Movable fence for a machine tool

A machine tool comprising:

• a work table having side edges and a front edge, said front edge defining a width of said work table between said side edges and a first direction extending generally parallel to said front edge;
• a first stationary rail connected to said machine tool and extending generally parallel to said first direction, said first stationary rail having a length which is not greater than said width of said work table;
• a first movable rail engaging said first stationary rail and extending generally parallel to said first stationary rail;
• and
• a fence assembly including:
• a fence extending generally perpendicular to said first movable rail;
• and
• a first mount connected to said fence and adapted to engage said first movable rail, said first movable rail being movable with respect to said first stationary rail such that said fence can be located beyond said width of said work table outwardly of either side edge.

A fence assembly comprising:

• a first stationary rail;
• a first movable rail telescopically engaging said first stationary rail;
• a second stationary rail spaced from and disposed generally parallel to said first stationary rail;
• a second movable rail telescopically engaging said second stationary rail;
• and
• a fence disposed between and connected to said first and second movable rails.

A method of positioning a fence on a machine tool, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing first and second stationary rails fixedly secured to said machine tool;
• engaging first and second movable rails with said first and second stationary rails, respectively, said first and second movable rails including a first and second plurality of rack teeth, respectively;
• engaging first and second pinion gears disposed about a shaft with said first and second plurality of rack teeth, respectively;
• connecting a fence to said first and second movable rails;
• and
• rotating said shaft to thereby rotate said first and second pinion gears to simultaneously move said movable rails and position said fence.

A machine tool comprising:

• a work table having side edges disposed generally parallel to a first direction;
• a first stationary rail connected to said work table and having a first specified length extending generally perpendicular to said first direction, said first stationary rail not extending outwardly of said side edges;
• a first movable rail telescopically engaging said first stationary rail and extending generally perpendicular to said first direction;
• and
• a fence assembly comprising:
• a fence extending generally perpendicular to said first movable rail so as to be generally parallel to said first direction;
• and
• a first mount connected to said fence and adapted to engage said first movable rail, said first movable rail being movable with respect to said first stationary rail such that said fence assembly is movable in a direction generally perpendicular to said first direction so as to be positionable outwardly of at least one of said side edges.

A machine tool having a cutting tool defining a normal cutting direction, said machine tool comprising:

• a first and a second stationary rail connected to said machine tool, said first and second stationary rails including first and second racks defining a first and second plurality of rack teeth, respectively;
• a fence extending between said first and second racks;
• and
• a pinion shaft assembly rotatably secured to said machine tool and interconnected between said fence and said first and second plurality of rack teeth, said pinion shaft assembly including first and second pinion gears matingly engaging said first and second plurality of rack teeth, respectively.

A machine tool defining a first direction and comprising:

• a first and a second stationary rail connected to said machine tool;
• a first and a second movable rail engaging said first and second stationary rails, respectively, said first and second movable rails including first and second racks, respectively, defining a first and second plurality of rack teeth;
• a pinion assembly including a shaft and a first and a second pinion gear matingly engaging said first and second plurality of rack teeth, respectively;
• and
• a fence engaging said first and second movable rails.

A machine tool having a cutting tool with a normal cutting direction, said machine tool comprising:

• a first stationary rail connected to said machine tool;
• a first movable rail engaging said first stationary rail and extending generally perpendicular to said normal cutting direction, said first movable rail being movable with respect to said first stationary rail;
• a fence assembly comprising:
• a fence extending generally perpendicular to said first movable rail so as to be generally parallel to said normal cutting direction;
• and
• a first mount connected to said fence and adapted to engage said first movable rail, said first mount being adjustable with respect to said first movable rail.

A fence assembly comprising:

• a first rail;
• a second rail spaced from and disposed generally parallel to said first rail;
• a fence disposed between and connected to said first and second rails;
• and
• a support member pivotably secured to said fence.

A fence assembly for use in combination with a machine tool having a work table having an edge which defines a width of said work table, said fence assembly comprising:

• a first stationary rail connected to said machine tool;
• a first movable rail telescopically engaging said first stationary rail;
• and
• a fence extending generally perpendicular to said first movable rail, said fence adapted to engage said first movable rail, said first movable rail being movable with respect to said first stationary rail such that said fence can be located beyond said width of said work table.

A fence assembly for use in combination with a machine tool having a work table having an edge which defines a width of said work table, said fence assembly comprising:

• a first stationary rail connected to said machine tool;
• a first movable rail telescopically engaging said first stationary rail;
• and
• a fence extending generally perpendicular to said first movable rail, said fence adapted to engage said first movable rail, said first movable rail being movable with respect to said first stationary rail such that said fence can be located beyond the end of said stationary rail.

A machine tool comprising:

• a work table defining a slot;
• a cutting tool extending through said slot in said work table, said cutting tool defining a cutting direction;
• a first stationary rail connected to said machine tool:
• a first movable rail engaging said first stationary rail;
• a fence extending generally perpendicular to said first movable rail so as to be generally parallel to said cutting direction of said machine tool, said fence adapted to engage said first movable rail;
• and
• an indicator for indicating the distance between said fence and said cutting tool, said indicator comprising:
• a first stationary pointer connected to said machine tool;
• a first scale connected to said first movable rail, said first scale and said first pointer cooperating to indicate the distance between said fence and said cutting tool over a portion of the movement of said first movable rail with respect to said first stationary rail;
• a second stationary pointer connected to said machine tool;
• a second scale connected to said first movable rail, said second scale and said second pointer cooperating to indicate the distance between said fence and said cutting tool over the remaining portion of the movement of said first movable rail with respect to said first stationary rail.

A fence assembly comprising:

• a first movable rail;
• a second movable rail spaced from said first movable rail;
• a fence disposed between and connected to both said first and second movable rails;
• and
• means interconnecting said first and second movable rails such that movement of either one of said first or second movable rail causes corresponding movement of the other of said first or second movable rail.

A machine tool having a base, said machine tool comprising:

• a first stationary rail connected to said base, said stationary rail defining a tab extending longitudinally into said rail;
• a first movable rail telescopically engaged over said first stationary rail;
• and
• a wedge assembly disposed within said first stationary rail, said wedge assembly being operable to urge said tab outwardly towards said first movable rail.

A machine tool comprising:

• a first and second stationary rail connected to said machine tool;
• a first and second movable rail engaging said first and second stationary rails, respectively, said first and second movable rails including first and second racks, respectively;
• a pinion assembly including a shaft and a first and a second pinion gear matingly engaging said first and second racks, respectively;
• and
• a bearing mount fixedly secured to said machine tool, said shaft being rotatably secured within said bearing mount and biased by said bearing mount towards said first and second racks.

A machine tool comprising:

• a work table having ride edges, front and rear edges, said front and rear edges defining a width of said work table between said side edges;
• a first and second stationary rail connected to said work table, said stationary rails having a length which is not greater than said width of said work table;
• a first and second movable rails engaging said first and second stationary rails, respectively;
• a fence extending between said first and second movable rails, said movable rails being movable with respect to said stationary rails such that said fence can be located beyond said width of said work table outwardly of either side edge;
• a plurality of pulleys rotatably secured with respect to said work table;
• and
• a plurality of cables disposed between the first and second movable rails, each cable engaging at least one of said pulleys to ensure synchronized movement of said first and second movable rails.

A machine tool comprising:

• a work table having a front and a rear edge;
• a first rack secured to said front edge of said work table;
• a second rack secured to said rear edge of said work table;
• a fence movably disposed on said work table and extending between said first and second racks;
• a pinion assembly disposed between said fence and said first and second racks to ensure synchronous movement of said fence along said first and second racks.

A machine tool having a base, said machine tool comprising:

• 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 fence assembly including:
• a fence extending generally perpendicular to said first movable rail;
• a first mount connected to said fence and adapted to engage said first movable rail;
• and
• a first over-center latch pivotably secured to said first mount for engagement with said first movable rack to releasably lock said first mount to said first movable rail, said first mount defining a first cam surface for engagement with said first over-center latch to facilitate the release of said first over-center latch from said first movable rail.

A fence assembly comprising:

• a first stationary rail;
• a first movable rail telescopically engaging said first stationary rail, said first movable rail including a rack defining a plurality of rack teeth, said rack defining an enlarged tooth disposed at one end of said rack;
• a pinion shaft assembly including a pinion gear having a plurality of gear teeth matingly engaging said plurality of rack teeth such that rotation of said pinion shaft assembly causes movement of said first movable rail, said enlarged tooth of said rack engaging a tip of one tooth of said plurality of gear teeth of said pinion gear to create a force on said one tooth and limit said movement of said first movable rail;
• a second stationary rail spaced from and disposed generally parallel to said first stationary rail;
• a second movable rail telescopically engaging said second stationary rail;
• and
• a fence disposed between and connected to said first and second movable rails.