.
9. The anti-kickback device according to claim 1 wherein the first end of each flexible member consists essentially of a rigid material and the second end of each flexible member consists essentially of a deformable material.
10. The anti-kickback device according to claim 1 wherein the first end of each flexible member consists essentially of a resilient, non-deformable material.
11. An anti-kickback device for applying a biasing force on a workpiece, said anti-kickback device comprising:
a plurality of elongated flexible members, each of said flexible members having a first end operatively connected to a support, and a second end in contact with the workpiece, where the elongated flexible members deflect along their length in response to contact with the workpiece, and at least a portion of the second end of each of the plurality of elongated flexible member includes a material that deforms to conform to a non-planar shape of the workpiece and thereby remains in conformable contact with at least one surface of the workpiece to apply a biasing force to the workpiece.
12. The anti-kickback device according to claim 11 , wherein the second end of each flexible member remains in conformable contact with at least two adjacent surfaces of the workpiece.
13. The anti-kickback device according to claim 11 , wherein the second end of each flexible member includes a roller.
14. An anti-kickback device for applying a biasing force on a workpiece, said anti-kickback device comprising:
a plurality of elongated flexible members, each of said flexible members having a first end operatively connected to a support, and a second end in contact with the workpiece, wherein at least a portion of the second end of each of the plurality of elongated flexible member includes a material that remains in conformable contact with at least one surface of the workpiece to apply a biasing force to the workpiece, wherein the second end of each flexible member includes a roller and each roller includes a deformable material on at least an outer surface thereof.
15. The anti-kickback device according to claim 13 , wherein each roller turns in only one direction.
16. The anti-kickback device according to claim 11 , wherein the material that remains in conformable contact with at least one surface of the workpiece includes a belt riding over the surface of a plurality of rollers, at least one of said rollers being constrained to turn in only one direction.