TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a cutting bench safety system in order to prevent a hand of a user from being damaged by a cutter in a cutting bench comprising at least one cutter to allow a workpiece to be processed by said user.

PRIOR ART

Woodworking machines are defined as the machines used in the processes during which the raw materials obtained from a forest are processed by means of various techniques and turned into industrial products and then converted into semi-finished products, or tools which will meet the needs of human beings.

The machines used for woodworking run at a high speed in order to obtain a smooth surface on the material. Machinery used in the wood product manufacturing industry poses a hazard, especially when used incorrectly or without proper precautions. Most woodworking machines process the material by means of a cutter. The material is guided in said cutter by an operator. Workers using these machines may be exposed to various injuries such as cuts, cutting offs and scratches when they are not careful. Rotating parts are another source of danger in this industry. Rotating parts and shafts may pull an operator by catching the operators' hair or clothing and pinch their hands or arms. Workers may be injured when their hands come into contact with the cutting blade, especially when working on a small piece. The size of the piece may require the operator's hand to be close to the blade. As a result, injuries may occur if the piece moves unexpectedly or the worker's hand slips. In addition, the processed material may be stuck and pull the operator's hands into the machine. Likewise, workers may be injured when the machine or machine guard is not properly adjusted, or the necessary maintenance is not carried out.

The operator adjusts the angle and height of the blades in hand-fed circular saws in a reclining circular machine, which is one of the woodworking machines. Then the operator holds the material and allow it to be pushed towards the blade. Injuries may occur if the operator's hands slip while feeding the material into the saw, or if the operators keep their hands too close to the blades while cutting.

Consequently, all the above-mentioned problems have made it necessary to make an innovation in the relevant technical field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cutting bench safety system in order to eliminate the above mentioned disadvantages and provide the related technical field with new advantages.

An object of the invention is to provide a cutting bench safety system to reduce accidents in woodworking machines and to protect the user's hand.

In order to achieve all the objects which have been mentioned above and will be appreciated from the detailed description below, the present invention is a cutting bench safety system to prevent a user’s hand from being harmed by a cutter on a cutting bench comprising at least one cutter to enable a workpiece to be processed by a user. Accordingly, the cutting bench safety system is characterized by an imaging unit located around the cutter and a control unit for receiving data from said imaging unit, wherein the cutting bench safety system is configured to enable the control unit to process the images collected by the imaging unit instantly; to enable the user's hand profile to be defined according to the previously learned information through images; and to stop the cutter in case that the user's hand is detected to be within a predetermined dangerous area. Thus, the user's hand is protected from the cutter.

A possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the cutting bench comprises a reclining circular machine.

Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the imaging unit is at least one thermal camera. Thus, the user's hand is allowed to be detected even in a low light environment. Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a fault detection unit. Thus, the user is warned in case of a fault in the imaging unit. This prevents accidents that may occur by operating the cutter when the user does not realize the fault in the imaging unit.

Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a user interface associated with the control unit. Thus, the user is informed.

A further possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a communication unit for data exchange between the user interface and the control unit.

A further possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the control unit includes a memory unit to which it is associated to allow data to be read and written.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

Fig. 1 is a representative view of a cutting bench safety system.

Fig. 2 is a representative view of an operating scenario of a cutting bench safety system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description the subject matter of the invention are described with examples only for a better understanding of the subject in a non-limiting sense.

The invention relates to a cutting bench safety system (10) comprising a cutting bench (100) for processing a workpiece (30). In a possible embodiment of the invention, products such as tree, wood and the like provided for processing are used as said workpiece (30). In a possible embodiment of the invention, said cutting bench (100) includes a reclining circular machine used for woodworking. The cutting bench (100) includes a cutter (101 ) to cut the workpiece (30). Said cutter (101) may be a cutting member provided in the form of a blade, a saw, and the like, which enables the workpiece (30) to be divided into at least two pieces. The cutting bench safety system (10) is provided to prevent the user's hand from being damaged on the cutter (101) during the processing of the workpiece (30) by the cutter (101). The cutting bench security system (10) includes at least one imaging unit (102) in order to view the user's hand (20). In a possible embodiment of the invention, at least one camera is used as said imaging unit (102). In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a thermal camera is used as the imaging unit (102). By using the thermal camera, the user's hand (20) is noticed even when there is not enough light in the environment. A dangerous area is defined around the cutter (101 ) to prevent the user from being harmed if he/she gets close to the cutter (101). The imaging unit (102) is positioned upstream from the cutting bench (101) in order to be able to view the dangerous area in the predetermined location on the cutting bench (100). There is a control unit (103) to receive the data collected by the imaging unit (102). The control unit (103) provides instant processing of the images received from the imaging unit (102) by an image processing process. By using machine learning, deep learning and artificial neural networks through the images, the user's hand profile is defined with the previously learned information. The control unit (103) enables the images obtained from the imaging unit (102) to be generated on a model in a three-dimensional colored plane. Thus, the user’s hand may be identified even in case of missing limbs in the user’s hands. In cases where the cutter (101) is running fast, the user's hand needs to be detected quickly. By operating the control unit (103) based on an artificial intelligence and using a single imaging unit (102), the user's hand is detected when it enters the dangerous area.

There is a user interface (106) associated with the control unit (103). In a possible embodiment of the invention, a screen, a laptop, a computer, etc. may be used as the user interface (106) mentioned. There is a communication unit (107) associated with the control unit (103). In a possible embodiment of the invention, said communication unit (107) provides a wired/wireless transmission of data. Thus, a remote user is able to access data through a mobile device. For example, if a user causes a predetermined number of cutters (101 ) to be stopped within a predetermined time, the user may be warned by a respective expert. This will prompt the user to work carefully. There is a memory unit (105) associated with the control unit (103), which allows it to read and write data. Said memory unit (105) provides storage of data for use in future. The control unit (103) cuts off the energy arriving the drive member which runs the cutter (101 ). The cutting bench safety system (10) comprises a fault detection unit (105) which warns the user in case of a fault in the imaging unit (102). Said fault detection unit (105) sends a warning signal to the control unit (103) in case of a fault in the imaging unit (102). The control unit (103) stops the cutter (101) depending on the warning signal provided from the fault detection unit. The fault detection unit (105) also provides an audible warning by means of a loudspeaker, etc. to warn the user. Thus, the cutting bench safety system (10) is provided to warn the user against a fault. In this case, a user who works thinking that the camera is not broken is protected.

The control unit (103) instantly provides images from the imaging unit (102) by operating the cutting machine. The images obtained are displayed on a three- dimensional plane by an image processing method. The control unit (103) cuts off the energy to the cutter (101 ) in case that the presence of a hand is detected in the predefined dangerous area. The control unit (103) also cuts off the energy to the cutter (101 ) in case that the presence of at least one hand is detected in the predefined dangerous area. In case of a fault in the imaging unit (102), the warning signal is transmitted to the control unit (103) by means of the fault detection unit. The control unit (103) stops the cutter (101) depending on the warning signal. Thus, the user is protected in any case. The control unit (103) also allows the images received from the imaging unit (102) to be processed and to be recorded in the memory unit (105) so as to include the time data. The information recorded in the memory unit (105) is transmitted to a user interface (106) via the communication unit (107). The user can view the data through the user interface (106) and can provide a warning to the user when necessary.

In an exemplary operating scenario of the invention, an operator is allowed to shape a wood on a wood cutting bench (100). The operator allows the cutter (101 ) on the wood cutting bench (100) to be operated. The operator shapes the wood on the cutter (101 ). There is at least one camera provided around the cutter (101 ) so that the operator can see the operating area. The cameras have thermal characteristics. Thanks to the thermal camera, it is possible to identify the position of the operator's hand even when the daylight is not sufficient. A dangerous area has been defined around the cutter (101 ). The dangerous area includes the area that is dangerous for the operator's hand to be found. The control unit (103) provides the images received from the camera to be displayed on a three-dimensional plane. By detecting that the operator's hand has entered the dangerous area in the images received from the camera, a stop signal is produced to stop the operation of the cutter (101 ). Depending on said stop signal, the energy to the drive member controlling the operation of the cutter (101) is cut off. Thus, the operator is prevented from being harmed. In case of a fault of the camera, a warning signal is transmitted to the control unit (103). The control unit (103) generates another stop signal depending on the warning signal. The control unit (103) also enables the loudspeaker to be operated and provides an audible warning to the operator. Thus, the operator is protected by preventing him/her from working in cases where the operator does not realize that the camera is broken. The wood cutting bench safety system (10) provides the operator's work safety. The control unit (103) transmits the model generated by the image processing process to the user interface (106) via the communication unit (107). Thus, a remote user may view the work accidents experienced by the operator while working.

The scope of protection of the invention is specified in the attached claims and cannot be limited to what is explained in this detailed description for the exemplary purposes. That is because it is clear that a person skilled in the art may represent similar embodiments in the light of what has been explained above without departing from the main spirit of the invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS IN THE FIGURES

10 Cutting bench safety system

100 Cutting bench 101 Cutter

102 Imaging unit

103 Control Unit

104 Fault detection unit

105 Memory unit 106 User interface

107 Communication unit

20 User’s hand

30 Workpiece