Blade and motor carrier with height/angle adjustment mechanism

• US 20020005103A1
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Published: 01/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel Puzio, David A. Porter, Frederick R. Bean, James R. Parks, Kevin D. Brewer, Maria I. Kenyon, Oʼbanion, Michael L., Robert S. Gehret, Warren A. Ceroll
• Original Assignee: Daniel Puzio, David A. Porter, Frederick R. Bean, James R. Parks, Kevin D. Brewer, Maria I. Kenyon, Oʼbanion, Michael L., Robert S. Gehret, Warren A. Ceroll
• Inventors: Parks, James R., Brewer, Kevin D., Puzio, Daniel, Bean, Frederick R., Ceroll, Warren A., Gehret, Robert S., Kenyon, Maria I., Porter, David A., OʼBanion, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,595,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/473
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 45/062 the saw blade being adjustable according to depth or angle of cut
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 45/067 the saw blade being adjustable according to depth or angle of cut
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 45/068 the saw blade being adjustable according to depth or angle of cut B23D45/061, B23D45/065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 47/02 of frames; of guiding arrangements for work-table or saw-carrier
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 5/243 the saw blade being arranged underneath the work-table the circular saw blade arranged underneath a stationary work-table for sawing material in general B23D45/06
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 5/38 Devices for braking the circular saw blade or the saw spindle; Devices for damping vibrations of the circular saw blade, e.g. silencing B23D47/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/01 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/954 Knife changing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/04 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/05 With reorientation of tool between cuts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7705 Adjustable angular relationship
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7726 By movement of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/773 Work-support includes passageway for tool [e.g., slotted table]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7747 With means to permit replacement of tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7793 Means to rotate or oscillate tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8776 Constantly urged tool or tool support [e.g., spring biased]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9377 Mounting of tool about rod-type shaft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9379 At end of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9461 Resiliently biased connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9469 Adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9471 : Rectilinearly

Abstract

A machine tool has a work table which defines a working surface and has a cutting tool which is attached to and movable with respect to the work table. The position of the cutting tool with respect to the working surface is controlled by a mechanism which elevates the cutting tool with respect to the working surface and angulates the cutting tool with respect to the working surface. The cutting tool is mounted to a support plate which is pivotably attached to the work table. The elevating mechanism includes a threaded rod and a nut which engages a pivoting link. The pivoting link also engages the cutting tool. Rotation of the threaded rod pivots the link which in turn raises and lowers the cutting tool. A spring biases the cutting tool towards its lower position to remove play between the components. The angulating mechanism includes a lever, two cams and a locking rod. Rotation of the lever moves the locking rod longitudinally due to the action between the two cams. The longitudinal movement of the rod compresses the support plate between the work table and a bracket to maintain the position of the support plate with respect to the work table. Also included is an integral arbor wrench which is accessible when the throat plate is removed to lock the arbor to facilitate tool changing. The wrench is designed to not allow reassembling of the throat plate when the wrench is in engagement with the arbor shaft.

Claims

1. A machine tool comprising:

a work table defining a work surface;

a cutting tool attached to and movable with respect to said work table; and

a mechanism for positioning said cutting tool relative to said working surface of said work table, said mechanism comprising;

a support plate pivotably secured to said work table, said cutting tool being mounted to said support plate to move between a first position where said cutting tool extends through an aperture in said work table and a second position where said cutting tool is positioned below said working surface;

a cutting tool angulating mechanism mounted to said support plate, said angulating mechanism being operable to pivot said support plate with respect to said work table such that said cutting tool angulates with respect to said working surface; and

a cutting tool elevating mechanism mounted to said support plate, said elevating mechanism being operable to move said cutting tool between said first and said second positions.

2. The machine tool according to claim 1 wherein said support plate pivots about an axis which is located on said working surface.

3. The machine tool according to claim 1 further comprising at least one pivot quadrant for pivotably securing said support plate to said work table.

4. The machine tool according to claim 3 wherein said pivot quadrant comprises:

a support bracket attached to said work table;

a pivot bracket pivotably attached to said support bracket and fixably attached to said support plate; and

a retaining strap attached to said support bracket, said retaining strap engaging said pivot bracket to maintain attachment of said pivot bracket to said support bracket.

5. The machine tool according to claim 1 wherein said angulating mechanism comprises:

a locking rod extending between a front side and a rear side of said support plate;

a bracket attached to said work table and positioned adjacent to said rear side of said support plate, said locking rod extending through said bracket;

a locking arm attached to said locking rod and movable between a first position and a second position, said support plate being free to pivot relative to said work table when said locking arm is in said first position, said support plate being compressed between said bracket and said work table to prohibit pivoting of said support plate when said locking arm is in said second position.

6. The machine tool according to claim 5 further comprising a bearing block cam attached to said support plate and a locking arm cam attached to said locking arm, said locking arm cam cooperating with said bearing block cam when said locking arm is moved from said first position to said second position to compress said support plate.

7. The machine tool according to claim 6 further comprising a biasing member disposed between said support plate and said locking arm, said biasing member urging said locking arm in a direction which urges said locking arm into contact with said support plate to create a clearance between said bearing block cam and said locking arm cam and to create a clearance between said bracket and said support plate.

8. The machine tool according to claim 5 wherein, said work table includes at least one adjustable stop, said adjustable stop including a cam rotatably secured to said work table, said cam being selectively locked to said work table in a plurality of positions to adjustably limit thee pivoting of said support plate.

9. The machine tool according to claim 1 wherein said elevating mechanism comprises:

an adjustment screw rotatably secured to said support plate;

an adjustment nut threadably engaging said adjustment screw such that rotation of said adjustment screw operates to move said adjustment nut longitudinally along said adjustment screw; and

a pivot link pivotably secured to said support plate, said pivot link extending between said adjustment nut and said cutting tool such that rotation of said adjustment screw operates to pivot said pivot link to move said cutting tool between said first and said second positions.

10. The machine tool according to claim 9 further comprising a biasing member for urging said cutting tool into one of said first and second positions.

11. The machine tool according to claim 9 further comprising means for resisting rotation of said adjustment screw.

12. The machine tool according to claim 11 wherein, said means for resisting comprises a washer attached to said adjustment screw, and a biasing member for urging said washer against said support plate to provide frictional resistance to rotation of said adjustment screw.

13. The machine tool according to claim 1 wherein, said cutting tool comprises:

a gear case mounted to said support plate;

a motor attached to one end of said gear case;

an arbor shaft rotatably secured to a second end of said gear case; and

a cutting device attached to said arbor shaft.

14. The machine tool according to claim 13 wherein, said gear case is biased against a face of said support plate.

15. The machine tool according to claim 13 further comprising:

a lever pivotably attached to said gear case and movable between a first position and a second position;

a wrench pivotably attached to said lever, said wrench adapted to engage said arbor shaft to prevent its rotation with respect to said gear case when said lever is in said first position, said arbor shaft being free to rotate when said lever is in said second position.

16. The machine tool according to claim 15 wherein, said work table includes a throat plate disposed within a cavity defined by said work table and extending through said work surface, said throat plate defining said aperture in said work table, said throat plate being prevented from being properly disposed within said cavity when said lever is in said first position.

17. The machine tool according to claim 1 wherein, said cutting tool is biased against a face of said support plate.

18. The machine tool according to claim 1 wherein, said work table includes at least one adjustable stop, said adjustable stop including a cam rotatably secured to said work table, said cam being selectively locked to said work table in a plurality of positions to adjustably limit the pivoting of said support plate.

19. A machine tool comprising:

a work table defining a work surface, said work table including a cavity extending through said work surface;

a cutting tool attached to and movable with respect to said work table, said cutting tool including a rotatable cutting device extending through said cavity;

a throat plate normally disposed within said cavity and defining an aperture, said cutting device extending through said aperture;

a lever pivotably attached to said cutting tool and movable between a first and a second position;

a wrench pivotably attached to said lever, said wrench adapted to prevent rotation of said cutting device when said lever is in said first position, said cutting device being free to rotate when said lever is in said second position, said lever prohibiting said throat plate from being properly disposed within said cavity when said lever is in said first position.

20. The machine tool according to claim 19 wherein, said cutting tool comprises:

a gear case mounted to said work table;

a motor attached to one end of said gear case;

an arbor shaft rotatably secured to a second end of said gear case, said cutting device being attached to said arbor shaft.