AU629132B2 - Copying apparatus - Google Patents

Description

1 i P/:00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 19 1i 2 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT GRAHAM JOHN TUTIN GRAHAM JOHN TUTIN JOHN R.G. GARDNER Registered Patent- Attorney PO Box 443 MUDGEERABA Q 4213 COPYING A' NRATUS Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention title: s t fttI t The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it know to me:- ~ilil"x~ 2/3 2 THIS INVENTION relates to workpiece treatment apparatus and in particular to apparatus which is suited to the forming of words, letters, numerals or other indicia in any suitable workpiece by transferring or copying from a template.

A number of different types of machines are presently known for cutting a workpiece in accordance with a pattern or a template for the purposes of producing symbols thereon for advertising signs, displays or the like. Often such machines employ as their cutting tool a router for cutting or engraving messages into timber workpieces. In the machines Which are available, an engraving made in a workpiece is usually transferred identically from a template to the workpiece. The presently known machines are not capable of any other function than the above and thus are limited in their applications The present invention aims to provide apparatus of the above general type suited to cutting or engraving workpieces for the production of signs, displays or for other purposes which enables the copying characters from a template onto a workpiece S• and which provides for enlargement and reduction of characters 260' as well as for the production of characters of different forms such as characters of italic form whilst reproducing the message of those characters. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description.

With the above and other objects in view the present invention provides workpiece treatment apparatus for transferring 4 1 characters from a template to a workpiece, said apparatus t including template support means,'guide track means arranged adjacent to said template support means, a transfer arm assembly having means adapted in use to engage characters on a said template, means for supporting said transfer arm assembly on said track means for movement longitudinally therealong and pivotal movement relative thereto, an operating tool for operating on said workpiece, and means for supporting said operating tool to said transfer arm assembly, said transfer arm assembly including a plurality of mounting points for said supporting means and said operating tool whereby the position of said supporting means and/or operating tool may be adjusted relative to said transfer arm assembly to vary the size and/or appearance of characters 3./'3 transferred from said template and formed in said workpiece.

The term "characters" as used throughout the specification and claims includes letters, numerals, words, symbols or any other indicia.

Preferably said supporting means for said transfer arm assembly includes carriage means movable along said guide track means. Preferably said transfer arm assembly includes an elongated transfer arm and said pivot support means and tool are adapted to be mounted adjacent opposite ends of said arm.

Suitably said arm includes a plurality of spaced mounting points adjacent said opposite ends of said arm at which said pivot support means and tool may be selective mounted.

Preferably also said transfer arm assembly includes a further arm for carrying said means for engaging said characters on said template. Preferably said further arm includes spaced mounting points for said template engaging means.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a workpiece table for supporting said workpiece adjacent to said template support means and said workpiece table includes a supporting surface adjustably mounted for vertical movement relative to said template support means whereby to permit said apparatus to work on workpieces of different thicknesses.

'i Suitably, said template support means includes means for clamping a said template in a desired position. Preferably, said clamping means includes an elongated clamping member, and means for supporting said clamping member on said template 'i support means for sliding movement relative thereto. Suitably, i said template support means includes a guide track, slide means movable along said track and carrying said clamping member and ',3P means for selectively locking said clamping member in a desired clamping position.

In a particular embodiment, the operating tool supporting means comprises support arm means which supports the operating tool at a position spaced from said transfer arm assembly, the support arm means being pivotally mounted to the transfer arm assembly, and means responsive to longitudinal movement of the transfer arm assembly along the guide track means Sare provided for causing oscillating movement of the support arm 7

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3A means and thus the operating tool.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the workpiece treatment apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the workpiece and template table;

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4 Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the preferred clamp mechanism for the template; Fig. 4 is an end view of the template clamp mechanism of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the preferred workpiece table; and Fig. 6 is an end view of the workpiece table of Fig.4.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated workpiece treatment apparatus 10 according to the present invention including a template table 11 upon which a template 12 may be supported and a workpiece table 13 on which a workpiece may be supported. The template table 11 is provided |i with fixed legs and preferably the height of the workpiece table 13 is vertically adjustable relative to the template table 11 so as to accommodate workpieces of different thickness. Supported on the template table 11 adjacent one edge thereof is an H elongated guide track 14 provided with an extension piece which extends outwardly beyond one end of the table 11 so as to accommodate movement of the transfer mechanism as described t; below. The extension piece 15 is detachable from the track 14 ij and may be mounted to the opposite end thereof.

jl A transfer arm assembly 16 is provided to transfer characters on the template 12 to a workpiece supported on the S' table 13. The transfer arm assembly 16 includes a first arm portion 16' for mounting a tracing pin 17 adapted to engage characters on the template 12 and move thereabout and a second elongated arm portion 16" for carrying pivot support means 18 which are spaced from the tracing pin 17 and pivotally mounted at 19' on a guide carriage or slide 19 slidably movable along the guide tracks 14 and 15. The pivot support means 18 includes an t arm 20 which may be secured to the arm portion 16" at a number of different positions indicated generally at 20' for a purpose which will hereafter become apparent. For this purpose the arm and arm portion 16" include apertures which may be aligned for receiving fasteners therethrough. It will be apparent that as the tracing pin 17 is moved longitudinally about characters on the template 12, the guide carriage 19 reciprocates or moves along the guide tracks 14 or llll Supported on the transfer arm portion 16" at a position spaced from the tracing pin 17 and arm 20 is a workpiece engaging tool 21 which preferably comprises a routing tool. The tool 21 I is supported on the arm portion 16" via a link arm 22 which is adapted to be secured to the transfer arm portion 16" at a number of fixed positions indicated generally at 23' again for a purpose Iwhich will hereinafter become apparent. Alternatively the arm 22 may be pivotally attached to the arm portion 16" at positions 23 or 23'. In the latter configuration, there is mounted on the carriage or slide 19 in alignment with the pivotal axis of the arm 20 a rotatable wheel or disc 24 and a connecting link 25 is pivotally connected between the arm 22 and the wheel 24, such that rotation of the wheel 24 causes via a crank action through I the link 25 oscillating movement of the arm 22 and thus the ',115 router 21.

i The wheel 24 is arranged to be rotated in opposite i directions when the carriage 19 is moved in opposite directions i along the guide track 14 or 15. For this purpose a flexible i line 26 is secured at opposite ends to the outer ends of the I 2'C tracks 14 and 15 and is wound about the wheel 24 intermediate ij its ends. It will thus be apparent that sliding movement of the carriage 19 along the track 14 or 15 will cause via the flexible line 26 rotation of the wheel 24.

In use, in the latter configuration movement of the template engaging pin 17 about the template 12 will cause pivotal movement of the transfer arm assembly 16 about the point 19' and longitudinal movement of the carriage 19 along the tracks 14 and and thereby corresponding movement of the router tool 21 and cutting out of the characters transferred from the template 12 330 in the surface of a workpiece supported on the table 13. The s.upporting arrangement, however, for the router 21 causes curved patterns to be formed in the characters as the router 21 is oscillated back and forth as the slide 19 is moved along the track 14 and To accommodate various positions of the router 21 and pivot arm 20, the link 25 is adjustable in length, preferably telescopically. The extent of curve achieved in the lettering may also be varied by varying the pivotal connection point of the link arm 25 to the wheel 24. Thus if the link arm 25 is connected to the wheel 24 adjacent the outer periphery thereof substantial curvature will be achieved in the indicia.

Conversely if the link arm 25 is attached to the wheel 24 adjacent to its axis of rotation less curvature will result.

If the arm 25 is mounted to the centre 19' of rotation of the wheel 24, no movement of the arm 25 will occur as the carriage or slide 19 is moved along the tracks 14 or 15, the arm serving in this configuration to brace the router 21 against movement.

As stated above, the arms 22 and 20 which support the router 21 and transfer arm assembly 16 on the carriage 19 may be adjusted to alternative positions 23' and 20' along the transfer arm portion 16" and fixed to the arm portion 16" at selected positions. Similarly the position of the tracing pin 17 on the arm portion 16' may be varied. Thus where the tracing pin 17 is moved to position B and the router 21 and support arm moved to appropriate positions 23' along the transfer arm portion 16" and fixed thereto, indicia on the template are enlarged during transfer to the workpiece. In the position of the tracing pin 17 shown in Fig. 1 repositioning of the router 21 and pivot pin 18 along the arm portion 16" permits italic, reduction and exact copying of the indica of the template.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 there is illustrated the '26 1 preferred clamping assembly 30 for the template 12 on the template table 11. The template table 11 incorporates a track 31 which is disposed ;..thin a recess 32 in the surface of the table 11 which extends substantially normal to the guide track 14. A slider 33 is supported for movement along the track 31 SO' and a template clamping bar 34 is pivotally supported intermediate its ends at 34' on the slider 33, this accommodating templates of varying widths. The track 31 is arranged for sliding movement in the recess 32 relative to the template table 11 and a spring 35 normally biases the track 31 towards a clamping position. The track 31 includes a pair of spaced elongated slots 36 through which screws 37 pass to secure the track 31 to the table 11 whilst permitting limited sliding movement of the track 31. The slider 33 may be locked in any i 10 f *r if t i ii i I x i Ir t i ir cj r -Us~, 1. I desired position along the track 31.

A releasing mechanism 38 is provided to overcome tension of the spring 35 to enable a template 12 to be removed or placed in position. The release mechanism 38 includes a cable 39 secured to the track 31 and passing about guide pulleys 40 to a release lever 41. The release mechanism 38 is preferably located on the underside of the template table 11. When the release lever 41 is actuated, the track 31 is moved outwardly against the tension of the spring 35. In this position, the template 12 is positioned on the table 11 and the clamping bar 34 is adjusted along the track 31 by means of the slider 33 until it is locked in position adjacent the template 12. The lever 41 is then released so that the spring tension of the spring urges the clamping bar 28 into clamping engagement with the template 12 to hold it in position. Further clamping tension can be applied to the template 12 by means of a clamp screw 42 which is mounted to the track 31 and is adapted to engage the table 11.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6 there is illustrated the workpiece table 13 provided with a pair of tracks 43 which are secured within recesses 44 in the table 13 and respective pairs of sliders 45 and 46 are arranged for sliding movement along the tracks 43. The sliders 45 support a first clamping bar 47 and the sliders 46 support a second clamping bar 48, the bar 48 being mounted to the sliders 46 via adjustment screws 49. Suitably the tracks 43 are in the form of sail tracks and include a plurality of apertures which define locking positions for the sliders and 4.6.

/:j it i i To clamp a workpiece in position, the workpiece is placed in a desired location on the table 13 with the clamping bars 47 and 48 located on opposite sides thereof. With the 0 clamping bar 47 locked in position adjacent the workpiece, the sliders 46 are released and moved to a position adjacent the workpiece. The screws 49 are then used to move the bar 48 into firm clamping engagement with the workpiece.

For placement of larger objects on the workpiece table 13, the sliders 45 and 46 are released and slid out of the tracks 43 so as to provide a smooth even surface.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative

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embodiment of the invention, all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein defined in the appended claims.

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Claims (11)

1. Workpiece treatment apparatus for transferring characters from a template to a workpiece, said apparatus including template support means, guide track means arranged adjacent to said template support means, a transfer arm assembly having means adapted in use to engage characters on a said template, means for supporting said transfer arm assembly on said track means for movement longitudinally therealong and pivotal movement relative thereto, an operating tool for operating on said workpiece, and means supporting said operating tool to said transfer arm assembly, said transfer arm assembly including a plurality of mounting positions for said supporting means and said operating tool whereby the position of said supporting means and/or operating tool may be adjusted relative to said transfer arm assembly to vary the size and/or appearance of characters transferred from said template and formed in said workpiece.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said transfer arm assembly includes more than one mounting position for said means for engaging said characters on said workpiece.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said transfer arm assembly includes an elongated transfer arm and wherein said supporting means and said operating tool are adapted ,2,s to be mounted adjacent opposite ends of said transfer arm.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said transfer arm includes a plurality of mounting apertures adjacent each end for mounting of said supporting means and said operating tool.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a workpiece table for supporting said workpiece adjacent to said template support means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said workpiece table includes a supporting surface adjustably mounted for vertical movement relative to said template support means whereby to permit said apparatus to work on workpieces of different IX- 3"1 thicknesses.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said template support means includes means for clamping a said template in a desired position.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said clamping f means includes an elongated clamping member, and means for supporting said clamping member on said template support means for sliding movement relative thereto.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said template support means includes a track, slide means movable along said track and carrying said clamping meber and means for selectively locking said clamping member in a desired clamping position.

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said operating tool supporting means comprises support arm means which supports said operating tool at a position spaced ,2Q from said transfer arm assembly, said support arm means being pivotally mounted to said transfer arm assembly, and means responsive to longitudinal movement of said transfer arm assembly along said guide track means for causing oscillating movement of said support arm means and thus said operating tool.

11. Workpiece treatment apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying S drawings. DATED this ninth day of July 1992 tr t GRAHAM JOHN TUTIN By My Patent Attorney JOHN R. G. GARDNER 4,