Appeal No. 2000-2180 Page 4
Application No. 08/919,866
for rotation about a generally vertical axis. According to the appellants, it is important that
the turntable be stable during the cutting operation, and the repetitive pivotal movement of
the turntable about its axis causes wear of the engaging surfaces that support it, which can
result in a loose fit that allows rocking motion of the turntable and reduces the accuracy and
reliability of the saw. The appellants’ invention solves these problems by providing a
substantially horizontal bearing cage containing radially oriented roller bearings to support
the turntable upon the base, which substantially eliminates wear on the opposed
supporting surfaces while providing stable support for the turntable, and a biasing
mechanism to bias the turntable toward the base, which provides added stability to the
turntable. See specification, pages 1-3.
As manifested in claim 1, the invention comprises a cutting tool having a base with
a workpiece support surface and a first annularly upwardly facing bearing surface, a
turntable mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis and having a workpiece
support surface and a second annular downwardly facing bearing surface, a cutting unit
mounted on the turntable for movement therewith, and
a roller bearing mounted on the first annular upwardly facing bearing surface
and for supporting the second annular, downwardly facing bearing surface,
the roller bearing supporting the turntable for rotation about the vertical axis,
the roller bearing including an annular, generally planar bearing cage having
therein a series of openings, and a plurality of bearing elements mounted in
the openings to support the turntable on the base.
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