Patent Abstract:
A power tool machine includes a base, a fence, a cutting arm, a motor, a saw blade and a holding apparatus. The base has an operating surface for supporting a workpiece. The fence mounted on the operating surface has a standing surface substantially perpendicular to the operating surface for abutted by a side of the workpiece. The cutting arm pivotally coupled to the base. The saw blade mounted to the cutting arm is rotatable by the motor. The holding apparatus includes a supporting device mounted on the base, a connecting device including a body connected to the supporting device, wherein a length direction of the connecting device is substantially perpendicular to a length direction of the supporting device, an adjustable device pivotally coupled to the connecting device, and a pressing device connected to the adjustable device for selectively pressing another side of the workpiece.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Taiwan Application Serial Number 95108212, filed Mar. 10, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
   BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a power tool machine. More particularly, the present invention relates to a power tool machine with a holding apparatus for securing a workpiece in position on the power tool machine. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , a power tool machine  100  such as a miter saw in accordance with prior art includes a base  110 , a fence  120 , a cutting arm  130 , a motor  140 , a saw blade  150 , a holding apparatus  160  and a setscrew  1621 . The base  110  provides an operating surface  111  on which the fence  120  is mounted. The fence  120  provides a standing surface  121  that is perpendicular to the operating surface  111 . A workpiece put on the operating surface  111  can be abutted against the standing surface  121  for accurate and precise cuts. 
   The cutting arm  130  is pivotally mounted to the base  110  and holds the saw blade  150  and the motor  140 . The saw blade  150  rotated by the motor  140  cuts the workpiece put on the base and abutted against the fence  120  when the cutting arm  130  is pivoted toward the base  110 . 
   With further reference to  FIG. 2 , the holding apparatus  160  in accordance with the prior art is used to fix the workpiece in position for being cut. The holding apparatus  160  is generally mounted on the base  110  for pressing the workpiece and includes a post  161 , a transverse arm  162 , a threaded rod  163  and a pressing disk  164 . The post  161  stands on the base  100  and provides a plane  1611  at its upper portion. The upper portion of the post  161  passes through the transverse arm  162 . The setscrew  1621  is screwed into the transverse arm  162  to press the plane  1611  to make the transverse arm  162  fastened. 
   The threaded rod  163  is screwed through the transverse arm  162  and perpendicular to transverse arm  162 . The pressing disk  164  is attached to the lowest end of the threaded rod  163  to press and hold the workpiece  170  in position by rotating the threaded rod  163 . Therefore, the miter saw  100  can accurately cut the workpiece  170  with the aid of the holding apparatus  160 . 
   However, since the threaded rod  163  is not adjustable to substantially perpendicular to the operating surface  111  of the base  110 , the holding apparatus  160  can be only used to press the workpiece with a top side substantially perpendicular to the standing surface  121  of the fence  120 . If the top side of the workpiece is tilting, the holding apparatus  160  will become useless. 
   SUMMARY 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a holding apparatus for a power tool machine. The holding apparatus can press a workpiece with a horizontal or inclined top side when the workpiece is put on the power tool machine. 
   The power tool machine includes a base, a fence, a cutting arm, a motor, a saw blade and a holding apparatus. The base provides an operating surface on which the workpiece is put. The fence, which provides a standing surface substantially perpendicular to the operating surface for retaining one side of the workpiece, is mounted on the operating surface. The cutting arm is pivotally connected to the base. The motor is mounted to the cutting arm. The saw blade is mounted to the cutting arm and rotated by the motor to work at the workpiece. 
   The holding apparatus includes a supporting device, a connecting device, an adjustable device and a pressing device. The supporting device stands on the base and links up a body of the connecting device. The body of the connecting device is arranged substantially horizontal to the operating surface. The adjustable device is pivotally coupled to the connecting device. The pressing device is connected to the adjustable device for selectively pressing another side of the workpiece. 
   Since the connecting device is arranged substantially horizontal to the operating surface, and the adjustable device, relative to the connecting device, could be rotated, in the present invention the adjustable device could be moved to form an angle with or to be parallel with the connecting device. That makes the angle between the length direction of the pressing device and the operating surface changeable, so that the pressing device can press a workpiece with a horizontal or an inclined top. In addition, a positioning device is disposed to the connecting device and the adjustable device to make the user quickly, easily adjust the angle between the connecting device and the adjustable device. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a power tool machine with a holding apparatus in accordance with prior art; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged operational, sectional view of the holding apparatus in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a power tool machine with a holding apparatus in accordance with present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded, perspective view of the holding apparatus in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the holding apparatus in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of alternative embodiments of a supporting device of the holding apparatus in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged, operational and sectional view of the holding apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged, operational view of the holding apparatus in  FIG. 7  when an adjustable device of the holding apparatus is slidably and pivotally adjusted; and 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged, operational and sectional view of the holding apparatus in accordance with the present invention when the holding apparatus presses a workpiece with a triangular profile. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
   With reference to  FIG. 3 , a power tool machine  200  such as a miter saw in accordance with the present invention includes a base  210 , a fence  220 , a cutting arm  230 , a motor  240 , a saw blade  250  and a holding apparatus  260 . 
   The base  210  provides an operating surface  211  or supporting a workpiece, and is generally categorized into two types, with turntable type and without turntable type. The base  210  shown in the  FIG. 3  is a turntable type. The fence  220  is mounted on the base  210  and provides a standing surface  221  that is substantially perpendicular to the operating surface  211 . A workpiece can be abutted against the standing surface  221  for accurate and precise cuts. An end portion of the cutting arm  230  is pivotally mounted to the base  210 , and the other end portion holds the saw blade  250  and the motor  240 . The motor  240  rotates the saw blade  250  to cut the workpiece abutted against the fence  220  when the cutting arm  230  is pivoted toward the base  210 . The holding apparatus  260  is mounted to the base  210  and cooperates with the surfaces  211  and  221  to firmly secure the workpiece in position. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the holding apparatus  260  includes a supporting device  261 , a connecting device  262 , an adjustable device  263  and a pressing device  264 . 
   The supporting device  261  is rod-shaped, inserted into the base  210 , and provides a flat surface  2611  at its upper part. 
   The connecting device  262  is slidably mounted on the supporting device  261  and includes a body  2621 , a bolt  2622 , two first locking pins  2623 , two second locking pins  2624  and a fixing member  2625 . The body  2621  has a first end portion  2627 , a second end portion  2628 , a through hole  26211 , a threaded hole  2626  and a guide pin hole  26212 . The through hole  26211  passes through the second end portion  2628  of the body  2621 . The supporting device  261  passes through the through hole  26211 . The threaded hole  2626  is defined at the second end portion  2628 , communicates with the through hole  26211  and is generally perpendicular to the through hole  26211  in their axial directions. The fixing member  2625  has a threaded shank that is screwed into the threaded hole  2626  to abut the flat surface  2611  for fastening the connecting device  262  on the supporting device  261  and preventing the connecting device  262  from swinging about the supporting device  261 . To release the fixing member  2625  can make the connecting device  262  movable along the supporting device  261  so that user can adjust the height of the connecting device  262  up the operating surface  211 . The first locking pins  2623  are mounted respectively, symmetrically on the sides of the first end portion  2627  of the body  2621 , as two protrusions. The second locking pins  2624  are mounted respectively, symmetrically on the sides of the second end portion  2628  of the body  2621 , as two protrusions. The guide pin hole  26212  is defined at the first end portion  2627 . 
   With further reference to  FIG. 6 , in alternative embodiments, substitutions of the flat surface  2611  of the supporting device  261  are implemented with a slot  2612  or multiple positioning holes  2613 . The positioning holes  2613  can be through holes or blind holes and are arranged equidistantly. Therefore, it positions the connecting device  262  on the supporting device  261  by turning the fixing member  2625  through the threaded hole  2626  into the slot  2612  to press the inner wall of the slot  2612 , or one of the positioning holes  2613 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the adjustable device  263  has two wings  2631  and a joint portion  2632 . The wings  2631  extend respectively from the sides of the joint portion  2632 , which form a gap  2633  between the wings  2631 . The gap  2633  receives the body  2621 . Each wing  2631  provides a guide slots  26311  and a locking notches  26312 . The guide slot  26311  extends along the wing&#39;s length direction, but has a bent segment  26313  at its end. The locking notch  26312  is at the end of the wing  2631  and above the guide slot  26311 . The guide pin  2622  has a head larger than the width of the guide slot  26311 , and passes through the guide slot  26311 , the guide pin hole  26212  and the other guide slot  26311  to be screwed into a nut  26221 . The user can tighten the nut  26221  to fasten the adjustable device  263  on the connecting device  262  or release the nut  26221  to allow the adjustable device  263  slidable or pivotable, relative to the connecting device  262 . The joint portion  2632  of the adjustable device  263  provides a threaded hole  26321  therethrough and generally perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. 
   The pressing device  264  includes a threaded rod  2641  and a pressing disk  2642 . The threaded rod  2641  is turned into the threaded hole  26321  in the joint portion  2632  and has a ball joint  26411  at its terminal. When turning the threaded rod  2641 , the length of the threaded rod  2641  down the threaded hole  26321  can be adjusted. The pressing disk  2642  has a ball seat  26421  accommodating and engaging unstably with the ball joint  26411 . Therefore, the angle between the ball seat  26421  and the threaded rod  2641  can change in a limited range. The bottom of the pressing disk  2641  may be rough and elastic to protect the surface of the workpiece from damage. 
   With reference to  FIG. 7 , the notches  26312  of the adjustable device  263  and the first locking pins  2623  and the second locking pins  2624  of the connecting device  262  of the holding apparatus  260  have positional relationships described as follows. The guide slot  26311  is substantially defined along an imaginary straight line  2634  that passes through the guide pin  2622 . When the imaginary straight line  2634  is parallel to the operating surface  211 , the perpendicular distance between the first locking pin  2623  and the imaginary straight line  2634  is larger than the perpendicular distance between the locking notch  26312  and the imaginary straight line  2634 , but the perpendicular distance between the second locking pin  2624  and the imaginary straight line  2634  is equal to the perpendicular distance between the locking notch  26312  and the imaginary straight line  2634 . Therefore, when the adjustable device  263  is slid by the guide slots  26311  until the locking notches  26312  engage with the second locking pins  2624  respectively, the length direction of adjustable device  263  is parallel to the operating surface  211 , and the length direction of the pressing device  264  is perpendicular to the operating surface  211 . After tightening the nut  26221  to fix the adjustable device  263  on the connecting device  262 , turning the threaded rod  2641  will move the pressing disk  2642  to abut and press against the horizontal top surface  181  of a rectangular workpiece  180  perpendicular to the standing surface  221  for firmly holding the workpiece  180  in position. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , when the holding apparatus  260  is used to press a workpiece with an irregular profile, such as a triangular workpiece  190 , the adjustable device  263  is slid levelly, forward  26311  by the guide slots, relative to the connecting device  262 . When the guide pin  2622  gets into the bent segments  26313  of the guide slots  26311 , the adjustable device  263  is guided to move down inclinedly to avoid the surrounding of the locking notches  26312  hitting the first locking pins  2623 . The adjustable device  263  is pivoted about the guide pin  2622  downward and then pushed up inclinedly to make the locking notches  26312  engage with the first locking pins  2623  after the guide pin  2622  touches the terminal of the bent segments  26313 . Further, tightening the nut  26221  will fix the adjustable device  263 . Therefore, the length direction of the adjustable device  263  is accommodated for the inclined surface  191  of the triangular workpiece  190 , and the length direction of the pressing device  264  is substantially perpendicular to the inclined surface  191 . At the time, turning the threaded rod  2641  of the pressing device  264  can move the pressing disk  2642  toward the inclined surface  191  to abut against the inclined surface  191 . The triangular workpiece  190  will be firmly held for accurate cuts. 
   The holding apparatus  260  interconnects the connecting device  262  and the adjustable device  263  to allow the adjustable device  263  sliding and pivoting, relative to the connecting device  262  by the guide slots  26311  and the guide pin  2622 , and uses configuration of the guide pin  2622 , the locking pins  2623  and  2624 , the locking notches  26312  and the guide slots  26311  to fasten the adjustable device  263  on the connecting device  262 . Therefore, the holding apparatus  260  provides the purpose of changing the angle between the length direction of the pressing device  264  and the operating surface  211  so that the pressing disk  2642  can press the horizontal top surface  181  of a rectangular workpiece  180  or the inclined surface  191  of the triangular workpiece  190 . The holding apparatus  260  can help the power tool machine  200  accurately cut the workpiece that have rectangular or non-rectangular profile, or is placed in a tilted position. Moreover, the structure and the usage of the holding apparatus  260  are simple. Operation of the adjustable device  263  is quick and convenient. 
   It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8