Patent Publication Number: US-2015082962-A1

Title: Fence with auxiliary positioning device for a saw machine

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a saw machine, and more specifically, to a fence with auxiliary positioning device for a saw machine. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which disclose a fence for a saw machine, the fence for the saw machine includes base  11  mounted to a worktable  10  of the saw machine, a fence panel  12  which is pivotally mounted to the base  11 , a plurality of connecting holes  13  are spacedly defined along a longitudinal direction of the base  11 , and an auxiliary member  14  detachably insertable into any one of the connecting hole  13 . 
     During operation, a workpiece  15  is placed on the worktable  10 , at least one end of the workpiece  15  abuts against either the base  11  or the fence panel  12 , then, the auxiliary member  14  inserts into the connecting hole  13  which is proximate to the workpiece  15  such that another end of the workpiece  15  abuts against the auxiliary member  14 . Thereby, a user merely needs to use one hand to hold and secure the workpiece  15 , and the stability of the cutting operation is enhanced. The auxiliary member  14  may also be applied when cutting a plurality of workpieces to same length. 
     However, positions of the auxiliary member  14  are confined by the arrangement of the connecting holes  13 , and thus, the auxiliary member  14  is not widely applicable to workpieces of various sizes. Further, since the auxiliary member  14  is detachably inserted into the connecting hole  13 , the stability of the structure is relatively weak, and the auxiliary member  14  may fall off from the connecting hole  13  due to the vibration of the workpiece  15  when the cutting operation is performed. In addition, since the auxiliary member  14  is detachably insertable into the connecting hole  13 , the auxiliary member  14  may be easily lost or broken due to frequently inserting into or disengaging from the connecting hole  13 , or when transporting the saw machine. Therefore, the freedom to operate, stability and convenience of the structure still need to be improved. 
     Another type of fence device for a saw machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,641 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,966, which has a track disposed on a fence panel adapted for accommodating a sliding seat, and an L-shaped auxiliary member pivotally mounted to the sliding seat. This sliding track design enhances the freedom to operate and reduces the loss of the auxiliary member. However, since the shape of the auxiliary member is fixed, when the auxiliary member is retracted, it is flipped to a top of the fence panel. Therefore, the sliding seat needs to be loosened to remove the auxiliary member from the cutting unit to prevent the auxiliary member from interfering with the cutting operation. Thus, the drawbacks of this conventional design are that the operational steps are complicated and inconvenient to use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a fence with auxiliary positioning device with enhanced operability and convenience. 
     To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the fence with auxiliary positioning device in accordance with the present invention is adapted for mounting to a worktable of a saw machine. The worktable has a front portion and a rear portion opposite to the front portion, and includes a plane for supporting a workpiece. The fence with auxiliary positioning device comprises a base and at least one auxiliary positioning device. 
     The base is disposed on the rear portion of the worktable. The base has at least one panel disposed thereon. The panel has a first planar surface formed thereon. The first planar surface extends toward the front portion and is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the worktable. 
     The auxiliary positioning device has a fixing member disposed on the base and parallely slidable relative to the first planar surface. A column-shaped positioning post is disposed on the fixing member. The positioning post is convertible relative to the panel between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration. In the extended configuration, the positioning post is oriented toward the front portion and extends beyond the first planar surface such that a second planar surface which is perpendicular to the first planar surface is formed on the positioning post. In the collapsed configuration, the positioning post is retracted and oriented toward the rear portion of the worktable such that the positioning post does not extend beyond the first planar surface. 
     Since the fixing member is parallely slidable relative to the first planar surface, the position of the fixing member can be steplessly adjusted for co-operating with workpieces of different lengths. In addition, the positioning post of the fixing member is convertible relative to the panel between the extended configuration and the collapsed configuration. The positioning post can be retracted to the collapsed configuration when not in use, thereby improving the stability of the cutting operation. In addition, the operating steps of the auxiliary positioning device are reduced compared to that of the conventional design such that the operability and convenience are greatly enhanced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like elements of structure and component parts. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional fence device for a saw machine. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the conventional fence device of  FIG. 1  in use. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a fence with auxiliary positioning device for a saw machine in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention in an operating state. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention in an operating state. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the fence with auxiliary positioning device for a saw machine in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the second embodiment in accordance with the present invention in an operating state. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the second embodiment in accordance with the present invention in an operating state. 
     
    
    
     It should be noted that the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, but instead are drawn to provide a better understanding of the components thereof, and are not intended to be limiting in scope, but rather to provide exemplary illustrations. It should further be noted that the figures illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and the components thereof, and in no way limits the structures, configurations and components thereof according to the present disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , a preferred embodiment of the fence with auxiliary positioning device for a saw machine in accordance with the present invention is adapted for installing to a worktable  20  of a saw machine  2 . The worktable has a front portion  21 , a rear portion  22  opposite to the front portion  21 , and a plane  23  for supporting a workpiece  5 . The fence with auxiliary positioning device includes a base  3  which is disposed on the rear portion  22  of the worktable  20  and at least one auxiliary positioning device  4 . In the present embodiment, in order to accommodate both right handed and left handed users, two auxiliary positioning devices  4  are adapted, however, it should be understood that only one auxiliary positioning device  4  may be adapted. 
     The base  3  includes at least one panel  32  disposed on the base  3 . To circumvent the traveling path of a cutting unit  24  of the circular saw  2 , two panels  32  which are spacedly arranged are applied in the present embodiment. 
     Each panel  32  has a first planar surface  321 , a lower panel  322 , an upper panel  323 , and a locking member  324 . The first planar surface  321  faces toward the front portion  21  and is substantially perpendicular to the plane  23  of the worktable  20 . The lower panel  322  is secured to the base  3 , the upper panel  323  is slidably disposed on the lower panel  322 , and the locking member  324  is disposed on the base  3 . Together the upper panel  322  and the lower panel  323  form the first planar surface  321 . 
     Each locking member  324  has a positioning pin  325 , a cam member  326 , and a press member  327 . The positioning pin  325  is disposed on the base  3  and is parallel to the first planar surface  321 . The cam member  326  is pivotally mounted to the positioning pin  325 . The press member  327  is sandwiched between the upper panel  323  and the cam member  326 . 
     The cam member  326  is rotatable relative to the positioning pin  325  for selectively compressing the press member  327 , such that the press member  327  urges the upper panel  323  to abut against the lower panel  322  for positioning the upper panel  323  relative to the lower panel  322 . 
     Each auxiliary positioning device  4  comprises a fixing member  41  and a positioning post  42 . The fixing member  41  is disposed on the upper panel  323  and is slidable on the upper panel  323  along a direction parallel to the first planar surface  321 . 
     Each fixing member  41  has a locking post  411 . In the present embodiment, for example, the locking post  411  is a threaded bolt. 
     Each positioning post  42  is column-shaped and includes a column member  421 . The column member  421  has a coupling member  423  which is disposed on the fixing member  41  and a blocking member  424  which is pivotally engaged to the coupling member  423 . A positioning slot  422  is longitudinally defined along the column member  421  for slidably accommodating the locking post  411 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6-7 , the positioning posts  42  are respectively convertible relative to the panel  32  between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration. In the extended configuration, the positioning post  42  is oriented toward the front portion  21  and extends beyond the first planar surface  321  such that a second planar surface  43  which is perpendicular to the first planar surface  321  and the plane  23  of the worktable  20  is formed. The first planar surface  321  and the second planar surface  43  provide support to adjacent lateral edges of the workpiece  5 , such that the stability for cutting operation is enhanced. In the collapsed configuration, the positioning post  42  is retracted and oriented toward the rear portion  22  of the worktable  20  such that the positioning post  42  does not extend beyond the first planar surface  321 . Therefore the workpiece  5 , which does not need extra support from the auxiliary positioning device  4 , may stably abut against the first planar surface  321  for the cutting operation. 
     In addition, since the positioning posts  42  are individually operable, a left-handed user may manually move the positioning post  42  located on the left hand side to the extended configuration, retract the positioning post  42  located on the right hand side to the collapsed configuration, and adjust the upper panel  323  on the left side to an appropriate position, such that the user may use his right hand to hold the workpiece  5  for performing the cutting operation. Conversely, a right-handed user may move the positioning post  42  located on the right hand side to the extended configuration, and retract the positioning post  42  on the left hand side to the collapsed configuration, and adjust the upper panel  323  on the right hand side to the appropriate position, such that the user may use his left hand to hold the workpiece  5  for performing the cutting operation. 
     When cutting workpieces  5  of various thickness, the positioning post  42  is converted to the extended configuration, and the blocking member  424  is pivotally rotatable relative to the coupling member  423  between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the blocking member  424  longitudinally extends from the coupling member  423  and is located away from the worktable  20  for supporting workpiece  5  which has greater size and thickness (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). In the second position, the blocking member  424  is substantially perpendicular to the coupling member  423 , and is located proximate to the worktable for supporting the workpiece  5  which is smaller in size and thickness (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). 
     In view of the above, the fixing member  41  of the present invention is slidably disposed on the upper panel  323  for sliding along the direction parallel to the first planar surface  321 . In addition, the variable positions of the blocking member  424  allows stepless adjustment adapted for supporting workpiece  5  of various sizes and thicknesses. Further, as previously mentioned, when more than one auxiliary positioning device  4  in accordance with the present invention is applied, each auxiliary positioning device  4  is individually operable, and since the positioning post  42  is column-shaped, when the positioning post  42  is not in use and retracted to the collapsed position, the size of the positioning post  42  is compact to prevent it from interfering with the cutting operation. Therefore, the overall stability is enhanced, and it suits the different use habits of users. Thus, the operability and convenience are greatly enhanced. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8-10 , a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The elements and effects of the second embodiment which are the same as the first embodiment are not described, only the differences are described. In this embodiment, each fixing member  41  of the auxiliary positioning device  4  has a locking post  411 , and a limiting stud  412  is disposed on a top of the fixing member  41 . The positioning post  42  is pivotally mounted to the fixing member  41  via the locking post  411 . A notch  425  is defined in the coupling member  423  of the positioning post  42 . The notch  425  is located adjacent to the fixing member  41 . 
     In the extended configuration, the positioning post  42  is extended toward the front portion  21  of the worktable  20 , and protrudes from the panel  32 . The positioning post  42  abuts against the limiting stud  412  such that the positioning post  42  is properly positioned. In the collapsed configuration, the positioning post  42  is retracted, the column member  421  of the positioning post  42  is folded and is parallel to the panel  32 . The notch  425  of the fixing post  42  engages with the limiting stud  412 . 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.