Abstract:
A squaring system for aligning structural elements. The system comprises a first alignment member, a second alignment member, and a plurality of alignment openings arranged in rows in each of the first and second alignment members, the openings of the first row being spaced from each other a predetermined distance X and the openings of the second row being spaced from each other a predetermined distance Y, with the distance X being different from distance Y. Arranged in this manner, a lock member that is sized and configured to extend into the alignment openings can be inserted into selected openings of each row to fix the relative positions of the first and second alignment members.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This document claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of co-pending and commonly assigned provisional application entitled “SQUARING ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM FOR ALIGNMENT AND CALIBRATION OF SHEETING EQUIPMENT” assigned Ser. No. 60/093,761, filed Jul. 22, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a squaring system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a squaring system particularly well suited for aligning and calibrating a panel saw assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Panel saw assemblies are used for cutting various types of materials and typically comprise a frame upon which a saw carriage is mounted in a vertically movable relationship with respect to the assembly. The saw carriage normally is attached to the frame via vertical guide rails along which the saw carriage can be moved. The saw carriage typically can be locked in any desired vertical position along the length of the guide rails for horizontal (rip) cuts, or can be unlocked so that it can be used to make vertical (cross) cuts. The saw carriage supports a panel saw mounted thereto that performs the cutting of the material placed on the frame of the assembly. The frame normally also has a support pan mounted thereon that supports the material being sawed. 
     One problem with conventional panel saw assemblies, is that it is often difficult to ensure that square cuts can be made, especially after continued use. In such conventional panel saw assemblies, squaring of the assembly normally is accomplished by adjusting the vertical guide rails. In particular, either the top or bottom end of each guide rail is laterally adjusted with respect to the frame to both ensure that each guide rail is perpendicular to the work piece supported by the frame, as well as parallel to the other guide rail. Although it is possible to correctly square a panel saw assembly through such adjustment of the vertical guide rails, typically it is difficult to do so. Even if one of the guide rails is aligned correctly, it still may be difficult to ensure that the guide rails are parallel to each other. Moreover, even if the guide rails are aligned so as to be parallel, it is possible for either or both of the guide rails to become skewed over time as the saw panel assembly is used. Furthermore, it is difficult to make small alignment adjustments. Often, the guide rails are laterally moved either too far or not far enough. Therefore, the alignment process can be a time consuming process requiring protracted trial and error. 
     From the above, it can be appreciated that it would be desirable to have a squaring system which provides for simplified squaring of two structural members such as the vertical guide rails of a panel saw assembly, and which allows for simplification of the alignment process and which prevents these members from falling out of alignment once so aligned. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a squaring system for aligning structural elements. The system comprises a first alignment member, a second alignment member, a plurality of alignment openings provided in each of the first and second alignment members, the alignment openings being arranged in a first row in the first alignment member and being arranged in a second row in the second alignment member, the openings of the first row being uniformly spaced from each other a predetermined distance X and the openings of the second row being uniformly spaced from each other a predetermined distance Y, wherein distance X is different from distance Y, and a lock member that is sized and configured to extend into the alignment openings to fix the relative positions of the first and second alignment members. 
     The present invention further relates to a method for aligning structural elements. The method comprises the steps of providing a first alignment member with a first row of alignment openings and providing a second alignment member with a second row of alignment openings, the openings of the first row being uniformly spaced from each other a predetermined distance X and the openings of the second row being uniformly spaced from each other a predetermined distance Y, wherein distance X is different from distance Y, and extending a lock member into selected alignment openings to fix the relative positions of the first and second alignment members. 
     The objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included therein with the scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a squaring system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and shown in use with a panel saw assembly. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the squaring system of FIG. 1, shown exploded from the panel saw assembly. 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of first and second alignment members of the squaring system, shown aligned in a first orientation. 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the alignment members of FIG. 3, shown aligned in a second orientation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a squaring system  10  suitable for use with a panel saw assembly  12  of the type known in the art. Although the squaring system  10  is described and shown as used in a panel saw assembly, it is to be understood that the principles of the present disclosure are applicable to squaring adjustment in general. 
     As indicated in FIG. 1, the panel saw assembly  12  generally comprises a frame  14  that includes a plurality of support members  16 . The support members  16  of the frame  14  provide support for the material to be cut with the panel saw (not shown) that is mounted to the panel saw carriage  18 . The frame  14  further includes vertical guide rails  20  that are secured to the frame as with support rods  22 . The panel saw carriage  18  is slidably mounted to each of the vertical guide rails  20  such that the carriage can move upwardly and downwardly along the longitudinal extent of the rails to adjust the vertical position of the panel saw. Typically, the panel saw carriage  18  is connected to a biased pulley system  24  which includes a cable  26  that is attached to the carriage and which wraps around a pulley  28  which is mounted to a top portion of the panel saw assembly  12 . When provided with such a pulley system  24 , the panel saw carriage  18  is upwardly biased such that the cable  26  exerts a constant upward force on the panel saw carriage so that, when the saw is not in use, the panel saw carriage is urged towards the top ends of the vertical guide rails  20 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the squaring adjustment system  10  and the vertical guide rails  20  exploded from the panel saw assembly frame  14 . As indicated in this figure, the squaring adjustment system  10  generally comprises an arrangement of alignment openings  30  provided in first and second alignment members  32  and  34 , and lock member  36 . Where the squaring system  10  is to be used in a panel saw assembly  12  such as that depicted in FIG. 1, the first adjustment member  32  can comprise an elongated guide rail connector and the second member  34  can comprise an elongated base of the assembly frame  14 . Although capable of alternative construction, each adjustment member  32 ,  34  is made of a substantially rigid material such as steel. Irrespective of the material chosen, each of the adjustment members  32 ,  34  is provided with its own row  38 ,  40  of alignment openings  30 . Each of the alignment openings  30  are sized and configured so as to be capable of receiving the lock member  36 , which preferably comprises a pin, bolt, or other conventional fastener. 
     In addition to the alignment openings  30 , each of the first and second adjustment members  32 ,  34  further includes at least two support rod openings  43  and  44 , respectively. The rod opening  43  provided in the first adjustment member  32  normally is substantially round in shape so as to conform with the diameter of the rod  22  while the rod opening  44  provided in the second adjustment member  34  normally is substantially elongated to allow lateral adjustment of rod  22 . To facilitate mounting of the guide rails  20  to the frame  14 , each guide rail typically includes an opening  46  through which a support rod  22  can pass. As is known in the art, the support rods  22  maintain the proper orientation of each guide rail  20  with respect to the frame  14  and with respect to each other, and further maintain a predetermined amount of spacing between the first adjustment member  32  and second adjustment member  34  for the material to be cut. This spacing typically is obtained by using the support rods  22  in conjunction with fastening elements  48  such as threaded nuts. 
     Effective squaring through use of the squaring system described herein is feasible primarily due to the arrangement of alignment openings  30  provided in the first and second alignment members  32  and  34 . As indicated in FIG. 3, when the first alignment member  32  is placed over top the second alignment member  34 , the alignment openings  30  of each row  38 ,  40  are arranged together in a substantially straight line along the longitudinal extent of each member. Typically, the openings  30  are spaced an equal distance apart from each other so as to be spaced uniformly along this line. However, the spacing in each row  38 ,  40  is different. By way of example, the spacing of the alignment openings  30  in row  38  of the first alignment member  32  is approximately  5 / 32  inches while the spacing between the alignment openings  30  of row  40  of the second alignment member  34  is approximately  4 / 32  inches. When the first and second alignment members  32  and  34  are used in conjunction, this disparate spacing provides for fine incremental adjustment of the lateral positions of each vertical guide rail  20 . 
     As is further indicated in FIG. 3, the first and second alignment members  32  and  34  each can comprise nine alignment openings  30 . Each of these alignment openings  30  is individually numbered in FIG. 3 ( 50 - 66  in the first row  38 ,  68 - 84  in the second row  40 ), for convenience of discussion. As shown in this figure, the disparate spacing of the alignment openings  30  results in an arrangement in which not all of the openings  30  align with each other at the same time. Typically, only one opening  30  of the first alignment member  32  will align with an opening  30  of the second alignment member  34  at a time. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 3, for example, the first and second alignment members  32  and  34  are aligned such that the central opening  58  of the first alignment member is aligned with the central opening  76  of the second alignment member. Aligned in this maimer, these openings are adapted to receive the lock member  36  to fix the position of the first alignment member  32  relative to the second alignment member  34 . As can be appreciated with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the placement of the lock member  36  in these openings  30  thereby secures the vertical guide rails  20  in a particular lateral position with respect to both the panel saw assembly frame  14  and to each other. Due to the fact that the openings  44  provided in the first alignment member  32  are substantially round (i.e., not elongated), the vertical guide rails  20  will not be laterally shifted relative to each other by use of the panel saw assembly. To further ensure that shifting of both vertical guide rails  20  relative to the assembly will not occur, the support rods  22  can be fastened in place with the fastening elements  48 . 
     To adjust the lateral positioning of the bottom ends  45  of both vertical guide rails  20  without altering their relative positions with respect to each other, the first alignment member  32  is shifted laterally with respect to the second alignment member  34  in the desired direction. FIG. 4 illustrates a second orientation of the first alignment member  32  with respect to the second alignment member  34  and placing the lock member  36  through a different pair of aligned openings. In particular, this figure shows the first alignment member  32 , shifted one incremental position to the right. As is evident from this figure, the opening  30  immediately to the left of the central opening  58  of the first alignment member  32  (opening  56 ) is aligned with the opening  30  immediately to the left of the central opening  76  of the second alignment member  34  (opening  74 ). 
     As can be appreciated from the above discussion, the lateral position of the bottom ends  45  of the vertical guide rails  20  can be adjusted in very small increments so as to permit fine tuning when squaring the guide rails relative to the panel saw assembly frame  14 . By way of example, when the spacing provided between each opening  30  in the first alignment member  32  is approximately {fraction (5/32)} inches, and the spacing between the alignment openings  30  of the second alignment member  34  is approximately {fraction (4/32)} inches, the smallest incremental lateral adjustment possible will be approximately {fraction (1/32)} inches. If necessary, however, larger lateral adjustments are feasible with the squaring system  10  by merely shifting the first alignment member  32  to a greater degree with respect to the second alignment member  34 . For the particular embodiment described above, the bottom ends of the vertical guide rails  20  can be moved approximately two inches to either side, if the left most opening  50  of one of the alignment members is aligned with the right most opening  84  of the other alignment member. 
     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail in the foregoing description and drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications thereof, such as the number of openings provided in the first and second alignment members  32  and  34 , as well as the spacing of these openings, can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.