Clamping and cutting apparatus

In clamping and cutting apparatus of the type incorporated with a header or the like, the combination of:

• frame means;
• a carriage having cutter means thereon and movable between a cutting position and a transfer position relative to said frame means;
• a clamp lever pivotally mounted on said carriage for clamping work against said cutter means;
• support means on said carriage;
• a slider supported by said support means and operatively connected to said clamp lever, said slider being slidable relative to said support means between a clamping position for causing said clamp lever to clamp the work against said cutter means and an unclamping position for causing said clamp lever to release the work;
• actuator means on said support means tending to move said slider from said clamping to said unclamping position;
• a locking member mounted on said support means for pivotal movement between a locking position for locking said slider in said clamping position and an unlocking position for permitting said slider to be moved from said clamping to said unclamping position by said actuator means;
• spring means yieldably urging said locking member from said unlocking to said locking position;
• resilient means adapted to be compressed when said slider is locked in said clamping position by said locking member for exerting a reactive force on said slider, whereby said slider is urged to move further in such a direction that said clamp lever clamps the work more positively;
• reciprocating means mounted on said frame means for movement toward and away from said support means, whereby upon movement of said reciprocating means toward said support means while said carriage is in said cutting position said slider is moved to and locked in said clamping position against the forces of said actuator means and said resilient means;
• cam follower means on said locking member;
• and
• cam means carried by said reciprocating means and adapted to move said locking member from said locking to said unlocking position via said cam follower means against the force of said spring means upon movement of said reciprocating means away from said support means while said carriage is in said transfer position.