Patent ID: 7351019

Claim:
A clamping mechanism for securely holding an elongated workpiece for processing by a tooling machine comprising: a frame; a longitudinally extending conveyer table mounted to the frame for moving and supporting the workpiece; a first longitudinally extending clamping rail; a pair of uprights mounted to the frame below the conveyer table for supporting the first clamping rail above the conveyer table; a second longitudinally extending clamping rail; a pair of arms for supporting the second clamping rail above the conveyer table for traverse movement over the conveyer table toward and away from the first clamping rail; linkage means connecting the pair of arms to the frame beneath the conveyer table for shifting the pair of arms to move the second clamping rail over the conveyer table between an open position where the second clamping rail is spaced from the workpiece and a closed position where the second clamping rail engages the workpiece and forces the workpiece against the first clamping rail, the linkage means shifting the pair of arms such that the second clamping rail traverses over the conveyer table along a path substantially parallel in relation to the conveyer table between the one position and closed position, the linkage means includes a first linkage member and a second linkage member, the first linkage member is pivotally connected to the frame and one of the pair of arms, the second linkage member is pivotally connected to the frame and the one of the pair of arms between the second clamping rail and the location where the first linkage member is connected to the one of the pairs of arms; and means for actuating the linkage means.