GB2108833A

GB2108833A - Worktables

Info

Publication number: GB2108833A
Application number: GB08229862A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Douglas Slack
Original assignee: STOCKWELL AND BAX Ltd
Current assignee: STOCKWELL AND BAX Ltd
Priority date: 1981-11-10
Filing date: 1982-10-19
Publication date: 1983-05-25
Also published as: GB2108833B

Abstract

A worktable for use when building items of furniture, the worktable having a freely rotatable top plate (14) carried by an upstanding column (12) slidably located for vertical adjustment within an upstanding base (22). So that the upstanding base (22) can be of substantially larger cross sectional size than the upstanding column (12) guide means in which the column is slidably located within the upstanding base (22) are constituted by three or more equally spaced longitudinally extending guide bars (24) welded to the column (12) and by respective bearing elements (25) which are adjustably mounted within the upstanding base (22). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Worktables The invention relates to worktables, in particular but not exclusively to worktables for use when building items of furniture such as divans.

It is usual to build items of furniture such as divans on fixed worktables or trestles so that the item is disposed at a fixed height. In this case also it is necessary for the person building the item of furniture to walk around it if he needs to work on other sides of it. The invention aims to remedy these present drawbacks.

According to the invention, there is provided a worktable having a freely rotatable top plate and means whereby an upstanding column on which the top plate is supported can be raised or lowered relative to an upstanding base, guide means in which the upstanding column is slidably located within the upstanding base being constituted by three or more equally spaced and longitudinally extending guide bars welded to the column and by respective bearing elements which are adjustably mounted within the upstanding base, said bearing elements partially embracing their respective guide bars. The bearing elements will preferably be arranged in vertically spaced pairs, each bearing element being pivotally located to be capable of aligning itself to the guide bar with which it is engaged.The means whereby the upstanding column can be raised or lowered relative to the upstanding base may be constituted by a pneumatic ram one end of which is located within the column and the other end of which rests upon a basal surface within the base. The upstanding column, non-rotatably located within the upstanding base, will preferably be provided with a non-rotatable support plate on which the top plate is freely rotatable. A plurality of support rollers will preferably be provided around the support plate for taking the weight of the top plate and of any workpiece placed thereon.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a part-sectional side view of a worktable embodying the invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the worktable there illustrated has a circular support plate 10 carried by an upstanding cylindrical column 12.

The support plate and column are non-rotatable but a freely rotatable top plate 14 is mounted on the support plate, being located by a bearing 1 6 at its centre. Six equally spaced support rollers 18 are provided around the support plate for taking the weight of the top plate and of any workpiece placed thereon. The support rollers are independently adjustable vertically on respective screwthreaded support stems 20.

The upstanding cylindrical column is partly located within a substantial base 22 which is also of cylindrical shape but of essentially larger diameter than the column 12. Guide means in which the upstanding column is slidably located within the upstanding base are constituted by four equally spaced and longitudinally extending guide bars 24 welded to the column and by respective bearing elements 26 which are adjustably mounted within the upstanding base. The bearing elements partially embrace their respective guide bars, as shown in Fig. 2, and are arranged in vertically spaced pairs. The bearing elements are pivotally located at the inner ends of respective adjusting bolts 28 by which they are carried, the bolts extending through screwthreaded holes in the wall of the base 22 and provided with respective locknuts 30 by means of which they can be secured in their adjusted positions.

Consequently, each bearing element can align itself to the guide bar with which it is engaged.

Means whereby the upstanding column can be raised or lowered relative to the upstanding base are constituted by a pneumatic ram 32 one end of which is located within the column by means of a cross bolt 34 and the other end of which rests upon a basal surface within the base. Control means (not shown) are provided for directing air under pressure to the pneumatic ram or for releasing it therefrom according to whether the work supporting surface is to be lifted or lowered, said means being constituted by a foot pedal operated valve.

The arrangement is such that an item of furniture such as a divan frame can be mounted on the worktable so that it can be covered with fabric in as short a time as possible; the workpiece can be turned at will and in addition can be brought to exactly the correct height to suit the workman concerned. The height of the workpiece can be readjusted as work proceeds.

The worktable is particularly stable due to the generous size of the base. Nevertheless, it can be constructed at relatively low expense due partly to the very simple but effective way in which the upstanding column is located in the base for vertical movement.

Various modifications could be made. For example, the guide means in which the upstanding column is slidably located need not necessarily be constituted by four equally spaced guide bars 24. Three equally spaced guide bars could be used or indeed a number greater than four. The bearing elements could have respective bearing pads made of a resilient material at the surfaces which partially embrace the guide bars.

1. A worktable having a freely rotatable top plate and means whereby an upstanding column on which the top plate is supported can be raised or lowered relative to an upstanding base, guide means in which the upstanding column is slidably located within the upstanding base being constituted by three or more equally spaced and longitudinally extending guide bars welded to the column and by respective bearing elements which

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Worktables The invention relates to worktables, in particular but not exclusively to worktables for use when building items of furniture such as divans. It is usual to build items of furniture such as divans on fixed worktables or trestles so that the item is disposed at a fixed height. In this case also it is necessary for the person building the item of furniture to walk around it if he needs to work on other sides of it. The invention aims to remedy these present drawbacks. According to the invention, there is provided a worktable having a freely rotatable top plate and means whereby an upstanding column on which the top plate is supported can be raised or lowered relative to an upstanding base, guide means in which the upstanding column is slidably located within the upstanding base being constituted by three or more equally spaced and longitudinally extending guide bars welded to the column and by respective bearing elements which are adjustably mounted within the upstanding base, said bearing elements partially embracing their respective guide bars. The bearing elements will preferably be arranged in vertically spaced pairs, each bearing element being pivotally located to be capable of aligning itself to the guide bar with which it is engaged.The means whereby the upstanding column can be raised or lowered relative to the upstanding base may be constituted by a pneumatic ram one end of which is located within the column and the other end of which rests upon a basal surface within the base. The upstanding column, non-rotatably located within the upstanding base, will preferably be provided with a non-rotatable support plate on which the top plate is freely rotatable. A plurality of support rollers will preferably be provided around the support plate for taking the weight of the top plate and of any workpiece placed thereon. In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a part-sectional side view of a worktable embodying the invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Referring now to the drawings, the worktable there illustrated has a circular support plate 10 carried by an upstanding cylindrical column 12. The support plate and column are non-rotatable but a freely rotatable top plate 14 is mounted on the support plate, being located by a bearing 1 6 at its centre. Six equally spaced support rollers 18 are provided around the support plate for taking the weight of the top plate and of any workpiece placed thereon. The support rollers are independently adjustable vertically on respective screwthreaded support stems 20. The upstanding cylindrical column is partly located within a substantial base 22 which is also of cylindrical shape but of essentially larger diameter than the column 12. Guide means in which the upstanding column is slidably located within the upstanding base are constituted by four equally spaced and longitudinally extending guide bars 24 welded to the column and by respective bearing elements 26 which are adjustably mounted within the upstanding base. The bearing elements partially embrace their respective guide bars, as shown in Fig. 2, and are arranged in vertically spaced pairs. The bearing elements are pivotally located at the inner ends of respective adjusting bolts 28 by which they are carried, the bolts extending through screwthreaded holes in the wall of the base 22 and provided with respective locknuts 30 by means of which they can be secured in their adjusted positions. Consequently, each bearing element can align itself to the guide bar with which it is engaged. Means whereby the upstanding column can be raised or lowered relative to the upstanding base are constituted by a pneumatic ram 32 one end of which is located within the column by means of a cross bolt 34 and the other end of which rests upon a basal surface within the base. Control means (not shown) are provided for directing air under pressure to the pneumatic ram or for releasing it therefrom according to whether the work supporting surface is to be lifted or lowered, said means being constituted by a foot pedal operated valve. The arrangement is such that an item of furniture such as a divan frame can be mounted on the worktable so that it can be covered with fabric in as short a time as possible; the workpiece can be turned at will and in addition can be brought to exactly the correct height to suit the workman concerned. The height of the workpiece can be readjusted as work proceeds. The worktable is particularly stable due to the generous size of the base. Nevertheless, it can be constructed at relatively low expense due partly to the very simple but effective way in which the upstanding column is located in the base for vertical movement. Various modifications could be made. For example, the guide means in which the upstanding column is slidably located need not necessarily be constituted by four equally spaced guide bars 24. Three equally spaced guide bars could be used or indeed a number greater than four. The bearing elements could have respective bearing pads made of a resilient material at the surfaces which partially embrace the guide bars. CLAIMS

1. A worktable having a freely rotatable top plate and means whereby an upstanding column on which the top plate is supported can be raised or lowered relative to an upstanding base, guide means in which the upstanding column is slidably located within the upstanding base being constituted by three or more equally spaced and longitudinally extending guide bars welded to the column and by respective bearing elements which are adjustably mounted within the upstanding base, said bearing elements partially embracing their respective guide bars.

2. A worktable according to claim 1, in which the bearing elements are arranged in vertically spaced pairs, each bearing element being pivotally located to be capable of aligning itself to the guide bar with which it is engaged.

3. A worktable according to either one of the preceding claims, in which the means whereby the upstanding column can be raised or lowered relative to the upstanding base are constituted by a pneumatic ram one end of which is located within the column and the other end of which rests upon a basal surface within the base.

4. A worktable according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the upstanding column, non-rotatably located within the upstanding base, is provided with a non-rotatable support plate on which the top plate is freely rotatable.

5. A worktable according to claim 4, in which a plurality of support rollers are provided around the support plate for taking the weight of the top plate and of any workpiece placed thereon.

6. A worktable constructed, arranged and adapted to be used substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.