Compliant workholder for machinery
OwnerDarryl D. Kimmel, Donald L. Hildredinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compliant system of workholders for use with woodworking, metalworking, or other machinery each of which pushes against a workpiece with substantially constant pressure while moving in and out to accommodate variation in the size of the workpiece. Preferably, the workholder uses a feather board mounted on one or more sliding guide rods. Rollers, a low friction shoe, or other elements may also be used to contact the workpiece. A pneumatic cylinder is the preferred mechanism for applying outward pressure to the feather board. The workholder will retract on activation of a momentary switch by the user and will remain retracted for an adjustable time period to allow positioning of the workpiece.
Claims12
A compliant system of at least two workholders for use with a machine having a table which supports a workpiece, each of said workholders comprising:
- (a) a frame adapted to attach to the machine table;
- (b) at least one guide rod slidably attached to said frame, having proximal and distal ends;
- (c) a head attached to said distal end of said guide rod;
- (d) means for extending said head against the workpiece with substantially constant pressure;
- and
- (e) means for retracting said head;
- each of said means for extending and means for retracting being responsive to input from an operator.
A compliant system of at least two workholders for use with a machine having a table which supports a workpiece, each of said workholders comprising:
- (a) a frame adapted to attach to the machine table;
- (b) at least one guide rod slidably attached to said frame, having proximal and distal ends;
- (c) a head attached to said distal end of said guide rod;
- (d) an extension mechanism to urge said head outward against the workpiece with substantially constant pressure when activated;
- (e) a retraction mechanism, to retract said head inward proximate said frame, when activated;
- and
- (f) a control device, responsive to an operator input by activating said retracting mechanism, and activating said extension mechanism in the absence of said user input.
A system of at least two compliant workholders for use with a machine having a table and a workpiece guide, each of said workholders comprising:
- (a) a frame adapted to attach to the machine table;
- (b) at least one guide rod, having proximal and distal ends, slideably attached to said frame;
- (c) a head attached to the distal end of said guide rod;
- (d) a double acting pneumatic piston, mounted to said frame and acting on said head to cause it to extend outward toward the workpiece guide and retract inward proximate said frame;
- and
- (e) a control valve, regulating air flow to said pneumatic piston whereby said piston retracts when said valve is activated and extends when said valve is inactive;
- said system further comprising at least one momentary switch coupled to each of said control valves whereby said valve is activated when said switch is pressed;
- and an air coupling, adapted to be connected to an external air source and providing the air to each of said pistons and said control valves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.