# Patent

## Title
Wood working machine and suitable rip fence module

## Abstract

A rip fence module for positioning workpieces with their edge facing away from a tool on a machine table at a certain distance to the tool, comprising: a superstructure overlapping the machine table presenting a workpiece stop for the workpiece to be treated extending in a longitudinal direction, at least one guided portion which is insertable and guidable in an allocated guide groove provided on the machine table side extending in an extension direction transversely to the longitudinal direction, and by which the superstructure is supported movably in the guide groove in the extension direction relatively the tool, and a locking device shiftable between a locking position and a release position in order to lock the rip fence module in the locking position at a guided portion defined relatively the guide groove, and to permit in the release position a shifting of the guided portion in the guide groove.

## Background
The invention relates to a rip fence module, such as for a wood working machine.
In the case of machine tools, in particular wood working machines such as circular saws or the like often workpieces such as for example chipboards must be lead past a tool passing through a machine table such as for example a saw blade or disk (in the case of a circular saw).
Therefore, such machine tools often have a rip fence movable on the machine table opposite to (what means relatively to) the tool in a extension direction extending transversely to a longitudinal direction, for example the working direction of a saw blade or disk, the rip fence having a workpiece stop in parallel to the longitudinal direction to which the workpiece can be abutted in order to be positioned on the machine table with a specific distance to the tool with its edge faced away from the tool in order to be then lead past the tool. In order to firmly adjust the adjusted distance of the rip fence of the tool during the following working operation, generic machine tools and/or their rip fence module moreover present a locking device, which is shiftable by an operator between a locking position and a release position in order to arrest a guided portion of the rip fence or release it for readjustment of the distance between the tool and the workpiece stop.
In the printed US patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,066, for example, a circular saw with a roller-guided rip fence module has been proposed in order to improve sliding of the guided rip fence. The guided section of the rip fence encloses in an U-shaped manner a guide rib attached on an end table. In the groove base and on a flank of the U-shaped portion, rollers are attached over which the rip fence can roll off on the guide rib. Moreover, the rip fence module comprises a locking device having an arm formed as a fork, which encompasses a screw, which can be pressed against or releases a guide rib held in the groove between the branches of the guided portion.
In the wood working field, guide rails and/or suitable accommodations for rip fence modules exist already on common machine tables so that suitable rip fences can be sold also as rip fence modules which can be bought individually in addition.
The workpiece stop is provided here on a superstructure of the rip fence overlapping the machine table at least partially with the superstructure being shiftably accommodated on the machine table in at least one guide groove provided for it via at least one guided portion.
Rip fences are known, which entirely overlap the machine table, and are supported on the machine table in a guide groove on the front and rear side. Other known rip fences are supported by means of a guided portion in a guide groove provided on a front side of the machine table and on the rear side of the machine table via a sliding support on the surface of the table top.
A modification is shown in US patent application US 2004/0123712 A1 where a circular saw with a rip fence module is provided which can be driven via a motor and a spindle located alongside the machine table. For this purpose, the rip fence is received on the spindle with a corresponding nut, with the nut being located on a guided portion which is received together with the motor spindle in a guide groove, the guided portion and/or the guided carriage with one arm passing through the guide rail profile, with the arm being connected with the superstructure of the rip fence by means of a clamp and guided with a guiding piece on a T-shaped guide rail end of the guide rail profile.
In both variants it frequently happens that the rip fence gets jammed in the allocated guides provided on the machine table.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention, to create a smooth-running rip fence, and a wood working machine with a smooth-running rip fence which can rapidly and easily be attached to and removed from the machine table.
According to the invention the guided portion of the rip fence module and/or the rip fence of the wood working machine by means of which the superstructure of the rip fence is movably supported in a guide groove provided on the machine table, presents one or several guided carriages, which can be inserted into the guide groove at least in sections, presenting in turn each a number of ball bearings or roller bearings and/or rollers with ball bearings or roller bearings via which each guided carriage inserted into the guide groove can roll off on allocated rolling surfaces of the guide groove in release position and/or via which each guided carriage is movable on rollers in the guide groove in extension direction and contrary to the extension direction, with the guided carriage having moreover a carriage body on the superstructure, on which the number of ball bearings or roller bearings (and/or the rollers) is accommodated on the guide groove with an alterable and/or adjustable distance to the allocated roll-off surface (what means roll way surface) preferably in vertical direction between a roll-off position and a withdrawal position. In roll-off position (what means rollable position) the number of ball bearings or roller bearings abuts the guiding surfaces and does not abut the guiding surfaces in the withdrawal position serving for withdrawal of the guided carriage from the guide groove.
Thus, not only a smooth-running shifting of the rip fence against the tool is possible, which is not only a benefit to precise adjustment of the desired distance between the tool and the workpiece stop whereby the rip fence does not so easily get jammed either as is the case in rip fence modules with sliding guidance.
Rather the guided carriage in the withdrawal position can particularly easily be inserted into the guide groove with its rollers so that in total the rip fence can be easily attached to the machine table. Prior to putting the rip fence into operation, the ball or roller bearings are then brought into their roll-off position abutting the guide rail in their allocated roll-off surfaces free of clearance extending in extension direction. When the rip fence module is to be removed from the machine table, the ball or roller bearings (and/or rollers) are brought again from their roll-off position abutting the allocated roll-off surfaces into the non-abutting withdrawal position. Subsequently, the guided carriage can again easily be removed from the groove and the rip fence module can be withdrawn from the machine table.
The number of ball or roller bearings can, for example, be fixed to the carriage body via an arm arrangement movable preferably in vertical direction and/or spreadable or pivotable in this direction. The withdrawal position then corresponds to a position of the arm arrangement in which the number of ball or roller bearings is not spread vertically to the extension direction against the run-off surfaces. A spread position of the arm arrangement in the guide groove then corresponds to the roll-off position.
More preferably a preloading device is provided, which preloads the ball or roller bearings into the roll-off position, preferably a preloading device engaging in the arm arrangement and preloading the arm arrangement in the spread position, the roll-off position, so that the bearings inserted into the guide groove are preloaded against the roll-off surfaces of the guide groove allocated to them.
In total, thus a precise guidance of the rip fence in the guide groove without sputtering during shifting is achieved.
Of course, in a guide groove provided on the front side of the machine table and a guide groove provided on the rear side of the machine table, a guided carriage supported by ball bearings or roller bearings can be provided in both guide grooves each via a rip fence supported by a guided portion. It is also imaginable to movably receive the rip fence on the machine table via a plurality of guided carriages supported by roller or ball bearings in a guide groove. In the case of a rip fence, which is only received in a guide groove on the front side of the machine table, and glides off on the rear side of the machine table via a sliding portion on the table top, however, only a guided carriage received in the guide groove on the front side is necessary. But for further improvement of smooth-running of the rip fence it would be imaginable to support the rip fence also here via a roller instead of the sliding portion on the rear side.
A wood working machine according to an advantageous further embodiment of the invention moreover comprises a table widening with an extension element presenting an extension plate for widening the machine table, which can be placed next to the machine table, the extension plate being received between two extension arms fixed to the extension plate, with the arms being received in two guide rails, which can be fixed on the table and are guided in extension direction, with at least the front extension arm being penetrated by a guide groove for the guided portion of the rip fence.
Thus, the fence cannot only be used in the extended condition of the table widening and in the retracted condition of the table widening but also the distance of the rip fence and/or the workpiece stop of the rip fence of the workpiece can be adjusted independent of the condition of extension of the table widening. Moreover, via the optional table widening a two-stage adjustment of the distance between the workpiece stop and the workpiece can be achieved: at first the table widening is coarsely put into the correct position with the rip fence locked in the guide groove(s) on the guide arm(s). Subsequently, fine adjustment of the distance of the workpiece stop to the tool is made via the guided carriage of the rip fence smoothly movable in the guide groove (after the locking device of the rip fence has been released).
For manual modification of the distance of the number of rollers to the allocated roll-off surfaces and/or for manual take off of the number of rollers for removal of the guided carriage out of the guide groove, an adjusting lever can be provided which is coupled with the arm arrangement via a coupling device. By the fact that a separate handle and/or adjusting lever for spreading and/or retraction of the arm arrangement is provided, for removal of the rip fence from the machine table, intentional unlocking on this adjusting lever has to be made, i.e. the number of rollers must be put into the withdrawal position, where they do not abut the allocated roll-off surface.
The arm arrangement may have an arm here, the end of which is pivotably attached to the carriage body around an axis of rotation extending in longitudinal direction, and the other end of which bears at least one roller. If the roller is pivoted upwards via the adjusting lever and the coupling device, for example, a coupling pin penetrating the carriage body and connected or connectable with the adjusting lever, the roller can be put from the roll-off position, in which the carriage body and thus the rip fence is supported on it, into the withdrawal position with the superstructure of the rip fence module, for example, bearing here on the table top of the machine table.
Preferably, the arm arrangement, however, comprises a rocker preferably attached pivotable on the carriage body around an axis of rotation extending in longitudinal direction with two bearing bolts fixed on two opposite sides of the rocker with at least one roller being received on the bearing bolts. The carriage body can then be supported in the guide groove in the roll-off position via the arm arrangement and the rollers between an upper and a lower roll-off surface. As a result, the rip fence is not only especially safe but due to the relief of the lower roller also guided particularly smoothly. In theory, also a support between two vertically extending side walls of the guide groove would be imaginable here.
According to a further advantageous embodiment, the locking device comprises a contact pressure strip receivable in the respective guide groove, hence for example in a guide groove on the front side of the machine table facing towards the operator. Here, the contact pressure strip can be shifted via a coupling device engaging into the guide groove in longitudinal direction between the locking position, in which it is pressed against the rear side of an undercut of the guide groove extending in extension direction, and the release position, in which it is lifted off the rear side of the undercut. Moreover, the locking device can comprise a counter-retaining surface, which is pressed against a bearing surface on the machine table, when the contact pressure strip is moved into the locking position so that a counter-retaining force is created against the compressive force exercised via the contact pressure strip whereby locking of the rip fence occurs. Preferably, a contact pressure surface located on the contact pressure strip and the counter-retaining surface extend in another, preferably vertical plane to the run-off and/or roll-off surfaces for the roller (bearings) so that actuation of the locking device is possible entirely independent of adjustment of the guidance of the rip fence and/or putting of the arm arrangement into the withdrawal position or the guided position.
When the counter-retaining surface is located on the carriage body and the bearing surface is located on the guide rail on the front side opposite the rear side of the undercut, the rip fence can be locked or released for shifting by shifting of the contact pressure strip relative to the carriage body. Therefore it is advantageous, if the contact pressure strip is shiftable in longitudinal direction relative to the carriage body via the coupling device. Thus, a reliable and easily manageable locking and/or release of the rip fence in extension direction is possible.
A further advantageous embodiment of the invention relates to a pivoted lever received pivotable on the superstructure which is provided as an operating device for the locking device. The pivoted lever can be pivoted here between the release position and the locking position around a preferably horizontal pivot axis extending, for example, in extension direction, and comprises at least a guided portion extending eccentrically to its pivot axis via which the locking device is shiftable, thus operable between a locking position and the release position. At the same time, the above mentioned coupling device can be advantageously coupled with the pivoted lever via its guided portion extending eccentrically to the pivot axis.
Alternatively or in addition to locking of the rip fence by means of a locking device engaged on the front guide groove, the superstructure of the rip fence module can be formed as a portal superstructure entirely overlapping the machine table in longitudinal direction comprising on its rear side of the machine table facing away from the operator a clamping spigot, which can be pressed into an allocated guide groove provided on the machine side via the operating device, hence preferably via the pivoted lever, which corresponds to the locking position, and which moreover can be put into the release position movable transversely to the longitudinal direction. In order to press the clamping spigot into the locking position and/or into the allocated guide groove and/or to brace the clamping spigot in this position against another clamping device on the front of the machine table, for example, a bearing surface on the guide groove of the front side, a tension rod overlapping the superstructure in longitudinal direction may be provided, which—like the coupling of the coupling device—can be received in an eccentric guided portion on the pivoted lever. Via a pivoting of the pivoted lever abutting the superstructure by means of an external perimeter clamping surface on an allocated bearing surface, hence the tension rod can be put under traction or pressure so that the clamping spigot can be clamped against the bearing surfaces in the allocated guide groove, hence locked in the guide groove, and can also be unloaded, hence released again.
The locking device can comprise counter-stop surfaces on the front side of the machine table, which are pressed against corresponding bearing surfaces on the machine table, when the clamping spigot and/or the contact pressure strip are moved into the locking position. When releasing the locking via the pivoted lever provided as an operating device for the locking device, the rip fence can then be withdrawn in total from the machine (when simultaneously the bearings are located in a removable manner) so that an easy assembly and disassembly of the rip fence is possible.
In order to provide a high protection against displacement of the rip fence also in the case of lateral pressure of the workpiece, a combination of the clamping spigot with a further embodiment of the invention described above with a contact pressure strip received in a guide groove provided on the front side of the machine table proves to be particularly advantageous. Moreover, fixing of the rip fence on both sides of the machine table permits a high angular accuracy to the longitudinal direction, hence, for example, to a saw blade provided as a tool. If the contact pressure strip (for example via the coupling device) is likewise connected with the pivoted lever of the locking device, also in this embodiment the locking can be released and locked again with a flick of the wrist.
The adjusting lever for removal of the number of rollers from the allocated roll-off surfaces can be advantageously coupled with the arm arrangement via the same coupling device as the pivoted lever for actuating the locking device. For this purpose, the coupling device may comprise a coupling pin received pivotable in the carriage body and extending in longitudinal direction, on the side of which facing towards the guide groove on the one hand the arm arrangement and/or the rocker is received in a pivoted manner, and on which on the other hand the contact pressure strip is fixed, preferably on the free ends of the bearing bolt on which the rollers on the rocker are received.
The adjusting lever placed on the side of the carriage body facing away from the rocker may present a rod eye clevis portion penetrated by the coupling pin and non-rotatably connected with the coupling pin with which it connects to the carriage body on its side facing towards the rocker. On the side of the rod eye clevis portion facing away from the rocker and/or the carriage body a coupling section coupling the coupling pin with an operating device of the locking device can then be provided on the rear side via which the coupling pin is shiftable between the locking position, in which it is extracted so far from the guide groove that the contact pressure strip abuts the rear side of the undercut, and the release position, in which it is inserted so far into the guide groove that the contact pressure strip abuts the rear side of the undercut.
Another advantageous embodiment relates to the fixing of an angle bar forming a workpiece stop by means of an angle bar clamping device on the superstructure, preferably on a carrier section of the superstructure attached between a front and a rear frame. The angle bar can be clamped here by means of an angle bar clamping device and can be released for shifting in longitudinal direction. Advantageously the angle bar comprises an undercut groove extending in longitudinal direction and the angle bar clamping device comprises a contact pressure strip received in the undercut groove as well as a clamping screw with a bias spring—penetrating the carrier section and screwed with the contact pressure strip—by means of which the contact pressure strip is preloaded away from the carrier section.
For releasing and fixing again the angle bar after a shifting in longitudinal direction, only a flick of the wrist is necessary in order to fasten the clamping screw, if a hand-wheel is attached on the end of the clamping screw facing away from the contact pressure strip. Moreover, by means of the bias spring placed preferably around the clamping screw, the contact pressure strip in the groove of the angle bar is always maintained at a distance as soon as the clamping screw is released, whereby an easier moving of the angle bar onto the contact pressure strip and thus shorter assembly and disassembly times are possible.
The features of further dependent claims relate to the precise embodiment of the functional inventive idea with structural features which are explained more in detail in connection with the explanation of preferred embodiments of the invention by means of the attached drawings.
It is to be mentioned here that the features of the embodiments shall be included in the main claims of the invention not only in the combination precisely shown and explained but also in any other combination appearing to be reasonable. Moreover, it is pointed out that the structure of the guided carriage can also be employed in an advantageous manner, if on its carriage body instead of the ball or roller bearings or rollers sliding portions are provided. A rip fence module with the features of the preamble of claim 1 and the features of the guided carriage with ball bearings and/or sliding portions being provided movably on the carriage body, and/or a corresponding wood working machine and a carriage body constructed accordingly could therefore—optionally together with the features mentioned in the description above, the features mentioned in further dependent claims, and further features described in connection with the drawings in any reasonable combination—constitute alternative embodiments. It is likewise imaginable to make the structure of the locking device together with the features of the table fence and wood working machine in particular together with the other optional features concerning the structure of the locking device and its coupling to the guided portion as further embodiments.



The drawings show:
FIG. 1 a perspective view of a machine table of a circular saw with a rip fence module according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 a partial plan view of the circular saw shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 a partial view of the guide rail arrangement for the rip fence module used shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 a section of the rip fence module shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 alongside line II-II in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 detail V in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 a detailed view of a guided carriage of the rip fence module shown in the previous figures from the top;
FIG. 7 another detailed view of the guided carriage in a partial sectional view from the side;
FIG. 8 a partially cut-out view of the section on the operator's side of the rip fence module shown in the previous figures from a side corresponding to FIG. 4;
FIG. 9 a sectional view alongside line IX-IX in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10a a side view of a washer of a coupling between a locking device and a bearing clearance adjusting device of the rip fence module shown in the preceding figures;
FIG. 10b a perspective view of the washer shown in FIG. 10a; 
FIG. 11 a perspective view of a forked sleeve of the coupling allocated to the washer shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b; 
FIG. 12 a detailed view of an end of an extension arm received in a guide rail attached to the machine table in which a guide groove for the rip fence module is provided according to the preceding figures;
FIG. 13 a detailed view of an end of the guide rails receiving the extension arms facing towards the rip fence module; and
FIG. 14 a detailed sectional view alongside line XIV-XIV in FIG. 2 of one of the guide arms received in the guide rails on which the guide groove for the rip fence module is provided in the embodiment of the invention shown in the preceding figures.



At first reference is made to FIGS. 1 to 3, which show a machine table 3 of a circular saw designated with 1 onto which a table widening module and a rip fence module is attached on the side located in the extension direction A. On the machine table 3 a tool slot 2 is provided through which a disk of the circular saw can pass, with an extension plate 8 of the table widening module being attached on the one side of the tool slot 2, and a mitre fence module 4 being attached on the other side of the workpiece tool 2. The table widening module is designed such that the machine can easily be reconfigured by attaching the extension element on the other table side.
For this purpose, alongside the machine table 2 in front and at the back on the external end of the table a guide rail 6a, 6b each is mounted in which two extension arms 7a, 7b are received in a guided manner among which the extension plate 8 is fixed flush on top with the upper side of the machine table 3. An extension element of the table widening module thus comprises apart from the extension plate 8 also the two extension arms 7a, 7b and must not be dismantled before being reinserted into the guide rails 6a, 6b on the other side of the table.
The guide rails 6a, 6b are penetrated here by a guide groove each 6a, 12a and/or 6b, 12b over their entire length extending in extension direction A which is formed by the guide rail 6a, 6b itself and/or its internal cross-section, and a slide bush 12a, 12b each fitted on the part of the extension plate 8. The guide arms 7a, 7b are received in the respective guide groove 6a, 12a and 6b, 12b resp. in a guided manner, and have a constant cross-section, which is not undercut, over their entire length.
A sliding cap each 11a—and/or on the opposite side not shown here—11b is screwed onto its end received in the respective guide groove 6a, 12a and 6b, 12b resp.
The ends of the guide arms 7a, 7b provided with one of the sliding caps 11a, 11b each can be taken in detail from FIG. 12. One can see that the sliding caps 11a, 11b slide off on the inner surface of the respective guide rails 6a, 6b into the respective guide groove 6a, 12a and 6b, 11b resp.
The ends of the guide rails 6a, 6b provided with the slide bushes 12a and 12b resp. facing towards the extension plate 8, however, are shown in detail in FIGS. 13 and 14. One can see that the slide bushes 12a, 12b are fitted into and/or onto the guide rails 6a and/or 6b from the side. For this purpose, slide bushes 12a, 12b each comprise a screw-in guide groove 19 by means of which they can be fitted onto fastening bolts 18 provided on the guide rail 6a. The sliding caps 12 need only be turned for fastening or removal.
Reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 moreover designates a locking device of the table widening module by means of which the extension element can be fastened in a desired position via locking blocks 10f received in locking grooves 17a in the extension arms 6a, 6b which can be taken from FIG. 14. FIG. 14 also shows a rip fence shifting groove 14a in the extension arm 7a, which due to the identity of parts of the extension arms 7a, 7b, corresponds to an equal groove 14b in another extension arm 7b on the rear side of the machine table.
The rip fence module is thus received shiftably independent of the extension position of the extension element in the rip fence shifting groove 14a and the corresponding groove 14b on the extension arms 7a, 7b. Moreover, on the two extension arms 7a, 7b an end cap is screwed onto the end on the side of the rip fence (in the drawing only the end cap 13b provided on the rear extension arm 7b is shown) serving as a retaining stop for the rip fence module.
Moreover, the two extension arms 7a, 7b each are provided with another top holding groove 15a into which, for example, a sheet metal plate with a plotted longitudinal scale can be received or glued in. FIG. 2 also shows a window 15b through which a user can view a width scale on the guide rail 6a when using the rip fence in the case of non-extended table widening. If the user wants to use the rip fence in the case of extended table widening, at first the rip fence must be moved against the end cap 13b. The measure can then be read by means of scale pointer attached on the end of the extension arm 6a and/or the sliding cap 11a in the guide rail 7a on another scale attached on the guide rail 7a. In both cases it can be seen how far a workpiece stop of the rip fence formed by an angle bar 9d is away from the tool and/or the tool slot 2.
The rip fence module comprises a superstructure generally designated with 9 by means of which it overlaps the machine table 3 in longitudinal direction L. The superstructure 9 comprises a front frame 9a as well as a rear frame 9c among which a carrier section is screwed on. On the carrier section 9b the angle bar 9d is shiftably received in the longitudinal direction L via a clamping device 17.
The angle bar clamping device designated with 17 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown in detail in FIG. 3 with the angle bar 9d not being shown. The carrier section 9b is penetrated by clamping screw 17b at one end of which a hand-wheel 17a is attached whereas the other end of the clamping screw 17b is screwed into a contact pressure strip 17c insertable into an undercut groove of the angle bar 9d. Around the clamping screw 17b a bias spring 17d is placed keeping the contact pressure strip always at a distance so that it is easier to move the angle bar 9d forming the workpiece stop to the contact pressure strip 17c. In addition, the contact pressure strip 17c via the guide bolts 17e passing through the undercut groove is secured against tilting on both sides of the clamping screw likewise passing through the undercut groove, and is guided in allocated bores on the carrier section 9b. 
As is particularly shown in FIG. 4, the locking device generally designated in FIGS. 1, 2 with 16 for locking the rip fence module in the guide grooves 14a, 14b of the two extension arms 7a, 7b comprises an adjusting lever 16a, on which via a tension rod tie bolt 16f a tension rod 16b passing through the portal-shaped superstructure 9 is received. On the tension rod 16b end opposite the adjusting lever 16a a clamping spigot 16c is fastened to the tension rod 16b via a bolt not referred to in detail. The clamping spigot 16c is suspended on the rear frame 9c of the portal superstructure 9 via a hinge axis 16d which is fastened via a hinged band clamp 16e on the rear frame 9c. As can especially be seen in FIG. 8, the tension lever 16a abuts the allocated bearing surface 9e on the front frame 9a of the superstructure 9 with an external perimeter surface 16h and is preloaded against the bearing surface 9e via the tension rod 16b and/or a tension rod bias spring placed around the tension rod 16b. 
The tension rod tie bolt 16f via which the tension rod 16b is fastened to the pivoted lever 16a is received in a receiving bore 16k for the tension rod tie bolt 16f extending in extension direction A. The receiving bore 16k penetrates the pivoted lever 16a at a location eccentric to its pivot axis. On the other end, the tension rod 16b is fastened below the pivot point of the clamping spigot 16c on the rear frame 9c on the clamping spigot 16c. The clamping spigot 16c has a lug by means of which it can be braced against bearing surfaces and/or edges on the undercut groove 14b in the extension arm 7b on the side of the machine table 3 facing away from the operator, if via the tension rod 16b a traction is exercised on the clamping spigot 16c acting against the longitudinal direction L. In FIGS. 4 and 8 the clamping spigot 16c is in a position abutting against the bearing surfaces on the undercut groove 14b, hence in a locked position. For releasing the clamping spigot 16c from this position, the pivoted lever 16c must be pivoted upwards so that the eccentrically received tension rod tie bolt 16f in FIGS. 4 and 8 moves towards the right, hence in longitudinal direction L and thus a corresponding pressure is exercised on the clamping spigot 16c via the tension rod 16b. For locking the rip fence module again in the guide grooves 14a, 14b of the extension arms 7a, 7b, the pivoted lever 16a can be pressed downward again.
But via the pivoted lever 16a not only the clamping spigot 16c can be pivoted from a locking position into a release position and back, which is located on rear side of the machine table but also a locking (and/or release) of the rip fence module can be effected on a guided portion 24, 16g received in the rip fence shifting groove 14a on the front side. At the front, one does not only hold up against the clamping force of the clamping spigot (which would, however, be imaginable) but also an independent locking device locking (and releasing) the rip fence module in the front guide rail 14a is operated alone. Thus, the rip fence module can on the one hand be clamped onto the two extension arms 6a, 6b and thus locked via the clamping spigot 16c at the back and via an allocated counter-retaining device in front described below. In addition, the rip fence module can be braced on the front extension arm 6a via the locking on the guided portion 24, 16g at the front received in the rip fence shifting groove 14a. In total, a very small angle error of bracing results.
For detailed explanation of the use of this portion 24, 16g formed from a guided carriage generally designated with 24 and a contact pressure strip 16g, and guided in the rip fence shifting groove 14a, reference is now made to FIG. 5 which shows the detail designated with V in FIG. 4.
The guided carriage 24 comprises a ball bearing 24a abutting an upper, horizontal bearing surface of the rip fence shifting groove and a ball bearing 24b not visible in FIG. 5 abutting the opposite lower horizontal bearing surface of the rip fence shifting groove 14a (roll-off position; in the withdrawal position for withdrawal of the rip fence module from the machine table none of the two ball bearings 24a, 24b abuts any one of the bearing surfaces). The ball bearings 24a, 24b are pressed onto allocated bearing bolts 24d, 24e, which on one end are fastened to a rocker 24c shown especially in FIGS. 6 and 7, and on the other end are provided with a contact pressure strip 16g and spaced from the ball bearings 24a, 24b via stacks of spacer disks 24i, 24j. The rocker 24c and the bearing bolts 24d, 24e pressed onto it on both ends form an arm arrangement 24c, 24d, 24e spreadable and/or pivotable via a coupling pin 25a against the horizontal bearing surfaces on the rip fence shifting groove 14a, with the rocker 24 being non-rotatably connected with the coupling pin 25a via a locking pin 24k. 
The coupling pin 25a passes through a carriage body 24f definable on the superstructure 9 and an adjusting lever 23 with the guide bolt 25a being connected via a tongue and groove joint in an eye section 23a of the adjusting lever 23 with the adjusting lever 23. In order to move the coupling pin 25a—and hence the arm arrangement 24c, 24d, 24e attached to it—towards and/or in an opposite direction to the longitudinal direction L, a coupling device generally designated with 25 in FIG. 4 is provided, which apart from the coupling pin 25a comprises a coupling section 25b, 25c, 25d on the rear side facing away from the rip fence shifting groove via which the coupling pin 25a can be shifted in longitudinal direction L.
The coupling section 25b, 25c, 25d on the rear side is coupled to the pivoted lever 16a of the locking device 16 so that via this pivoted lever 16a not only the clamping spigot 16c can be pivoted between its locking position and its release position, but also the coupling pin 25a and thus the contact pressure strip 16g attached to the coupling pin 25a can be brought from its locking position abutting against the rear side of the undercut of the guide groove 14a into a release position detached from the rear side of the undercut (and back). In the locking position the contact pressure strip 16g bears against the undercut of the guide groove 14a from the inside and at the same time also the lateral surface of the carriage body 24f facing the extension arm 7a (and thus facing the contact pressure strip 16g) as a counter-retaining surface from the outside against a corresponding bearing surface of the extension arm 7a. 
The pivoted lever 16a comprises a guide groove 16i extending spirally around its pivot axis in which a guide pin 16j is received onto which—see FIGS. 8, 9—a forked sleeve 25b is suspended. The forked sleeve 25b comprises arms encompassing the coupling pin 25a onto which it is suspended on the guide pin 16j. The forked sleeve 25b is received vertically shiftable here between a surface of the adjusting lever 23 extending vertically and a washer 25c. 
The forked sleeve 25b and the allocated washer 25c are shown in detail in FIGS. 10 and 11. One can see that on the forked sleeve 25b two arched coupling projections 25 towards the washer 25c are provided to which a coupling groove 25g each is allocated provided on the surface of the washer 25c facing towards the forked sleeve 25b. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the coupling grooves 25g start on the upper end of the washer 25c and end with a rounded flank in an area in which there are the coupling projections 25h shortly before by pressing down the pivoted lever 16a (arrow “Off”) the clamping bar 16g is put against the undercut of the guide rail 14a. 
If the pivoted lever 16a is now pressed down further, the coupling projections 25h bear against the flanks of the coupling grooves 25g on the underside thus causing a shifting of the washer 25c in an opposite direction to the longitudinal direction L, hence towards the operator. The washer 25c is penetrated by the coupling pin 25a here in a center bore 25f and screwed together with the coupling pin 25a via a coupling adjustment screw 25d so that when actuating the pivoted lever 16a together with the washer 25c also the coupling pin 25a and thus finally the contact pressure strip 16g is shifted towards the operator.
The coupling projections 25h are abutting the flanks on the underside of the coupling grooves 25g and are thus in an intermediate position between the release position and the locking position with the contact pressure strip 16g being drawn against the undercut 14a of the guide groove in the extension arm 7a and aligned rectangularly.
If the pivoted lever 16a is still pressed down a few degrees further, the intermediate position is passed over and the coupling projections 25h emerge from the coupling grooves 25g. This results in the actual locking (locking position) in which the extension arm 7a is really tensioned tightly between the clamping bar 16g and the side of the carriage body 24f facing towards the clamping bar 16g. 
Preferably the length and position of the coupling grooves 25g are adjusted to the drive line 16f, 16b, 16d for the rear clamping spigot 16c such that the contact pressure strip 16g is pressed against the undercut 14a of the guide groove in the extension arm 7a before actual locking via the tension lever 16a occurs.
In the release position the adjusting lever 23 is therefore not under tension between the carriage body 24f and the coupling arrangement 25b, 25c on the rear side formed by the forked sleeve 25b and the washer 25c so that the rocker 24c can be moved via a twisting of the adjusting lever 23. In the locking position, however, the adjusting lever 23 is gripped between the carriage body 24f and the coupling arrangement 25b, 25c on the rear side so that a spreading and/or horizontal position of the rocker 24c and/or the arm arrangement 24c, 24d, 24e formed from the rocker 24c and the bearing bolts 24d, 24e, at any rate, cannot be made unintentionally in this position.
In order to preload the rocker 24c into the release position, moreover a coupling bias spring 25e is provided placed around the coupling pin 25a which on the one hand is supported on the rocker 24c and on the other hand is supported on the carriage body 24f (FIG. 6). Moreover, the carriage body 24f on the side facing towards the rocker 24c comprises an annular projection 24g surrounding the perimeter of the coupling bias spring 25e, and can be retracted into an allocated recess in the rocker. Via the screw-in depth of the coupling adjustment screw 25d thus the distance between the carriage body 24f and the contact pressure strip 16g can be adjusted in the release position.
Moreover, a bias spring 24l for the rocker 24c is provided, via which the rocker 24c is preloaded into a spread position, i.e., a position in which the ball bearings 24a, 24b abut the bearing surfaces of the rip fence shifting groove 14a provided for it (FIG. 7). The bias spring 24l is placed on a bias spring removal screw 24m, which is screwed into the carriage body 24f from the bottom with vertical screw axis, and on the other hand supported in a recess of the rocker 24c provided for it adjacent to the bearing 24a. On the other side of the rocker 24c adjacent to the bearing 24b moreover an adjusting screw with vertical screw axis is screwed into the carriage body 24f from the bottom acting as an adjustable attachment point. Via the pretensioning force set screw 24m a pretensioning force can be adjusted here by means of which the bias spring 24l preloads the rocker 24c into the spread position.
Finally, reference is made again to FIG. 4 in order to emphasise that the rip fence module of the embodiment shown can be braced and/or locked in the grooves 14a, 14b provided for it in the extension arms 7a, 7b on both sides of the machine table and/or the extension plate 8 attached to it. But in the release position the rip fence module is only guided via ball bearings 24a, 24b in the front rip fence shifting groove 14a facing towards the operator but not in the groove 14b on the rear side. Depending on the position on the table top 3 and the extension plate 8 resp., the rip fence module in its rear side area rather bears on the surface of the machine table 3 and/or the extension plate 8 slidingly supported by a slide bush 26. But it is also imaginable to provide a roller or the like instead of the slide bush 26.
The guide rails 6a, 6b are fastened to the machine table 3 by means of screw connections (not shown) whereas the extension arms 6a, 6b are fastened to the extension plate 8 by means of fastening bolts 27 (FIG. 6).
It is obvious that variations and modifications of the embodiment shown are possible without abandoning the scope of the invention.
REFERENCE NUMERALS


    A extension direction
    L longitudinal direction
    1 circular saw (machine tool)
    2 workpiece slot
    3 machine table
    4 mitre fence module
    6a, 12a, 6b, 12b guide grooves (guided portion)
    6a, 6b guide rails
    7a, 11a, 7b, 11b sliding portion
    7a, 7b extension arms
    8 extension plate
    9 portal superstructure
    9a front frame
    9b carrier section
    9c rear frame
    9d angle bar
    9e eccentric clamping surface
    10 locking device of the table widening
    10f locking block of the table widening
    11a, 11b sliding caps (covering)
    12a, 12b sliding caps (lining)
    13b end cap
    14a rip fence shifting groove
    14b rear side groove
    15a holding groove for width scale
    15b window
    16 locking device
    16a pivoted lever
    16b tension rod
    16c clamping spigot
    16d hinge axis
    16e hinged band clamp
    16f tension rod tie bolt
    16g contact pressure strip
    16h external perimeter bearing surface
    16i, 16k eccentric guided portions
    16i forked sleeve guide groove
    16j forked sleeve guide pin
    16k tension rod tie bolt receiving bore
    16l tension rod bias spring
    17 angle bar clamping device
    17a handle
    17b clamping screw
    17c contact pressure
    17d bias spring
    17e guide bolt
    18 slide bush fastening bolt
    19 screw-in guide grooves
    21 undercut groove
    22 stop surface
    23 bearing clearance adjusting lever
    23a eye section
    24 guided carriage (guided portion)
    24a, 24b roller bearings
    24c rocker
    24d, 24e bearing bolt
    24f carriage body
    24g annular projection
    24h coupling pin
    24i, 24j spacer disk stacks
    24k locking pin for coupling pin
    24l bias spring for rocker (preloading device for arm arrangement)
    24m pretensioning force set screw
    25 coupling device
    25a coupling pin
    25b, 25c, 25d coupling section on rear side
    25b forked sleeve
    25c washer
    25d coupling adjustment screw
    25e coupling bias spring
    25f bore of pad
    25g coupling grooves
    25h coupling projections
    25i pin receiving openings
    26 slide bush
    27 fastening bolt

## Claims

1. A rip fence module for a machine tool (1),
in order to position workpieces with their edge facing away from a tool (2) on a machine table (3) at a certain distance to the tool (2), comprising:
a superstructure (9) overlapping the machine table (3) at least in sections presenting a workpiece stop (9d) for the workpiece to be treated extending in a longitudinal direction (L);
only one guided portion (24, 16g) which is insertable and guidable in an allocated guide groove (14a) provided on a machine table side extending in an extension direction (A) transversely to the longitudinal direction (L), and by which the superstructure (9) is supported movably in the guide groove (14a) in the extension direction (A) in relation to the tool (2); and
a locking device (16) shiftable between a locking position and a release position in order to lock the rip fence module in the locking position with the guided portion (24, 16g) defined in relation to the guide groove (14a), and to permit in the release position a shifting of the guided portion (24, 16g) in the guide groove (14a), wherein:
the guided portion (24, 16g) comprises a guided carriage (24) insertable in the guide groove (14a) at least in sections which guided carriage (24) in turn comprises a number of ball bearings or roller bearings (24a, 24b) by means of which the guided carriage (24) inserted into the guide groove (14a) is movable on rollers in the release position on allocated roll-way surfaces of the guide groove (14a);
with the guided carriage (24) comprising a carriage body (24f) fixed at the superstructure (9) on which carriage body (24f) each of the number of ball bearings or roller bearings (24a, 24b) is received via a movable arm arrangement (24c, 24d, 24e) with a distance being alterable to the respectively allocated roll-way surface in a vertical direction between a roll-off position, in which each of the number of ball bearings or roller bearings (24a, 24b) abuts said roll-way surface in the guide groove (14a), and a non-abutting withdrawal position for withdrawal of the guided carriage (24) inserted into the guide groove (14a) from the guide groove (14a); wherein
the arm arrangement (24c, 24d, 24e) comprises a rocker (24c) attached pivotably on the carriage body (24f), with two bearing bolts (24d, 24e) attached on two opposite sides of the rocker (24c), with at least one ball bearing or roller bearing (24a, 24b) being received on each of the bearing bolts (24d24e).

2. A rip fence module according to claim 1, wherein:
a preloading device (24l) being provided by means of which the arm arrangement (24c, 24d, 24e) is preloaded into the roll-off position in which the ball bearings or roller bearings (24a, 24b) are spread against the allocated roll-way surfaces in the guide groove (14a).

3. A rip fence module according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking device (16) comprises a contact pressure strip (16g) receivable in the respective guide groove (14a) with the contact pressure strip (16g) being shiftable via a coupling device (25) engaged in longitudinal direction (L) into the guide groove (14a) in relation to the carriage body (24f) in longitudinal direction (L) between the locking position, in which it bears against a rear side of an undercut of the guide groove (14a) extending in extension direction, and the release position, in which it is detached from the rear side of the undercut.

4. A rip fence module according to claim 3, characterised in that the carriage body (24f) in its section facing towards the contact pressure strip (16g) comprises a counter-retaining surface for a bearing surface on a front side of the undercut so that the counter-retaining surface in the locking position abuts the bearing surface and does not abut the bearing surface in the release position.

5. A rip fence module according to claim 1, characterised in that for manual modification of the distance of each ball bearing or roller bearing (24a, 24b) to the corresponding allocated roll-way surface on the guide groove (14a) an adjusting lever (23) is provided which is preferably coupled via the coupling device (25) with the arm arrangement (24c, 24d, 24e) such that the arm arrangement (24c, 24d, 24e) at least in the release position of the locking device (16) is movable between the withdrawal position and the rollable position.

6. A rip fence module according to claim 1, wherein:
the coupling device (25) comprises a coupling pin (25a) extending in longitudinal direction (L) and being received rotatably in the carriage body (24f), on the side of which facing towards the guide groove (14a) on the one hand the arm arrangement (24c) is received pivotably and on which on the other hand the contact pressure strip (16g) is fastened on the free ends of the bearing bolts (24d, 24e).

7. A rip fence module according to claim 6, wherein:
the adjusting lever (23) comprises an eye section (23a) penetrated by the coupling pin (25a) and connected non-rotatably with the coupling pin (24h), connecting with the eye section (23a) to the carriage body (24f) on the side facing the rocker (24c), and on the side of the eye section (23a) facing away from the rocker (24c) a coupling section (25b, 25c, 25d) on the rear side coupling the coupling pin (25a) with an operating device (16a) of the locking device (16) is provided, by means of which the coupling pin (25a) and thus the contact pressure strip (16g) is movable between the locking position and release position.

8. A rip fence module according to claim 7, wherein:
the rear coupling section (25b, 25c, 25d) comprises a pusher sleeve (25b) received in vertical direction on the operating device (16a) in a guided manner encompassing the coupling pin (25a) on its sides located in the pull out direction (A) and opposite to this direction (A), as well as a washer (25c) fastened to the coupling pin (25a) on the side of the pusher sleeve (25b) facing away from the adjusting lever (23), with at least one coupling projection (25h) being provided on the pusher sleeve (25b) oriented towards the washer (25c), and on the washer (25c) for each coupling projection (25h) a coupling control groove (25g) facing towards it and extending in vertical direction, with the coupling control groove (25g) comprising on the underside an ascending end with a rounded or angled flank abutting the coupling projection (25h) in the intermediate position, and which is passed over, if the operating device (16a) of the clamping device (16) is put from the release position into the locking position by an operator.

9. A rip fence module according to claim 8, wherein:
between the carriage body (24f) and rocker (24c) a coupling bias spring (25e) is provided preloading the rocker (24c) in the direction of the release position, with maximum deflection of the coupling bias spring (25e) being adjustable by means of a coupling adjustment screw (25d) by means of which the washer (25c) penetrated by the coupling pin (25a) is fastened on the coupling pin (25a) on the side of the pusher sleeve (25b) facing away from the adjusting lever (23).

10. A rip fence module according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that as an operating device (16a) of the locking device (16) a pivoted lever (16a) is provided, which is received pivotably on the superstructure (9) between the release position and the locking position around a pivot axis extending in the extension direction (A), with the pivoted lever (16a) comprising at least a guided portion (16i, 16k) extending eccentrically to its pivot axis by means of which the locking device (16) is shiftable, and preferably the coupling device (25) is coupled with the pivoted lever (16a).

11. A rip fence module according to claim 10, characterised in that the pivoted lever (16a) comprises as an eccentric guided portion (16i) a guide groove (16i) extending eccentrically to its pivot axis, into which the pusher sleeve (25b) is received with a guide pin (16j) connecting at the top its arms encompassing the coupling pin (25a) so that the pusher sleeve (25b) can be actuated in vertical direction by the pivoted lever (16a).

12. A rip fence module according to claim 1, characterised in that the superstructure (9) is formed as a portal superstructure (9) entirely overlapping the machine table (3) in longitudinal direction (L), with the locking device (16) on the rear side of the machine table (3) facing away from the operator comprising a tension rod (16b) passing through the portal superstructure (9) in longitudinal direction (L) with the clamping spigot (16c) coupled to the operating device (16a) provided on the front side of the superstructure, and the clamping spigot (16c) by means of the operating device (16a) and the tension rod (16b) can be pressed into an allocated guide groove (14b) provided on the machine table side (locking position) and can be put into the release position movable transversely to the longitudinal direction (L).

13. A rip fence module according to claim 12, characterised in that the pivoted lever (16a), as an eccentric guided portion (16k), comprises, in a point located eccentrically to its pivot axis, a holding groove (16i), extending in parallel to the pivot axis, for a tension rod tie bolt (16f) in which holding groove the tension rod (16b) is received by means of the tension rod tie bolt (16f) fastened to it, and the clamping spigot (16c) is suspended rotatably on a hinge axis (16d) on the superstructure (9) extending in extension direction (A) with the tension rod (16b) engaging on the clamping spigot (16c) below the hinge axis (16d) so that the clamping spigot (16c) can be pivoted around the hinge axis (16d) by means of the pivoted lever (16a).

14. A rip fence module according to claim 1 or 12, characterised in that the superstructure (9) comprises a carrier section (9b) fastened between a front frame (9a) and a rear frame (9c) against which carrier section an angle bar (9d) forming a workpiece stop can be clamped by means of an angle bar clamping device (17) and can be released for shifting in longitudinal direction (L).

15. A rip fence module according to claim 14, characterised in that the angle bar (9d) comprises an undercut groove extending in longitudinal direction (L) and the angle bar clamping device (17) a contact pressure strip (17c) received in the undercut groove as well as a clamping screw (17b) passing through the carrier section (9b) and screwed to the contact pressure strip (17c) with a bias spring (17d) by means of which the contact pressure strip (17c) is preloaded away from the carrier section (9b)