Apparatus for trimming and edge-cutting a plate-like metallic workpiece

Claim 1

Apparatus for trimming and edge-cutting a plate-like metallic workpiece having a major face and a plurality of edges narrower than said major face and bounding the same, comprising: a. a base having two parallel length sides and two parallel width sides perpendicular to said length sides; b. supporting means on said base for supporting said workpiece in a position in which said face extends in a predetermined plane; c. at least one milling cutter unit; d. guide means for guiding said at least one unit laterally of and parallel to said edges, 1. said guide means including first, second, third, and fourth straight guide tracks parallel to said plane, 2. said guide tracks jointly surrounding said workpiece in said position of said workpiece, 3. said first and second guide tracks extending in a first plane parallel to said predetermined plane along said length sides; e. two portals spanning the wiDth of said base between said length sides and supporting said third and fourth guide tracks respectively in a second plane, 1. said third and fourth guide tracks being elongated at right angles to said first and second guide tracks, 2. said second plane extending above said first plane and said predetermined plane when said predetermined plane is horizontal; f. engagement means on said at least one unit engageable with at least one of said tracks for longitudinal guiding movement of said at least one unit on the engaged track, 1. said at least one unit including a milling cutter rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said planes in cutting engagement with one of said edges when said at least one unit moves on said tracks, 2. said milling cutter projecting downwardly from said second plane when said at least one unit is guided by said third and fourth tracks.