Apparatus for bandsawing operation with profiling mechanism capable of automatic copying of a model

Claim 2

In a bandsawing machine, the improvement comprising a profiling mechanism having a profile sensing member for sensing the profile of a work model, means for converting into an electrical signal the displacement of the sensing member by the model profile, the blade-twisting means responsive to the signal for twisting a short length of the bandsaw blade, including the cutting region thereof, about the cutting edge by an amount proportional to the displacement of the sensing member.

Claim 3

A machine according to claim 1, including means for feeding back the amount of blade twist to the profiling mechanism in opposition to the effect of displacement of the sensing member so that the amount of blade twist will be maintained proportional to the displacement of the sensing member.

Claim 4

A machine according to claim 2, in which the converting means includes electrical transducer means for providing the electrical signal, said transducer means having first and second relatively movable parts mechanically connected respectively to the sensing member and the means for feeding back, the electrical signal provided by said transducer means being dependent on the relative positions of said parts.

Claim 5

A machine according to claim 3, including means for manually adjusting the position of said first part.

Claim 6

A machine according to claim 2, including electric motor means responsive to the signal and arranged to rotate the blade-twisting means when energized.

Claim 7

A machine according to claim 2, in which the sensing member comprises a reference element and a pivotable element pivotable about the reference element, said elements being arranged and adapted to abut simulaneously on the model profile.

Claim 8

A machine according to claim 1, including means for feeding a workpiece in a first direction in dependence on the displacement of the sensing member, said first direction being transverse to the cutting direction of the blade.

Claim 9

A machine according to claim 7, in which the feeding means comprises a delivery table movable in the first direction and in a second direction which is transverse to the cutting direction and is substantially perpendicular to said first direction, and a jig table movable in the first direction but not in the second direction and coupled to the delivery table for movement therewith in said first direction, the jig table being provided with means for feeding a workpiece carried by the delivery table in said second direction, the tables having coplanar contiguous surfaces.

Claim 10

A machine according to claim 8, in which the jig table has a notch through which the blade extends.

Claim 11

A machine according to claim 7, including a pneumatically-operated drive for the feeding means, and a control valve arranged to control the drive and actuated by the blade-twisting means.

Claim 12

A machine according to claim 1, wherein there is provided backing roller means urged against said bandsaw blade by an adjustable resisting force, and means coacting with said backing roller means for stopping the cutting operation of the band sawing machine immediately when an overload is encountered during said cutting operation.

Claim 13

A machine according to claim 1, in which the sensing member comprises a reference element and a pivotal element pivotal about the reference element, said elements being arranged and adapted to abut simultaneously on the model profile.

Claim 14

A machine according to claim 3, including a feeding apparatus for feeding a workpiece to the blade in dependence on the displacement of the sensing member, the feeding apparatus including a delivery table movable in first and second substantially perpendicular directions which are each transverse to the cutting direction of the blade, the feeding apparatus also including a jig table movable in the first direction but not in the second direction and coupled to the delivery table for movement therewith in said first direction, the jig table being provided with means for feeding the workpiece carried by the delivery table in said second direction, the tables having adjacent and substantially coplanar surfaces.