Feed table with force reaction system

• US 7,516,834 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HEM Incorporated
• Original Assignee: HEM Incorporated
• Inventors: Harris, Gerald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deuble; Mark A
• Application Number:
  US11/528,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20070017777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 198/345.1, 838/01
• US Class Current: 198/345.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 55/04 of devices for feeding or clamping work
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 55/043 for conveying work to the sawing machine
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/061 with fluid drive B25B5/087, B25B5/122 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7145 By motor-driven mechanism

Abstract

A feed table with force reaction system for counteracting clamping forces on a shuttle vise used to move a workpiece toward a machine tool. In a first embodiment, lever arms are attached to an upper guide rail between two vertical columns. A reaction actuator interconnects upper ends of the lever arms such that when actuated, a reaction force is applied to the vertical columns by lower ends of the lever arms to counteract clamping forces created by a clamping actuator attached to one of the vertical columns. In a second embodiment, lever arms are also used and interconnected at the upper ends thereof by a reaction bar. A reaction actuator is attached to a lower end of each of the lever arms to apply the reaction force. In third and fourth embodiments, a clamping force bar is positioned above the upper guide beam. A clamping actuator is attached to the clamping force bar such that clamping forces are not transmitted to the vertical columns.

Claims

1. A feed table apparatus for use in moving a workpiece to a machine tool, the apparatus comprising:

a conveyor for supporting the workpiece, the conveyor having a guide rail extending from opposite sides thereof;

a shuttle vise movably disposed on the conveyor and having jaws thereon adapted for applying a clamping force to the workpiece while the workpiece is on the conveyor, the shuttle vise comprising;

a first vertical column;

a second vertical column;

an upper guide rail interconnecting upper portions of the first and second vertical columns, wherein at least one of the jaws is movably disposed on the upper guide rail; and

a clamping actuator for moving the at least one jaw into and out of clamping engagement with the workpiece and applying the clamping force thereto;

lower ends of the vertical columns in the shuttle vise being supported by the guide rails extending from the conveyor and moveable therealong;

a reaction system connected to the shuttle vise adapted for applying a reaction force in an opposite direction of the clamping force and thereby substantially counteracting the clamping force such that no reaction to the clamping force is applied to the conveyor; and

a plurality of rollers mounted on the lower ends of the vertical columns and engaging the guide rails extending from the conveyor and thereby giving rolling support thereon.

2. A feed table apparatus for use in moving a workpiece to a machine tool, the apparatus comprising:

a conveyor for supporting the workpiece;

a shuttle vise movably disposed on the conveyor, the shuttle vise comprising;

a first vertical column;

a second vertical column;

an upper guide rail interconnecting upper portions of the first and second vertical columns;

a first jaw movably disposed on the upper guide rail; and

a second jaw opposite the first jaw, at least one of the first and second jaws being movable; and

a clamping actuator attached to the first vertical column for moving the first jaw toward the second jaw and thereby providing clamping engagement of first and second jaws with the workpiece and applying a clamping force thereto; and

a reaction system connected to the shuttle vise adapted for applying a reaction force in an opposite direction of the clamping force and thereby substantially counteracting the clamping force.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the conveyor has a horizontal rail extending from opposite sides thereof; and

lower ends of the vertical columns in the shuttle vise are supported by the horizontal rails and moveable therealong; and

further comprising a plurality of rollers mounted on the lower ends of the vertical columns and engaging the horizontal rails and thereby giving rolling support on the horizontal rails.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein lower ends of the first and second vertical columns are not connected.

5. A feed table apparatus for use in moving a workpiece to a machine tool, the apparatus comprising:

a conveyor for supporting the workpiece;

a shuttle vise moveably disposed on the conveyor, the shuttle vise comprising;

a first vertical column;

a second vertical column;

an upper guide rail interconnecting upper portions of the first and second vertical columns;

a first jaw moveably disposed on the upper guide bar; and

a second jaw opposite the first jaw; and

a reaction system connected to the shuttle vise and adapted for applying a reaction force in an opposite direction of the clamping force and thereby substantially counteracting the clamping force, the reaction system comprising a clamping force bar disposed adjacent to the upper guide bar; and

a clamping actuator for moving the first jaw toward the second jaw and thereby providing clamping engagement of the first and second jaws with the workpiece and applying a clamping force thereto, the clamping actuator being attached to the clamp force bar such that the clamping forces are not transmitted to the vertical columns of the shuttle vise.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a bushing mounted on the first vertical column;

wherein, the clamping actuator has a rod portion extending through, and supported by, the bushing.

7. A feed table apparatus for use in moving a workpiece to a machine tool, the apparatus comprising:

a conveyor for supporting the workpiece, the conveyor having a guide rail extending from opposite sides thereof;

a shuttle vise movably disposed on the conveyor and having jaws thereon adapted for clamping the workpiece when a clamping force is applied thereto;

the shuttle vise further comprising;

a first vertical column;

a second vertical column, lower ends of the vertical columns being supported by the guide rails extending from the conveyor and moveable therealong;

an upper guide rail interconnecting upper portions of the first and second vertical columns, wherein at least one of the jaws is movably disposed on the upper guide rail; and

a clamping actuator attached to one of the vertical columns for moving the one jaw into and out of clamping engagement with the workpiece and applying the clamping force thereto; and

a reaction system connected to the shuttle vise adapted for applying a reaction force in an opposite direction of the clamping force and thereby substantially counteracting the clamping force such that the clamping force is not applied to the conveyor; and

a plurality of rollers mounted on the lower ends of the vertical columns and engaging the guide rails extending from the conveyor and thereby giving rolling support on the guide rails extending from the conveyor.