Locator and hold down system for a machine

Abstract

The devices and systems of the present invention encompasses both an apparatus and method enabling quick repositioning of positional devices, and quick positioning of supports, particularly useful in edging and milling applications. The positional device uses a set of nested pistons which are mounted in an offset fashion onto a circular vacuum platform. The platform has a push tubing connection which is amenable to manual evacuation onto the working table, and a manual pressure release to facilitate spot movement of individual positional devices. An auxiliary vacuum system enables the positional devices in each work area to be individually controlled. The quick positioning of supports is accomplished through the use of a 'spider' shaped hub which is connected to the supports using a set of approximately equal lengths of pressure tubing. Since the vast majority of shapes which are processed have a center of mass at a given point, the use of the hub even where only a portion of the periphery supports are equidistant from the hub will still result in a savings in tangled lines and in the total number of line going onto the table. Further, this 'spider' or hub arrangement assists the operator in that it encourages setup using a center member and its surrounding members, and thus saves setup time. Therefore, to an extent, it tends to keep a surround orientation as it is moved about the work table, to quickly locate the work area.