Light beam switch system for locating the edge of a workpiece

A system for locating an edge of a workpiece in a processing path, said system comprising:

• (A) a clamp for engaging said workpiece, said clamp defining a recess that opens toward said processing path, said clamp being movable toward and away from the processing path between a first, retracted position spaced from the workpiece and a second, extended position engaging said workpiece;
• (B) a reflector in said clamp recess;
• (C) a light source that
• (1) is located laterally adjacent said processing path,
• (2) is oriented to emit a light beam directed to said reflector when said clamp is in said first, retracted position, and
• (D) a sensor switch that can receive the light beam reflected from said reflector wherein the switch is maintained in a first switched state by the presence of the reflected light beam and is maintained in a second switched state by the absence of the reflected light beam.

A system for locating an edge of a workpiece in a processing path, said system comprising:

• (A) a laser sensor switch that
• (1) is located laterally adjacent said processing path,
• (2) sends a laser light beam and receives a reflected laser light beam wherein the laser sensor switch is maintained in a first switched state by the presence of the reflected laser light beam and is maintained in a second switched state by the absence of the reflected laser light beam, and
• (3) is oriented to emit a laser light beam at an oblique angle relative to the width of said processing path so that said emitted light beam can be directed to
• (a) pass transversely through only a portion of the projected transverse cross section of the workpiece in the processing path beyond the workpiece, and
• (b) extend to a target region adjacent the processing path;
• and
• (B) a reflector at said target region for reflecting said laser light beam to said laser sensor switch when the laser light beam is not interrupted by the workpiece.

A system for locating an edge of a workpiece in a processing path, said system comprising:

• (A) a clamp for engaging said workpiece, said clamp defining a recess that opens toward said processing path, said clamp being movable toward and away from the processing path between a first, retracted position spaced from the workpiece and a second, extended position engaging said workpiece;
• (B) a reflector in said clamp recess;
• and
• (C) a laser sensor switch that
• (1) is located laterally adjacent said processing path,
• (2) is oriented to emit a laser light beam directed to said reflector when said clamp is in said first, retracted position, and
• (3) can receive the laser light beam reflected from said reflector wherein the laser switch is maintained in a first switched state by the presence of the reflected laser light beam and is maintained in a second switched state by the absence of the reflected laser light beam.