Field of the Art
[0001] The present invention relates to a workbench useful for supporting one or more workpieces
on which one or more operations are to be performed, such as for example welding,
drilling, cutting, filing, polishing, etc. The workbench of the present invention
is mainly, although not exclusively, applicable in the metal fittings and ironwork
field.
Background of the Invention
[0002] A table provided with a horizontal upper face which is perpendicularly extended in
side skirts is currently used as a workbench in the metal fittings and ironwork field.
On the upper surface and in the side skirts there is a plurality of regularly distributed
orifices which allow fixing by means of screws accessory elements such as supporting
elements, positioning elements and gripping elements by means of which it is possible
to support, position and/or grip one or more workpieces.
[0003] A drawback of this workbench in the form of a table is that the upper surface does
not allow the workpieces to project from the lower part thereof unless they are supported
outside the extension of the upper surface by means of supporting elements in the
form of side extensions and the like. Another drawback is that the upper surface prevents
accessing the lower areas of the workpieces which are secured thereon, and although
it is possible to access the lower areas of the workpieces which are secured outside
the work surface by means of extensions, this is very uncomfortable because it forces
adopting squatting positions. Yet another drawback is that the regularly distributed
orifices on the upper surface and side skirts of the table determine rigid positions
for the accessory elements and do not allow a continuous sliding for selecting the
ideal position thereof.
[0004] Patent
US-A-5131253 describes a workbench provided to support vehicle chassis and bodywork parts in order
to repair them. The workbench comprises a rectangular frame supporting a plurality
of transverse bars which can slide along guide rails existing in the stringers of
the frame and which can be fixed in desired positions by locking means. Accessory
elements comprising positioning elements and supporting elements can slide along guide
rails formed in the transverse bars and can be fixed in desired positions by locking
means. A drawback of this workbench is that not all the bars forming it include guide
rails, and those which have them only include one guide rail in one of their faces.
This makes the workbench non-versatile when the workpieces to be secured are single
or small-series parts that are very different from one another, as occurs in the metal
fitting and ironwork field.
Description of the Invention
[0005] The present invention contributes to solving the previous and other drawbacks by
providing a workbench for supporting workpieces which comprises a framework formed
by a plurality of bars connected to one another, where said bars have longitudinal
guide rails along which accessory elements can slide, which accessory elements are
selected from supporting elements, positioning elements and gripping elements useful
for supporting, positioning and/or gripping one or more workpieces. Locking means
are provided for locking said accessory elements in any position along said guide
rails. Each of the bars forming said framework has a plurality of longitudinal faces
and at least one of said guide rails is arranged on at least three of said longitudinal
faces.
[0006] Preferably, the framework has the form of a quadrangular frame, generally rectangular
or square, formed by four of the bars connected at their ends, although alternatively
the framework could be formed by a different number of bars and could have any other
form, including an open form, such as a U shape for example. Also preferably, the
bars forming the framework have a quadrangular cross-section, although other sections
such as such as triangular, hexagonal, octagonal, etc. are not ruled out.
[0007] Nevertheless, for most applications it is advantageous for the framework to have
the form of a square or rectangular frame formed by four bars with a square or rectangular
cross-section, such that the four bars forming the framework have respective mutually
parallel and preferably flush upper faces, respective mutually parallel and preferably
flush lower faces, respective mutually perpendicular inner side faces and respective
mutually perpendicular outer side faces.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the framework has a square or rectangular form formed
by four bars with a square or rectangular cross-section, and each of the four bars
has at least one guide rail on each of its upper, lower, inner side and outer side
faces. Optionally, one or more of the bars forming the framework can have two parallel
longitudinal guide rails on one or more of the longitudinal faces thereof.
[0009] Another preferred feature is that the framework is supported such that it can pivot
with respect to a horizontal rotation shaft connected to the framework and supported
in a supporting structure, and can be fixed in any angular position with respect to
said supporting structure by locking means. Additionally, the supporting structure
can be formed by a mobile rack in which the mentioned horizontal rotation shaft with
respect to which the framework rotates is supported, and a base supporting said mobile
rack such that the latter can rotate with respect to a vertical shaft.
[0010] The aforementioned supporting elements, which can be fixed to the framework using
the guide rails and locking means, include auxiliary bars and rotating plates. Preferably,
the auxiliary bars have in turn guide rails along which others supporting elements
and/or positioning elements and/or gripping elements can slide and can be fixed by
means of corresponding locking means. The rotating plates have a fixed part which
can be fixed in a desired position in the framework or in an auxiliary bar, and a
mobile part which can rotate with respect to the fixed part and which can be fixed
in a desired angular position by means of locking means. The mobile part of the rotating
plate can in turn support other supporting elements and/or positioning elements and/or
gripping elements.
[0011] In the bars forming the framework and optionally in the auxiliary bars, there can
optionally be a linear graduated ruler associated with one or more of the guide rails
and an angular graduated ruler can be arranged in the rotating plates. These linear
and angular graduated rulers are usable as a reference for positioning other accessory
elements.
[0012] Thus, by virtue of the special construction of the framework and of the accessory
elements, the workbench of the present invention allows supporting one or more workpieces
virtually in any position of the Cartesian space (x, y, z axes), above, below, inside
and outside the framework and in its vicinity. Furthermore, by virtue of the capacity
of the framework for rotating on two shafts, it is possible to place the framework
in an enormous variety of positions to provide a comfortable and direct access to
virtually any area of the secured workpieces without needing to adopt squatting or
uncomfortable positions. Furthermore, the position of the framework can easily be
changed to provide an easy access to different areas of one and the same workpiece
without needing to loosen it and secure it again.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the bars forming the framework and the auxiliary bars
are obtained from extruded aluminium profiles incorporating the guide rails in the
form of longitudinal passages with an inlet slot narrower than a bottom channel, and
slide elements and conventional locking means adapted to profiles of this type are
used to fix the bars and accessory elements to one another. The supporting structure
is preferably also formed by bars obtained from extruded aluminium profiles of the
same type, although alternatively the supporting structure can comprise a conventional
table or the framework can be installed on any other preexisting supporting structure.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0014] The previous and other features and advantages will be more fully understood from
the following detailed description of several embodiments with reference to the attached
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a workbench according to an embodiment of the present
invention with a plurality of accessory elements fixed thereto supporting several
workpieces;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of detail II of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing bars forming a framework of the workbench
and fixing means thereof;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a workbench according to another embodiment of the
present invention with a plurality of accessory supporting elements fixed thereto;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a workbench according to yet another embodiment of
the present invention with a plurality of accessory elements fixed thereto positioning
a workpiece;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of detail VI of Fig. 5;
Figs. 7 to 10 are perspective views of a workbench according to yet another embodiment
of the present invention in four different positions;
Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the workbench of Fig. 4; and
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the workbench of Fig. 11 folded in a compact position.
Detailed Description of Several Embodiments
[0015] With reference first to Fig. 1, reference number 50 designates a workbench according
to an embodiment of the present invention, which serves for supporting workpieces.
The workbench 50 comprises a framework 1 with a rectangular shape formed by four bars
2 connected to one another at their ends. The framework 1 is supported such that it
can pivot with respect to a horizontal rotation shaft A connected to the framework
1 and supported in a supporting structure 10, and can be fixed in any angular position
with respect to said supporting structure 10 by locking means.
[0016] The mentioned bars 2 have a rectangular cross-section and have four faces perpendicular
to one another; two opposite wide faces and two opposite narrow faces. Along each
of the two wide faces there are two parallel longitudinal guide rails 3 and along
each of the two narrow faces there is one longitudinal guide rail 3. Alternatively,
the bars 2 can have a square cross-section with a single guide rail 3 on each face,
or they can even have other cross-sections with a different number of faces, although
it is convenient for there to be at least one guide rail on at least three of said
faces.
[0017] In the framework 1 of Fig. 1, the four bars 2 have respective mutually parallel and
flush upper faces 2a, respective mutually parallel and flush lower faces 2b, respective
mutually perpendicular inner side faces 2c and respective mutually perpendicular outer
side faces 2d, and at least one guide rail 3 is arranged along each of them.
[0018] Fig. 3 illustrates a known system for fixing the bars 2 to one another or for fixing
other auxiliary bars to the bars 2 using the guide rails 3. The bars 2 of Fig. 3 are
obtained, for example, from extruded aluminium profiles and have a square cross-section
with a guide rail 3 on each of their faces 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d. Each guide rail 3 has the
form of a longitudinal passage with an inlet slot 3a narrower than a bottom channel
3b. The bar 2 further has a hollow core 16 and a transverse hole 17 into which a sleeve
18 is fixedly inserted, which sleeve in turn has a transverse hole 19 aligned with
the hollow core 16 of the bar 2. The mentioned sleeve 18 further has a threaded axial
hole 20 in which there is coupled a conical tip screw 25 provided with a gripping
head 26 configured to be gripped by means of a tool, such as a key with a hexagonal
stem (not shown), to loosen or tighten the screw 25.
[0019] A fixing rod 21 is slidably inserted into the hollow core 16, which fixing rod has
a head 22 configured to slide along the bottom channel 3b of one of the guide rails
3 but which cannot pass through the inlet slot 3a thereof and a narrower neck configured
to pass through the inlet slot 3a. The fixing rod 21 further has a cavity 24 with
inclined walls located such that the conical tip of the mentioned screw 25, when it
is tightened, presses the inclined wall of the cavity 24 and drags the fixing rod
21 until pressing its head 22 against the inner part of the guide rail.
[0020] Alternatively, any type of bars and accessory elements can be fixed to the bars 2
by using special screws (not shown), provided with a head and a neck similar to those
of the fixing rod 21 described above, and corresponding nuts. Thus, the guide grooves
3 together with the fixing rod 21 and the screw 25, or with special screws and nuts,
provide sliding means and locking means. Advantageously, the bars 2 of the framework
1 have notches 9 providing a side access to the bottom channel 3b of one or two of
their guide rails 3, especially on the inner side faces 2c of the bars 2 which have
the access to the guide rails 3 from the ends thereof hindered.
[0021] The workbench 50 has associated therewith a set of accessory elements 4, 5, 6, 7
which by virtue of the sliding and locking means described in relation to Fig. 3 can
slide along the longitudinal guide rails 3 and can be locked in any position along
said guide rails 3. The mentioned accessory elements generally comprise supporting
elements 5, 6, positioning elements 7 and gripping elements 4 useful for supporting,
positioning and/or gripping one or more workpieces W.
[0022] The positioning elements 7 and the gripping elements 4 can be directly supported
in the bars 2 forming the framework 1 or can be supported in the mentioned additional
supporting elements 5, 6 included in the mentioned accessory elements. In Fig. 1,
the supporting elements include a pair of auxiliary bars 5 having longitudinal guide
rails 3 along which other accessory elements 4, 5, 6, 7 can slide and be fixed. These
auxiliary bars 5 are obtained from extruded aluminium profiles with a cross-section
similar to that shown in Fig. 3, such that they have guide rails 3 in the form of
longitudinal passages with an inlet slot 3a narrower than a bottom channel 3b on all
their faces.
[0023] In the enlarged detail shown in Fig. 2A it can be observed a plurality of positioning
elements 7 having different shapes and a pair of gripping elements 4 in the form of
quick clamps supported on the two auxiliary bars 5 supported in the stringers of the
framework 1 in the empty space between the bars 2 forming it. The auxiliary bars 5
are fixed in an abutted manner to the bars 2 of the framework 1 by means of fixing
rods similar to that described above and the positioning elements 7 and the gripping
elements 4 are fixed to the auxiliary bars by means of special screws, common screws
and nuts (not shown) in selected positions for supporting three workpieces W in positions
in which they must be mutually welded.
[0024] By virtue of the capacity of rotation of the framework with respect to the horizontal
rotation shaft A, all the regions of the workpieces W can be comfortably accessed
without needing to loosen them or change their position relative to the framework
1. Once the required operations have been performed, the workpieces can be removed
and replaced by others of the same series by simply loosening and re-tightening the
quick grips 4 or other gripping elements. It will be understood that the way in which
the supporting elements 5, positioning elements 7 and gripping elements 4 are arranged
and combined can be changed in a quick and comfortable manner to secure other different
workpieces W.
[0025] In the workbench of Fig. 1, the mentioned horizontal rotation shaft A is defined
by a pair of mutually aligned rods 11 supported by first shaft supports 12 connected
to the bars 2 located on opposite sides of the framework 1 and by second shaft supports
13 fixed to the supporting structure 10. The mentioned first shaft supports 12 are
fixed to the corresponding bars 2 of the framework 1 such that they can slide along
the guide rails 3 thereof and can be locked in any position along the guide rails
3 by the locking means.
[0026] In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the supporting structure 10 comprises a mobile rack
10a and a base 10b supporting said mobile rack 10a. The mobile rack 10a has a U shape
and is formed by a horizontal structure bar 15 and another two vertical structure
bars 15 at the upper ends of which the second shaft supports 13 are fixed. The mentioned
base 10b supports the mobile rack 10a such that the latter can rotate with respect
to a vertical shaft B. The base 10b has crossed structure bars 15 for support on the
floor and a right column 15a the upper end of which is connected by means of one of
said fixing rods to a guide rail 3 of a horizontal structure bar 15 of the mobile
rack 10a, such that when the fixing rod is loosened it can slide along the guide rail
3 of the horizontal structure bar 15 while at the same time it acts as said vertical
shaft B allowing a free rotation of the mobile rack 10a with respect to the base 10b,
and such that when the fixing rod is tightened it locks the mobile rack 10a with respect
to the base 10b in any linear position along the guide rail 3 of the horizontal structure
bar 15 of the mobile rack 10a and in any angular position. Thus, the vertical shaft
B is connected to the mobile rack 10a and to the base 10b.
[0027] The structure bars 15 which they form the supporting structure 10 can be obtained
from extruded aluminium profiles including guide rails 3 in the form of longitudinal
passages with an inlet slot 3a narrower than a bottom channel 3b, similar to the profile
described in relation to Fig. 3.
[0028] Fig. 4 illustrates how the workbench can be extended beyond the framework 1 by using
auxiliary supporting elements 5 in the form of aluminium profiles including guide
rails 3 of the described type connected to the framework 1 by means of the sliding
means and the locking means associated with this type of profiles. In Fig. 4, a pair
of the supporting elements 5 are laterally fixed to the bars 2, another of them is
fixed in an abutted manner in one of the bars 2 and extends towards a side, and yet
another one is fixed in an abutted manner in one of the laterally fixed supporting
elements 5 and extends towards an opposite side. Obviously, many other configurations
and combinations are possible. Here, the supporting structure 10 includes vertical
and horizontal structure bars 15 connected to one another forming a single substantially
H-shaped block.
[0029] With reference to Figs. 5 and 6, supporting elements of another type are described,
which have the form of rotating plates 6 on which other accessory elements 4, 5, 6,
7 can be fixed. The rotating plates have a fixed part 6a which can be fixed in a desired
position in one of the bars 2 of the framework 1 or in an auxiliary bar 5 using special
screws such as those described above coupled to the guide rails 3, and a mobile part
6b which can rotate with respect to the fixed part 6a and which can be fixed in a
desired angular position by locking means, such as screws passed through curved elongated
holes 6c. The mobile part 6b of the rotating plate 6 can in turn support other supporting
elements and/or positioning elements and/or gripping elements.
[0030] In the enlarged detail of Fig. 6, a first rotating plate 6 located on the right of
the drawing is fixed to a bar 2 of the framework 1 and supports a first auxiliary
bar 5 extending perpendicular to the bar 2 although rotated an angle with respect
to same. From the first auxiliary bar 5 there extends a second auxiliary bar 5 supporting
a second rotating plate 6, which in turn supports a positioning element 7 contributing
in positioning a workpiece W, which will be additionally positioned and secured by
other positioning elements 7 and gripping elements 4 (not shown).
[0031] Some of the guide rails 3 of the bars 2 of the framework 1 and of the auxiliary bars
5 have indicated therein a linear graduated ruler 8a provided to be used as a reference
for the linear positioning of the accessory elements 4, 5, 6, 7 supported therein,
and the rotating plates 6 have indicated therein an angular graduated ruler 8b usable
as a reference for positioning the accessory elements 4, 5, 6, 7 supported thereon.
[0032] Only by way of example, in Figs. 5 and 6, some of the linear graduated rulers 8a
are arranged at the bottom of one of the guide rails 3 on those faces of the bar 2
which have two of them, and the angular graduated rulers 8b are arranged at the bottom
of the curved elongated holes 6c of the rotating plates 6.
[0033] In relation to Figs. 7 to 10, another embodiment of the workbench of the present
invention is described, which includes a framework 1 made of bars 2 with guide rails
3 similar to the one described above, and it only differs from the embodiment described
above in relation to Fig. 1 in the construction of the supporting structure 10, which
here has the form of a conventional table 27. The table 27 can be made of any material,
including, among others, wood, iron, aluminium, plastic and combinations thereof.
Advantageously, the table 27 can be a preexisting table at a user's disposal.
[0034] Parallel supporting bars 14 are fixed on the table 27, which parallel supporting
bars are obtained from extruded aluminium profiles having guide rails 3 in the form
of longitudinal passages with an inlet slot 3a narrower than a bottom channel 3b,
similar to the profiles described above in relation to Fig. 3. At the opposite ends
of one of the bars 2 forming the framework 1 there are installed respective fixing
rods 21 (for example, similar to those described in relation to Fig. 3) the heads
22 of which can slide along the guide rails 3 of the supporting bars 14 fixed to the
table 27 and can be locked in any linear position along the guide rails 3 and in any
angular position by the locking means described above.
[0035] Thus, for example, in Fig. 7 the framework 1 is arranged on top of the table 27 and
parallel thereto. In Fig. 8 the framework 1 is arranged perpendicular to the table
27 adjacent to a rear edge thereof. In Fig. 9 the framework 1 is arranged extending
in a projected manner outside the table 27 and parallel thereto. In Fig. 10 the framework
is arranged on the table 27 forming an angle therewith. It will be understood that
the arrangements shown in Figs. 7 to 10 are mere examples of the infinite configurations
which can be adopted by the framework 1 with respect to the table 27.
[0036] An additional advantage of the workbench of the present invention is that it can
be easily disassembled and its components can be grouped to adopt an extraordinarily
compact configuration which is very useful for the transport and storage thereof.
Fig. 11 shows an exploded view of the components forming the workbench according to
the basic embodiment of Fig. 4, and Fig. 12 shows the same components grouped to adopt
the mentioned compact configuration.
[0037] A person skilled in the art will be able to think of modifications and variations
from the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present
invention as it is defined in the attached claims.
1. A workbench for supporting workpieces, of the type comprising a framework (1) formed
by a plurality of bars (2) connected to one another, said bars (2) having longitudinal
guide rails (3) along which accessory elements (4, 5, 6, 7) can slide, said accessory
elements being selected from supporting elements (5, 6), positioning elements (7)
and gripping elements (4) useful for supporting, positioning and/or gripping one or
more workpieces (W), locking means being provided for locking said accessory elements
(4, 5, 6, 7) in any position along said guide rails (3), characterized in that each of the bars (2) forming said framework (1) has a plurality of longitudinal faces
and at least one of said guide rails (3) is arranged on at least three of said longitudinal
faces.
2. The bench according to claim 1, characterized in that the framework (1) is supported such that it can pivot with respect to a horizontal
rotation shaft (A) connected to the framework (1) and supported in a supporting structure
(10), and can be fixed in any angular position with respect to said supporting structure
(10) by locking means.
3. The bench according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the framework (1) has the form of a quadrangular frame and comprises four of the
bars (2) connected at their ends, wherein the four bars (2) have respective mutually
parallel upper faces (2a), respective mutually parallel lower faces (2b), respective
mutually perpendicular inner side faces (2c) and respective mutually perpendicular
outer side faces (2d).
4. The bench according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one guide rail (3) is arranged on each of said upper faces (2a), lower faces
(2b), inner side faces (2c) and outer side faces (2d).
5. The bench according to the claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one of the bars (2) of the framework (1) has two parallel longitudinal guide
rails (3) in one of the longitudinal faces thereof.
6. The bench according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the supporting elements (5, 6) are selected from a group including: auxiliary bars
(5) having longitudinal guide rails (3) along which other accessory elements (4, 5,
6, 7) can slide and be fixed; and rotating plates (6) on which other accessory elements
(4, 5, 6, 7) can be fixed.
7. The bench according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one of the guide rails (3) of at least one of the bars (2) of the framework
(1) or of at least one of said auxiliary bars (5) is associated with a linear graduated
ruler (8a) usable as a reference for positioning other accessory elements (4, 5, 6,
7).
8. The bench according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one of said rotating plates (6) is associated with an angular graduated
ruler (8b) usable as a reference for positioning other accessory elements (4, 5, 6,
7).
9. The bench according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the bars (2) and said auxiliary bars (5) are obtained from extruded aluminium profiles
in which the guide rails (3) are in the form of longitudinal passages with an inlet
slot (3a) narrower than a bottom channel (3b).
10. The bench according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one of the bars (2) of the framework (1) has a notch (9) providing a side
access to said bottom channel (3b) of one of the guide rails (3).
11. The bench according to claim 2, characterized in that said horizontal rotation shaft (A) is supported by first shaft supports (12) connected
to bars (2) of the framework (1) such that they can slide along the guide rails (3)
thereof and can be locked in any position along the guide rails (3) by locking means
and by second shaft supports (13) fixed to the supporting structure (10).
12. The bench according to claim 11, characterized in that the supporting structure (10) comprises a mobile rack (10a) supporting the second
shaft supports (13) and a base (10b) supporting said mobile rack (10a) such that the
mobile rack (10a) can rotate with respect to a vertical shaft (B) connected to the
mobile rack (10a) and supported in said base (10b).
13. The bench according to claim 12, characterized in that said vertical shaft (B) is connected to the base (10b) and coupled to a guide rail
(3) of a horizontal structure bar (15) of the mobile rack (10a), such that it can
slide along the guide rail (3) of the horizontal structure bar (15) and can be locked
in any position along the guide rail (3) by locking means.
14. The bench according to claim 2, characterized in that said horizontal rotation shaft (A) is coupled to guide rails (3) of supporting bars
(14) fixed to the supporting structure (10), such that the rotation shaft (A) can
slide along the guide rails (3) of said supporting bars (14) and can be locked in
any position along the guide rails (3) of the supporting bars (14) by locking means.
15. The bench according to any one of claims 2 to 14, characterized in that the supporting structure (10) includes structure bars (15) obtained from extruded
aluminium profiles including guide rails (3) in the form of longitudinal passages
with an inlet slot (3a) narrower than a bottom channel (3b), and or said supporting
bars (14) are obtained from extruded aluminium profiles including guide rails (3)
in the form of longitudinal passages with an inlet slot (3a) narrower than a bottom
channel (3b).