Band saw machine

A workpiece clamping and feeding apparatus comprising:

• a pair of opposed clamping surfaces having rearward ends,
• means for feeding work between said clamping surfaces to position the work,
• means for clamping the surfaces together when said work is positioned, and
• supplemental work holding means spaced rearwardly of said clamping surfaces in the direction of work feed and adjustable for engaging the work both from above and below to provide four-point holding of the work in combination with said clamping surfaces, said supplemental work holding means including a lower support bar and a vertically adjustable upper bar, said clamping surfaces positioned on either side of a horizontal work support platform, and including removable work support means positionable between said clamping surfaces to support the work above the platform, said lower support bar of said supplemental work holding means being vertically adjustable for supporting the work above said work support platform, said removable work support means being alignable with said rearward, vertically adjustable lower support bar for providing two spaced locations for supporting the work above said horizontal work support platform, and with said upper support bar holding said work from above.

A workpiece clamping and feeding apparatus comprising:

• a pair of opposed clamping surfaces having forward and rearward ends,
• means for initially moving the clamping surfaces relative to one another for rough positioning of the clamping surfaces,
• power driven feed means adjacent the ends of the clamping surfaces for advancing the workpiece between the clamping surfaces,
• gauging means for limiting such advance movement of the workpiece for positioning the workpiece for cutting, and
• final clamping surfaces moving means for moving the clamping surfaces relative to one another into final clamping engagement with the workpiece, said feed means including a driven roller adjacent the rearward end of each clamping surface, means pressing the rollers toward one another and beyond the clamping surfaces for engaging the workpiece independently of the clamping surfaces to advance the workpiece, means for simultaneously rotating the rollers in opposite directions, said means pressing the rollers being retractable as said clamping surfaces engage the workpiece.

A workpiece clamping and feeding apparatus comprising:

• a pair of opposed clamping surfaces having forward and rearward ends,
• means for initially moving the clamping surfaces relative to one another for rough positioning of the clamping surfaces,
• power driven feed means adjacent the ends of the clamping surfaces for advancing the workpiece between the clamping surfaces,
• gauging means for limiting such advance movement of the workpiece for positioning the workpiece for cutting,
• final clamping surfaces moving means for moving the clamping surfaces relative to one another into final clamping engagement with the workpiece,
• opposed supplementary workpiece support members adjustably positioned above and below the workpiece rearward of the rearward ends of the clamping surfaces for supporting the workpiece as it is fed between said clamping surfaces, and
• means for pivotally moving said clamping surfaces together rearwardly about a pivot adjacent a forward end of one of said clamping surfaces for changing the angle of the workpiece, and said feed means including a driven roller adjacent the rearward end of each clamping surface, means pressing the rollers toward one another and beyond the clamping surfaces for engaging the workpiece independently of the clamping surfaces to advance the workpiece, means for simultaneously rotating the rollers in opposite directions, said means pressing the rollers being retractable as said clamping surfaces engage the workpiece.