Vise having automatic locating mechanism

A vise adapted to engage a first workpiece (C) and a second workpiece (D) comprising:

• a base (10) having a slot (12) on an upper surface thereof extending along a longitudinal length of the base;
• a first transmission block (32) and a second transmission block (34) slidably mounted in said slot (12) the first transmission block (32) being located at a first end of the slot (12), and the second transmission block (34) being located at a second end of said slot (12),
• the first transmission block provided with a first threaded hole (322) and two through holes (323, 324) all of which (322, 323, 324) extend along a longitudinal length of the first transmission block (32);
• the second transmission block (34) provided with a second threaded hole (344) extending along a longitudinal length thereof;
• said first threaded hole (322) and said second threaded hole (344) being coaxial and having thread directions opposite to each other;
• a first movable jaw mounted on said first transmission block, a second movable jaw mounted on said second transmission block, and a fixed jaw mounted on said base, said fixed jaw being located between said first movable jaw and said second movable jaw;
• a first space (A) between the first transmission block (32) and the fixed jaw adapted to receive the first workpiece (C) and a second space (B) between the second transmission block (34) adapted to receive the second workpiece (D);
• a control rod provided at a first end thereof with a first threaded segment and at a second end thereof with a second threaded segment, said control rod further provided at said first end with a connection portion, said control rod being located in said slot of said base, said first threaded segment of said control rod being engaged with said first threaded hole of said first transmission block, and said second threaded segment of said control rod being engaged with said second threaded hole of said second transmission block, wherein said opposite thread direction permits said control rod to drive said movable jaw and said second movable jaw to move either toward or away from said fixed jaw;
• a handle fastened with said connection portion of said control rod such that said handle can be rotated manually to actuate said control rod to rotate and drive said first transmission block and said second transmission block;
• and
• locating means (60) engaged in said slot (12) and to said first transmission block for frictionally holding said first transmission block (32) from moving in slot (12) while said control rod is rotated to move said second transmission block in said slot (12) and after engagement of said second transmission block with the second workpiece (D) in the second space, permitting movement of the first transmission block into engagement with the first workpiece in the first space.