US20080000395A1

US20080000395A1 - Milling machine table

Info

Publication number: US20080000395A1
Application number: US11/803,146
Authority: US
Inventors: Uwe Radermacher
Original assignee: Wolfcraft GmbH
Current assignee: Wolfcraft GmbH
Priority date: 2006-06-30
Filing date: 2007-05-11
Publication date: 2008-01-03
Also published as: DE102007011784A1; CA2592721A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a work table with a worktop (1) and an insertion plate (2) insertable into an insertion opening (3) of the worktop (1), wherein the edge (2′) of the insertion plate (2) rests on a step (4) of the insertion opening (3). It is proposed that the edge (2′) of the insertion plate (2) contains height adjustment elements (15), resting on the step (4). Moreover, an essential factor is a work table with a worktop (1) and an insertion plate (2) insertable into an insertion opening (3) of the worktop (1), wherein the edge (2′) of the insertion plate (2) rests on a step (4) of the insertion opening (3) and forms a gap (5) with the interior wall (16) of the insertion opening (3), characterized in that a clamping device (11) is provided which exerts a diagonal tension force onto the insertion plate (2) in the extension of the surface of the insertion plate (2).

Description

The invention concerns a work table, in particular a milling table with a worktop and an insertion plate insertable into an insertion opening of the worktop, where the edge of the insertion plate is placed onto a step of the insertion opening.
This type of worktable is currently on the market as a milling machine table. The milling machine table is equipped with a work plate supported by several feet. A moveable stop rail is arranged on the top side of the worktop opposite a milling cutter. The milling cutter sits on the drive shaft of the drive motor. The motor is located on the underside of an insertion plate, inserted into an insertion opening of the worktop. The milling cutter protrudes from an opening in the insertion plate. The insertion plate is inserted flush with the worktop and lies in the opening without a gap. The dimensions of the insertion plate must be matched very exactly to the dimensions of the insertion opening. The tolerances must be very small to prevent the insertion plate from moving within the worktop or to avoid the formation of a step between the top of the insertion plate and the top of the worktop.
A milling machine table including accessories has been described in DE 102005009227 A1, which can be a commercial routing machine clamped against the underside of the worktop by means of clamping claws. Compared to the type-defining prior art mentioned above, this solution has the disadvantage that the exchange of a tool is time-consuming. Either, a correspondingly equipped routing machine needs to be exchanged for a different routing machine, or the routing machine needs to be equipped with a different milling cutter. Again, the disassembly of the routing machine is required. The exchange of the tool is easier when using the state of the art mentioned in the beginning, in that the insertion plate bearing the drive motor can be removed from the insertion opening. An insertion plate containing a machine with a milling cutter can be exchanged for a different insertion plate equipped with a different machine and a different milling cutter. Moreover, the exchange of the machine on the insertion plate is easier as well.
The object of the invention is to simplify the type-defining milling machine table in terms of the technical production.
The object is solved by means of the invention outlined in the claims. Each claim provides an independent solution of the object and is combinable with any one of the other claims in any form.
First and foremost, it is intended that the edge of the insertion plate is equipped with height-adjustable elements, supported on the step. Based on this embodiment, the height tolerance of both the step and the insertion plate can be larger. To prevent the formation of a step between the top of the insertion plate and the top of the worktop, the height of the insertion plate can be adjusted relative to the step. Preferably, the height adjustment elements are grub screws screwed into corresponding taps on the edge of the insertion plate. The blunt ends of the grub screws rest on the step of the insertion opening. In an alternative solution of the object, which can be realized in combination with the solution described above, the use of a clamp is intended. This clamp is located in the corner of the insertion opening. The clamp possesses a clamping surface which cooperates with the counter-clamping surface of the insertion plate. The counter-clamping surface is located in one of the corners of an essentially rectangular insertion plate. The clamp exerts a tension force onto the insertion plate, resulting in the extension of the surface. The effect of the tension force in the opposing corner is such that the exterior walls of the insertion plate colliding in this rounded corner as the case may be are pushed against the interior walls of the insertion opening that come together in this corner. The result is a gap between the two walls of the insertion opening and insertion plate facing these two walls mentioned before. The clamp can be located in a recess of the worktop. It can consist of an eccentric cam. The eccentric cam can be turned from the underside of the worktop. For this purpose, the worktop will be equipped with a turning handle. The counter-clamping surface of the insertion plate is formed by a rounded recess in the corner. Otherwise, the worktop is equipped with four legs on its underside, similar to the device described in DE 102005009227 A1. The milling machine table according to the invention is equipped with a stop rail, essentially corresponding to the stop rail described in the patent application mentioned above. Preferably, the work table is a work bench where a motor-driven tool is attached. A drive for the tool can be attached on the underside of the insertion plate. The tool protrudes from an opening in the insertion plate. The tool can be a drive-driven milling cutter. It can be an end-milling cutter, a profiling cutter or similar machining tool. The work table is especially suitable to hold a machine and in particular a hand tool machine. Therefore, the work table is preferable a supporting table. In addition to the previously mentioned milling cutter, electrically driven tools can include a compass saw, a circular saw or a plane. Any electrically driven hand tools can be mounted below the insertion plate, so that the tools protrude from an opening.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated below, based on the attached drawings. The figures illustrate the following:

FIG. 1 top view of a milling machine table with the insertion plate inserted in the insertion opening and mounted stop rail;

FIG. 2 illustration according to FIG. 1, but without stop rail;

FIG. 3 illustration according to FIG. 1, but without stop rail and with the insertion plate removed;

FIG. 4 lateral view of the milling machine table according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 bottom view of the milling machine table according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 enlarged section according to line VI in FIG. 1 in the clamping position of the eccentric cam;

FIG. 7 illustration according to FIG. 6 in the release position of the eccentric cam;

FIG. 8 cross-section according to line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 cross-section according to line IX-IX in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 cross-section according to line X-X in FIG. 6.

Essentially, the shape of the milling machine table is identical to the shape described in DE 102005009227 A1. Insofar, the full content of this brochure is included in the content of the disclosures of this application, in particular with respect to the supplementation of the claims and the description.
The worktop 1 is arranged horizontally. The surface 1″ of the worktop 1 is equipped with a stop rail 6. The stop rail 6 is equipped with a protective cap 10 and fittings to attach the stop rail 6 on the top side 1″ of the worktop 1. The fittings can be clamping screws with the ends reaching through longitudinal slots. In addition, the top side 1″ of the worktop 1 is equipped with a guiding groove 7 to provide a moveable stop.
The worktop 1 is equipped with an essentially square insertion opening 3. The corners of the insertion opening 3 can be rounded. The insertion opening 3 possesses an edge 2′ created by a step 4.
The edge 2′ of in insertion plate 2 rests on the step 4. The thickness of the material of the insertion plate 2 is slightly smaller than the distance from step 4 to the surface 1″ of the worktop. The edge 2′ of the insertion plate 2 is equipped with several taps 20. Each tap contains a grub screw 15. The axial length of the grub screw 15 is smaller than the thickness of the material of the insertion plate 2. As a result, the grub screw 15 does not protrude from the tap 20 beyond the surface 2″ of the insertion plate 2, if its basic surface is flush with the underside of the insertion plate 2. The basic surface of the grub screw 15 is supposed to rest on the step 4. This allows the adjustment of a gap between the underside of the insertion plate 2 and the step 4 in such a way that the surface 2″ of the insertion plate 2 can be arranged flush with the worktop 1. The grub screw 15 can be turned using a corresponding screwdriver, such as a flat wrench, four-way socket wrench or a hex head wrench.
One of the corners of the insertion opening 3 contains a rounded recess 21. This recess 21 contains an eccentric cam 11 made of metal, in particular steel. The eccentric cam 11 is equipped with an axle protruding the recess 21 through an opening in the bottom. The underside of the worktop 1 is equipped with a bearing housing 24 with a shaft bushing. The shaft bushing is flush with the opening in the floor of recess 21, so that the actuating shaft for the eccentric cam 11 can be arranged on the bearing housing 24. An actuating handle 25 which can be operated manually by the user sits at the end of the actuating shaft 27. When the turning handle 25 is turned, the eccentric cam 11 is turned too. The clamping surface 13 is located opposite a surface with a reduced radial distance.
The outline of the insertion plate 2 essentially corresponds to the outline of the interior wall 16 of the insertion opening 3, where the lateral dimensions of the insertion plate 2 are slightly smaller than the lateral dimensions of the insertion opening. As a result, a gap can occur between the exterior wall 17 of the insertion plate 2 and the interior wall 16 of the insertion opening 3. The corner of the insertion plate 2 allocated to the eccentric cam 11 is equipped with a rounded recess forming a counter-clamping surface 14. If the insertion plate 2 is placed into the insertion opening 3 on step 4 and the grub screws 15 have been screwed in at optimal screwing depth, the eccentric cam 11 can be turned by means of the actuating handle 25. As a result, the clamping surface 13 opposes the counter-clamping force 14. The eccentric cam 11 generates a tension force in the direction of the expansion of the insertion plate 2 toward the corner 28 of the insertion plate opposite the corner containing the recess. The rounded corner 28 of the insertion plate 2 of the exemplary embodiment is pushed into the allocated rounded corner of the insertion opening 3. As a result, the exterior walls 17 of the insertion plate 2 touching one another in this corner are opposing the allocated interior walls 16 of the insertion opening 3. Associated herewith, the gap between the interior walls 16 and exterior walls 17 in the area of these two vertically arranged joints displayed in FIG. 2 closes. However, the joints opposing the joints mentioned above contain a gap 5 between the interior walls 16 and exterior walls 17, which increases as a result of the increased tension force.
In this tense state, the insertion plate 2 can not be removed from the insertion opening 3. This is only possible with the activation of the actuating handle 25 to return the eccentric cam 11 into its release position in which the radially reduced section of the circumference of the eccentric cam 11 is located in front of the rounded recess of the corner 14.
Mould clamping devices can be provided to improve the support of the insertion plate 2 within the insertion opening 3. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the exterior wall 17 of the insertion plate 2 which leans on the interior wall 16 in the tense state, can be equipped with a spring 19. This is a recess engaging in a slot 18 of the interior wall 16. The height of the spring 19 is smaller than the width of the slot 18 to allow the adjustment at the insertion plate 2.
The eccentric cam 11 can also be equipped with mould clamping devices to improve the capture of the insertion plate 2 in the insertion opening 3. It can be equipped with an arc-shaped protrusion 23 in the area of the clamping surface 13, casing a corresponding step 22 of the counter-clamping surface 14.
Axial fixation devices, not displayed, will be provided to arrange the eccentric cam 11 in recess 21 in a rotary manner, while preventing it from axial displacement. The surface of the broadside of the eccentric cam 11 can have a distance to the surface 1″ of the worktop 1, resulting in a recess in this area.
All (individually) disclosed features are relevant to the invention. The full content of the disclosure of the associated/attached priority documents (transcript of the previous application) is included in the disclosure of the application, for the purpose of including the features outlined in these documents into the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A work table with a worktop (1) and an insertion plate (2) insertable into an insertion opening (3) of the worktop (1), wherein the edge (2′) of the insertion plate (2) rests on a step (4) of the insertion opening (3), characterized in that the edge (2′) of the insertion plate (2) contains height adjustment elements (15), resting on the step (4).

2. A work table according to or in particular according to claim 1, characterized in that the height adjustment elements (15) are formed by grub screws (15) which are screwed into taps (20).

3. A work table with a worktop (1) and an insertion plate (2) insertable into an insertion opening (3) of the worktop (1), wherein the edge (2′) of the insertion plate (2) rests on a step (4) of the insertion opening (3) and forms a gap (5) with the interior wall (16) of the insertion opening (3), characterized in that a clamping device (11) is provided which exerts a diagonal tension force onto the insertion plate (2) in the extension of the surface of the insertion plate (2).

4. A work table according to or in particular according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping device affects one corner of the essentially rectangular insertion plate (2) and pushes the corner of the insertion plate (2) diagonally opposing this corner against the interior walls (16) of the insertion opening (3) which come together there.

5. A work table according to or in particular according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping device is an eccentric cam (11), arranged in a bearing recess (21) of the worktop (1).

6. A work table according to or in particular according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the eccentric cam (11) can be turned from the underside of the worktop (1).

7. A work table according to or in particular according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a turning handle (25) to turn the eccentric cam (11) is arranged below the worktop (1).

8. A work table according to or in particular according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the eccentric cam (11) cooperates with a counter-clamping force (14) of the insertion plate (2) formed by a rounded recess in the corner.

9. A work table according to or in particular according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a drive device (8) for a tool, in particular a milling cutter (9) can be mounted at the underside of the insertion plate (2), wherein the tool, in particular the milling cutter (9) protrudes from an opening (26) in the insertion plate (2).