Positioning apparatus
AssigneeUSM Corporation
InventorsJohn F. Martin, Donald E. Ripley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus is disclosed for positioning a large, flexible workpiece relative to a high speed reciprocating tool. The apparatus comprises a frame and associated workpiece supports which move in a first direction. A workpiece holding assembly mounted to the frame moves the workpiece over the workpiece supports in a second direction transverse to the first direction of movement. The supports engage channels of a tool bed associated with the operative tool and are preferably beveled so as to prevent interference with the moving workpiece.
Claims10
In a machine having an operative tool which performs one or more operations on a workpiece positioned on a planar bed underneath the operative tool, a positioning apparatus for positioning the workpiece on the planar bed said positioning apparatus comprising:
- a movable frame mounted for movement in a first direction relative to the planar bed, said frame having a plurality of cantilevered supports, each cantilevered support being spaced with respect to an adjacent cantilevered support so as to define a plurality of spaced cantilevered supports which support the workpiece substantially along the entire length of the workpiece, each support extending outwardly from said frame in the first direction into slidable engagement with the planar bed whereby each support moves relative to said planar bed as said frame moves in the first direction;
- and
- means for holding the workpiece to be operated on by said operative tool, said holding means being mounted for movement on said frame in a second direction which is transverse to the first direction of movement, whereby the workpiece is moved in the second direction relative to said plurality of cantilevered supports and said planar bed as it is being supported on said plurality of cantilevered supports during movement in the first direction.
Apparatus for positioning a workpiece relative to an operative tool comprising:
- a frame mounted for movement in a first direction;
- a plurality of cantilevered supports fixedly attached to said frame, and extending outwardly from said frame in the first direction, said cantilevered supports being relatively spaced from each other so as to support the workpiece substantially along the entire length of the work;
- a bed located underneath said operative tool, said bed having a plurality of grooved channels located therein for receiving the cantilevered supports extending outwardly from said frame whereby each cantilevered supports moves in the first direction of movement toward or away from the operative tool within a respective channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.