Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/126,597, filed May 5, 2008, which is incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure is directed to workholding devices and, more particularly, to removable jaws for vises, which may be used to hold workpieces for machine tools. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Exemplary embodiments may include a jaw plate for a vise including a selectively extendable pin for locating a workpiece. An exemplary jaw plate may be installed in a workholding device, such as a vise, which may be used to hold a workpiece proximate a machine tool. An exemplary jaw plate includes a plurality of pins at predetermined locations along the jaw plate&#39;s front face. The pins may be individually selectively extended or retracted by an operator. In their extended positions, the pins may assist the operator in locating the workpiece relative to the machine tool in a correct and repeatable position. 
         [0004]    In an aspect, a pin stop jaw plate for a vise may include a jaw plate for releasable mounting to a jaw of a vise, the jaw plate including a front face, a back face, and a hole extending through the jaw plate from the front face to the back face; and a pin slidably engaged with the hole such that, in a first position, the pin extends beyond the front face of the jaw plate and, in a second position, the pin does not extend beyond the front face of the jaw plate. 
         [0005]    In a detailed embodiment, the hole may include a first hole extending from the front face and a second hole extending from the back face, the first hole and the second hole connecting within the jaw plate, the second hole may have a diameter greater than a diameter of the first hole, and the transition between the first hole and the second hole may form a shoulder. In a detailed embodiment, the first hole and the second hole may be coaxial. In a detailed embodiment, the pin may include a first section having a first diameter and a second section having a second diameter, the first diameter may correspond with the first hole and the second diameter may correspond with the second hole, and the shoulder may limit movement of the pin within the first hole and the second hole towards the front face. In a detailed embodiment, the first section and the second section may be arranged coaxially. In a detailed embodiment, a pin stop jaw plate may include an o-ring seated on the second section. 
         [0006]    In a detailed embodiment, a pin stop jaw plate may include a slot accessible from the front face of the pin stop jaw plate and a parallel releasably engagable with the slot. 
         [0007]    In a detailed embodiment, a plurality of holes housing a respective plurality of pins may be arranged linearly across the front face of the pin stop jaw plate. In a detailed embodiment, at least one of the holes may be marked with an identifying indicium. In a detailed embodiment, at least one of the holes may not be arranged linearly with the others of the plurality of holes. In a detailed embodiment, a first plurality of holes may be arranged linearly across the front face along a first line and a second plurality of holes may be arranged linearly along a second line, the first and second lines being non-parallel. In a detailed embodiment, a first plurality of holes may be arranged linearly across the front face along a first line and a second plurality of holes may be arranged linearly across the front face along a second line, the first line and the second line being spaced apart and parallel. 
         [0008]    In a detailed embodiment, a pin stop jaw plate may include an o-ring at least partially interposing the pin and the hole. In a detailed embodiment, the o-ring may be mounted to the pin. 
         [0009]    In an aspect, a jaw plate for a vise may include a generally rectangular plate for mounting to a jaw of a vise, the plate including a first face and at least one hole extending through the plate from the first face; and a pin slidably engaged with the hole, the pin extending beyond the first face of the plate in a first position and the pin not extending beyond the first face in a second position. The plate may include at least one mounting hole engagable with at least one of a fastener and a projection of a vise jaw. 
         [0010]    In a detailed embodiment, the pin may include a first section having a first diameter and a second section having a second diameter, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter, the hole may include a first hole extending into the jaw plate from the first face and a second hole extending into the jaw plate from a second face, the second face being opposite the first face, the first hole and the second hole may join within the jaw plate, and the first hole may have a diameter for receiving the first section and the second hole may have a diameter for receiving the second section. In a detailed embodiment, the first section and the second section may be arranged coaxially. In a detailed embodiment, the pin may be slidably engaged with the hole such that the first section is oriented towards the first face and the second section is oriented away from the first face. 
         [0011]    In an aspect, a method of using a pin stop jaw plate in a vise may include installing a pin stop jaw plate in a vise, the pin stop jaw plate including at least one slidable pin, the pin being selectively extendable from a front face of the jaw plate; extending the at least one pin from the front face of the jaw plate; placing a work piece adjacent to the front face of the jaw plate and laterally against the extended pin; and tightening the vise jaws to secure the work piece. 
         [0012]    In a detailed embodiment, the pin may be a stepped pin, the hole may include an internal shoulder and the shoulder may be operative to limit movement of the pin in a direction towards the front face of the jaw plate. In a detailed embodiment, the method may include programming a machine tool using a known location of the at least one pin. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The detailed description refers to the following figures in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vise including an exemplary pin stop jaw plate; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary pin stop jaw plate; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  is a front elevation view of an exemplary pin stop jaw plate; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  is a bottom view of an exemplary pin stop jaw plate; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3C  is a side elevation view of an exemplary pin stop jaw plate; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4A  is a side elevation view of an exemplary pin for a pin stop jaw plate; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of an exemplary pin for a pin stop jaw plate; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary pin installed in a pin stop jaw plate in a retracted position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary pin installed in a pin stop jaw plate in an extended position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an exemplary pin stop jaw plate including an alternative pin arrangement; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an exemplary pin stop jaw plate including an alternative pin arrangement; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a vise including an exemplary pin stop jaw plate with a side work stop; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a vise including an exemplary pin stop jaw plate holding two workpieces. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a vise  100  (such as, but not limited to, a conventional 6-inch single station vise) may include a plurality of jaws  102 ,  104 , such as a moveable jaw  102  and a fixed jaw  104 , which may be used to hold a work piece  120  (shown in phantom). An exemplary jaw plate  10 ,  12  according to the present disclosure may be mounted to each of the vise jaws  102 ,  104  using, for example socket head cap screws. The jaw plates  10 ,  12  may be sized to fit any vise  100  having a standard bolt pattern. Parallels  106 ,  108  may be attached to the jaw plates  10 ,  12 . 
         [0028]    FIGS.  2  and  3 A- 3 C depict an exemplary pin stop jaw plate  10  according to the present disclosure. The exemplary pin stop jaw plate  10  includes mounting holes  14 ,  16  for mounting the jaw plate  10  to the fixed jaw  104 . Mounting holes  14 ,  16  may have chamfered edges and may include portions having different diameters. Back face  20  may be mounted against fixed jaw  104 . In addition, pin stop jaw plate  10  may include a slot  82 , which may be located adjacent to a bottom edge of the jaw plate  10 , for attachment of a parallel  106 ,  108  or another similar device, such as a mill angle. Exemplary parallels  106 ,  108  may be installed and removed without tools using only the operator&#39;s finger pressure, for example. 
         [0029]    In an exemplary embodiment, holes  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  are located on front face  18  of jaw plate  10 . Each of holes  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  houses a pin  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 . In  FIG. 2 , pin  44  is shown in an extended position (pin  44  extends substantially beyond front face  18 ) while the remaining pins  40 ,  42 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  are shown in the retracted position (pins  40 ,  42 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  do not extend beyond front face  18 ). While the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  includes nine holes housing nine pins in a horizontal linear arrangement, it is within the scope of the disclosure include more or fewer pins in a linear or other arrangement. For example, one or more pins may be spaced vertically relative to each other. See, for example,  FIGS. 6 and 7 , which show alternative exemplary arrangements of pins. 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  shows jaw plate  210  which includes 9 holes  222 ,  224 ,  226 ,  228 ,  230 ,  232 ,  234 ,  236 ,  238  (each housing a corresponding pin similar to pin  250 ) in addition to mounting holes  214  and  216 . The 9 holes  222 ,  224 ,  226 ,  228 ,  230 ,  232 ,  234 ,  236 ,  238  are arranged along two vertically separated, parallel lines  208 ,  209  on face  218  of jaw plate  210 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  shows another alternative exemplary arrangement in which holes  322 ,  324 ,  326 ,  328 ,  330 ,  332 ,  334 ,  336 ,  338  are arranged linearly on face  318  of jaw plate  310  along line  308 . Holes  340 ,  342  are located vertically beneath hole  330  between mounting holes  314 ,  316  along line  309 . In this exemplary embodiment, lines  308 ,  309  are non-parallel and intersect at hole  330 , although it is within the scope of the disclosure for such non-parallel lines to intersect at any position either on or not on face  318 . Each of the holes  322 ,  324 ,  326 ,  328 ,  330 ,  332 ,  334 ,  336 ,  338 ,  340 ,  342  may include a pin, such as pin  341 . Generally, it is within the scope of the disclosure to locate one or more holes at any location on jaw plate  10  and it is not necessary that any or all of the holes is arranged linearly. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 3A-3C  depict an exemplary jaw plate  10  without pins  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  installed. Each of holes  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  connects to one of holes  23 ,  25 ,  27 ,  29 ,  31 ,  33 ,  35 ,  37 ,  39 , which may have a larger diameter than holes  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 . As shown in  FIGS. 3B and 3C , the location where a hole  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  joins a hole  23 ,  25 ,  27 ,  29 ,  31 ,  33 ,  35 ,  37 ,  39  having a different diameter may form a shoulder  21 . 
         [0033]    An exemplary jaw plate  10  may also include holes  68 ,  70 , which may be partially or fully threaded and/or may include portions having different diameters. Holes  68  and  70  may be used, for example, for attaching an additional work stop or aligning the jaw. See, for example,  FIG. 8  which shows a side work stop  101  mounted to jaw plate  10  using hole  68 . Some corners of jaw plate  10  may be chamfered, such as chamfers  76 ,  78 . Further, other holes, such as holes  72 ,  74 , may be provided and may include thread portions and/or portions having different diameters. Holes  72 ,  74  may be used, for example, for securing or affixing a parallel attachment  108  to the jaw plate  10 . 
         [0034]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  depict an exemplary pin  40 , which is identical to pins  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  in an exemplary embodiment. While the exemplary pins  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  are all identical, it is within the scope of the disclosure to utilize pins of more than one shape and/or size (as well as corresponding holes of other shapes and/or sizes) in an embodiment. 
         [0035]    Exemplary pin  40  includes a front end  58  and a back end  60 . Pin  40  is a stepped pin in that it includes a narrow section  62  (sized to fit through hole  22 ) and wide section  64  (sized to fit through hole  23 ). O-ring  80  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 4A  and not shown in  FIG. 4B ) is sized to provide a friction fit within hole  23  such that pin  40  is slidable within holes  22 ,  23 , but does not move without an externally applied force. Other exemplary embodiments may include friction members other than an o-ring, and any friction member may be mounted to either or both of the pin and the jaw plate. It is within the scope of the disclosure to incorporate one or more pins having non-circular cross sections. Further, it is within the scope of the disclosure to incorporate other pin retaining devices (such as, but not limited to, set screws and spring detent mechanisms) in addition to or in place of the o-rings or other friction members to resist undesired movement of the pins within the jaw plate. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  depict the operation of an exemplary embodiment. In  FIG. 5A , pin  40  is in the retracted position such that front end  58  does not extend beyond front face  18  of jaw plate  10  (front end  58  may be flush with front face  18  or may be recessed). In  FIG. 5B , pin  40  is in the extended position such that front end  58  and part of narrow section  62  extend beyond front face  18 . Pin  40  may be moved between the retracted and extended positions as desired by a user by applying a generally axial force to pin  40  by pushing on either of front end  58  or back end  60 . In an exemplary embodiment, the travel of pin  40  in the direction of its front end  58  may be limited by wide portion  64  contacting shoulder  21 . 
         [0037]    When mounted to a vise  100 , one or more of pins  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  of jaw plate  10  may function as a built-in work stop. The narrow section  62  protruding through the front face  18  of the jaw plate  10  may provide a known and repeatable location for a work piece  120  held within the vise  100 . See  FIG. 1 , which shows pin  44  extended and functioning as a work stop, and  FIG. 8 , which shows pin  46  extended and functioning as a work stop. More than one pin  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  may be extended if desired. For example,  FIG. 9  shows pins  46 ,  50  extended when using the vise  100  is used to hold two work pieces  320 ,  420 . 
         [0038]    Utilizing built-in pins  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  may eliminate the need to employ a separate work stop, and it may allow easily repeatable positioning of the work piece  120 . In addition, in some exemplary embodiments, the pins  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  may be extended or retracted without tools using only force applied by an operator&#39;s finger. 
         [0039]    It is within the scope of the disclosure to utilize another work stop in conjunction with one or more of the built-in pins  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 . For example,  FIG. 8  shows a side work stop (which may be attached to hole  68 , for example) and pin  46  holding work piece  320 . 
         [0040]    Further, because the locations of the pins  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  on the jaw plate  10  may be known to a machine programmer, the machine programmer may use the known positions of the pins as starting points for programming a machine tool. In an exemplary embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3A , the pins  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  are located 0.225 inches below the top edge of the jaw plate (1.625 inches above the bottom edge of the jaw plate) and are spaced horizontally 0.688 inches, 1.375 inches, 2.062 inches, and 2.750 inches from center pin  48 . 
         [0041]    The pins  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  (or jaw plate  10 ) may be labeled with identifying indicia such as, but not limited to, the letters  11  shown in  FIG. 1 . A machine programmer may provide set-up instructions to a machine operator including which of the pins  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  should be extended when machining a particular work piece  120 . 
         [0042]    Exemplary jaw plates may be constructed from hardened steel or other suitable materials. Pins  40  may also be constructed from a steel or other suitable material. O-rings and other friction members may be constructed from appropriate materials, such as elastic materials. 
         [0043]    It is within the scope of the disclosure to utilize a pin stop jaw plate on other workholding devices such as, but not limited to, other types of vises. Further, it is within the scope of the disclosure to utilize a jaw plate  10  having pins  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  on one or more of the moveable jaws  102  and fixed jaws  104  in a vise  100 . For example, a jaw plate  10  having one or more pins  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  may be utilized in each of the two stations in a two station vise. In certain embodiments, jaw plates, parallels, and similar workholding components may include nonrectangular portions (such as, but not limited to, angled portions) for holding nonrectangular work pieces and/or for holding work pieces in orientations other than in parallel with the vise jaws and/or the supporting surface. 
         [0044]    While exemplary embodiments have been set forth above for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the above precise embodiments and that changes may be made without departing from the scope. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the stated advantages or objects disclosed herein to fall within the scope of the disclosure, since inherent and/or unforeseen advantages may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein.

Technology Category: 7