A feed/clamp apparatus includes a feed vise mechanism provided upstream from a cutting position, and a downstream vise mechanism provided just downstream from the cutting position. The feed vise mechanism includes first/second feed vise jaws, a downstream moving cylinder for moving the first feed vise jaw, and a downstream shifting cylinder for shifting the second feed vise jaw. The downstream vise mechanism includes first/second downstream vise jaws, a downstream moving cylinder for moving the first downstream vise jaw, and a downstream shifting cylinder for shifting a second downstream vise jaw. A vise surface of the second downstream vise jaw is located on one side of the vise reference position when the downstream shifting cylinder is located its stroke end on the one side. A thrust force of the downstream shifting cylinder toward the one side is made equal to a thrust force of the downstream moving cylinder toward another side.

A feed/clamp apparatus includes a feed vise mechanism provided upstream from a cutting position, and a downstream vise mechanism provided just downstream from the cutting position. The feed vise mechanism includes first/second feed vise jaws, a downstream moving cylinder for moving the first feed vise jaw, and a downstream shifting cylinder for shifting the second feed vise jaw. The downstream vise mechanism includes first/second downstream vise jaws, a downstream moving cylinder for moving the first downstream vise jaw, and a downstream shifting cylinder for shifting a second downstream vise jaw. A vise surface of the second downstream vise jaw is located on one side of the vise reference position when the downstream shifting cylinder is located its stroke end on the one side. A thrust force of the downstream shifting cylinder toward the one side is made equal to a thrust force of the downstream moving cylinder toward another side.

Provided are a porous media bearing for a band saw, a band saw for cutting cant and a method of cutting cant using the band saw. The band saw has a continuous loop blade supported by a drive wheel and first and second support arms having porous media bearings. A location of a blade cutting section, an angle of the blade in relation to the cant being cut, and tension on the blade can be adjusted by moving the first and second support arms.

A hold down mechanism for a bandsaw including an upstream wheel positioned upstream of the saw blade and a downstream wheel positioned downstream of the saw blade, each wheel being rotationally connected to a bogie which is in turn supported on a swing arm. The proximity of the upstream and downstream wheels to the saw blade as well as the degree of pivoting motion permitted by the bogie enable a hold down wheel to press the ends if sequential workpieces against a base as the ends pass the saw blade to assure a uniform thickness of the cut workpiece. An angled guide surface is provide upstream from the forward wheel to assist the forward wheel in elevating when a trailing workpiece is significantly thicker than the workpiece preceding.

A profiling saw with band knife loop take-up and payoff compensation includes an endless circulating band knife which is guided around a plurality of band knife pulleys so the take-up and payoff adjustment is provided of the loop circulation path shape. The take-up and payoff system operates to move a pulley in the vertical plane for allowing the band knife to maintain its cutting orientation during movement and providing for more rapid and precision cuts into a workpiece.

A method for sawing metal workpieces uses a sawing machine having a bench and clamping jaws, and an upper saw generates a sawing feeding movement in a cutting plane. The method includes: controlling the clamping jaws to clamp a workpiece, the clamping jaws located in an initial position; waiting input of an offset value, corresponding to a distance of a front end side of the workpiece from a zero position, into the machine controller, the zero position being a position in which the front end side of the workpiece is located in the cutting plane; advancing or retracting the clamping jaws to move the workpiece into the zero position; opening the clamping jaws; moving the clamping jaws to the initial position; re-clamping the workpiece located in the zero position, the clamping jaws being in their initial position; moving the clamped workpiece from the zero position into a cutting position, the cutting position being a position in the cutting plane where the workpiece is intended to be sawn.

A safety feeder includes a transmission system including a drive shaft having a rotating axis on a phantom axis, and a coupling system connecting to the drive shaft and configured to rotate with the drive shaft simultaneously. The coupling system includes a drive line and a tube covering the drive line. The drive line includes an end thereof connecting to the drive axle.

A device and method are disclosed. An embodiment of a sliding sled for use on a saw table includes a flat plate, adjustable guide fences on the flat plate at a fixed pivot end to create an oblique relative to the saw table, an indexing system including angle indicators to set the angles of the adjustable guide fences, roller bearings on the bottom side of the flat plate for riding on the ACCU-SLICE rail, and a sawdust shield to keep sawdust off the roller bearings and ACCU-SLICE rail. Guide fences may have a fixed pivot end and a movable end and a locking bolt to temporarily fix the movable end at a desired position on the plate. The movable end of the adjustable guide fences may align with the angle indicators when the angle of the adjustable guide fence relative to the cutting plane corresponds to the angle indicators.

There is provided in a preferred embodiment an apparatus for feeding an elongated material in a direction substantially generally along a length thereof to a cutting device having a cutting surface. The apparatus includes a lifting base assembly and a material shuttling assembly secured on the pivoting base assembly, the latter defining a feeding path. The lifting base assembly has a lower base portion and an upper base portion hingedly coupled to the lower base portion along a base pivoting axis generally parallel to and laterally offset from the feeding path. The upper base portion is selectively rotatable about the pivoting axis relative to the lower base portion between a level position and a lifted position, wherein in the lifted position, the material is raised above the cutting surface in an angled orientation where the material is further raised along a first lateral end portion relative to a second lateral end portion opposed to the first lateral end portion, the second lateral end portion being proximal to the pivoting axis.

There is provided in a preferred embodiment an apparatus for feeding an elongated material in a direction substantially generally along a length thereof to a cutting device having a cutting surface. The apparatus includes a lifting base assembly and a material shuttling assembly secured on the pivoting base assembly, the latter defining a feeding path. The lifting base assembly has a lower base portion and an upper base portion hingedly coupled to the lower base portion along a base pivoting axis generally parallel to and laterally offset from the feeding path. The upper base portion is selectively rotatable about the pivoting axis relative to the lower base portion between a level position and a lifted position, wherein in the lifted position, the material is raised above the cutting surface in an angled orientation where the material is further raised along a first lateral end portion relative to a second lateral end portion opposed to the first lateral end portion, the second lateral end portion being proximal to the pivoting axis.