Movable fence for a machine tool

• US 6,357,328 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2000
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Puzio, Daniel, Bean, Frederick R., Ceroll, Warren A., Gehret, Robert S., Porter, David A., OʼBanion, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peterson, Kenneth E.
• Application Number:
  US09/484,940
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 144/286.1, 144/286.5, 144/287, 269/318, 834/687, 834/77, 834/38, 834/772, 394/26, 394/42
• US Class Current: 83/477.2
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/007 provided with measuring means allowing the positioning of the guides
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 27/02 arranged laterally and parallel with respect to the plane of the saw blade
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 27/10 Devices for moving or adjusting the guide fences or stops
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/04 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/727 With means to guide moving work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/76 With scale or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/764 Retractable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7647 Adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7722 Support and tool relatively adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/773 Work-support includes passageway for tool [e.g., slotted table]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/858 Indicates dimension of work being cut
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/859 Dynamic indicator

Abstract

An adjustable rip fence for a machine tool has a stationary rail and a movable rail. The fence is mounted to the movable rail. A set of shims are located between the two rails in order to eliminate any play between the two rails. The shims are sized such that the shims associated with the movable rail are able to pass over the shims associated with the stationary rail to provide complete adjustability to the movable rail and thus the fence.

Claims

1. A table saw comprising:

a base;

a saw blade rotatably disposed with respect to said base and extending through said base;

a first stationary rail connected to said base;

a first movable rail engaging said first stationary rail and extending generally parallel to said first stationary rail;

a first shim attached to said first stationary rail, said first shim defining an outer dimension and being disposed between said first stationary rail and said first movable rail; and

a second shim attached to said first movable rail and disposed between said first stationary rail and said first movable rail, said second shim defining an inner dimension, said inner dimension being smaller than said outer dimension, said first movable rail being movable to a first position where it overlaps with a first end of the first stationary rail and where the first shim and the second shim are spaced apart, and said first movable rail being movable to a second position where it overlaps a 2^nd end of said first stationary rail and where said first shim and said second shim are spaced apart said first shim passing said second shim during movement of said first movable rail from the first position to the second position.

2. The table saw according to claim 1, wherein said first shim is located between an inner surface of said first movable rail and an outer surface of said first stationary rail.

3. The table saw according to claim 2, wherein said second shim is located between said inner surface of said first movable rail and said outer surface of said first stationary rail.

4. The table saw according to claim 3, further comprising a third shim disposed between said first stationary rail and said first movable rail.

5. The table saw according to claim 4, wherein said third shim is located between said inner surface of said first movable rail and said outer surface of said first stationary rail.

6. The table saw according to claim 1, further comprising a third shim disposed between said first stationary rail and said first movable rail.

7. The table saw according to claim 6, wherein said first stationary rail has an upper side and a lower side, said first shim being disposed on said upper side, said second and third shims being disposed on said lower side.

8. The table saw according to claim 1, wherein said first stationary rail has an upper side and a lower side, said first shim being disposed on said upper side, said second shim being disposed on said lower side.

9. The table saw according to claim 1, wherein said first stationary rail has an upper side and a lower side, said first and second shims being disposed on said lower side.

10. The table saw according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second stationary rail connected to said base;

a second movable rail engaging said second stationary rail and extending generally parallel to said second stationary rail;

a third shim disposed between said second stationary rail and said second movable rail; and

a fourth shim disposed between said second stationary rail and said second movable rail.

11. The table saw according to claim 10, further comprising:

a fifth shim disposed between said first stationary rail and said first movable rail; and

a sixth shim disposed between said second stationary rail and said second movable rail.

12. The table saw according to claim 11, wherein said first and second stationary rails each have an upper and a lower side, said first shim being disposed on said upper side of said first stationary rail, said second and fifth shim being disposed on said lower side of said first stationary rail, said third shim being disposed on said upper side of said second stationary rail, said fourth and sixth shim being disposed on said lower side of said second stationary rail.

13. The table saw according to claim 10, wherein said first and second stationary rails each have an upper and a lower side, said first shim being disposed on said upper side of said first stationary rail, said second shim being disposed on said lower side of said first stationary rail, said third shim being disposed on said upper side of said second stationary rail, said fourth shim being disposed on said lower side of said second stationary rail.

14. The table saw according to claim 10, wherein said first and second stationary rails each have an upper and a lower side, said first and second shims being disposed on said lower side of said first stationary rail, said third and fourth shims being located on said lower side of said second stationary rail.