Patent ID: 9718148
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: B23K,B24C,B26F

Claim:
1. A workpiece cutting apparatus comprising: a cutting table with a workpiece receiving surface; at least two longitudinally-extending rails extending longitudinally on opposed sides of the cutting table and extending substantially parallel to one another, each one of the longitudinally-extending rails having a lower section and an upper section, the lower section having a rail engagement surface oriented substantially downwardly that faces away from the workpiece receiving surface; a bridge comprising an elongated cutting assembly support and engagement arms extending at opposed ends of the elongated cutting assembly support, each one of the engagement arms comprising a bridge engagement member being engageable with the lower section of a corresponding one of the at least two longitudinally-extending rails, from below, to perform longitudinal displacement of the bridge along the longitudinally-extending rails, a weight of the bridge being transferred to the lower section of each of the longitudinal rails; and at least two driving assemblies, each one of the driving assemblies operatively connecting each one of the engagement arms to the corresponding one of the at least two longitudinally-extending rails, the at least two driving assemblies being actuable to translate the engagement arms along the at least two longitudinally-extending rails; wherein the bridge engagement member of each of the engagement arms comprises an upper face, the bridge engagement member comprising an elongated cavity opening on the upper face, the elongated cavity being complementary in shape with the lower section of a corresponding one of the longitudinally-extending rails.