Workpiece holder for press brake

Adjustable gage block for a press brake having upper and lower tables, comprising

• a. a base attachable to the press brake,
• b. a body pivotally carried by the base for pivoting movement about a vertical axis with respect to the base, the body carrying a first guide member;
• c. a second guide member pivotally carried by said body for pivoting movement about said vertical axis with respect to said first guide member;
• at least one of said guide members having an upwardly-facing guide surface for supporting a workpiece and each guide member having a vertical guide surface defining a plane, said planes intersecting along said axis and said guide members being configured to provide an open workpiece-receiving recess extending upwardly from between said planes and through which said vertical axis passes;
• and
• d. manually operable adjustment means for adjusting the included angle between the vertical surfaces of said guide members to accommodate the shape of a workpiece.

A press brake having parallel upper and lower tables, and cooperating workpiece positioning elements for positioning a sheet-like workpiece in a predetermined position between said tables, said elements comprising

• a. an adjustable gage block comprising a base attached to the press brake, a body pivotally carried by the base for pivoting movement about a vertical axis, the body carrying a first guide member;
• a second guide member pivotally carried by said body for pivoting movement about said vertical axis with respect to said first guide member;
• said guide members each having a vertical guide surface, whereby said body and guide members may pivot as a unit about said vertical axis with respect to said base;
• and adjustment means for adjusting the included angle between the vertical surfaces of said guide members and said axis to accommodate the shape of a workpiece, and
• b. a workpiece support mounted to the press brake and spaced from said gage block, the workpiece support having an edge guide surface positioned to engage an edge of a workpiece when the latter is in its predetermined position and supported by said gage block vertical guide surfaces.

Method of positioning a sheet-like workpiece between the tables of a press brake in a predetermined position, comprising:

• a. providing an adjustable gage block including a base attached to the press brake, a body pivotally carried by the base for pivoting movement about a vertical axis with respect to the base, the body carrying a first guide member;
• a second guide member pivotally carried by said body for pivoting movement about said vertical axis with respect to said first guide member;
• each guide member having a vertical guide surface, and adjustment means for adjusting the included angle between the vertical surfaces of said guide members and said axis to accommodate the shape of a leading portion of the workpiece,
• b. orienting the leading portion of the workpiece between said vertical guide surfaces and adjusting said adjustment means so that said vertical guide surfaces each contact an edge of said leading portion;
• and
• c. pivoting said workpiece and said supporting gage block about said vertical axis to said predetermined position.