US PATENT SUBCLASS 144 / 382
WITH USE OF CONTROL MEANS ENERGIZED IN RESPONSE TO ACTIVATOR STIMULATED BY CONDITION SENSOR

Current as of: June, 1999
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144 /   HD   WOODWORKING

382WITH USE OF CONTROL MEANS ENERGIZED IN RESPONSE TO ACTIVATOR STIMULATED BY CONDITION SENSOR {6}
383  DF  .~> Including use of sensor responsive to information carried by removable auxiliary record (e.g., recording disk, tape, or card) {1}
391  DF  .~> Including plural sensors or sensor responsive to comparison between plural conditions {2}
402  DF  .~> Sensing work or product (e.g., by X-ray) {6}
418  DF  .~> Including use of sensor responsive to energy input to tool or tool driver {1}
420  DF  .~> Sensing tool or tool-linked part {5}
430  DF  .~> To control different operating assemblages

DEFINITION

Classification: 144/382

WITH USE OF CONTROL MEANS ENERGIZED IN RESPONSE TO ACTIVATOR STIMULATED BY CONDITION SENSOR:

(under the class definition) Subject matter including means, or a step of using means, for (a) detecting any of the following characteristics: a state or property, a change in a state or property, or the occurrence of a predetermined event, in any of the following: the work*, the product of a machine, the machine itself, any part of the machine, or the environment of the machine affecting the operation thereof; (b) initiating (as a direct result of such detection) a force or impulse other than that generated or transmitted by the detecting means; and (c) regulating or modifying (as a direct result of such initiation) the operation of said machine.

(1) Note. This definition requires a patent to claim at least four instrumentalities (or the use thereof) for original placement herein. One of these must be a woodworking machine or a device (e.g., work feeder, work heater, product handler) necessary to the proximate function of woodworking. The other three are (a) a sensor (e.g., photocell system, trip lever, pressure diaphragm) to detect a condition as stated in (a) of the definition, (b) an activator (e.g., an element to make or break an electric circuit, a clutch, a valve) to cause a release of energy more than, or different from, that accounted for by mere change in condition (e.g., position or movement) of the sensor while it is functioning, and (c) a controller (e.g., a motor or driver for said machine or device) to change or cause the operation of said machine or device. Therefore, a cam follower (or sensor) directly linked to a controller, whereby follower movement directly effects controller movement, is not proper subject matter for this subclass due to lack of an activator as defined. On the other hand, disclosure of a cam follower that makes and breaks an electrical circuit that energizes a motor may be placed herein.

(2) Note. A voluntary act of the person operating the machine is not proper subject matter for this subclass. For example, disclosure of an on/off switch on a woodworking machine manipulated by an operative to start and/or stop the machine (even though the switch initiates a release of energy), should be considered for subclass 1, but is not classified herein.

(3) Note. The machine that is regulated by the control means is not limited to a woodworking machine of this class. It can be another machine associated with the woodworker if the

claim reciting the other machine and woodworker is acceptable for original placement into Class 72.

(4) Note. The control system disclosed in the patents of this and indented subclasses are similar in concept to control systems of other classes, particularly Class 226, Advancing Material of Indeterminate Length, and Class 83, Cutting. The total operations and the claimed combinations are, of course, different, but the control systems, per se, found in Classes 226 and 83 are usually analogous to those herein, and may be applicable to the machines of Class 72. In the "SEARCH CLASS" notes for the subclasses indented hereunder, reference to the (4) Note indicated that the other class and subclass should be considered because the control system, per se, of a patent in the other class may be similar to a control system, per se, of Class 72. The notes to Class 83, subclass 399, summarize all the subclasses in Class 83 pertaining to "control" subclasses therein.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

83, Cutting, 72+, for a cutting machine with means to monitor and control that machine.

226, Advancing Material of Indeterminate Length, see (4) Note above.

364, Electrical Computers and Data Processing Systems,

474.01+, for a control system for a machining device. Note that the combination of a woodworking machine with a control system is to be found in Class 144.

425, Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus,

135+, for apparatus to shape or reshape nonmetals combined with control means responsive to, or actuated by, means sensing or detecting a condition; see the search notes thereunder.