US2705034A - Cutter guard - Google Patents

Description

March 29, 1955 w. GAsKELL CUTTER GUARD Original Filed March 22, 194'? INVEN TOR.

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/er Gas/fail Unitd States Patent CUTTER GUARD Walter L. Gaskell, Ypsilanti, Mich., assignor to King- Seeley Corporation, Ann Arbor, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Original appication March 22, 1947, Serial No. 736,560,

now Patent 2,619,997, dated December 2, 1952. Divided and this application February 23, 1952, Serial No. 272,960

This invention relates to jointers and planets, hereinafter referred to as jointers for ease in description, and particularly to a type thereof that is pre-eminently suited for use in the home work-shop although not restricted to such limited use. This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 736,560, tiled March 22, 1947 (now Patent No. 2,619,997, issued December 2, 1952), entitled jointer and Planer.

ln particular, the invention has among its objects the provision of a jointer having a novel form of cutter guard for that portion of the cutter on the operative side of the fence; the provision of a cutter guard for that portion of the cutter on the operative side of the fence; the provision of a cutter guard for a jointer as last described including means for maintaining the cutter guard at a predetermined height with respect to the rear table of the jointer regardless of the adjusted height of the front table; the provision of a cutter guard for a jointer which is spring pressed toward operative position at all times and so constructed and arranged as to permit instantaneous removal and replacement.

Briefly, the invention accomplishes these and other objects by swivelly mounting the cutter guard on the front table and, at the same time, vertically positioning it on the base of the jointer.

ln the accompanying drawings which illustrate suitable embodiments of the present invention and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several different views:

Figure 1 is a partly broken plan view of a jointer using the improved cutter guard;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partly broken vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, and illustrating the means for mounting the outer cutter guar Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partly sectioned plan view of a modified guard support; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, partly broken, vertical sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5

The jointer and planer shown in the drawings is described and illustrated in greater detail in my copending application referred to above. It has a base 20 on which is mounted a tixed (except for adjustments in assembly) rear table 24 and a vertically adjustable front table 26, the cutter assembly 28 fitting in the opening between the inner ends of the two tables and being journaled in suitable trunnions provided on the base 20. A fence 30 is mounted on the tables for transverse movement. The table 26 is mounted on the base' 20 by means of a pair of dove-tail or wedge assemblies, each of which include a lower member 60 secured to the base 20 and an upper member 62 secured to the bottom of the table 26, the inclined faces of the members 60 and 62 being in sliding contact with each other. Longitudinal movement of the table 26 is actuated by a screw 94 which is journaled and axially iixed in the bore 92 formed in the base 20 and which projects through a hole 96 in the wall of the base 20 beyond which it carries the hand-wheel 98. A nut 104 is threaded on the screw 94 and it is connected by a link 110 to the upper member 62. Thus, rotation of the handwheel 98 will turn the screw 94 so that the nut 104 moves axially to transmit force through the link partly broken, form of cutter 2,705,034 Patented Mar. 29, 1955 to the table 26 whereby the latter slides up or down on wedge members 60.

As in conventional constructions, a guard is provided in overlying relationship with respect to the cutter 28 on the operative side of the fence 30 and is automatically pushed out of the way as a piece of work is moved over the tables 24 and 26 in contact with the fence. In accordance with the invention, the guard is mounted in a novel manner so that its lower face is maintained at a constant distance above the surface of the rear table 24 regardless of the vertically adjusted position of the front table 26. It is further constructed and arranged so that it may be substantially instantaneously removed or reapplied to the machine without the necessity of disconnecting any screws, springs or the like. This is accomplished in the following manner. The table 26 at its lefthand side, as viewed from the operating end of the machine, and at a point located toward the front end of the machine from the cutter, is provided with a vertically disposed stepped opening best brought out in Fig. 4. A cylindrical plug 122 provided with an annular flange 124 at its upper end is complementarily rotatably received in the opening 120 as indicated in Fig. 3.. The plug 120 is provided with a square axial bore or opening 126 in which a square shaft 128 is vertically freely slidably but non-rotatably received. The upper end of the shaft 128 has fixed thereto the cutter guard 130 which, as illustrated in Fig. 1, extends therefrom into normally overlying relationship with respect to the cutter 28 and is provided with a rounded inner edge 132 which the work is adapted to engage when being fed across the cutter, thereby to move the guard out of overlying relationship with respect to the cutter as the work is fed across the cutter.

A sheet metal arm 134 is secured by screws 136 to the lower face of the plug 122 below the corresponding face of the table 26. As illustrated in Fig. l, a coil tension spring 138 is tensioned between the free end of the arm 134 and a part of the base 20 so as to constantly urge the arm 134 and consequently the plug 122 and guard 130 in a clockwise direction of rotation as viewed in Fig. l. As best brought out in Fig. 3, the base 20 immediately below the post 128 is provided with a surface 140 upon which the lower end of the post rests, thus to hold the lower face of the guard 30 vertically spaced from the upper face of the table 24 at a predetermined distance, and because the post 128 is vertically slidable in the plug 122, this last spacing will be maintained regardless of the vertically adjusted position of the table 26.

Means are preferably provided to prevent the guard 130 from swinging in a clockwise direction under the inuence of spring 138 beyond a position corresponding with a position of the fence 30 at its extreme right-hand position on the machine when viewed from the operating end thereof. In the case shown, this is accomplished by forming a notch or recess 142 in the underside of the tlange 124, as brought out in Figs. 3 and 4. As indicated in this latter figure, the notch 142 is of an angular extent of approximately 90 about the axis of the plug 122. A pin 144 is secured, as by a drive tit, in the shoulder formed between the stepped portions of the opening 120 and projects upwardly into the notch 142. When the guard 130 is in its eXtreme position of rotation in a clockwise direction about the axis of the opening 120, the pin 144, as illustrated in Fig. 4, contacts one end of the notch 142 and limits further movement in this direction under the influence of the spring 138. By this means, the guard 130, when it is desired to remove it for any purpose whatever, is simply grasped by the hands and lifted vertically, withdrawing the post 128 with it out of the plug 122.

The plug 122 will not be lifted when the post 128 and guard 130 are lifted inasmuch as the projecting portion of the arm 134 underlies the lower face of the associated portion of the table 26 and acts to hold the plug 122 against vertical withdrawal, nor will the tension on the spring 138 be wholly relieved. When it is desired to replace the guard 130 the lower end of the post 128 is reinserted into the opening 126 in the proper rotatable position, and simply pressed downwardly until its lower end strikes the surface 140 at the base 20. To facilitate the assembly of the post 128 to the plug 122 when the fence 30 is in any position except its extreme right position, as viewed from the operating end of the machine, the post 128 is preferably of such length that its lower end may be introduced into the bore 126 of the plug 122 when the guard 130 partially overlies the upper edge of the fence 30, and in such case as soon as this is done the guard may be swung in a counterclockwise direction until it clears the fence 30, and then be pushed downwardly to its normal operative position.

A modified form of the last described mounting for the guard 130 is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In this case and, as brought out in Fig. 5, the table 26 is similarly provided with a stepped opening 12001, corresponding with the opening 120 of the first described construction, and similarly receives a anged plug 122a, corresponding with the plug 122 first described. The lower face of the flanged end of the plug 122a is notched out as at 142er the same as in the rst described construction, and a pin 144a, corresponding to the pin 144 of the first described construction, is provided in the same cooperating relationship with respect thereto to limit the rotatable movement of the guard and the plug 122g. Instead of using a tension spring to rotate the plug 122a as in the first described construction, in this case the lower end of the plug 122a projects downwardly below the associated lower face of the table 26 where it is surrounded by a sheet metal sleeve 150 terminating at its lower end in an outwardly turned flange 152. A torsion spring 154 surrounds the sleeve 150 and, as brought out in Fig. 5, its upper free end is turned into an eye 156 which receives a screw 158 and which in turn projects through the sleeve 150 and threads into the plug 12201 so as to anchor such free end of the spring to the plug 122a. The screw 158 in projecting through the sleeve 150 also serves to lock the sleeve 150 to the plug member 122a and in abutting against the overlying surface of the table 26 thus serves to lock the plug 12241 against vertical withdrawal from the table 126 when the guard 130 and post 128 are raised therefrom. The remaining free end of the spring 154 is extended as at 160, shown in Fig. 5, and bears against a side wall of the table 26 so as to maintain the spring 154 under a predetermined torsion thereby to constantly urge the guard 130 in a clockwise direction of rotation as viewed in plan view. As in the first described case, the lower end of the post 128 is adapted to engage the base 20 so as to maintain the guard 130 at a constant spacing above the upper surface of the table 24, but in this case a sheet metal member 162, shown is secured to the table 20 below the post 128 by means of a screw 164, and the lower end of the post abuts the member 162 instead of directly abutting the base 20.

What is claimed is:

l. In a jointer or the like, in combination, a base, a cutter rotatably mounted on said base intermediate the ends thereof, a normally fixed table supported by said base on one side of said cutter, a vertically adjustable table supported on said base on the opposite side of said cutter, means for bodily raising and lowering said second table, said second table having a vertically directed opening therein, a member rotatably mounted in said opening, spring means constantly urging said member in one direction of rotation, said member having an axial opening therein, a post member axially slidably but non-rotatably received in said axial opening, said post member extend ing through said member and the bottom thereof resting on said base, and a guard fixed to the upper end of said post and normally urged into overlying relationship with respect to said cutter by said spring means.

2. In a jointer or the like, in combination, a base, a cutter rotatably mounted on said base intermediate the ends thereof, a normally fixed table supported by said base on one side of said cutter, a vertically adjustable table supported on said base on the opposite side of said cutter, means for bodily raising and lowering said second table, said second table having a vertically directed openingl therein, a member rotatably mounted in said opening, spring means constantly urging said member in one direction of rotation, means preventing inadvertent axial withdrawal of said member from said opening, means limitingrrotation of said member under the influence of said spring means, said member having an axial opening therein, a post axially slidably but non-rotatably extendin Fig. 6, r

ing through said opening and supported on said base, and a guard carried by the upper end of said post and normally overlying said cutter.

3. In a jointer or the like, in combination, a base, a cutter rotatably mounted on said base intermediate the ends thereof, a normally fixed table supported by said base on one side of said cutter, a vertically adjustable table supported on said base on the opposite side of said cutter, means for bodily raising and lowering said second table, said second table having a vertically directed stepped opening therein, a cylindrical flanged member complementarily rotatably received in said opening, means holding said member against inadvertent axial withdrawal from said opening, the under face of said flange of said member being notched, a stop member fixed with respect to said second table projecting into said notch thereby to limit rotational movement of said member in said opening, said member having an axial opening therein, a post axially slidably but non-rotatably extending through said axial opening and supported on said base, a guard carried by the upper end of said post in overlying relationship with respect to said cutter, and spring means interposed between said member and said base constantly urging said member, together with said post and said guard, in a predetermined direction of rotation about the axis of the first mentioned opening.

4. ln a jointer or the like, in combination, a base, a cutter rotatably mounted on said base intermediate the ends thereof, a normally fixed table supported by said base on one side of said cutter, a vertically adjustable table supported on said base on the opposite side of said cutter, means for bodily raising and lowering said second table, said second table having a vertically directed stepped opening therein, a cylindrical flanged member complementarily rotatably received in said opening, means holding said member against inadvertent axial withdrawal from said opening, the under face of said flange of said member being notched, a stop member fixed with respect to said second table projecting into said notch thereby to limit rotation movement of said member in said opening, said member having an axial opening therein, a post axially slidably but non-rotatably extending through said axial opening and supported on said base, a guard carried by the upper end of said post in overlying relationship with respect to said cutter, an arm fixed at one end to the lower portion of said member, and spring means tensioned between the free end of said arm and said base constantly urging said member in one direction of rotation.

5. In a jointer or the like, in combination, a base, a cutter rotatably mounted on said base intermediate the ends thereof, a normally fixed table supported by said base on one side of said cutter, a vertically adjustable table supported on said base on the opposite side of said cutter, means for bodily raising and lowering said second table, said second table having a vertically directed stepped opening therein, a cylindrical flanged member complementarily rotatably received in said opening, means holding said member against inadvertent axial withdrawal from said opening, the under face of said flange of said member being notched, a stop member fixed with respect to said second table projecting into said notch thereby to limit rotational movement of said member in said opening, said member having an axial opening therein, a post axially slidably but non-rotatably extending through said axial opening and supported on said base, a guard carried by the upper end of said post in overlying relationship with respect to said cutter, said member projecting downwardly below the lower end of the first mentioned opening, a sleeve surrounding said projecting end, a torsion spring surrounding said sleeve, a screw operatively engaged with one end of said spring and projecting through said sleeve and threading into said member to fix both said ends of said spring and said sleeve with respect to said member, the opposite end of said spring bearing against said base to maintain said spring under torsion whereby to constantly urge said member, post and guard in one direction of rotation.

6. In a jointer or the like, in combination, a base, a cutter rotatably mounted on said base intermediate the ends thereof, a normally fixed table supported by said base on one side of said cutter, a vertically adjustable table supported on said base on the opposite side of said cutter, means for bodily raising and lowering said second table, a vertically directed post member, means providing an axially xed but rotatable plug with an opening therein, said post member being slidable in said plug opening but non-rotatable therein so that it rotates with the plug, a guard xed to the top of said post member above said tables, spring means acting on said plug constantly urging it and said post toward overlying relationship with respect to said cutter, and means on said base forming an abutment that engages and supports said post member whereby to maintain said guard in predetermined spaced relationship above the rst mentioned table regardless of the vertically adjusted position of said second table, said post and guard being freely movable in the direction of its length in said plug opening and with respect to said abutment.

7. In a jointer or the like, in combination, a base, a cutter rotatably mounted on said base intermediate the ends thereof, a normally fixed table supported by said base on one side of said cutter, a vertically adjustable table supported on said base on the opposite side of said cutter, means for bodily raising and lowering said second table, said second table having a vertically directed opening therein, a member rotatably mounted in said opening, spring means constantly urging said member in one direction of rotation, said member having a through axial opening therein, a post member axially slidably but non-rotatably received in said axial opening, a guard fixed to the upper end of said post and normally urged into overlying relationship with respect to said cutter by said spring means, and fixed means on said base below said member forming a stop to support said post member whereby to maintain said guard at a constant distance above the first mentioned table regardless of the vertically adjusted position of said second table.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 519,698 Daly May l5, 1894 767,545 Davidsen Aug. 16, 1904 1,111,671 Peter Sept. 22, 1914 1,235,403 Weaver July 3l, i917 1,508,685 Flohr Sept. 16, 1924 2,536,627 Copp lan. 2, 1951

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