Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially and automatically cutting a piece of dimension lumber at a number of predetermined angles to produce a building component, such as a rafter or truss web or chord, with composite or compound angles, is disclosed. The apparatus includes infeed and outfeed tables tiltable about a longitudinal axis and equipped with fences along which a workpiece moves longitudinally via moving devices. Clamps hold the workpiece at different positions relative to a cutting station during a cutting operation. A cutter, which for example includes a circular saw blade, is mounted for a positioning movement about a vertical axis at the cutting station, as well as for vertical movement to cut a workpiece at a predetermined composite or compound angle.

Abstract: A roof truss fabrication method and apparatus are disclosed in which multiple parallel guideways, or tracks, are laid out along the X axis in an X-Y coordinate system. Multiple pressing stands are mounted for movement on the tracks. A head portion of each stand is movable on its stand along the Y axis and may also be pivoted about a vertical reference axis. Each stand is driven along its track, and the drive means is coupled to a position indicator which gives a digital readout of the X coordinate position of the stand on its truck. Similarly, a drive means for each head is coupled to a position indicator which gives a digital readout of the Y coordinate position of the head. The stands and heads may be manually driven or driven through stepper or servo motors controlled remotely by computer to position each stand and head at predetermined X and Y coordinates of the system.

Abstract: A push feed system for feeding articles from one position to another, and particularly for feeding pieces to be cut to a jump saw, includes a computer-controlled drive means having a stepper motor connected to drive a double sided toothed belt in engagement with a toothed rack, whereby operation of the belt causes relative movement between the belt and the rack, and a push bar connected to be driven by the drive means. The double sided toothed belt ensures transmission of a large amount of power without slippage, and the computer is programmed to correct for minor differences between a selected cut length and a measured cut length as might be caused, for example, by the dimension of material removed by the saw. A shock absorber is positioned between the push bar and the drive means to absorb impacts between the push bar and stationary pieces.

Abstract: A production machine for cutting components for furniture, house framing and framing for concrete construction is disclosed. A powered cutting blade can traverse a linear horizontal path above the support surface of a workpiece horizontal table. The blade can be moved upwardly and downwardly vertically relative to the support surface of the table, can be shifted horizontally on a second linear path across the axis of the first-named linear path, can be rotated around a vertical axis, and can be tilted in two directions around a horizontal pivot axis below and parallel to the first-named linear path. The arrangement enables cutting of components in multiple intersecting planes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for guarding the blade of an orientable circular saw or like tool, already provided with an upper guard constituted by a sheath element enveloping the upper part of the blade, said device further comprising a piece of rigid transparent material laterally and frontally enveloping, at least transversely with respect to the plane of the saw blade, that portion thereof directed towards the sawyer, and comprising side and front walls inclined from the outside towards said tool and from bottom to top, means being provided for fixing said piece of transparent material on said upper guard.

Abstract: A radial arm saw has a vertical rotational axis which is displaceable from the plane of the work fence through predetermined distances. A mechanism is provided through which the work fence will be automatically shifted on a linear path in response to angular rotation of the radial arm saw about its vertical axis of rotation through a distance proportional to the degree of angular rotation. The mechanism includes a carriage and linear slide arrangement for the work fence and a proportional cam actuator for the carriage on a turntable of the radial arm saw.

Abstract: A preferably transparent awareness guard of flat plate form is attached to the conventional upper saw guard of a radial arm saw or the like in such a manner that the awareness guard can be raised and lowered relative to the work and saw blade and can also be tilted through a rather wide angular range and securely locked in various adjusted positions. The guard extends forwardly of the saw blade and on opposite sides thereof so that, when the sawyer moves material in front of the saw blade to reposition his work, his arm will engage the awareness guard before contacting the saw blade.