Table saws

Abstract

A table saw includes a table capable of supporting a workpiece, a cutting unit and a positioning fence. The positioning fence has a positioning surface for supporting the workpiece. The positioning surface is divided into an upper positioning surface and a lower positioning surface that are positioned above the table. First slide fences allocated to the lower positioning surface and second slide fences allocated to the upper positioning surface are slidably supported in a table surface direction relatively independent from each other. The positioning surfaces of the first and second slide fences constitute an entire region of the positioning surface. In this way, the entire region of the positioning surface is made to be slidable in accordance with various operation modes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A table saw comprising:
 a table capable of supporting a workpiece;   a cutting unit disposed above the table; and   a positioning fence disposed along an upper surface of the table and capable of positioning the workpiece within a plane parallel to a table surface;   wherein the positioning fence includes:   a first member;   a second member slidably movable relative to and along the first member and defining a fence surface capable of contacting with the workpiece;   a fixing device capable of releasably fixing the second member in position relative to the first member;   a lever movable between a first position and a second position along a movement axis; wherein:   the lever is allowed to operate the fixing device when the lever is positioned at the first position; and   the lever is not allowed to operate the fixing device when the lever is positioned at the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The table saw as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fixing device includes a fixing shaft; and   the lever is movable between the first position and the second position along the fixing shaft.   
     
     
         3 . The table saw as in  claim 1 , wherein the movement axis extends in a vertical direction and the first position is defined at a lower level than the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The table saw as in  claim 1 , wherein the movement axis extends in a vertical direction and the first position is defined at a higher level than the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The table saw as in  claim 2 , further comprising a coupling device configured to be able to couple the lever to the fixing shaft when the lever is positioned at the first position. 
     
     
         6 . The table saw as in  claim 5 , further comprising a biasing device capable of biasing the lever toward the first position. 
     
     
         7 . The table saw as in  claim 3 , wherein:
 the fixing device includes a fixing shaft; and   the lever is movable between the first position and the second position along the fixing shaft;   the table saw further comprises:   a biasing device capable of biasing the lever toward the first position; and   a coupling device configured to be able to couple the lever to the fixing shaft when the lever is positioned at the first position.   
     
     
         8 . The table saw as in  claim 4 , wherein:
 the fixing device includes a fixing shaft; and   the lever is movable between the first position and the second position along the fixing shaft;   the table saw further comprises:   
       a biasing device capable of biasing the lever toward the first position; and
 a coupling device configured to be able to couple the lever to the fixing shaft when the lever is positioned at the first position. 
 
     
     
         9 . The table saw as in  claim 5 , wherein:
 the lever is rotatable about the movement axis; and   the coupling device is configured to transmit rotation of the lever to the fixing shaft so as to releasably fix the second member in position relative to the first member.   
     
     
         10 . The table saw as in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the lever is rotatable about the movement axis; and   the coupling device is configured to transmit rotation of the lever to the fixing shaft so as to releasably fix the second member in position relative to the first member.   
     
     
         11 . The table saw as in  claim 8 , wherein:
 the lever is rotatable about the movement axis; and   the coupling device is configured to transmit rotation of the lever to the fixing shaft so as to releasably fix the second member in position relative to the first member.   
     
     
         12 . The table saw as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the lever is positioned on a backside of the second member opposite to the fence surface not to interfere with the second member.   
     
     
         13 . The table saw as in  claim 12 , wherein:
 the second member includes a support flange portion extending substantially perpendicular to the fence surface on the back side of the second member; and   the lever is positioned on an upper side of the support flange portion.   
     
     
         14 . The table saw as in  claim 1 , wherein the first member is slidably movable relative to the table surface and can be fixed in position relative to the table surface. 
     
     
         15 . The table saw as in  claim 1 , wherein the first member is fixed in position relative to the table surface.