Cutting – With work immobilizer – Work-stop abutment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-20
2001-09-25
Rachuba, M. (Department: 3724)
Cutting
With work immobilizer
Work-stop abutment
C083S522190, C083S468700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293177
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to equipment designed to position a workpiece accurately in a predetermined position relative to a reference point, and more particularly to a workpiece positioning device for precisely positioning a workpiece relative to a power tool or other device quickly and efficiently and which is very dependable, economical to produce and adaptable to a wide variety of machines and power tools.
BACKGROUND
When using a machine designed to alter or cut a material such as wood, metal, plastic, or other matter, it is usually necessary to position the workpiece accurately relative to the cutting tool to ensure the proper dimensions of the workpiece after the machining process. The procedure of positioning a workpiece relative to a cutting tool is often a repetitive procedure which is a critical step in the manufacturing process. The quality of the work product usually depends heavily on the accuracy of the positioning of the workpiece. A dependable method of accurately positioning the workpiece prior to a cutting procedure minimizes the waste of incorrectly cut stock.
In many situations when using a cutting tool it is necessary to make numerous cuts of different dimensions requiring the operator to reset a locator member or fence relative to the cutting tool many times, in other situations, pieces of the same size may be needed at different times requiring the user to accurately reset the locator member repetitively to the same position. A mechanical positioning device is proven to be a useful to accurately position a workpiece relative to a cutting tool and can be used with a wide variety of machines and power tools.
There are many mechanical positioning devices presently available having the ability to accurately position a workpiece relative to a power tool. However, many of the positioning devices available with highly accurate positioning capabilities, accurate to {fraction (1/1000)}th of an inch, are complex and expensive devices which are not easily adaptable to a variety of machines and power tools.
Less expensive mechanical positioning devices available are far less accurate in positioning capabilities and rely heavily on both the experience and the eyesight of the user. Many of these devices utilize a lead screw.
The present invention of a workpiece positioning device provides a highly accurate mechanical positioning device which can be incrementally positioned in increments as small as {fraction (1/1000)}th of an inch relative to a reference point. This device can be precisely positioned incrementally in seconds by an ordinary user and does not require years of experience or exceptional eyesight to accurately position a workpiece for cutting or other procedures. The present invention is accurate, dependable and economical to manufacture. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is constructed of durable materials which will not wear out or break easily. The design of the present invention is simple in comparison to other devices which provide the same level of precision and accuracy in that there are not a lot of complex or expensive moving parts which add to the cost of other positioning devices and which have a higher risk of being damaged or broken. One embodiment of the present invention is a portable design wherein the workpiece positioning device can easily be transferred from one machine to another for efficiency of use in small shops.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a workpiece positioning device for precisely positioning a workpiece in a predetermined position relative to a power tool or other device quickly and efficiently. This device provides a simple and dependable apparatus for quickly and easily positioning a workpiece incrementally in increments as small as 0.0010 inches.
The present invention comprises a workpiece positioning device for positioning a workpiece to be worked upon by a power tool comprising a stationary base, an elongated locator member carried by the base for limited slideable movement right and left thereof, the locator member having a first set of axially aligned spaced-apart apertures therein, an elongated scale made fast to the base and disposed adjacent to said locator member. The invention further comprises a set of axially aligned spaced-apart through-apertures in the scale equal in diameter and in number to the apertures in the first set of apertures in the locator member, the locator member having a second set of axially aligned spaced-apart apertures therein.
The invention further comprises a fence having a surface thereon for abutting against a workpiece, the fence being disposed adjacent to the locator member for limited slideable movement right and left thereof. The fence having a set of axially aligned spaced-apart through-apertures therein equal in diameter to the apertures in the second set of apertures in the locator member, and the fence being incrementally positionable relative to the locator member by alignment of one of the apertures therein with one of the apertures in the second set of apertures in the locator member. The spacing of the apertures in the fence and the spacing of the second set of apertures in the locator member being different from each other by an amount equal to a first precise predetermined distance to facilitate fine positioning of the fence relative to the locator member. The locator member being incrementally positionable relative to the scale by alignment of one of the apertures in the first set of apertures in the locator member with one of the apertures in the scale. The spacing of the apertures in the scale and the spacing of the apertures in the first set of apertures in the locator member being different from each other by an amount equal to a second precise predetermined distance to facilitate precision positioning of the locator member relative to the scale.
The second precise predetermined distance being more precise than the first precise predetermined distance, whereby a workpiece abutting the fence will be exactly located in the precise position selected therefor.
In another aspect of the invention, only one positioning member is included to provide in one embodiment incremental positioning of a workpiece in increments of 0.0625 inches or smaller wherein the workpiece positioning device for precisely positioning a workpiece to be worked upon by a power tool comprises a stationary base, an elongated locator member carried by the base, the locator member having a set of axially aligned spaced-apart apertures therein, a fence having a surface thereon for abutting against a workpiece, the fence being disposed adjacent to the locator member for limited slideable movement right and left thereof, the fence having a set of axially aligned spaced-apart through-apertures therein equal in diameter to the apertures in the locator member, the fence being incrementally positionable relative to the locator member by alignment of one of the apertures therein with one of the apertures in the locator member. The spacing of the apertures in the fence and the spacing of the apertures in the locator member being different from each other by an amount equal to a precise predetermined distance to facilitate fine positioning of the fence relative to the locator member, whereby a workpiece abutting the fence will be exactly located in the precise position selected therefor.
The present invention, in the preferred embodiment provides a workpiece positioning device for precisely positioning a workpiece to be worked on by a power tool comprises a stationary base having a cavity therein, an elongated locator member disposed in the cavity for limited slideable movement right and left of the base, the locator member having a front portion and a rear portion thereof, the rear portion of the locator member having a set of axially aligned spaced-apart vertical apertures therein. An elongated scale is made fast to the base and disposed above the rear portion of the locator member. The invention further comprises a set of axially aligned space
Flores Sanchez Omar
Lambert Gary E.
Lambert & Associates,PLLC
Rachuba M.
Timmer Edward
LandOfFree
Workpiece positioning device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Workpiece positioning device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Workpiece positioning device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2495073