Apparatus for disengaging a section cut to length on a power saw

An elongated piece to be cut is clamped in a vise (9) and is in abutment against a stop (10), the stop (10) being secured on a shaft (11) free to rotate in bearings. The shaft is connected to a connecting rod (19) and a rod (20) of adjustable length to an arm (4) which carries the sawing blade (6), whereby, as the cutting operation is carried out, the stop (10) rises while pivoting and loses contact with the piece being cut before the cutting operation is finished.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an apparatus which can be attached to a 
power saw, or which can be incorporated into a power saw during its 
assembly, in order to disengage and separate an end section of an 
elongated piece cut by this saw at a length wherein the length is 
controlled by the positioning of a stop which previously supported this 
elongated piece. 
2. Brief Description of the Background of the Invention Including Prior Art 
During sawing operations the danger exists that the cut-off piece is 
carried along by the moving saw blade and possibly jams. The presence of a 
stop generally does not provide protection against such motion. 
A displaceable stop is moved by sliding or gliding in the direction of 
removal or of approach of the plane of the saw blade on the saw power 
source to which the invention applies. Frequently, the stop is moved in a 
graduated fashion, and is solidly blocked in its position when it is 
removed from the saw blade by a desired distance. 
This stop remains blocked in this position during the execution of the 
whole saw operation. At the start of this operation, an end section 
between the stop and the saw blade is still strongly connected to the rest 
of the elongated piece which is solidly fixed, in most cases in a vise. As 
the sawing process progresses, the end section is less and less well held 
in place by the part of the diminishing section which connects the end 
section to the elongated piece. At the same time, the end section is 
restrained without play in a longitudinal direction between a side face of 
the saw blade and the face of the stop against which the elongated piece 
is supported. The friction, which is inevitably generated between the saw 
blade and the end section in the course of the sawing operation, results 
in the consequence that a transverse force is applied to the transverse 
end of the end section which is in contact with the saw blade. Toward the 
end of the sawing operation, this transverse force becomes sufficiently 
strong to overcome the resistance of the part of the diminishing section 
which remains to be sawn. It happens frequently that the end section is 
brutally and forcefully pulled from the elongated piece due to the forced 
rupture of the part which remains to be sawn. Sometimes, the end section 
can be projected and can hurt a person. Sometimes the end section can 
assume a canted position and can be jammed between the stop and the saw 
blade. Such jamming generates a risk of damaging the saw blade. In many 
cases, the sawn end section is simply displaced relative to its initial 
position before the sawing process but its final position cannot be 
predicted. This is disadvantageous to the installation and to the proper 
functioning of an automatic apparatus for successive removal of each sawn 
end section because such apparatus requires that the sawn end section 
assume at all times a precise and a predetermined position. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Purpose of the Invention 
It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus which eliminates 
the risk that an end section, sawn to a length defined by a stop, is 
carried by the saw blade in a transverse direction. 
It is another object of the invention to suppress a risk of a sawn-off end 
section to be projected or of an end section to be jammed, or, even of a 
displacement of the sawn-off end section to a position which is somehow 
dangerous. 
It is a further object of the invention, and a direct consequence of the 
first object of the invention to combine and/or attach an additional 
apparatus which is capable of removing the sawn end section in an 
automatic fashion at the end of the sawing operation, with a main sawing 
apparatus such as recited above. 
Brief Description of the Invention 
According to the invention, an apparatus for removing a section cut to 
length from an elongated piece on a sawing machine comprises a saw blade. 
The saw blade is mounted on a stand. A vise is mounted on the stand for 
holding an elongated piece. A movable member is displaceably mounted on 
this stand and carries the saw blade for performing a sawing operation 
advancing along a plane disposed perpendicular to the elongated piece held 
in the vise. Bearings are attached to the stand. A frame element is held 
in part in the bearings. A stop is movably mounted on the frame element 
and position-controllable on this frame element at a side opposite to the 
vise relative to a position of the saw blade for guiding said frame 
element pivotingly around an axis disposed perpendicular relative to said 
perpendicular plane. Kinematic connection means tie the movable member 
carrying the saw blade to the frame element carrying the stop. Said 
kinematic connection means generate a pivoting of this frame element and 
of the stop progressively starting from an initial position of said stop. 
The stop is sufficiently removed from its initial position during each 
sawing operation and before the end of the operation such that the stop no 
longer remains in contact with any end section being cut and this section 
is removed from all contact with the stop. 
A motor can be linked to the saw b lade for rotating the saw blade. 
The kinematic connection means can be of a mechanical type. The kinematic 
connection means can comprise at least one connection rod hinged by a 
first end at the movable member carrying the saw blade and hinged at a 
second end at the frame element carrying the stop. 
The connection rod can be hinged at the movable member carrying the saw 
blade by way of a rod of adjustable length. This rod of adjustable length 
can have a first end which is hinged to a first end of the connection rod. 
This rod of adjustable length can have a second end by which it is fixed 
to a piece of the movable member. In this way, the movable member can move 
simultaneously with the rod of adjustable length. 
The apparatus can comprise an additional arbor and a support table for a 
section to be cut from an elongated piece. At least one part of the said 
support table can be movably mounted allowing rotation around a geometric 
axis. This geometric axis can be an axis of the additional arbor supported 
parallel to said pivoting axis in the bearings fixed to the stand. The 
movable member can be fixed to the additional arbor during a rotation of 
the support table. A control member can be disposed on the stand. The 
movable member can be functionally fastened to the control member in order 
to be moved by the movable member carrying the saw blade at the time of an 
end of the sawing course after execution of the sawing operation. The 
apparatus can comprise a restoring spring. The control member can push 
against a part attached to the support table to furnish a removing and 
clearing position for a section separated from the elongated piece against 
the effect of the restoring spring of this part attached to the support 
table relative to its initial position. The support table can be movably 
mounted around the geometric axis of the additional arbor. The said part 
attached to the support table can be fixed to an additional arbor. The 
additional arbor can be mounted to allow free rotation in its bearings. 
The control member can be coupled to the connection rod by the intermediary 
of a coupler disengaged during the execution of the sawing operation, and 
engaged after the sawing operation. 
The apparatus can comprise a radial arm disposed at the additional arbor. A 
push rod can be slidingly mounted on the stand and rest on this radial 
arm. The push rod can be actuated and engaged against the operation of the 
restoring spring by the movable member carrying the saw blade after the 
execution of the sawing operation. 
An apparatus for disenagaging a sawn end section from an elongated piece on 
a sawing machine comprises a stand. A vise mounted onto the stand retains 
an elongated piece. A movable member, displaceably mounted on the stand, 
performs a sawing course in a transverse plane relative to an elongated 
piece held in the vise. A saw blade, mounted on this movable member, is 
driven by a motor. A stop is movably mounted on a frame element and is 
adjustable in position on this frame element opposite to the vice in 
relation to the saw blade. The invention device comprises bearings fixed 
to the frame and partially contains said element carrying the movable stop 
for guiding the movable stop pivotingly around an axis perpendicular to 
said transverse plane. Kinematic connection means link the member carrying 
the saw blade with the element carrying the stop. These connection means 
generate the pivoting motion of this element and of the stop progressively 
from an initial position of this latter element during each sawing 
operation such that the stop is sufficiently removed from its initial 
position prior to the end of the sawing operation, in order to be no 
longer in contact with any end section being sawn and to disengage this 
end section from any contact with the stop. 
The type of the saw to which the invention can be applied is not limited by 
the type of power saw. It can be any saw, for example, a rectilinear blade 
saw, a continuous blade saw, a disk blade saw, or also a grinding-disk saw 
cutting by abrasion. Nevertheless, the most frequently used saws with 
which the invention is concerned are the toothed disk blade saws which are 
frequently employed on construction sites and which are, therefore, often 
called construction saws. In the following, all the recited cutting 
devices will be designated as saw blades. 
In the case of kinematic connection means of a mechanical type, these means 
preferably comprise at least one rod, hinged on the one hand, by a first 
end with a movable member carrying the saw blade, and on the other hand, 
by a second end with the element carrying the stop. 
Advantageously, the rod is hinged with the movable member carrying the saw 
blade by means of a shaft of adjustable length. A first end of the shaft 
is hinged with the first end of the rod. A second end of the shaft, fixed 
to a part of the movable member, can be displaced at the same time as the 
movable member. 
According to a particular embodiment of the invention, there is added to 
the above described apparatus a device which comprises moreover an 
additional arbor supported in parallel to the pivoting axis of the 
bearings disposed at the stand. At least one part of a support table is 
movably mounted to allow rotation around the geometric axis of said 
additional arbor and which is functionally linked to a control member 
disposed on the stand in order to be engaged or activated by the member 
carrying the saw blade at the end of the sawing course after the execution 
of the sawing operation. This control member thus pushes the part of the 
support table up to a removal position of one end section separated from 
the elongated piece, against the effect of a restoring spring of this part 
of the table to its initial position. 
According to an examplified embodiment of the invention, the structure of 
the support table is mounted movable around the geometric axis of said 
axle. 
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the arbor is furnished 
with a radial arm and a push rod is slidably mounted on the stand in order 
to rest on this radial arm. The push rod is moved against the effect of 
the restoring spring by the movable member carrying the saw blade after 
the finishing of the sawing operation. 
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the control member is 
linked to the rod by means of a coupler, disengaged during the execution 
of the cutting operation, and engaged after the cutting operation. 
The nature of the processable elongated pieces is not limited by the 
invention. They can be metallic pieces such as cylindrical bars, they can 
be round or square wooden posts, or they can be any other elongated piece. 
The invention is particularly useful where its purpose is to cut, with the 
aid of a saw blade mounted on a mobile member displacing this saw blade in 
the cutting direction, a section of an elongated piece, where the length 
of the section to be cut is determined with the aid of a stop against 
which rests a free end face of the said elongated piece before and during 
the cutting operation. 
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention 
are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both 
as to its construction and its method of operation, together with 
additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from 
the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection 
with the accompanying drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
According to the present invention, there is provided for an apparatus for 
removing a section cut from an elongated piece on a sawing machine. A vise 
9 is mounted on a stand 1 for holding an elongated piece. A movable member 
4 is diplaceably mounted on this stand 1 for the performance of a sawing 
course in a transverse plane to an elongated piece held in the vise 9. A 
saw blade 6 is mounted on this movable member represented by an arm 4 and 
is driven along by a motor. A stop 10 is movably mounted on a frame 
element 15 and position-controllable on this frame element furnished by 
the cylindrical arbor 15 at the opposite side of the vise 9 relative to 
the saw blade 6. Bearings 17A, 17B are attached to the stand 1 and in part 
hold the said frame element 15 carrying the movable stop 10 for guiding 
said frame element 15 pivotingly around an axis perpendicular to that said 
transverse plane. Kinematic connection means 19, 20 including connecting 
rod 19 and rod 20 connect and tie the movable member 4 carrying the saw 
blade 6 to the frame element 15 carrying the stop 10. These kinematic 
connection means 19, 20 generate the pivoting of this frame element 15 and 
of the stop 10 progressively starting with an initial position of this 
stop 10, during each sawing operation such that, before the end of the 
operation, the stop 10 is sufficiently removed from its initial position 
in order to be no longer in contact with any section being cut and to 
disengage this section from all contact with the stop 10. 
The kinematic connection means can be of a mechanical type and can be in 
particular a connecting rod 19. These kinematic connection means comprise 
at least one connecting rod 19 hinged, on the one hand, by a first end 
with the movable member 4 carrying the saw blade 6, and, on the other 
hand, by a second end with the frame element 15 carrying the stop 10. 
The connecting rod 19 can be hinged with the movable member 4 carrying the 
saw blade 6 by means of a rod 20 of an adjustable length. The rod 20 can 
have a first end 20A which is hinged to the first end of the connection 
rod 19. The rod 20 can have a second end 20B by which it can be fixed to a 
piece of the movable member 4, such that the movable member 4 can be 
displaceable at the same time as the rod 20. 
The apparatus can comprise a support table 8 for a section to be cut from 
an elongated piece. At least one part of the said support table 8 can be 
movably mounted allowing rotation around a geometric axis. This geometric 
axis can be the axis of an additional arbor 23 supported parallel to said 
pivoting axis in the bearings 24A, 24B fixed to the stand 1. The movable 
part can be fixed to this additional cylindrical arbor 23 during a 
rotation of the support table 8. The movable part can be functionally 
fastened to a control member 26 disposed on the stand 1 in order to be 
actuated by the movable member 4 carrying the saw blade 6 at the end of 
the sawing course after execution of the sawing operation. This control 
member 26 can push against the cross bar 8A of the support table 8 up to a 
removal and clearing position of a section separated from the elongated 
piece against the effect of restoring spring 31 of this part of the table 
to its initial position. The totality of the support table 8 can be 
movably mounted around the geometric axis of the additional arbor 23. The 
cross bar 8A of the support table 8 can be fixed to this additional arbor 
23. The additional arbor 23 can be mounted to allow a free rotation in its 
bearings 24A, 24B. The control member 26 can be coupled to the connecting 
rod 19 by means of a coupler 34, disengaged during the execution of the 
sawing operation, and engaged after the sawing operation. The additional 
arbor 23 can be furnished with a radial arm 29. A push rod 27 can be 
slidingly mounted in a bearing 23B on the stand 1 to rest on this radial 
arm 29. The push rod 27 can be actuated and engaged against the effect of 
a spring 31 by the movable member 4 carrying the saw blade 6 after the 
execution of the sawing operation. 
FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic representation of a construction saw 
including conventional elements and such elements consequently do not have 
to be described in detail. This construction saw comprises a stand 1 which 
carries a motor 2 as well as an arbor 3, supported by the stand 1, in 
order to be able to pivot at the same time as an arm 4, which is fixed by 
one end to this arbor 3. The other end of the arm 4, at the interior of a 
protection sheet guard 5, there is mounted a saw blade 6. In this example, 
the saw blade is furnished by a circular disk furnished with teeth at its 
periphery. The arm 4 is easily controllable and movable by hand with the 
aid of a lever 7 along a sawing course, for performing a sawing operation, 
between one upper position, as shown in FIG. 1, and a lower position, 
where the saw blade 6 has terminated the performing of one sawing 
operation. The motor 2 engages this saw blade 6 in rotation during the 
sawing operation. The arm 4 is a movable member which allows the 
performance of a sawing operation. 
On the support table 8, on one side of the saw blade, there is installed a 
hand vise 9, and on the side opposite to the saw blade 6, there is 
installed a movable stop 10. 
The stop 10 is movable by sliding or gliding along an element 11 of the 
stand 1 on a conventional construction saw. This element 11 is, for 
example, an arbor fixed in position on which the stop 10 can be blocked at 
any desired position which defines together with the saw blade 6 the 
length of the end section to be cut in an elongated piece clamped in the 
vise 9. 
Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2 and, in particular, to FIG. 2 which 
shows the invention device which equips the construction saw described 
above. FIG. 2 shows only the part of the stand which is necessary for the 
description of the invention apparatus. The movable stop 10 comprises a 
hub 12. A transversal arm 13, ending in a support face 14 parallel to a 
plane containing the saw blade 6, projects and extends laterally from the 
hub 12. The hub 12 is mounted in order to be able to slide along a 
cylindrical arbor 15 which replaces the conventional fixed element 11 
mentioned above. This arbor 15 carries a scale 16 and is movably mounted 
for rotation around its geometrical longitudinal axis in bearings 17A, 
17B. The bearings 17, 17A, 17B are part of the stand 1. After the 
displacement of the stop 10 up to the desired position, this stop 10 is 
solidly immobilized and fixed in position on the arbor 15 with the aid of 
a screw, for example. 
The arbor 15 is furnished with a cap piece 18 which extends in a radial 
direction at its end part close to the saw blade 6. The arbor 15 is hinged 
to a second end 19B of a connecting rod 19 with the aid of the cap piece 
18. The first end 19A of this connecting rod 19 is hinged with a cap 
shaped first end 20A of a rod 20, illustrated in FIG. 1, where the length 
of the rod is adjustable by means of, for example, a threaded rod 21 fixed 
to the cap shaped first end 20A and engaged in a nut 22 accompanied by a 
blocking counternut 23A. The nut 22 is fixed to a second end part 20B of 
the rod 20. This second end part 20B is fixed to the end of the movable 
arm 4 associated with the arbor 3. In this manner, the hinged assembly 
structure, comprising the rod 20, the connecting rod 19, the arbor 15, the 
stop 10, is pivoted at the same time as the arm 4, carrying the saw blade 
6, is pivoted. However, this assembly structure pivots in an inverse 
direction: when the saw blade 6 descends in the course of a sawing 
operation, the stop 10 rises in order to finish at an extreme upper 
position, as illustrated by a dot-and-dash line in FIG. 2, at the point of 
time where the saw blade 6 arrives at its extreme lower position after the 
execution of the sawing operation. 
During this motion, the stop 10 progressively leaves the piece being sawn, 
not illustrated here, which was initially supported against its support 
face 14 and the stop 10 leaves the piece being sawn totally released a 
short time prior to the end of a sawing operation. The end section has 
therefore, the freedom to assume a certain amount of play relative to this 
saw blade 6 during the course of separation by the action of the saw blade 
6. The friction against the side face of the saw blade is substantially 
reduced and becomes even non-existant such that the sawn-off end section 
does no longer risk to be carried along and displaced by the saw blade or 
to be jammed or wedged between this saw blade and the support face 14 of 
the stop 10. 
The arbor 15 can be displaced in the bearings 17A and 17B in rotation 
around its longitudinal geometric axis. It is conceivable that this arbor 
15 is retained fixed in its bearings and that the stop 10 is movable and 
displaceable in rotation around the arbor 15, by being locked in a 
translational direction. However, this realization would be more 
complicated and more costly without engendering any additional advantages. 
Once the end section is detached by sawing from the elongated piece, there 
is no further risk that the end section is projected and moved by the saw 
blade, or that it becomes wedged or jammed between the saw blade and the 
support face 14 of the stop 10, or that it is carried into any risky and 
hazardous position on the table 8 by the action of the saw blade. It is 
therefore easier to add to and to retrofit the apparatus described above 
with an additional device for removal of the sawn-off end section. 
FIG. 2 illustrates an additional arbor 23 which is mounted freely rotatable 
in bearings 24A, 24B suspended and supported by arms 25A, 25B fixed to the 
stand 1 and positioned below the table 8. This arbor 23 is disposed 
preferably parallel to the geometric axis around which the stop 10 is 
pivoted as explained above. A cross bar 8A, which is carved out of the 
table 8 and which extends at right angles to the additional arbor 23, is 
fixed to the additional arbor 23 at one end. 
The cross bar 8A is functionally fastened by means of the arbor 23 to a 
control member, designated by reference numeral 26. This control member 26 
comprises a push rod 27, disposed in the assembly perpendicular to the 
surface of the table 8. The push rod 27 is slidably mounted in a guide 28 
fixed to the stand 1. The push rod 27 has a lower end 27A which rests on a 
radial arm 29 fixed to the arbor 23. Preferably, the arm 29 extends to the 
other side of the arbor 23 by an extension and projection 30 to which an 
end of a restoring spring 31 is attached The second end of the restoring 
spring is attached to the stand 1. The spring 31 holds in the push rod 27, 
the arbor 23, the cross bar 8A of the table 8, in a first position, where 
this cross bar 8A occupies this position prior to the performance of the 
sawing operation. 
The push rod 27 has an upper end 27B which is located in order to be met 
and stricken by a point of the arm 4, while this arm 4 is at the point of 
arriving at the end of its course after the execution of the sawing 
operation. At this moment, the push rod 27 is pressed, the arbor 23 is 
turned, and the cross bar 8A of the table 8 is lifted. During the lifting 
motion, the cross bar 8A pushes the end section which has been detached by 
sawing beyond the table. 
It is understood that there could exist several cross bars 8A, which are 
spaced apart along the arbor 23, are cut out of the table 8 and are 
brought together at the arbor 23 in order to be lifted by the arbor 23 as 
described above. 
FIG. 3 shows that the assembled structure of the table 8 can be assembled 
with the stand 1 by way of hinges 32 in order to be lifted up in totality 
by the engagement of a control member 26. This raising of the totality of 
the table 8 is possible since at this moment the stop 10 is in its upper 
position, as indicated with the dash-and-dot line in FIG. 2. In this case, 
the lower face of the table 8 is fastened to the arbor 23 by inwardly 
curved arms 33. 
The table 8 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 as being a plane table in 
order to make the drawing less complicated and easier to understand. 
However, for practical purposes, the table 8 can have the shape of a V 
with a small angle in order to serve for the centering of the end section 
during the separation process by sawing. 
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate that, for the lifting of the table 8 or, at least 
of a part of this table 8 after the sawing operation, the control member 
26 can be operated at the desired moment from the connecting rod 19 by 
means of a coupler 34, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Since this coupler is 
disengaged, it renders this connecting rod 19 inoperative on the control 
member 26 as long as the sawing operation is not terminated. 
For this purpose, the arbor 15 extends beyond the the bearing 17B, opposite 
to the connecting rod 19, and it is furnished by a bar 35 which is radial 
in relation to this arbor 15. A flat iron 36, curved to a circular arc 
shape, is fixed at an end to the free end of the arbor 15. The center of 
the circular arc is on the geometric axis of the arbor 15. An elongated 
opening 37 is provided in this flat iron 36, which is also curved and 
centered around the same axis. An end part 38A of an arm of a bracket 38 
is engaged along this curved elongated opening 37. The other arm of the 
bracket 38 is fixed to the end of the radial arm 29 as illustrated in FIG. 
5, while a motion of the rod 27 is suppressed. 
During the sawing operation and the corresponding rotation of the arbor 15, 
the end part 38A is disposed in the elongated opening 37 and the 
additional arbor 23 does not turn. When the end 37A of the opening 37 
encounters and pushes the extreme end part 38A, after the end of the 
sawing operation, the arbor 23 turns and forces the table 8 to lift itself 
as described above. 
The invention covers the different equivalent variations which can be 
applied to the described examples, in particular, to the variations 
realized with the aid of electrical components replacing the mechanical 
members. For example, the lifting of the control member 26 or of several 
parts of the support table 8, and even the lifting of the table 8 in its 
totality, can be executed by an electric solenoid or by an electric motor. 
The excitation of this solenoid at the desired moment can be realized by a 
limit switch actuated by any convenient point of the movable member or the 
arm 4. The push rod 27 is thereby replaced. 
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or 
more together, may also find a useful application in other types of sawing 
devices differing from the types described above. 
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in the 
context of an apparatus for disengaging a section cut to length on a power 
saw, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various 
modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any 
way from the spirit of the present invention. 
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of 
the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, 
readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, 
from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential 
characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.