Protective cover with a quick-change unit

Abstract

A protective cover that can be mounted on a table saw and includes a base bracket (2), a housing unit (3), a quick-change unit (4), and two guard elements (5). The quick-change unit (4) includes a main engagement element (41), an auxiliary engagement element (42), and a pull element (44) connected to the main engagement element (41). The pull element (44) is pivotable between a locking position, in which the main engagement element (41) and the auxiliary engagement element (42) are connected to the base bracket (2) to secure the housing unit (3) to the base bracket (2), and a release position, in which the main engagement element (41) and the auxiliary engagement element (42) can be detached from the base bracket (2), thereby allowing the housing unit (3), the quick-change unit (4), and the guard elements (5) to be separated from the base bracket (2).

Description

[0001] The disclosure relates to an accessory for woodworking machines, in particular a protective cover which has a quick-change unit.

[0002] A conventional woodworking machine, such as a table saw, consists of a table and a saw blade that extends across the top surface of the table. To prevent wood chips and sawdust from entering the operator's eyes during cutting, a removable guard is attached to the table. The guard includes a mounting base attached to the table near the saw blade, and two protective elements connected to the mounting base. To remove the wood chips and sawdust produced during production, a mounting base with a tubular chip collection channel is used instead. One end of the chip collection channel faces the saw blade, and the other end is connected to a dust extraction system that removes the wood chips and sawdust.

[0003] During production, a mounting base without a chip collection channel can be used to adapt to the many different working conditions, such as when a workpiece produces little wood chippings and sawdust, or when the cutting speed is low, resulting in less chipping and sawdust spraying. This avoids obstructing the operator's view. However, accessories are often attached to the mounting base, and when the mounting base is replaced, the attached accessories must be removed along with the replaced base, which is cumbersome.

[0004] Therefore, it is a task of the disclosure to provide a protective cover that has a quick-change unit which can eliminate at least one of the disadvantages of the previous state of the art.

[0005] According to the disclosure, the protective cover is adapted to be mounted on a table saw and connected to a dust extraction system. The table saw includes a table and a saw blade extending transversely across an upper surface of the table. The protective cover includes a base adapted for mounting on the table, a housing unit, a quick-change unit, and two protective elements. The housing unit is adapted for connection to the dust extraction system and defines a chip collection channel, a chip outlet adapted to connect the chip collection channel to the dust extraction system, and a chip inlet adapted to connect to the chip collection channel and positioned opposite the saw blade.The quick-change unit is located within the housing unit and comprises a main engagement element and an auxiliary engagement element, spaced apart from each other and detachably connected to the base, as well as a pull element that is pivotably mounted on the housing unit and connected to the main engagement element. The guard elements are pivotably connected to the housing unit and are adapted to cover a section of the saw blade. The pull element pivots between a locking position, in which the main engagement element and the auxiliary engagement element are connected to the base to secure the housing unit to the base, and a release position, in which the main engagement element and the auxiliary engagement element can be detached from the base to allow the separation of the housing unit, the quick-change unit, and the guard elements from the base.

[0006] Further features and advantages of the disclosure will become clear in the following detailed description of the embodiment(s) with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that various features may not be shown to scale. Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the protective cover which has a quick-change unit according to the disclosure. Fig. Figure 2 is an exploded view showing the embodiment. Fig. Figure 3 is a fragmentary side view showing a pull element in a locked position. Fig. Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view showing the pull element in a release position. Fig. Figure 5 is a sectional view of the embodiment along line VV in Fig. 3. Fig. Figure 6 is a partial sectional view of the embodiment, showing the pull element in the locked position. Fig. Figure 7 is a partial sectional view of the embodiment, showing the tension element in the release position.

[0007] Before describing the revelation in more detail, it should be noted that, where deemed appropriate, reference signs or the last positions of reference signs have been repeated in the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements which may, if necessary, have similar properties.

[0008] It should be noted here that, for the sake of clarity, spatially relative terms such as "above," "below," "upper," "lower," "up," "on," "above," "over," "downward," "upward," and the like may be used in the revelation while referring to the features shown in the drawings. The features may be oriented differently (e.g., rotated by 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative terms used herein may be interpreted accordingly.

[0009] With reference to the Fig. Figures 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the protective cover adapted for mounting on a table saw and connecting to a dust extraction device (not shown). The table saw comprises a table 8 and a saw blade 9, which is mounted on the table 8 and extends transversely across an upper surface of the table 8. The protective cover includes a base 2, a housing unit 3, a quick-change unit 4, and two protective elements 5.

[0010] In this embodiment, the extraction device is a vacuum cleaner, but in other embodiments, other equivalent extraction devices for removing wood chips and sawdust, such as air extraction pumps, can also be used.

[0011] Furthermore, with reference to the Fig. The base bracket 2 is adapted to be mounted on the table 8, as shown in sections 4 to 6, and has an engagement groove 21 extending through it in a first direction (X). The engagement section 211 of the engagement groove 21 is elongated in a second direction (Y) perpendicular to the first direction (X) and has an open end section 212 extending from the engagement section 211 to a circumferential edge of the base bracket 2 and having a shorter length in the second direction (Y) than the engagement section 211 in the second direction (Y).

[0012] With reference to the Fig. 2, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 The jacket unit 3 is adapted for connection with the extraction device and comprises a first jacket body 31 and a second jacket body 32, which are detachably coupled to each other. The first jacket body 31 comprises a base wall 311, a guide wall 313 extending from the base wall 311 to the second jacket body 32 and perpendicular to the second direction (Y), and a front wall 312. The guide wall 313 and the front wall 312 are spaced apart from each other in the second direction (Y). The second jacket body 32 comprises a base wall 321, a guide wall 323 extending from the base wall 321 to the first jacket body 31 and perpendicular to the second direction (Y), and a front wall 322. The guide wall 323 and the front wall 322 are spaced apart from each other in the second direction (Y).The first and second casing bodies 31, 32 together define a chip collection channel 314 for sawdust and wood chips, a dust outlet 315 adapted for connecting the chip collection channel 314 to the extraction device, and a chip inlet 316 adapted for connecting to the chip collection channel 314 and facing the saw blade 9. Each of the first and second casing bodies 31, 32 further comprises a linear movement slot 317, 324, which is elongated in the second direction (Y) and adapted for connecting the chip collection channel 314 to the external environment, as well as a mounting opening 318, 325, which extends through it in the first direction (X) and is connected to the chip outlet 315. The casing unit 3 has a pivoting movement slot 326, which extends through the first and second casing bodies 31, 32 in the first direction (X).The guide walls 313, 323 of the first and second shell bodies 31, 32 abut each other and together form a notch 319, which engages detachably with the base support 2. The pivoting movement slot 326 has a locking end 327 and a release end 328, which are opposite each other. In particular, the chip inlet 316 is defined between the base walls 311, 321, the guide walls 313, 323 and the front walls 312, 322 of the first and second shell bodies 31, 32, and the guide wall 313, 323 of each of the first and second shell bodies 31, 32 extends from the chip inlet 316 to the chip outlet 315. The extraction device can be firmly connected to the shell unit 3 via the mounting openings 318, 325, and the wood chips and sawdust can be guided through the guide walls 313, 323 from the chip inlet 315 to the chip outlet 316.The engagement between the base support 2 and the notch 319 holds the base support 2 in a stable position and prevents the base support 2 from wobbling.

[0013] The quick-change unit 4 is arranged in the shell unit 3 and contains a main engagement element 41 and an auxiliary engagement element 42, which extend in the first direction (X), are spaced apart from each other in the second direction (Y) and are detachably connected to the base holder 2.The quick-change unit 4 further comprises a pivot shaft 43 extending in the first direction (X) and mounted in the shell unit 3, a pull element 44 pivotably mounted in the shell unit 3 and connected to the pivot shaft 43, two connecting elements 45 arranged on opposite sides of the shell body 3 in the first direction (X) and connecting the main engagement element 41 and the pull element 44, a spring element 46 mounted in the shell unit 3 and bearing against the pivot shaft 43, and a guide element 47 extending in the first direction (X) through the pull element 44 and the connecting elements 45.

[0014] In particular, the main engagement element 41 engages in the linear movement slots 317, 324 of the first and second outer bodies 31, 32. The pivot shaft 43 is movable in the second direction (Y) and is spaced apart from the main engagement element 41 in the second direction (Y). Each of the connecting elements 45 has a drive end 451, which is rotatably connected to the pull element 44, and a driven end 452, which is opposite the drive end 451 and rotatably connected to the main engagement element 41. The guide element 47 extends movably through the pivoting motion slot 326 and is spaced apart from the pivot shaft 43, the pivoting motion slot 326 is curved and extends around the pivot shaft 43, and the locking end 327 and the release end 328 of the pivoting motion slot 326 are each arranged on opposite sides of the pivot shaft 43 in a third direction (Z) perpendicular to the first and second directions (X, Y).The spring element 46 pushes the pivot shaft 43 resiliently away from the auxiliary engagement element 42. In this embodiment, the quick-change unit 4 includes two connecting elements 45, although the number of connecting elements 45 may vary in other embodiments. In this embodiment, the spring element 46 is a spring plate, while in other embodiments, the spring element 46 may be other equivalent elements that provide a spring force, such as springs, but are not limited to them. In this embodiment, the first direction (X) is perpendicular to the saw blade 9, the second direction (Y) is parallel to the saw blade 9, and the third direction (Z) is vertical. In other embodiments, the arrangements of the first, second, and third directions (X, Y, Z) may be modified.

[0015] With reference to the Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 is the pull element 44 between a locking position (see Fig. 3 and Fig. 6) and a release position (see Fig. 4 and Fig.7) pivotable and in turn drives the movement of the connecting elements 45, the guide element 47, and the main engagement element 41. When the pull element 44 is in the locked position, the main engagement element 41 and the auxiliary engagement element 42 are spaced apart from each other and arranged in the engagement section 211 of the engagement groove 21, and the distance between the main engagement element 41 and the auxiliary engagement element 42 in the second direction (Y) is greater than the length of the open end section 212 in the second direction (Y). At this point, the guide element 47 is located next to the locking end 327 of the pivoting motion slot 326, the pivot shaft 43 is located between the drive end 451 and the driven end 452 in the second direction (Y), and the sleeve unit 3 is attached to the base support 2.When the pull element 44 is in the release position, the main engagement element 41 and the auxiliary engagement element 42 are relatively close to each other, with the distance between the main engagement element 41 and the auxiliary engagement element 42 in the second direction (Y) being less than the length of the open end section 212 in the second direction (Y). At this point, the guide element 47 is located next to the release end 328 of the pivoting motion slot 326, and the sheath body 3 can be separated from the base support 2. During the movement of the pull element 44 from the release position to the locking position, the guide element 47 is controlled by the pull element 44 to move along the pivoting motion slot 326 and pass a dead center of the assembly, thus preventing erroneous switching of positions due to vibrations.

[0016] It should be noted that during the movement of the pull element 44 from the release position to the locking position, a force is exerted on the pivot shaft 43 in the second direction (Y) in the direction of the main engagement element 41, and the pivot shaft 43 is held in its original position by the spring element 46. The presence of the spring element 46 prevents the pivot shaft 43 from coming into direct contact with the outer body 3, which would otherwise lead to wear of the outer body 3 and ultimately to the main engagement element 41 no longer being able to engage firmly in the engagement groove 21.

[0017] The protective elements 5 are pivotably connected to the first casing body 31 and the second casing body 32 and are adapted to cover a section of the saw blade 9.

[0018] When attaching the protective cover, the pull element 44 is first pulled into the release position, and then the main engagement element 31 and the auxiliary engagement element 42 are moved so that they pass through the open end section 212 of the engagement groove 21 and into the engagement section 211, since the distance between the main engagement element 41 and the auxiliary engagement element 42 in the second direction (Y) is smaller than the length of the open end section 212 in the second direction (Y).Next, the pull element 44 is pulled into the locking position, whereby the main engagement element 41 is moved away from the auxiliary engagement element 42 until the distance between the main engagement element 41 and the auxiliary engagement element 42 in the second direction (Y) is greater than the length of the open end section 212 in the second direction (Y), so that the main engagement element 41 and the auxiliary engagement element 42 are attached to the base support 2 and the sleeve element 3 is firmly attached to the base support 2. Then the dust extraction device is connected to the chip outlet 315. During operation of the table saw, the wood chips and sawdust can be extracted by the dust extraction device, and the protective elements 5 prevent the wood chips and sawdust from being ejected.If the protective cover is not required, after pulling the pull element 44 from the locking position to the release position, the main engagement element 41 is moved in the direction of the auxiliary engagement element 42, and the quick-change element 4 can be separated from the base holder 2 together with the sheath element 3 and the protective elements 5.

[0019] Compared to conventional protective covers, the user can quickly attach the cover body 3 to the base 2 or detach it from the base 2 simply by moving the pull element 44, without removing the base 2 and any attached accessories, thus providing convenient use. Furthermore, the spring element 46 abuts the pivot shaft 43 and springily pushes the pivot shaft 43 away from the auxiliary engagement element 42, ensuring that the main engagement element 41 is securely engaged with the engagement section 211 when the pull element 44 is in the locked position after prolonged use of the protective cover.

[0020] The foregoing description includes numerous specific details for illustrative purposes, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the embodiment(s). However, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that one or more other embodiments may be implemented without some of these specific details. It should also be noted that the reference in this description to "an embodiment," an embodiment with a reference to a number, etc., means that a particular function, structure, or feature may be included in the practice of the disclosure. Furthermore, it should be noted that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof, in order to structure the disclosure and facilitate understanding of the various inventive aspects.This does not mean that each of these features must be implemented in the presence of all the other features. In other words, in any described embodiment, if the implementation of one or more features or specific details does not affect the implementation of one or more other features or specific details, then that one or more features can be selected and implemented alone, without the other one or more other features or specific details. It should also be noted that, in practice, one or more features or specific details of one embodiment may be used together with one or more features or specific details of another embodiment as described in the disclosure.

Claims

[1] A protective cover adapted to be mounted on a table saw and connected to a suction device, the table saw comprising a table (8) and a saw blade (9) extending transversely through an upper surface of the table (8), the protective cover comprising: a base support (2) adapted to be mounted on the table (8); a casing unit (3) adapted to be connected to the suction device and defining a chip collecting channel (314), a chip outlet (315) adapted to connect the chip collecting channel (314) to the suction device, and a chip inlet (316) adapted to communicate with the chip collecting channel (314) and adapted to face the saw blade (9); and two protective elements (5) which are rotatably connected to the casing unit (3) and are adapted to cover a portion of the saw blade (9); characterized by , that: the protective cover further includes a quick-change unit (4) arranged in the casing unit (3), and a main engagement element (41) and an auxiliary engagement element (42) which are spaced apart from each other and which are separably connected to the base holder (2), and a pulling element (44) pivotally mounted on the casing unit (3) and connected to the main engagement element (41); and the pulling element (44) is pivotable between a locking position in which the main engagement element (41) and the auxiliary engagement element (42) are connected to the base holder (2) in order to fasten the jacket unit (3) to the base holder (2), and a release position in which the main engagement element (41) and the auxiliary engagement element (42) can be separated from the base holder (2), in order to thereby enable the separation of the jacket unit (3), the quick-change unit (4) and the protective elements (5) from the base holder (2). [2] Protective cover according to claim 1, characterized by , that the base holder (2) has an engagement groove (21) extending therethrough in a first direction (X) and an engagement portion (211) which is elongated in a second direction (Y) perpendicular to the first direction (X), and an open end portion (212) extending from the engaging portion (211) to a peripheral edge of the base bracket (2) and having a length in the second direction (Y) that is smaller than a length of the engaging portion (211) in the second direction (Y); the main engagement element (41) and the auxiliary engagement element (42) extend in the first direction (X) and are spaced from each other in the second direction (Y); when the pulling element (44) is in the locking position, the main engagement element (41) and the auxiliary engagement element (42) are arranged in the engagement portion (211) of the engagement groove (21), and a distance between the main engagement element (41) and the auxiliary engagement element (42) in the second direction (Y) is greater than the length of the open end portion (212) in the second direction (Y); and when the pulling element (44) is in the release position, the distance between the main engagement element (41) and the auxiliary engagement element (42) in the second direction (Y) is smaller than the length of the open section (212) in the second direction (Y). [3] Protective cover according to claim 2, characterized by , that the casing unit (3) includes a first casing body (31) and a second casing body (32) which are separably coupled to one another and together define the chip collecting channel (314), the chip outlet (315) and the chip inlet (316); each of the first jacket body (31) and the second jacket body (32) a base wall (311, 321), a guide wall (313, 323) extending from the base wall (311, 321) toward the other wall of the first shell body (31) and the second shell body (32) and perpendicular to the second direction (Y), and a front wall (312, 322), wherein the guide wall (313, 323) and the front wall (312, 322) are spaced from each other in the second direction (Y); the guide walls (313, 323) of the first casing body (31) and the second casing body (32) together define a notch (319) which is releasably engaged with the base holder (2); the chip inlet (316) is defined between the base walls (311, 321), the guide walls (313, 323) and the front walls (312, 322) of the first casing body (31) and the second casing body (32); and the guide wall (313, 323) of each first casing body (31) and second casing body (32) extends from the chip inlet (316) towards the chip outlet (315). [4] Protective cover according to claim 3, characterized by , that each of the first shell body (31) and the second shell body (32) further comprises a linear movement slot (317, 324) elongated in the second direction (Y) and adapted to connect the chip collecting channel (314) to an external environment; and the main engagement element (41) engages the linear movement slots (317, 324) of the first casing body (31) and the second casing body (32). [5] Protective cover according to one of claims 2 and 4, characterized by that the quick-change unit (4) further contains: a pivot shaft (43) mounted in the casing unit (3), which is connected to the tension element (44) and serves as a pivot point of the tension element (44); and at least one connecting element (45) which connects the pulling element (44) and the main engagement element (41) to one another. [6] Protective cover according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized bythat the quick-change unit (4) further comprises a resilient element (46) which is mounted in the casing unit (3), bears against the pivot shaft (43) and resiliently biases the pivot shaft (43) away from the additional engagement element (42). [7] Protective cover according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by , that: the shell unit (3) has a pivoting movement slot (326) extending therethrough in the first direction (X); and the quick-change unit (4) further includes a guide element (47) extending in the first direction (X) through the pulling element (44) and the at least one connecting element (45) which is spaced from the pivot shaft (43) and movably extends through the pivoting movement slot (326). [8] Protective cover according to claim 7, characterized by , that the pivoting movement slot (326) has a locking end (327) and a release end (328) which are opposite to each other; when the pulling element (44) is in the locking position, the guide element (47) is adjacent to the locking end (327) of the pivoting movement slot (326); and when the pulling element (44) is in the release position, the guide element (47) is adjacent to the release end (328) of the pivoting movement slot (326). [9] Protective cover according to claim 8, characterized by , that the pivot shaft (43) and the main engagement element (41) are spaced apart from each other in the second direction (Y); and the locking end (327) and the release end (328) of the pivoting movement slot (326) are each arranged on opposite sides of the pivot shaft (43) in a third direction (Z) perpendicular to the first and second directions (X, Y). [10] Protective cover according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized by , that: at least one connecting element (45) has a drive end (451) pivotally connected to the tension element (44) and a driven end (452) opposite the drive end (451) pivotally connected to the main engagement element (41); and when the pulling element is in the locking position, the pivot shaft (43) is arranged between the drive end (451) and the driven end (452) in the second direction (Y).

Images