# US 4,397,598 A · Apparatus for alignment of large planar members at feed tables of machine tools > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,397,598 A - Document ID: US4397598A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/245,708 - Filed: 1981-03-20 - Granted: 1983-08-09 - Earliest claimed: 1980-03-21 - Assignees: Firma Schelling & Co. - Inventors: Wilfried Ess; Horst Kollmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4397598A ## CPC - B25B 1/125: {with one screw perpendicular to the jaw faces} - B27B 27/02: arranged laterally and parallel with respect to the plane of the saw blade - Y10T 83/7613: Adjustable - Y10T 83/764: Retractable - B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING - B27B: SAWS FOR WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; COMPONENTS OR ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (saws specially adapted for pruning or debranching A01G3/08; sawing apparatus specially adapted for felling trees A01G23/091; features not restricted to a particular type of wood saw B23D, e.g. attaching saw blades B23D51/00; machine tool frames, beds, pillars or like members, in general B23Q1/01) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Apparatus for aligning large planar workpieces on a feed table wherein a plurality of pivoted arms are provided which are biased to a raised pivotal position to engage the edge of a workpiece, with the arms being urged to a lowered pivotal position by the weight of a workpiece resting thereon so that lateral movement of a plurality of the arms which may be arranged in rows will enable one of the arms of a row to engage the edge of a workpiece while in its raised pivotal position thereby to effect positioning or alignment of the workpiece. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for aligning planar workpieces on a feed table relative to a reference position comprising: means defining said reference position; base means; a plurality of arms each located a different distance from said reference position and each having a first and a second end; means pivotally mounting said first end of each of said arms to said base means; engagement means at said second end of each of said arms adapted to engage the edge of a workpiece to urge said workpiece against said means defining said reference position to effect a desired positioning thereof; biasing means applying a force urging said arms to a raised pivotal position at which said engagement means are located to engage an edge of said workpiece, said force of said biasing means being of a magnitude to enable each of said arms to be individually pivoted to a lowered pivotal position beneath a workpiece by the weight of at least one of said workpieces overlying said second end of said arm; and means for moving said arms laterally toward and away from said reference position to effect engagement of said engagement means against the edge of a workpiece depending upon the lateral dimension of said workpiece and upon the position of the arm upon which said engagement means is mounted relative to said reference position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second ends of said arms are equipped with rollers arranged to engage the underside of a workpiece overlying said second end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said rollers are arranged to rotate about a horizontal axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said horizontal axis extends perpendicularly to the lateral direction of movement of said arms. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said horizontal axis of said rollers extends parallel to the axis about which said arms pivot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said engagement means define a linear surface extending generally perpendicularly to the horizontal when said arms are at said raised pivotal position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said base means comprise a movable slide member having a plurality of said arms pivotally mounted thereto. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said arms are arranged in a plurality of separate rows. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of rows extend parallel to each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of rows comprise rows extending transversely to each other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of rows comprise at least two rows extending perpendicularly to each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8, 9, 10) Apparatus according to claim 8, 9, 10, or 11 wherein said rows are each laterally movable independently from another row. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprise a fluidic piston-cylinder mechanism. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said arms are mounted for pivotal movement about generally parallel axes lying in a generally common horizontal plane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said biasing means engage said arms at a point intermediate said first and second ends thereof.