Work piece positioning apparatus

A positioning apparatus for aligning a work piece with a forming machine, the positioning apparatus comprising:

• a base having a claw portion configured to receive an edge of the work piece;
• a pusher rod held on the base and translatable relative to the base along an extension axis that is spaced apart from the claw portion of the base;
• and
• a handle having a clevis end and a contact end opposite the clevis end, the clevis end mechanically coupled to the pusher rod via a clevis pin, the handle pivotally coupled to the base via a pivot axle that is spaced apart from the clevis pin,
• wherein the clevis pin has a first end segment and a second end segment, the handle defining two oblong openings at the clevis end, each of the oblong openings receiving a corresponding one of the first and second end segments of the clevis pin, the oblong openings having larger sizes than the first and second end segments to allow the first and second end segments to translate within the oblong openings as the handle rotates about the pivot axle, and
• wherein, when a distal end of the pusher rod engages a contact surface of the forming machine, an input force applied to the contact end of the handle causes rotation of the handle about the clevis pin and exertion of an output force on the base via the pivot axle, wherein the output force on the base moves the claw portion and the work piece therein in a rearward direction away from the contact surface to align the work piece relative to the forming machine.

A method for aligning a work piece relative to a forming machine, the method comprising:

• placing a positioning apparatus on the work piece that is disposed on the forming machine such that an edge of the work piece is received within a claw portion of a base of the positioning apparatus;
• rotating a handle of the positioning apparatus along a first arc length to cause a pusher rod of the positioning apparatus to move relative to the base towards a contact surface of the forming machine until a distal end of the pusher rod engages the contact surface, the handle being pivotally coupled to the base via a pivot axle and rotating about the pivot axle along the first arc length, the handle having a clevis end mechanically coupled to the pusher rod via a clevis pin that is spaced apart from the pivot axle, wherein the handle defines two oblong openings at the clevis end, each of the oblong openings receiving a corresponding one of first and second end segments of the clevis pin, the oblong openings having larger sizes than the first and second end segments to allow the first and second end segments to translate within the oblong openings as the handle rotates about the pivot axle;
• and
• applying an input force to rotate the handle beyond the first arc length causing the handle to rotate about the clevis pin and an output force to be exerted on the base via the pivot axle, the output force moving the base and the work piece within the claw portion in a rearward direction away from the contact surface of the forming machine.

A positioning apparatus for aligning a work piece with a forming machine, the positioning apparatus comprising:

• a base including a stand and a frame that extends from the stand, the stand having a claw portion configured to receive an edge of the work piece, the frame defining an aperture;
• a pusher rod protruding through the aperture of the frame, the pusher rod having a proximal end within the frame and a distal end outside of the frame;
• a clevis pin mechanically coupled to the proximal end of the pusher rod, the clevis pin having a first end segment and a second end segment that extend through corresponding first and second slots within the frame;
• and
• a handle having a clevis end and a contact end opposite the clevis end, the clevis end mechanically coupled to the clevis pin and pivotable relative to the clevis pin, the handle pivotally coupled to the frame via a pivot axle that is spaced apart from the clevis pin,
• wherein the handle includes two arms that each extend from the clevis end to the contact end and a bar that extends between and couples to the two arms at the contact end, the pivot axle defined by one or more posts of the handle that extend from the arms through holes in the frame, and
• wherein, when the handle is rotated about the pivot axle such that the distal end of the pusher rod extends and engages a contact surface of the forming machine, an input force applied to the contact end of the handle causes rotation of the handle about the clevis pin and exertion of an output force on the frame via the pivot axle, the output force moving the base and the work piece within the claw portion in a rearward direction away from the contact surface.

A method for aligning a work piece relative to a forming machine, the method comprising:

• placing a positioning apparatus on the work piece that is disposed on the forming machine such that an edge of the work piece is received within a claw portion of a base of the positioning apparatus;
• rotating a handle of the positioning apparatus along a first arc length to cause a pusher rod of the positioning apparatus to move relative to the base towards a contact surface of the forming machine until a distal end of the pusher rod engages the contact surface, the handle being pivotally coupled to the base via a pivot axle and rotating about the pivot axle along the first arc length, the handle having a clevis end mechanically coupled to the pusher rod via a clevis pin that is spaced apart from the pivot axle, wherein the handle includes two arms that each extend from the clevis end to a contact end of the handle and a bar that extends between and couples to the two arms at the contact end, the pivot axle defined by one or more posts of the handle that extend from the arms through holes in the frame;
• and
• applying an input force to rotate the handle beyond the first arc length causing the handle to rotate about the clevis pin and an output force to be exerted on the base via the pivot axle, the output force moving the base and the work piece within the claw portion in a rearward direction away from the contact surface of the forming machine.