Patent GB-1227827-A (GB)
IPC: G06F7/68
Filed: 1968-07-05
Abstract: 1,227,827. Sawing. CONTINENTAL MACHINES Inc. 5 July, 1968 [21 Feb., 1968], No. 32246/68. Heading B5L. A cut-Qff saw comprises a cutting tool, such as an endless band saw, operating in a fixed plane, means for moving work to be cut along a defined path into position to have a piece of predetermined length cut therefrom, a reversible fluid motor for driving the work moving means, a directional control valve for controlling flow to and from the motor, first motion producing means operatively connected with a movable element of the valve to positively move the same to hold it in either of two operating positions to effect travel of the work moving means forwardly or rearwardly, and second motion producing means automatically operative as a consequence of motor driven travel of the work holding means in one direction for a selected distance to positively move the valve element from one of its two operating positions towards an intermediate position and to coact with the first motion producing means to bring the valve element exactly to the intermediate position and stop the motor means. In one embodiment, the work W is fed over a roller table 5 and held by a vice 8 having jaws operated by hydraulic cylinders 9 while a piece P is cut by a saw operating in a plane 6. The work W is then advanced by being gripped by a second vice 10 also having hydraulically operated jaws 9<SP>1</SP> a distance equal to the length of a piece to be cut to position the work for a further operation, the actuation of the vices and the raising and lowering of the saw being effected automatically. The advance and retraction of the second vice is effected by an hydraulic motor 12, the stroke of which determines the length of workpiece to be cut. The motor is controlled by a reversing valve 20 having a spool 29 formed with lands 41, 42 which are slightly less in width than the ports 25, 26 connected to opposite ends of the motor and have tapered approaches. The spool can be moved to one or other of its operative positions by solenoids 30, 31 and has a rod 35 carrying an adjustable stop 36 which cooperates with an abutment 34 on the second jaw 10 to determine its retracted position. The forward position of the vice is determined either by a solid stop 16 or by a stop, similar to stop 36, on the rod 35. During retraction of the vice 10 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the abutment 34 engages the stop 36 to urge the spool against the force exerted by the operative solenoid to an intermediate position to stop movement of the motor 12 and vice 10 whereby the length of stroke and hence length of workpiece to be cut is determined. In another embodiment, the spool of the valve may be moved by an electrical control system having an amplifier connected to a position sensor. In another arrangement, the work is fed by rollers 50, Fig. 5, driven by a motor 51 controlled by a reversing valve having a spool 29<SP>1</SP> movable to forward and reverse positions by solenoids 30<SP>1</SP>, 31<SP>1</SP>. The spool 29<SP>1</SP> is connected by a rod 60 to a carriage 61 which is adjustable along the rod to determine the length of workpiece to be cut and has a pivoted stop 58 engaged by the leading end of the workpieee S which is held by a vice 55 during the cutting operation, the workpiece engaging the stop to move the spool to its intermediate position. In a similar embodiment, the carriage and control valve are arranged as a unitary assembly. In a further embodiment, the stop is adjustable by a chain drive from a motor and can be clutched to a rack-and-pinion mechanism connected to the spool of the valve.