Work holders – With fluid means – Vacuum-type holding means
Patent
1996-08-01
1998-06-02
Watson, Robert C.
Work holders
With fluid means
Vacuum-type holding means
269296, 269307, 269329, B25B 1100
Patent
active
057588694
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This present invention relates generally to the field of workrests for program-controlled machines which are used for the machining of flat workpieces made of wood or wood substitutes.
Program-controlled machines for the machining of flat workpieces typically include workrest rails which can be displaced manually in a direction transverse to their longitudinal axes in a direction which coincides with one of the machining axes of the machine, such as the X axis. The workrest rails typically have vacuum chucks which can be manually positioned along the logitudinal axes of the workrest rails in a direction which coincides with a second machining axis of the machine, such as the Y axis.
The positioning of the vacuum chucks depends on the configuration of the flat workpieces in order to ensure that the vacuum chucks, which protrude upward on the workrest rails, are not damaged during the machining operations which are performed by rotating machine tools along the peripheral edges of the workpieces. The workrest rails and the vacuum chucks must therefore be arranged so that the edges of the workpieces protrude beyond the vacuum chucks so that the tools can travel along these edges during the machining operations. The vacuum chucks must also be positioned to allow drilling operations which involve emergence of the tool on the bottom of the workpiece.
The positioning of workrest rails and vacuum chucks is typically performed by hand and, typically, special instructions are required as to the placement of the workpiece rails and the vacuum chucks according to the desired configuration of the workpieces. Despite these special instructions, errors are constantly being made and, as a rule, at least one of the vacuum chucks is struck by a machining tool and damaged.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a workrest in which the coordinates for the positioning of the workpiece rails and the vacuum chucks are established by optical aids.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a workrest for flat workpieces, which are machined on program-controlled machines, which includes a plurality of elongated workrest rails, which are guided for motion along a first machining axis by a guide member. Each workrest rail supports a plurality of movable vacuum chucks. The vacuum chucks can be moved along the workrest rails to selected positions which depend on the size and configuration of the workpieces to be machined. The workrest rails are disposed parallel to a second machining axis which is perpendicular to the first machining axis.
The workrest also provides a light band on the workrest rail guide member and on each of the workrest rails. The light bands include an array of point sources of light which are selectively illuminated to indicate the selected positions of the workrest rails and the selected positions of the vacuum chucks on the workrest rails, thereby ensuring that the machining process does not interfere with or damage the vacuum chucks.
Vacuum chucks are provided which are square in configuration and rectangular in configuration. The intensity of illumination of the illuminated areas of the light bands may be varied to provide areas of greater and lesser intensity thereby indicating the spacing of a rectangular vacuum chuck either proximate to or spaced away from the highest of the workrest rails.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic top view of a workrest, made in accordance with the present invention, showing a plurality of workrest rails;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic top view of one of the workrest rails of FIG. 1, with the workrest rail drawn to a larger scale;
FIG. 3 is a top view of a workpiece which is h
REFERENCES:
patent: 2676409 (1954-04-01), Gamble
patent: 4256296 (1981-03-01), Scheinert
patent: 5042772 (1991-08-01), Madjeski
Baxley Esq. Charles E.
IMA Norte Maschinenfabriken Klessmann GmbH
Watson Robert C.
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