Plate joiner

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6422275
  • Patent Number
    6,422,275
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, March 25, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 23, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A plate joiner including a fence support, a drive, and a fence system. The fence support includes a cutter and a contact surface, which defines a cutter slot. The cutter is arranged and configured to protrude from fence support through cutter slot to make a plunge cut into a surface of a workpiece when the contact surface is pressed against the surface and the cutter is plunged into the workpiece by pushing on a rearward handle portion of the tool. The drive is arranged and configured to rotatably drive the cutter through a motor.A preferred fence system includes an angle adjustment system arranged and configured to position the fence at a wide range of fence angles and, at any selected distance from a top face of the workpiece to the fence, the distance from the top face of the workpiece to the cutter remains constant as the front fence angle is adjusted. A preferred fence system includes a trunnion which pivotally couples the front fence to the fence system. A preferred fence system also includes an angle segment member, which has two slots used to position the fence in two ranges of fence angles.
Description




BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a plate joiner including a fence support, a drive, and a fence system. The fence support includes a cutter and a contact surface, which defines a cutter slot. The cutter is arranged and configured to protrude from fence support through cutter slot to make a plunge cut into a surface of a workpiece when the contact surface is pressed against the surface and the cutter is plunged into the workpiece by pushing on a rearward handle portion of the tool. The drive is arranged and configured to rotatably drive the cutter through a motor.




A preferred fence system includes an angle adjustment system arranged and configured to position the fence at a wide range of fence angles and, at any selected distance from a top face of the workpiece to the fence, the distance from the top face of the workpiece to the cutter remains constant as the front fence angle is adjusted. A preferred fence system includes a trunnion which pivotally couples the front fence to the fence system. A preferred fence system also includes an angle segment member, which has two slots used to position the fence in two ranges of fence angles.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

illustrates a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present plate joiner and fence system;





FIG. 2

illustrates a left side elevational view of the plate joiner and fence system shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

shows a top plan view of the plate joiner and fence system shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4

shows a bottom plan view of the plate joiner and fence system shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 5

shows a front elevational view of the plate joiner and fence system shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 6

shows a back elevational view of the plate joiner and fence system shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 7

shows a top left perspective view of the plate joiner and fence system shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 8

shows a bottom right perspective view of the plate joiner and fence system shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 9

shows a left elevational cross-sectional profile (taken along cutting line


8





8


of

FIG. 6

) illustrating the preferred plate joiner as well as a preferred fence system;





FIG. 10

illustrates a right elevational view of the fence system shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 11

shows a left elevational view of the fence system shown in

FIG. 10

;





FIG. 12

shows a top plan view of the fence system shown in

FIG. 10

;





FIG. 13

shows a front elevational view of the fence system shown in

FIG. 10

;





FIG. 14

illustrates a bottom plan view of the fence system shown in

FIG. 10

, with a portion of the cutter cover base cut away;





FIG. 15

shows a rear elevational view of the fence system shown in

FIG. 10

;





FIG. 16

shows a top plan cross-sectional profile (taken along cutting line


14





14


of

FIG. 15

) illustrating a preferred fence system;





FIG. 17

shows a left side elevational cross-sectional profile (taken along cutting line


15





15


of

FIG. 13

) illustrating a preferred fence system;





FIG. 18

illustrates a back elevational cross-sectional profile (taken along cutting line


16





16


of

FIG. 16

) illustrating a preferred fence system including portions of the lower gear housing of the plate joiner;





FIGS. 19A-E

show elevational and top and bottom plan views of the fence system of

FIG. 10

with the front fence at an angle of zero degrees;





FIGS. 20A-E

show elevational and top and bottom plan views of the fence of

FIG. 10

with the front fence at an angle of 90 degrees in the first range of front fence angles;





FIGS. 21A-E

show elevational and top and bottom plan views of the fence system of

FIG. 10

with the front fence at an angle of 90 degrees with the height of the front fence raised compared to the position in

FIG. 20

;





FIGS. 22A-D

show elevational and top and bottom plan views of the fence system of

FIG. 10

with the front fence at an angle of 135 degrees;





FIG. 23

shows a bottom plan view of the fence system of

FIG. 10

with the cutter cover base removed and the safety lever in a rearward release position;





FIG. 24

shows a bottom plan view of the fence system of

FIG. 10

with the cutter cover base removed and with the safety lever in a forward release position;





FIGS. 25A and 25B

show a top left perspective view and a bottom right perspective view of the front fence, of the fence system of in

FIG. 10

, illustrating and the groove member of the trunnion;





FIGS. 26A and 26B

show a bottom left perspective view and a top right perspective view and a top right perspective view, respectively, of the rear fence, of the fence system of in

FIG. 10

;





FIGS. 27A-D

show perspective views of the trunnion member illustrating the ridge member;





FIG. 28A

shows a front view of an embodiment of a fence system including a quick release screw;





FIG. 28B

illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the fence system including a quick release screw;





FIG. 28C

is a left-side elevational cross-sectional profile taken along cutting line


28





28


of

FIG. 28A

illustrating the quick release screw.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




A plate joiner makes a plunge cut in a joint surface of a piece of wood which allows the piece of wood to be joined to another piece of wood having an oppositely disposed groove. A biscuit (a thin plate of wood or other material) and glue are placed in the grooves, and the pieces of wood are joined to provide an accurate and strong joint. A plate joiner generally includes a housing, a drive unit, and a rotating cutter. A portion of the housing contacts a joint surface and, as a portion of the housing is pushed forward, the rotating cutter moves forward, engages the joint surface at the desired location, and cuts into the joint surface. Releasing forward pressure on the housing then retracts the cutter. Thus, a plate joiner provides an easy method of producing a strong and aesthetic joint in wood.




The cutter is driven by a drive including a motor located within the housing, and a gear system driven by the motor and located in a forward gear housing portion of the housing. The gear system includes a motor driven shaft rotatably driven by the motor, a generally right angle coupling of the motor driven shaft, using beveled gear, to a cutter shaft that rotatably drives the cutter. The rotating cutter is configured to cut into the joint surface.




The preferred plate joiner tool can be configured into many highly versatile configurations. The plate joiner system is arranged and configured with a fence that can be positioned in a wide range of fence angles and, at any selected distance from a top face of the workpiece to the fence, the distance from the top face of the workpiece to the cutter remains constant as the front fence angle is adjusted. The plate joiner is configured for substantially continuous adjustment of fence height while restraining lateral and tortional movement of the fence and providing an accurate measure of the height of the fence from any point in the thickness of the blade. The plate joiner system is also arranged and configured to provide a plurality of release positions that reduce the distance traveled in making a plunge cut for a smaller blade and to prevent a blade from protruding from the tool in a release position. Such versatility is found in no other plate joiner system.




To accomplish this, the present plate joiner system preferably includes a fence system including an angle adjustment system having a trunnion and an angle segment member. The angle segment member includes two slots used to position the fence in two ranges of fence angles. The plate joiner system, preferably, also includes a height adjustment system including an adjustment screw arranged and configured to provide substantially continuous adjustment of fence height and guide pins which restrain lateral and tortional movement of the fence at the height it is adjusted and locked. A preferred plate joiner system also includes a cutter plunge system


86


arranged and configured for sliding the cutter from one of a plurality of release positions to a plunge position. A preferred plate joiner includes a cutter inside a removable cutter base cover.




The preferred plate joiner system includes a fence support


14


, a drive


170


, and a fence system


129


(see FIG.


9


). Preferred fence support


14


includes a cutter


113


and a contact surface


24


, which defines a cutter slot


38


. Cutter


113


is arranged and configured to protrude from fence support


14


through cutter slot


38


to make a plunge cut into a surface of a workpiece when contact surface


24


of fence support


14


is pressed against the surface and cutter


113


is plunged into the workpiece by pushing on a rearward handle portion


172


of the tool. Drive


170


is arranged and configured to rotatably drive cutter


113


through a motor which may be an electrical motor operated live or battery power, or which may be an air motor. In a preferred configuration, contact surface


24


includes abrasive, which provides stability of the surface against the work piece. For example, the grit of the abrasive contacts the workpiece and prevents motion of the tool relative to the workpiece.




A preferred fence system


129


includes a front fence


12


and an angle adjustment system


39


, which is arranged and configured for adjusting an angle of front fence


12


. Using this preferred fence system


129


, at any selected distance from a top face of the workpiece to the front fence


12


, the distance from the top face of the workpiece to cutter


113


remains constant as the angle of front fence


12


is adjusted. The preferred mechanism for accomplishing this is described further below.




Front fence


12


includes a planar face


40


, which, at a fence angle of 0°, is coplanar with contact surface


24


. At fence angles greater than 0°, planar face


40


of front fence


12


defines a plane that intersects with the plane of contact surface


24


. The distance from this intersection to any particular part of cutter


113


is the distance from a top face of the workpiece to any particular part of cutter


113


. As shown in

FIG. 13

, front fence


12


includes cut away portions so that from the front of the plate joiner, front fence


12


has a shape resembling a squared-off letter “A”. The cut away portions of front fence


12


reduce the weight of the fence and, optionally, accommodate protruding portions of gear housing


125


when making a plunge cut.




Front fence


12


pivots with respect to fence support


14


and cutter


113


by employing angle adjustment system


39


. Angle adjustment system


39


and front fence


12


define an axis on which front fence


12


pivots. When this pivot axis is not in the plane of contact surface


24


, that is, when this pivot axis is in front of or behind the contact surface, the distance from the top face of the workpiece to any particular part of cutter


113


changes as the front fence angle is varied. Advantageously, angle adjustment system


39


and front fence


12


are arranged and configured to provide a pivot axis substantially in a plane defined by contact surface


24


. This orientation of the pivot axis is a way to achieve a fence system in which, at any selected distance from a top face of the workpiece to any particular part of cutter


113


, the distance from the top face of the workpiece to the particular part of cutter


113


remains constant as a front fence angle is adjusted.




Advantageously, angle adjustment system


39


employs a trunnion


41


to pivot front fence


12


on a pivot axis in a plane defined by contact surface


24


. A trunnion typically includes a cup shaped receptacle which supports a rod or disk on which a device swivels. For example, the two opposite gudgeons on which a cannon swivels or pivots vertically form a trunnion. In this respect, a trunnion is particularly useful for providing a consistent vertical pivot motion without substantial lateral play.




Trunnion


41


, in which a generally semicircular cup


42


receives a generally semicircular disk


43


, is a mechanism that provides a pivot axis that is in the plane of contact surface


24


. Cup


42


is defined by an arcuate ridge member


44


. Disk


43


, is a portion of groove member


45


, which defines an arcuate groove


46


around disk


43


. Arcuate groove


46


pivotally engages ridge member


44


in a manner such that disk


43


is retained in cup


42


. Preferably, front fence


12


includes groove member


45


and rear fence


13


includes ridge member


44


.




In the embodiment shown in the Figures, rear fence


13


includes a rear fence member


47


and a trunnion member


48


, which includes groove member


45


. Generally, ridge member


44


can be a component of either front fence


12


or rear fence


13


, groove member


45


can be a component of whichever of front fence


12


or rear fence


13


does not include ridge member


44


, and trunnion member


48


can include either ridge member


44


or groove member


45


.




In the embodiment shown in the Figures, trunnion


41


, includes left side trunnion pivot member


31


including ridge member


44


and groove member


45


, and a right side trunnion pivot member


32


including ridge member


44


and a groove member


45


. Generally trunnion


41


will include two trunnion pivot members, although a single member can include the features of both right side and left side trunnion pivot members.




Trunnion


41


can be arranged and configured to provide a pivot axis in a plane defined by contact surface


24


, in a plane defined by planar surface


40


of front fence


12


, in both of these planes, or in neither of these planes.




A preferred embodiment of the plate joiner system includes, as part of the system for adjusting the fence angle, an angle segment member


15


arranged and configured to position front fence


12


at a selected angle between a plane defined by planar surface


40


of front fence


12


and a plane defined by contact surface


24


. Angle segment member


15


defines first slot


49


and second slot


50


, which are arranged and configured to position the fence in a first and second range of fence angles, respectively.





FIG. 10

illustrates a preferred embodiment of angle segment member


15


. In this embodiment, angle segment member includes a plate


51


pivotally coupled to front fence


12


and configured to define slots


49


and


50


. First slot


49


and second slot


50


are each configured as an arcuate slot and are connected by third slot


52


. In the embodiment shown in

FIG. 10

, the first range of fence angles is about 0° to about 90°, and the second range of fence angles is about 90° to about 135°. First angle scale


29


and second angle scale


30


are generally parallel to the corresponding slots and include numerical indicia


76


arranged and configured to indicate the angle of front fence


12


. Slots


49


and


50


are arranged and configured to provide approximately evenly spaced indicia


76


for a given change in fence angles.

FIG. 10

illustrates approximately evenly spaced indicia


76


for each 10° change in fence angle.




First angle scale


29


and second angle scale


30


are each associated with an angle indicator, first angle indicator


54


and second angle indicator


55


, respectively. When front fence


12


is positioned in the first range of fence angles, first angle indicator


54


is generally adjacent to first angle scale


29


and indicates the fence angle on first angle scale


29


. When front fence


12


is positioned in the second range of fence angles, second indicator


55


is generally adjacent to second angle scale


30


and indicates the fence angle on second angle scale


30


.




Advantageously, first angle indicator


54


is not adjacent to first angle scale


29


when front fence


12


is positioned in the second range of fence angles. That is, angle segment


15


moves so that first angle indicator


54


is dissociated from first angle scale


29


when front fence


12


is positioned in the second range of fence angles (see FIG.


22


). Similarly, second angle indicator


55


is not adjacent to second angle scale


30


when front fence


12


is positioned in the first range of fence angles. That is, angle segment


15


moves so that second angle indicator


55


is dissociated from second angle scale


30


when front fence


12


is positioned in the first range of fence angles (see FIG.


10


).




In another preferred embodiment, angle adjustment system


39


is arranged and configured to provide a positive stop at one or more fence angles. For example, angle segment member


15


can include a stop member, such as tab


56


, that contacts another portion of the fence system to provide a positive stop. Such a positive stop can be adjustable if either tab


56


or the part contacted by tab


56


includes a stop adjustment mechanism, such as an adjustable set screw.





FIGS. 12 and 14

show stop member


56


configured to provide a positive stop at 90°. Using first slot


49


to position front fence


12


at 90° brings stop member


56


into contact with rear fence


13


providing a positive stop. Optionally, rear fence


13


can include an adjustable set screw (not shown) at the point at which stop member


56


contacts rear fence


13


to provide an adjustable positive stop. It is advantageous to provide an adjustable stop at 90° so that plunge cuts can be adjusted to be made accurately at substantially 90°. An analogous arrangement of stop member


56


and contact point on rear fence


13


can provide a positive stop at 135° (not shown). A positive stop at 0° is provided by contact between rear fence


13


and a contact point


78


on the rearward surface of front fence


12


.




Front fence


12


can be retained at a desired fence angle. Angle adjustment system


39


includes an angle locking system


57


. Angle locking system


57


includes angle locking knob


3


that is arranged and configured to bias against angle segment member


15


. Angle locking knob


3


is threadably engaged on a pin (not shown) that slidably engages slots


49


and


50


in angle segment member


15


. Knob


3


when tightened on the threaded pin biases angle segment member


15


against rear fence


13


.




The preferred plate joiner system includes a height adjustment system


58


, which is a subsystem of fence system


129


. Height adjustment system


58


is preferably arranged and configured to adjust the distance from the top face of a workpiece to the cutter in a substantially continuous manner and with torsional and lateral stability. optionally, height adjustment system


58


can provide a combination of rapid, discontinuous height adjustment to approximately the desired fence height, and substantially continuous adjustment to achieve the desired fence height.




Height adjustment system


58


achieves substantially continuous adjustment of fence height using a threaded rod


59


. Threaded rod


59


is supported by and rotatably retained by a vertical member


60


portion of fence support


14


and threadably engages rear fence


13


. Vertical member


60


and rear fence


13


are both substantially perpendicular to cutter


113


. Threaded rod


59


does not move vertically relative to vertical member


60


, and as threaded rod


59


is rotated, rear fence


16


moves up and down relative to vertical member


60


and cutter


113


. Since front fence


12


is pivotally attached to rear fence


13


, front fence


12


also moves vertically with rear fence


13


and relative to cutter


113


.




Threadable engagement of rear fence


13


with threaded rod


59


results in substantially continuous vertical adjustment of the fence. Small increments of rotation allow small increments of vertical movement on the incline of the threads. In a preferred embodiment, by knowing the pitch of the thread, each revolution or partial revolution provides a predetermined height adjustment Optionally, using a quick release screw


80


rear fence


13


can disengage from the threads of threaded rod


59


, for rapid, discontinuous height adjustment. When the approximate fence height is achieved by discontinuous adjustment, rear fence


13


can reengage the threads of threaded rod


59


for continuous adjustment to the desired fence height.




Height adjustment is achieved with torsional and lateral stability by using first guide rod


61


and second guide rod


18


to guide vertical adjustment of rear fence


13


. As shown in the Figures, first guide rod


61


and second guide rod


18


are components of fence support


14


. Guide rod frames


62


and


63


are components of rear fence


13


. In this way, guide rods


18


and


61


are retained by fence support


14


vertical member


60


, and cannot move vertically relative to vertical member


60


. Yet, guide rods


18


and


61


slidably engage rear fence


13


, so that rear fence


13


can slide vertically relative to the guide rods for height adjustment.




As shown in

FIG. 16

first guide rod


61


is positioned by first guide rod frame


62


and second guide rod


18


is positioned by second guide rod frame


63


. Each guide rod frame defines a space around the corresponding guide rod. Preferably, first guide rod frame


62


comprises first through hole


64


in rear fence


13


and second guide rod frame


63


comprises second through hole


65


in rear fence


13


. The space between first guide rod


61


and first guide rod frame


62


is advantageously narrower than the space between second guide rod


18


and second guide rod frame


63


. Preferably, first through hole


64


has a substantially smaller diameter than second through hole


65


, which results in a narrow space between first guide rod


61


and first guide rod frame


62


than between second guide rod


18


and second guide rod frame


63


. First guide rod


61


and second guide rod


62


are advantageously of substantially equal diameter. The combination of a tight tolerance for first guide rod


61


and a looser tolerance for second guide rod


18


is one manner in which lateral and tortional movement of rear fence


13


is restrained, while maintaining manufacturing economies.




Height adjustment system


58


includes a height locking system


82


for securing front fence


12


at the desired height and for providing reproducible lateral and torsional positioning and stability of front fence


12


at different heights. Height locking system


82


includes height locking knob


84


, threaded pin


66


and plug


19


. Height locking system


82


is arranged and configured to bias against a second guide rod


18


and to bias first guide rod


61


against first guide rod frame


62


. Individual components of height locking system


82


are configured to bring this about. Turning knob


84


threadably advances threaded pin


66


into rear fence


13


which biases plug


67


against guide rod


18


. As this biasing continues rear fence


13


is moved laterally through a distance less than the space surrounding first guide pin


61


, and first guide pin


61


is biased against guide rod frame


62


. Biasing guide rod


61


against guide rod frame


62


provides reproducible and stable lateral and torsional positioning of rear fence


13


, and front fence


12


.




The preferred fence system also includes a height gauge


68


, which is arranged and configured to provide a reading of fence height relative to any point on the thickness of cutter


113


, which corresponds to any point in the thickness of the slot cut by cutter


113


. In an especially preferred embodiment, height gauge


68


provides an accurate reading of fence height at any fence angle.




Height gauge


68


includes a scale


10


and a height indicator


69


. As shown in the figures, height scale


10


is arranged on a surface of fence support


14


vertical member


60


, and height indicator


69


is on rear fence


13


generally adjacent to vertical member


60


. Height indicator


69


includes a visible indicator


70


with a thickness along the height scale


10


substantially equivalent to the thickness of the cutter that indicates fence height using height scale


10


. In one preferred embodiment, visible indicator


70


is in the shape of a raised rectangle.




As a consequence of this arrangement, by visualizing measurement along the thickness of the visible indicator


70


, height gauge


68


indicates the distance from a face of the workpiece to any point in the thickness of cutter


113


. With this arrangement of the height gauge and a preferred embodiment of the angle adjustment system, in which at any selected distance from a top face of the workpiece to the fence, the distance from the top face of the workpiece to the cutter remains constant as the front fence angle is adjusted, the height gauge is accurate each selected front fence angle.




In making a plunge cut with the plate joiner, cutter


113


starts in a release position and, as contact surface


24


is pressed against the workpiece, by pushing on a rearward handle portion of the tool, cutter


113


moves forward to a plunge position while cutting a slot in the workpiece. Preferably, in a release position, cutter


113


is completely within fence support


13


, which includes cutter housing cover


16


, and cutter housing base


17


. If such a plate joiner has only a single release position and can use different sized blades, a smaller blade must travel a greater distance before it contacts the workpiece, which is an inconvenience for the plate joiner operator. Preferred cutter sizes include diameters of about 4 inches and about 2 inches. A more convenient arrangement provides a plurality of release positions to reduce the distance from release position to plunge position for smaller blades.




A preferred embodiment of the plate joiner system includes a cutter plunge system


86


arranged and configured for sliding cutter


113


from one of a plurality of release positions to a plunge position. The release positions are configured to reduce the distance between the release and plunge positions as cutter size is reduced. Preferably the distance from the forward edge of the blade in the release position to the contact surface is approximately constant for different sized blades in different release positions. Cutter plunge system


86


includes safety lever system


71


, which is arranged and configured to position the cutter at one or more release positions. Safety lever system


71


includes pivot pin


28


, which can be a rivet, safety lever


25


, and guide pin


26


. Safety lever


25


pivots on pivot pin


28


and guide pin


26


engages an aperture


72


in blade housing cover


16


and stoppably engages lower gear housing


73


to retain the cutter in the release position.




The plurality of release positions configures the plate joiner system to advantageously house cutters of two more different sizes. For example, a four inch cutter is advantageous for general use, and a smaller, two inch, cutter is advantageous for applications such as joining face frames. The preferred plate joiner system can house either a two inch blade or a four inch blade, and the cutter plunge system


86


provides for reduced travel of the two inch cutter.




In the release position providing reduced travel for a smaller blade, safety lever


25


prevents installing a larger blade, preferably by physically blocking installation of the larger blade. In such a manner, a safety lever prevents installing a large blade in a release position in which it would protrude from the cutter slot in the release position. The larger blade is accommodated at a more rearward release position.




In a forward position, safety lever


25


is configured to direct cutting dust toward dust aperture


74


. The slightly arcuate shape of safety lever


25


provides smooth circulation of air and dust when safety lever


25


is in a rearward release position, and aids in directing dust towards aperture


74


when safety lever


25


is in a forward release position.




The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.



Claims
  • 1. A plate joiner, comprising:a. a fence support comprising a contact surface, a front wall member, a cutter slot defined by the front wall member, and a cutter; the cutter protruding from the fence support through the cutter slot and making a plunge cut into a surface of a workpiece when the contact surface of the fence support is pressed against the surface and the cutter is plunged into the workpiece; b. a drive for rotatably driving the cutter; and c. a fence system comprising a front fence, a rear fence, and a trunnion; the front fence and rear fence being pivotally coupled by the trunnion, the trunnion comprising a ridge member and a groove member, the ridge member pivotally engaging the groove member.
  • 2. The plate joiner of claim 1, wherein the trunnion comprises an arcuate ridge member and a groove member defining an arcuate groove, the ridge member pivotally engaging the groove member; the front fence comprising the ridge member and the rear fence comprising the groove member, or the front fence comprising the groove member and the rear fence comprising the ridge member.
  • 3. The plate joiner of claim 2, wherein the front fence comprises the groove member and the rear fence comprises the ridge member.
  • 4. The plate joiner of claim 2, wherein the rear fence comprises a rear fence member and a trunnion member, the trunnion member being coupled to the rear fence member and comprising the groove member or the ridge member.
  • 5. The plate joiner of claim 1, wherein the front fence and rear fence are pivotally coupled by two trunnions.
  • 6. The plate joiner of claim 1, wherein the trunnion provides a pivot axis, and the pivot axis lies in a plane distinct from a plane defined by the contact surface.
  • 7. The plate joiner of claim 6, wherein the pivot axis lies forward of a plane defined by the contact surface.
  • 8. The plate joiner of claim 6, wherein the pivot axis lies rearward of a plane defined by the contact surface.
  • 9. The plate joiner of claim 1, wherein the pivot axis is substantially in a plane defined by the contact surface.
  • 10. The plate joiner of claim 1, wherein the front fence comprises a generally planar surface, and the generally planar surface of the front fence defines a plane substantially in a plane defined by the contact surface.
  • 11. The plate joiner of claim 1, wherein the front fence comprises a generally planar surface and the trunnion provides a pivot axis, the pivot axis lying substantially in a plane defined by the generally planar surface of the front fence.
  • 12. The plate joiner of claim 1, wherein the front fence comprises a generally planar surface and the trunnion provides a pivot axis, the pivot axis lying in a plane distinct from the plane defined by the generally planar surface of the front fence.
  • 13. The plate joiner of claim 12, wherein the pivot axis is forward of a plane defined by the generally planar surface of the front fence.
  • 14. The plate joiner of claim 12, wherein the pivot axis is rearward of a plane defined by the generally planar surface of the front fence.
  • 15. The plate joiner of claim 1, wherein at any selected distance from a top face of the workpiece to the cutter, the distance from the top face of the workpiece to the cutter remains substantially constant as the front fence angle is adjusted.
  • 16. The plate joiner of claim 1, further comprising an angle adjustment system, which is constructed to position the front fence at a selected angle in a range of up to about 135 degrees.
  • 17. The plate joiner of claim 16, wherein the angle adjustment system is constructed to position the front fence in a first range of angles comprising about 0° to about 90° and a second range of angles comprising about 90° to about 135°.
  • 18. The plate joiner of claim 16, wherein the angle adjustment system comprises a positive stop at one or more front fence angles.
  • 19. The plate joiner of claim 18, wherein the angle adjustment system comprises a positive stop at a front fence angle of about 0°, about 90°, about 135°, or a combination thereof.
  • 20. The plate joiner of claim 16, wherein the angle adjustment system comprises an angle segment member, the angle segment member defining a first slot and a second slot.
  • 21. The plate joiner of claim 20, wherein the angle segment member is pivotally coupled to the front fence and slidably engages the rear fence.
  • 22. A plate joiner, comprising:a. a fence support comprising a contact surface, a front wall member, a cutter slot defined by the front wall member, and a cutter; the cutter protruding from the fence support through the cutter slot and making a plunge cut into a surface of a workpiece when the contact surface of the fence support is pressed against the surface and the cutter is plunged into the workpiece; b. a drive for rotatably driving the cutter; and c. a fence system comprising a front fence, an angle adjustment system, and a pivot axis defined by the front fence and the angle adjustment system; the pivot axis being substantially in a plane defined by the contact surface; the angle adjustment system being constructed to adjust a front fence angle; d. wherein, at any selected distance from a top face of the workpiece to the fence, the distance from the top face of the workpiece to the cutter remains substantially constant as the front fence angle is adjusted.
  • 23. The plate joiner of claim 22, wherein the fence system further comprises a trunnion and a rear fence, the front fence and rear fence being pivotally coupled by the trunnion.
  • 24. The plate joiner of claim 23, wherein the trunnion comprises a ridge member and a groove member, the ridge member pivotally engaging the groove member.
  • 25. The plate joiner of claim 24, wherein the trunnion comprises an arcuate ridge member and a groove member defining an arcuate groove, the ridge member pivotally engaging the groove member; the front fence comprising the ridge member and the rear fence comprising the groove member, or the front fence comprising the groove member and the rear fence comprising the ridge member.
  • 26. The plate joiner of claim 25, wherein the front fence comprises the groove member and the rear fence comprises the ridge member.
  • 27. The plate joiner of claim 25, wherein the rear fence comprises a rear fence member and a trunnion member, the trunnion member being coupled to the rear fence member and comprising the groove member or the ridge member.
  • 28. The plate joiner of claim 23, wherein the front fence and rear fence are pivotally coupled by two trunnions.
  • 29. The plate joiner of claim 22, wherein the angle adjustment system is constructed to position the front fence at a selected angle in a range of up to about 135 degrees.
  • 30. The plate joiner of claim 29, wherein the angle adjustment system is constructed to position the front fence in a first range of angles comprising about 0° to about 90° and a second range of angles comprising about 90° to about 135°.
  • 31. The plate joiner of claim 29, wherein the angle adjustment system comprises a positive stop at one or more front fence angles.
  • 32. The plate joiner of claim 31, wherein the angle adjustment system comprises a positive stop at a front fence angle of about 0°, about 90°, or about 135°, or a combination thereof.
  • 33. The plate joiner of claim 29, wherein the angle adjustment system comprises an angle segment member, the angle segment member defining a first slot and a second slot.
  • 34. The plate joiner of claim 33, wherein the angle segment member is pivotally coupled to the front fence and slidably engages the rear fence.
  • 35. The plate joiner of claim 22, wherein:a. the fence system further comprises a height adjustment system and a height gauge; and b. the height gauge comprises a scale and a height indicator; the scale comprising indicia indicating a measurement of front fence height; the height indicator comprising a visible indicator with a thickness along the scale substantially equivalent to the thickness of the cutter; the height indicator indicating a front fence height on the height scale; c. whereby by visualizing the measurement along the thickness of the visible indicator, the height gauge indicates the distance from a face of the workpiece to any point in the thickness of the cutter.
  • 36. The plate joiner of claim 35, wherein the fence support further comprises a vertical member, and the height adjustment system further comprises the vertical member and a rear fence; the height scale is adjacent to the rear fence; and the rear fence comprises the visible indicator.
  • 37. The plate joiner of claim 35, wherein the visible indicator comprises a raised rectangle.
  • 38. The plate joiner of claim 35, wherein the height gauge is accurate at each selected front fence angle.
  • 39. A plate joiner, comprising:a. a fence support comprising a contact surface, a front wall member, a cutter slot defined by the front wall member, and a cutter; the cutter protruding from the fence support through the cutter slot and making a plunge cut into a surface of a workpiece when the contact surface of the fence support is pressed against the surface and the cutter is plunged into the workpiece; b. a drive for rotatably driving the cutter; and c. a fence system comprising a front fence, an angle adjustment system, and a pivot axis defined by the front fence and the angle adjustment system; the pivot axis being substantially in a plane defined by the contact surface.
  • 40. The plate joiner of claim 39, wherein the angle adjustment system is constructed for adjusting a front fence angle, and at any selected distance from a top face of the workpiece to the cutter, the distance from the top face of the workpiece to the cutter remains substantially constant as the front fence angle is adjusted.
  • 41. The plate joiner of claim 39, wherein the fence system further comprises a trunnion and a rear fence; the front fence and rear fence being pivotally coupled by the trunnion.
  • 42. The plate joiner of claim 41, wherein the trunnion comprises a ridge member and a groove member, the ridge member pivotally engaging the groove member.
  • 43. The plate joiner of claim 42, wherein the trunnion comprises an arcuate ridge member and a groove member defining an arcuate groove, the ridge member pivotally engaging the groove member; the front fence comprising the ridge member and the rear fence comprising the groove member, or the front fence comprising the groove member and the rear fence comprising the ridge member.
  • 44. The plate joiner of claim 43, wherein the front fence comprises the groove member and the rear fence comprises the ridge member.
  • 45. The plate joiner of claim 43, wherein the rear fence comprises a rear fence member and a trunnion member, the trunnion member being coupled to the rear fence member and comprising the groove member or the ridge member.
  • 46. The plate joiner of claim 41, wherein the front fence and rear fence are pivotally coupled by two trunnions.
  • 47. The plate joiner of claim 39, wherein the angle adjustment system is constructed to position the front fence at a selected angle in a range of up to about 135°.
  • 48. The plate joiner of 47, wherein the angle adjustment system is constructed to position the front fence in a first range of angles comprising about 0° to about 90° and a second range of angles comprising about 90° to about 135°.
  • 49. The plate joiner of 47, wherein the angle adjustment system comprises a positive stop at one or more front fence angles.
  • 50. The plate joiner of 49, wherein the angle adjustment comprises a positive stop at a front fence angle of about 0°, about 90°, about 135°, or a combination thereof.
  • 51. The plate joiner of 47, wherein the angle adjustment system comprises an angle segment member, the angle segment member defining a first slot and a second slot.
  • 52. The plate joiner of claim 51, wherein the angle segment member is pivotally coupled to the front fence and slidably engages the rear fence.
  • 53. A plate joiner, comprising:a. a fence support comprising a contact surface, a front wall member, a cutter slot defined by the front wall member, and a cutter; the cutter protruding from the fence support through the cutter slot and making a plunge cut into a surface of a workpiece when the contact surface of the fence support is pressed against the surface and the cutter is plunged into the workpiece; b. a drive for rotatably driving the cutter; c. a cutter plunge system, the cutter plunge system being constructed to slide the cutter from a release position to a plunge position and providing a plurality of release positions; and d. a fence system comprising a front fence, a height adjustment system, and an angle adjustment system; the height adjustment system being constructed to restrain lateral and a torsional movement of the front fence; and the angle adjustment system being constructed to adjust a front fence angle; e. wherein, at any selected distance from a top face of the workpiece to the cutter, the distance from the top face of the workpiece to the cutter remains substantially constant as the front fence angle is adjusted.
  • 54. The plate joiner of claim 53, wherein:a. the cutter plunge system comprises a cutter housing cover, a lower gear housing and a safety lever system; the cutter housing cover slidably engaging the lower gear housing; and b. the safety lever system comprises a pivot pin, a guide pin, and a safety lever; the pivot pin being coupled to the cutter housing cover and providing a pivot for pivoting the safety lever between release positions; the safety lever being coupled to the guide pin; the guide pin stoppably engaging the lower gear housing at a release position.
  • 55. The plate joiner of claim 53, wherein the fence support is dimensioned to alternately house cutters of two or more different sizes and the cutter plunge system comprises two or more release positions.
  • 56. The plate joiner of claim 55, wherein in a first release position the fence support is dimensioned to house a cutter with a diameter of about four inches, and in a second release position the fence support is dimensioned to house a cutter with a diameter of about two inches.
  • 57. The plate joiner of claim 56, wherein the cutter plunge system comprises a safety lever system; the safety lever system being constructed to position the cutter at one or more release positions; in the second release position the safety lever excluding the cutter with a diameter of about four inches.
  • 58. The plate joiner of claim 53, wherein at any release position, the cutter is completely within the fence support.
  • 59. The plate joiner of claim 53, wherein the fence support further comprises an aperture for expelling the cutting dust; and the cutter plunge system comprises a safety lever system shaped and oriented for directing the cutting dust toward the aperture in at least one release position.
  • 60. The plate joiner of claim 53, whereina. the fence support further comprises a vertical member, and the height adjustment system further comprises a threaded rod, a first guide rod, a first guide rod frame, a second guide rod, a second guide rod frame, the vertical member, and a rear fence; each guide rod frame defining a space around the corresponding guide rod; the space between the first guide rod and the first guide rod frame being substantially narrower than the space between the second guide rod and the second guide rod frame; b. the vertical member and the rear fence each being substantially perpendicular to the cutter; the threaded rod threadably engaging the rear fence and being rotatably retained by the vertical member; the vertical member comprising the guide rods and the rear fence comprising the guide rod frames.
  • 61. The plate joiner of claim 60, wherein:a. the first guide rod frame comprises a first through hole in the rear fence and the second guide rod frame comprises a second a through hole in the rear fence; b. the guide rods are of substantially equal diameter and the first through hole diameter is substantially less than the second through hole diameter.
  • 62. The plate joiner of claim 61, wherein the height adjustment system further comprises a height locking system for retaining the front fence at a desired height; the height locking system comprising a threaded pin threadably engaging the rear fence and constructed to bias against a guide rod and to bias a guide rod against a guide rod frame.
  • 63. The plate joiner of claim 53, wherein the fence system further comprises a height gauge comprising a scale and a height indicator; the scale comprising indicia indicating a measurement of front fence height; the height indicator comprising a visible indicator with a thickness along the scale substantially equivalent to the thickness of the cutter; the height indicator indicating a front fence height on the height scale.
  • 64. The plate joiner of claim 63, wherein the fence support further comprises a vertical member, and the height adjustment system further comprises the vertical member and a rear fence; the height scale is adjacent to the rear fence; and the rear fence comprises the visible indicator.
  • 65. The plate joiner of claim 64, wherein the visible indicator has a thickness along the scale substantially equivalent to the thickness of the cutter.
  • 66. The plate joiner of claim 65, wherein the visible indicator comprises a raised rectangle.
  • 67. The plate joiner of claim 65, wherein the fence system defines a pivot axis substantially in a plane defined by the contact surface.
  • 68. The plate joiner of claim 67, wherein the height gauge is accurate at each selected front fence angle.
  • 69. The plate joiner of claim 53, wherein the fence system defines a pivot axis substantially in a plane defined by the contact surface.
  • 70. The plate joiner of claim 53, wherein the fence system further comprises a trunnion and a rear fence, which is substantially perpendicular to the cutter; the front fence and rear fence being pivotally coupled by the trunnion.
  • 71. The plate joiner of claim 70, wherein the trunnion comprises a ridge member and a groove member, the ridge member pivotally engaging the groove member.
  • 72. The plate joiner of claim 71, wherein the trunnion comprises an arcuate ridge member and a groove member defining an arcuate groove, the ridge member pivotally engaging the groove member; the front fence comprising the ridge member and the rear fence comprising the groove member.
  • 73. The plate joiner of claim 72, wherein the rear fence comprises a rear fence member and a trunnion member, the trunnion member being coupled to the rear fence member and comprising the groove member.
  • 74. The plate joiner of claim 71, wherein the front fence and rear fence are pivotally coupled by two trunnions.
  • 75. The plate joiner of claim 71, wherein the angle adjustment system is constructed to position the front fence at a selected angle in a range of up to about 135 degrees.
  • 76. The plate joiner of claim 75, wherein the angle adjustment system is constructed to position the front fence in a first range of angles comprising about 0° to about 90° and a second range of angles comprising about 90° to about 135°.
  • 77. The plate joiner of claim 75, wherein the angle adjustment system comprises a positive stop at one or more front fence angles.
  • 78. The plate joiner of claim 77, wherein the angle adjustment system comprises a positive stop at a front fence angle of about 0°, about 90°, about 135°, or a combination thereof.
  • 79. The plate joiner of claim 75, wherein the angle adjustment system comprises an angle segment member, the angle segment member defining a first slot and a second slot.
  • 80. The plate joiner of claim 79, wherein the angle segment member is pivotally coupled to the front fence and slidably engages the rear fence.
  • 81. A plate joiner, comprising:a. a fence support comprising a contact surface, a cutter slot defined by the contact surface, and a cutter; the cutter protruding from the fence support through the cutter slot and making a plunge cut into a surface of a workpiece when the contact surface of the fence support is pressed against the surface and the cutter is plunged into the workpiece; b. a drive for rotatably driving the cutter; and c. a fence system comprising a front fence, and a height adjustment system; the height adjustment system comprising a first guide rod, a first guide rod frame, a second guide rod, and a second guide rod frame; the guide rods and guide rod frames being constructed for restraining lateral and torsional movement of the front fence; d. the front fence comprising a generally planar surface, the generally planar surface of the front fence defining a plane substantially in a plane defined by the contact surface.
  • 82. A plate joiner, comprising:a. a fence support comprising a contact surface, a front wall member, a cutter slot defined by the front wall member, and a cutter; the cutter protruding from the fence support through the cutter slot and making a plunge cut into a surface of a workpiece when the contact surface of the fence support is pressed against the surface and the cutter is plunged into the workpiece; b. a drive for rotatably driving the cutter; and c. a fence system comprising a front fence, and a height adjustment system; the height adjustment system comprising a first guide rod, a first guide rod frame, a second guide rod, and a second guide rod frame; the guide rods and guide rod frames being constructed for restraining lateral and torsional movement of the front fence; d. the front fence comprising a generally planar surface, the generally planar surface of the front fence defining a plane substantially in a plane defined by the contact surface.
Parent Case Info

This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/872,015, filed Jun. 9, 1997, which application(s) are incorporated herein by reference.

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Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 08/872015 Jun 1997 US
Child 09/276393 US