US3577829A — Method and apparatus for cutting components to le…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 166 words

A method of positioning an elongate workpiece so that it may be worked at any preselected point along its length, including the steps of: passing the workpiece from a working tool onto a longitudinal conveyor, selecting a stop from a plurality of such stops serially spaced from said working tool over at least part of the length of the conveyor, adjusting the relative longitudinal position of the working tool and a common structure carrying said stops, the distances between the stops being uniform, and placing said selected stop in the path of the workpiece to arrest its further progress on the conveyor, said common structure being permitted to move under the control of pneumatic cushioning means relative to the conveyor longitudinally over a limited distance on impact of said workpiece against the selected stop, and including the step of employing said pneumatic cushioning means to reverse the common structure after it has so moved to reposition the selected stop a preselected distance from said working tool.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 166 words

A method of positioning an elongate workpiece so that it may be worked at any preselected point along its length, including the steps of: passing the workpiece from a working tool onto a longitudinal conveyor, selecting a stop from a plurality of such stops serially spaced from said working tool over at least part of the length of the conveyor, adjusting the relative longitudinal position of the working tool and a common structure carrying said stops, the distances between the stops being uniform, and placing said selected stop in the path of the workpiece to arrest its further progress on the conveyor, said common structure being permitted to move under the control of pneumatic cushioning means relative to the conveyor longitudinally over a limited distance on impact of said workpiece against the selected stop, and including the step of employing said pneumatic cushioning means to reverse the common structure after it has so moved to reposition the selected stop a preselected distance from said working tool.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 42 words

A method according to claim 1, including the step of clamping the workpiece against a side fence adjacent said working tool after it has had its further progress along the conveyor arrested by the selected stop, and the stop has been repositioned.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 216 words

Apparatus for positioning an elongate workpiece so that it may be worked at any preselected location along its length, including: a. a work station incorporating a working tool, b. a longitudinal conveyor for passing the workpiece in a direction away from the working tool, c. a series of stops uniformly spaced apart over at least part of the length of the conveyor, any selected one of which may be brought into the path of the workpiece to arrest its further progress on the conveyor, d. a common structure which carries the stops and which is reciprocable relative to the conveyor longitudinally over a stroke at least equal to the spacing between adjacent stops, and e. means for adjusting the longitudinal position of the common structure to any preselected point within said stroke, f. pneumatic cushioning means interposed between the common structure and the adjusting means for the structure, and operative when the workpiece abuts the selected stop, to absorb shock on impact by permitting limited longitudinal movement of the common structure relative to the conveyor, g. said cushioning means including pneumatic ram means operating on the common structure for reversing the structure after abutment of the workpiece with the selected stop to bring the preselected location of the workpiece accurately to position at the work station.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 216 words

Apparatus for positioning an elongate workpiece so that it may be worked at any preselected location along its length, including: a. a work station incorporating a working tool, b. a longitudinal conveyor for passing the workpiece in a direction away from the working tool, c. a series of stops uniformly spaced apart over at least part of the length of the conveyor, any selected one of which may be brought into the path of the workpiece to arrest its further progress on the conveyor, d. a common structure which carries the stops and which is reciprocable relative to the conveyor longitudinally over a stroke at least equal to the spacing between adjacent stops, and e. means for adjusting the longitudinal position of the common structure to any preselected point within said stroke, f. pneumatic cushioning means interposed between the common structure and the adjusting means for the structure, and operative when the workpiece abuts the selected stop, to absorb shock on impact by permitting limited longitudinal movement of the common structure relative to the conveyor, g. said cushioning means including pneumatic ram means operating on the common structure for reversing the structure after abutment of the workpiece with the selected stop to bring the preselected location of the workpiece accurately to position at the work station.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus according to claim 3 including a driven out-feed roller located on one side of said working tool, said out-feed roller being adjacent one end of said conveyor which extends longitudinally away from the work station.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein there is disposed alongside the said conveyor, the said common structure carrying said stops, said structure comprising a longitudinally extending beam supported for reciprocal sliding movement longitudinally relative to said working tool.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 48 words

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said stops comprise levers pivotally mounted on the beam and including for each stop a fluid-operated ram device for individually effecting pivotal movement of its associated stop to an operative position where saiD stop is at least partially disposed over said conveyor.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus according to claim 5, including a plurality of guide rollers mounted on said beam, said rollers being aligned and serially spaced from said working tool.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 54 words

Apparatus according to claim 5, including a carriage member mounting a pneumatic cylinder for a pneumatically operated ram rigidly attached to said beam, said carriage being mounted for longitudinal sliding movement said apparatus also including a leadscrew in threaded engagement with said carriage with rotation of the leadscrew effecting longitudinal movement of the carriage.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said conveyor is in the form of a plurality of rollers.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 16 words

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said conveyor is in the form of an endless belt.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 10 words

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said belt is driven.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the means for adjusting said common structure carrying the said stops includes a leadscrew mechanism.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus according to claim 12, including a positional gear box for effecting and controlling rotation of the leadscrew.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 91 words

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said work station includes a fixed frame, a trunnion mounted for rotational movement about a generally vertical axis in said frame, a cranked arm depending from the trunnion and a rotary saw having its driving motor mounted for vertical sliding movement on the cranked arm, said apparatus also including a worm drive screw in mesh with a pinion fixed on the trunnion for effecting at least partial rotation of said trunnion and with it said saw drive motor and said saw about said vertical axis.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 63 words

Apparatus according to claim 14, including a fluid cylinder device carried on said cranked arm, a ram operating in said cylinder and connected to said saw motor, and including means for supplying pressure fluid to said cylinder to effect movement relative thereto of the said ram, whereby to effect vertical sliding movement of the said saw motor relative to the said cranked arm.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus according to claim 14, including a remotely controlled positional gear box for effecting and controlling rotation of the said worm drive screw.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus according to claim 3, including clamping means for holding the workpiece against a fixed fence adjacent the working tool after its preselected location has been brought to position at the work station.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-05-03	1974-11-02	1975-05-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-05-03	1978-11-02	1979-05-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-05-03	1982-11-02	1983-05-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for cutting components to length

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