Patent Publication Number: US-8113249-B2

Title: Multi-function mortise/tenon apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 11/785,518, filed Apr. 18, 2007, now abandoned, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a multi-function mortise/tenon apparatus. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     To produce mortise/tenon on a work piece via a convention machine tool, the work piece has to be processed on a machine tool for producing tenons first and then be processed on another machine tool for producing mortises. 
     Therefore, it could be possible to produce tenons and mortises on the work piece by one machine tool. Also, it wastes placement space for placing two machine tools, increases maintenance costs and makes processing complex. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the object is achieved by providing a multi-function mortise/tenon apparatus that comprises a chassis, a work table having a lift/lower platform and a guide device. A work piece is able to be disposed on the work table in a horizontal/vertical manner and cut for forming mortise/tenon joints via the apparatus in the present invention. 
     The lift/lower platform lifts/lowers with respect to the chassis via a cylinder unit. The guide device is adapted to drive the work table slide transversely/longitudinally with respect to the chassis by operating a handle. 
     Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions referring to the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a multi-function mortise/tenon apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partial, exploded view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is another partial, exploded view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is another perspective view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating the copy shaper attached with the other die. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is another cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating a work piece disposed thereon. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a multi-function mortise/tenon apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1 through 6  show a multi-function mortise/tenon apparatus including a chassis  10 , a work table  20  and a guide device  30 . The chassis  10  includes two sidewalls  101  provided at two sides of the top thereof. The chassis  10  further includes placement portion  11  for placing a work piece thereon in a horizontal/vertical manner, a first clamping device  12  for clamping the work piece which is horizontally disposed on the placement portion  11 , a second clamping device  13  for clamping the work piece which is vertically disposed on the placement portion  11 , two first sliding rods  14  transversely provided on a front end thereof opposite to the placement portion  11  and a second sliding rod  15  provided on a rear end thereof. 
     The work table  20 , which is installed onto the chassis  10  and able to longitudinally/transversely slide along the chassis  10 , includes a lift/lower platform  21  disposed below the placement portion  11 , a first base member  22 , a second base member  23  and a cylinder unit  24 . The lift/lower platform  21  is defined between the first and second base members  22  and  23 . A cutter  211  is installed at the center of the work table  20  and adapted to cut the work piece. Two connective portions  213  and a limited block  214  are defined at each of two sides of the lift/lower platform  21 . The limited block  214  is provided between the connective portions  213  and has two outside-in taperedly inclined surfaces from on two sides thereof. A slot  2141  is formed on the top surface of the limited block  214 . 
     Two connective blocks  221  are respectively provided at the bottom of two ends of the first base member  22 , and the two connective portions  213  are respectively provided at two sides of the first base member  22  and correspond to the connective blocks  221 . A through-hole  2211  is vertically formed on each connective block  221  with respect to the lift/lower platform  21 . A side of the first base member  22  is formed with a longitudinal sliding groove  222  which is between the two ends of the first base member  22 . The limiting block  214  is slideably disposed at the sliding groove  222 . At least one embedded block  2221  can be provided to couple to the sliding groove  222  for engaging with the limited block  214  which is disposed in the sliding groove  222 . Hence, two sides of a combination of the sliding groove  222  and the at least one embedded block  2221  and the corresponding inclined surfaces of the limited block  214  form a dovetail slot structure to limit the work table  20  to lift/lower with respect to the chassis  10 . A limited block  2222  is provided at the top of the sliding groove  222  and adapted to limit the lift/lower platform  21  and to be wedged into the slot  2141 . A guiding rod unit  220  is longitudinally coupled to the first base member  22  to guide the first base member  22  to slide transversely/longitudinally and includes two sliders  223 , two sliding blocks  224  and a limited plate  225 . An end of each slider  223  is coupled to the first base member  22 , each slider  223  is inserted through the related sliding block  224 , and another end of each slider  223  is coupled to the limited plate  225 . Each sliding block  224  is transversely mounted on the second sliding rod  15 . 
     In general, a structure of the second base member  23  is similar to the first base member  22 . Two connective blocks  231  are respectively provided at the bottom of two ends of the second base member  23  and the other two connective portions  213  which are opposite to the first base member  22 , are respectively provided at two sides of the second base member  23  and correspond to the connective blocks  231 . A through-hole  2311  is vertically formed on each connective block  231  with respect to the lift/lower platform  21 . A side of the second base member  23  is formed with a longitudinal sliding groove  232  which is between the two ends of the second base member  23 . The limiting block  214  is slideably disposed at the sliding groove  232 . At least one embedded block  2321  can be provided to couple to the sliding groove  232  for engaging with the limited block  214  which is disposed in the sliding groove  232 . Hence, two sides of a combination of the sliding groove  232  and the at least one embedded block  2321  and the corresponding inclined surfaces of the limited block  214  form a dovetail slot structure to limit the work table  20  to lift/lower with respect to the chassis  10 . A limited block  2322  is provided at the top of the sliding groove  232  and adapted to limit the lift/lower platform  21  and to be wedged into the slot  2141 . Three connective holes  233  are formed longitudinally on the second base member  23  between two ends of the second base member  23 . 
     The cylinder unit  24  includes a plurality of cylinders  241  respectively provided at the connective blocks  221 ,  231  of the first and second base members  22 ,  23 , a pneumatic supply  242  and a control element  243 . Each cylinder  241  includes a telescopic rod  2411  inserted though the related one of the through-holes  2211 ,  2311  of the connective blocks  221 ,  231  of the first and second base members  22 ,  23  and the connective portion  213  of the lift/lower platform  21 . An air hose  2412  is connected to each cylinder  241 , and a plurality of air hoses  2412  are coupled to the pneumatic supply  242  so that the telescopic rod  2411  can expand and contract to control the lift/lower platform to lift/lower by gas thrust. The control element  243  is stepped on by users for outputting gas. Further, in the present invention, the cylinder unit  24  can be driven by a hydraulic supply. 
     A side of the guiding device  30  is coupled to the second base member  23  of the work table  20  and drives the work table  20  to slide with respect to the chassis  10  transversely/longitudinally. The guiding device  30  includes a sliding base  31 , a fixture plate  32  and a handle  33 . The sliding base  31  includes two transverse first holes  311 , three longitudinal second holes  312  and an inclined surface  313 . The two transverse first holes  311  are respectively engaged with the two first sliding rods  14  for sliding the sliding base  31  with respect to the chassis  10 . The three longitudinal second holes  312  are respectively engaged with two first guiding rods  34  and a second guiding rod  35 . The second guiding rod  35  is provided between the first guiding rods  34 . An elastic element  351  is mounted on the second guiding rod  35  between the sliding base  31  and the second base member  23 . The inclined surface  313  is provided at a side of the sliding base  31  opposite to the placement portion  11  of the chassis  10 . 
     The fixture plate  32  is preferably T-shaped and has first and second portions (not numbered). The first portion of the fixture plate  32  is above the second portion of the fixture plate  32 . Two ends of the first portion of the fixture plate  32  respectively couple to an end of the two first guiding rods  34 . The fixture plate  32  is provided at the front end of the chassis  10  opposite to the placement portion  11  and includes a through slot  321  formed on the center thereof and piercing therethrough. 
     A copy shaper  40  is installed below the fixture plate  32  of the guiding device  30  and includes a die  41  for controlling the cutter  211  to cut the work piece to form a desired shape. 
     Two ends of each first guiding rod  34  respectively couple to the first base member  22  and the fixture plate  32 . An end of the second guiding rod  35  couples to the second base member  23 , and another end of the second guiding rod is inserted into the second hole  312 . 
     A coupling member  331  is mounted on the handle  33  and pivotally connected to the through slot  321  of the fixture plate  32  so that the handle  33  is able to pivot with respect to the fixture plate  32 . A gripping member  332  and a roller  333  are provided at two ends of the handle  33 . Users can grip the gripping member to operate the handle  33 , and the roller  333  is abutted against the inclined surface  313  and able to slide along the inclined surface  313  to drive the fixture plate  32  to pull the work table  20  to slide longitudinally. During operation of the handle  33  moved downwards by users, the roller  333  is moved upwards along the inclined surface  313 . The inclined angle of the inclined surface  313  allows the lift/lower platform  21  to be pushed forwards/rearwards. A combination of the roller  333  and the inclined surface  313  can save the users&#39; effort. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the lift/lower platform  21  of the work plate  20  is lifted or lowered to cut the work piece and limited between the limited blocks  2222 ,  2322  of the first and second base members  22 ,  23 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 through 10 , the copy shaper  40  is attached with another die  41   a  for cutting mortises on the work piece. The work piece is disposed transversely onto the placement portion  11 , and the die  41   a  is in form of a mortise with a desired shape. The cutter  211  of the work table  20  is driven to move below the work piece by operating the guiding device  30 . Users would step on the control element  243  of the cylinder unit  24  to lift/lower the lift/lower platform  21  for cutting the work piece. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the copy shaper  40  is attached with the die  41  for cutting tenons on the work piece. The work piece is disposed longitudinally onto the placement portion  11 , and the die  41   a  is in a form of a tenon with a desired shape. The cutter  211  of the work table  20  is driven to move below the work piece by operating the guiding device  30 . Users would step on the control element  243  of the cylinder unit  24  to lift/lower the lift/lower platform  21  for cutting the work piece. 
       FIG. 13  shows a multi-function mortise/tenon apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention similar to the first embodiment except several features as follows. Firstly: a guiding plate  16  is slideably installed between the sidewalls  101  horizontally, and a plurality of openings  161  are formed at a side of the guiding plate  16  and spaced equally from one another. Secondly: a guiding rail  17  is installed between the sidewalls  101 . The guiding rail  17  and the guiding plate  16  are approximately parallel to each other. A plurality of openings  171  which are formed at a side of the guiding rail  17  are spaced equally from one another correspond to the openings  161 . Thirdly, a slide handlebar  322  is installed to the fixture plate  32  and has a first end that is gripped by users to drive the fixture plate  32  transversely sliding with respect to the guiding plate  16  and a second end aimed at one of the openings  171  of the guiding rail  17 . Hence, by operation of the slide handlebar  322 , the cutter  211  is driven by the placement portion  11  and positioned to one of the openings  161 . The work piece (not shown) would be disposed on the openings  161  vertically and desired to be cut for forming a plurality of mortises and tenons (not shown) at an edge thereof. A distance of space between each opening  161  is designed to correspond to that of the mortises and tenons of the work piece. In operation, the cutter  211  is exposed from the guiding plate  16  to a position for cutting the desired mortise/tenon on the work piece. 
     While several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.