A clamping apparatus, for use with an actuator, has a housing with a guide track mounted on or formed in the housing. A roller or cam operably engages with the guide track such that the cam can be moved and positioned along the guide track by way of the actuator. At least one pivoting arm is pivotally mounted on the housing adjacent to and spaced from the guide track. Each pivoting arm has an elongate slot adjacent to the shoulder. The elongate slot has two arcuate surfaces positioned parallel to each other and has two end surfaces joining the arcuate surfaces to define a closed loop surface. The cam is positioned within the elongate slot of each pivoting arm to pivot each pivoting arm between a clamped position and a released position as the cam is moved along the guide track and driven against the arcuate surfaces of each pivoting arm. The clamping apparatus can include stop members for limiting the movement of the cam and/or the range of motion for each pivoting arm, a swivel mount and/or a mounting bracket enabling the clamping apparatus to be positioned in any desired angular orientation, a lost-motion link incorporated in the internal cam action of the clamping apparatus, and/or side plates for preventing the infiltration of foreign matter in the internal cam action.
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11. A clamping apparatus comprising:
a hollow housing having a guide track defined on opposed inner surfaces of said housing;
an actuator mountable on said housing and moveable between an extended position and a retracted position;
a cam moveable with respect to said guide track and connected to said actuator such that said cam is driven, moved, and positioned along said guide track by said actuator; and
at least one pivoting arm, each said pivoting arm mounted for movement about a pivot axis with respect to said housing, said pivot axis adjacent to and spaced from said guide track, and each said pivoting arm having an elongate slot adjacent to and spaced from said pivot axis, said cam positioned within said elongate slot of each said pivoting arm to pivot each said pivoting arm between a clamped position corresponding to said retracted position of said actuator and a released position corresponding to said extended position of said actuator as said cam is moved along said guide track and simultaneously driven against said elongate slot of each said pivoting arm.
0. 27. A clamping apparatus comprising:
a hollow housing having a guide track defined on opposed inner surfaces of said housing;
a power operated actuator mountable on said housing and moveable between an extended position and a retracted position;
a cam moveable with respect to said guide track and connected to said actuator such that said cam is driven, moved, and positioned along said guide track by said actuator; and
at least one pivoting arm, each said pivoting arm mounted for movement about a pivot axis with respect to said housing, said pivot axis adjacent to and spaced from said guide track, and each said pivoting arm having an elongate slot adjacent to and spaced from said pivot axis, said cam positioned within said elongate slot of each said pivoting arm to pivot each said pivoting arm between a clamped position corresponding to said retracted position of said actuator and a released position corresponding to said extended position of said actuator as said cam is moved along said guide track and simultaneously driven against said elongate slot of each said pivoting arm.
0. 21. In a clamping apparatus operably engageable with a linear reciprocal, power operated, actuator moveable between an extended position and a retracted position, said clamping apparatus comprising:
a support structure;
a cam operably engageable with said support structure and capable of being driven, moved, and positioned along said support structure by said actuator between first and second end limits of movement corresponding to said retracted and extended positions respectively of said actuator; and
at least one pivoting arm, each said pivoting arm pivotally mounted for rotation about a pivot axis with respect to said support structure, and each said pivoting arm having an elongate slot adjacent to and spaced from said pivot axis, said cam positioned within said elongate slot of each said pivoting arm for converting linear reciprocal movement of said cam into pivoting rotation of each said pivoting arm, such that each said pivoting arm is in a clamped position when said cam is in said first end limit of movement and each said pivoting arm is in a released position when said cam is in said second end limit of movement.
1. In a clamping apparatus operably engageable with a linear reciprocal, fluid power operated, actuator moveable between an extended position and a retracted position, said clamping apparatus comprising:
a hollow housing having a guide track defined on opposing inner surfaces;
a support structure;
a slide block a cam operably engageable with said guide track support structure and capable of being driven, moved, and positioned along said guide track support structure by said actuator between first and second end limits of movement corresponding to said retracted and extended positions respectively of said actuator; and
a cam connected to said slide block for movement therewith; and
at least one pivoting arm, each said pivoting arm pivotally mounted for rotation about a pivot axis with respect to said housing adjacent to said guide track support structure, and each said pivoting arm having an elongate slot adjacent to and spaced from said pivot axis, said cam positioned within said elongate slot of each said pivoting arm for converting linear reciprocal movement of said cam into pivoting rotation of each said pivoting arm, such that each said pivoting arm is in a clamped position when said slide block cam is in said first end limit of movement and each said pivoting arm is in a released position when said slide block cam is in said second end limit of movement.
10. A clamping apparatus for a linear reciprocal actuator moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, said clamping apparatus comprising:
a hollow housing having a guide track defined on opposing inner surfaces;
a slide block operably engageable with said guide track capable of being driven, moved, and positioned along said guide track by said actuator between first and second end limits of movement corresponding to said retracted and extended positions respectively of said actuator;
a cam connected to said slide block for movement therewith; and
at least one pivoting arm, each said pivoting arm pivotally mounted for rotation about a pivot axis with respect to said housing adjacent to said guide track, and each said pivoting arm having an arcuate slot adjacent to and spaced from said pivot axis, said cam positioned within said arcuate slot of each said pivoting arm to thereby pivot each said pivoting arm between a clamped position when said slide block is in said first end limit of movement corresponding to said retracted position and a released position when said slide block is in said second end limit of movement corresponding to said extended position as said slide block is moved along said guide track and as said cam is simultaneously moved within said arcuate slot of each said pivoting arm.
0. 26. A clamping apparatus for a linear reciprocal, power operated, actuator moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, said clamping apparatus comprising:
a hollow housing having a guide track defined on opposing inner surfaces;
a slide block operably engageable with said guide track capable of being driven, moved, and positioned along said guide track by said actuator between first and second end limits of movement corresponding to said retracted and extended positions respectively of said actuator;
a cam connected to said slide block for movement therewith; and
at least one pivoting arm, each said pivoting arm pivotally mounted for rotation about a pivot axis with respect to said housing adjacent to said track, and each said pivoting arm having an arcuate slot adjacent to and spaced from said pivot axis, said cam positioned within said arcuate slot of each said pivoting arm to thereby pivot each said pivoting arm between a clamped position when said slide block is in said first end limit of movement corresponding to said retracted position and a released position when said slide block is in said second end limit of movement corresponding to said extended position as said slide block is moved along said guide track and as said cam is simultaneously moved within said arcuate slot of each said pivoting arm.
2. The clamping apparatus of
3. The clamping apparatus of
at least one pivot pin supported from said housing for connection through each said pivoting arm, each said pivoting arm pivotal about said pivot axis defining a range of arm motion; and
a stop projection supportable by said housing for obstructing said range of arm motion in selective positions to define selectable positions between said clamped position and said released position.
0. 4. The clamping apparatus of
a swivel joint for supporting said housing in any angular orientation with respect to said actuator, said swivel joint having a plate, a collar mounted on said plate, said housing having an aperture complementary in shape to said collar such that said housing seats on said collar with said aperture substantially surrounding said collar, means for securing said housing on said collar of said swivel joint, said collar permitting said housing to be seated and secured with respect to said collar in any desired angular orientation with respect to a longitudinal axis of said actuator.
0. 5. The clamping apparatus of
means for supporting said swivel joint with respect to a support structure, said supporting means mounted on said plate of said swivel joint.
6. The clamping apparatus of
means for adjustably abbreviating a permissible range of motion for said cam along said a guide track, wherein said guide track defines said permissible range of motion for said slide block and cam, said abbreviating means incorporated in said housing support structure, each said pivoting arm pivoting about said pivot axis and thereby defining a range of arm motion, said range of arm motion partially limited by said abbreviating means.
0. 7. The clamping apparatus of
means for encasing said elongate slot of each said pivoting arm and said cam, said encasing means attached to said housing and serving to protect said elongate slot and said cam from contamination.
0. 8. The clamping apparatus of
each said pivoting arm having an articulated portion hingedly connected to said pivoting arm opposite said elongate slot; and
a lost-motion link pivotally attached to said housing and said articulated portion at spaced locations from one another, said lost-motion link having a curved slot for receiving said cam to move said articulated portion of said pivoting arm between a clamped position and a released position as said cam is simultaneously moved within said elongate slot and said curved slot in response to movement of said slide block along said guide track.
9. The clamping apparatus of
12. The clamping apparatus of
13. The clamping apparatus of
at least one pivot pin supported from said housing for connection through each said pivoting arm, each said pivoting arm pivotal about said pivot axis defining a range of arm motion; and
a stop projection supportable by said housing for obstructing said range of arm motion in selective positions to define selectable positions between said clamped position and said released position.
14. The clamping apparatus of
means for abbreviating a permissible range of motion for said cam along said guide track, wherein said guide track defines said permissible range of motion for said cam, said abbreviating means incorporated in said housing, each said pivoting arm pivoting about said pivot axis and thereby defining a range of arm motion, said range of arm motion partially limited by said abbreviating means.
0. 15. The clamping apparatus of
means for encasing said elongate slot of each said pivoting arm and said cam, said encasing means attached to said housing and serving to protect said elongate slot and said cam from contamination.
0. 16. The clamping apparatus of
each said pivoting arm having an articulated portion hingedly connected to said pivoting arm opposite said elongate slot; and
a lost-motion link pivotally attached to said housing and said articulated portion at spaced locations from one another, said lost-motion link having a curved slot for receiving said cam to move said articulated portion of said pivoting arm between a clamped position and a released position as said cam is simultaneously moved within said elongate slot and said curved slot in response to movement of said cam along said guide track.
17. The clamping apparatus of
0. 18. The clamping apparatus of
first and second pivoting arms having first and second pivot axes respectively on opposite sides of said guide track, each pivoting arm having said elongate slot disposed between said pivot axis and said actuator, such that said first and second pivoting arms are simultaneously moveable between a clamped position corresponding to said retracted position of said actuator and a released position corresponding to said extended position of said actuator.
0. 19. A clamping apparatus comprising:
a hollow housing having a guide track defined on opposed inner surfaces of said housing;
an actuator mountable on said housing;
a cam moveable with respect to said guide track and connected to said actuator such that said cam is driven, moved, and positioned along said guide track by said actuator;
at least one pivoting arm, each said pivoting arm mounted for movement about a pivot axis with respect to said housing, said pivot axis adjacent to and spaced from said guide track, and each said pivoting arm having an elongate slot adjacent to and spaced from said pivot axis, said cam positioned within said elongate slot of each said pivoting arm to pivot each said pivoting arm between a clamped position and a released position as said cam is moved along said guide track and simultaneously driven against said elongate slot of each said pivoting arm; and
a swivel joint for supporting said housing in any angular orientation with respect to said actuator, said swivel joint having a plate, a collar mounted on said plate, said housing having an aperture complementary in shape to said collar such that said housing seats on said collar with said aperture substantially surrounding said collar, means for securing said housing on said collar of said swivel joint, said collar permitting said housing to be seated and secured with respect to said collar in any desired angular orientation with respect to a longitudinal axis of said actuator.
0. 20. The clamping apparatus of
means for supporting said swivel joint with respect to a support structure, said supporting means mounted on said plate of said swivel joint.
0. 22. The clamping apparatus of
0. 23. The clamping apparatus of
at least one pivot pin supported from said support structure for connection through each said pivoting arm, each said pivoting arm pivotal about said pivot axis defining a range of arm motion; and
a stop projection supportable by said support structure for obstructing said range of arm motion in selective positions to define selectable positions between said clamped position and said released position.
0. 24. The clamping apparatus of
means for abbreviating a permissible range of motion for said cam along a guide track, wherein said guide track defines said permissible range of motion for said cam, said abbreviating means incorporated in said support structure, each said pivoting arm pivoting about said pivot axis and thereby defining a range of arm motion, said range of arm motion partially limited by said abbreviating means.
0. 25. The clamping apparatus of
0. 28. The clamping apparatus of
0. 29. The clamping apparatus of
at least one pivot pin supported from said housing for connection through each said pivoting arm, each said pivoting arm pivotal about said pivot axis defining a range of arm motion; and
a stop projection supportable by said housing for obstructing said range of arm motion in selective positions to define selectable positions between said clamped position and said released position.
0. 30. The clamping apparatus of
means for abbreviating a permissible range of motion for said cam along said guide track, wherein said guide track defines said permissible range of motion for said cam, said abbreviating means incorporated in said housing, each said pivoting arm pivoting about said pivot axis and thereby defining a range of arm motion, said range of arm motion partially limited by said abbreviating means.
0. 31. The clamping apparatus of
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NOTICE: More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,896. The reissue application Ser. No. 11/196,944 (the present application)is a continuation of reissue application Ser. No. 10/154,368 (reissued RE39,786), which is a reissue of application Ser. No. 09/003,927 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,896).
The present invention relates to a clamping apparatus used in conjunction with a conventional actuator, the clamping apparatus having an improved cam-action for pivoting and positioning one or more clamp arms of the clamping apparatus.
Prior known power clamps or grippers typically include a pneumatic or hydraulic differential pressure motor with a cylinder housing fixedly mounted to a support structure. At the forward or rod end of the cylinder housing, a clamp arm or gripper jaw mounting structure is connected to the cylinder housing to support movement of at least one clamp arm or gripper jaw connected to the piston rod of the motor. The jaw or clamp arm is pivoted to an open position in response to reciprocal movement of the piston rod in one direction, and is driven to a closed work piece gripping position in response to reciprocal movement of the piston rod in the opposite direction. Typical configurations of known power clamps can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,152,568 and 3,599,957. U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,568 discloses a gripper jaw driven through a linkage assembly, while U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,957 discloses a clamp arm driven through cam rollers connected to a rod and moveable in angular slots in the arm to pivot the arm.
It is also known to provide a mounting bracket rotatably mounted on the support with a pair of pivotally mounted plates each having a clamping arm and a cam track. The mounting bracket is known to include an annular shoulder engaging the support, where a flange draws the shoulder against the support to thereby selectively lock the bracket and the piston and cylinder against rotation in any of a plurality of rotational positions.
The present invention relates to a clamping apparatus having a conventional fluid operated cylinder actuator. A mounting bracket is positionable in any one of a variety of positions with respect to a longitudinal axis of the actuator and clamp. According to the present invention, the clamping apparatus includes an internal cam action for the clamp arm. The fluid cylinder actuator drives the roller or cam follower reciprocally between the first and second positions in order to move the clamp arm from the clamped position to the released position. As the roller or cam follower reciprocates, it drives the clamp arm by following an arcuate cam surface or slot formed in each clamp arm. It is desirable in the present invention to also provide the capability of a swivel mounting of the clamp arm or gripper jaw to the cylinder housing to allow the clamp to be positioned in any desired angular orientation with respect to a longitudinal axis of the fluid cylinder actuator by rotation with respect to a circular collar extending through a mounting bracket. The clamp can be held in any desired angular orientation with respect to the cylinder housing by tightening a locking mechanism, such as set screws. The present invention can also provide an adjustable stop to define the angular orientation of the open clamp position. The stop member, such as a threaded screw, can be positioned to engage an outer end of the cylinder rod as the roller or cam follower is driven toward the released position. By threading the adjustable stop further into a threaded aperture, a maximum angle of opening for the clamp arm can be limited to a position less than a full released angular orientation, which generally corresponds to approximately 90° from the clamped position. The internal cam action according to the present invention provides a cam surface or slot cam follower in a completely enclosed housing to prevent the infiltration of foreign matter into the cam mechanism. Rubber seals can also be provided if desired extending along the periphery of the housing to further obstruct the infiltration of foreign matter through areas where the clamp arm extends through and rotates with respect to the housing. By removing one side plate, the corresponding clamp arm can be changed in the field without disassembling the entire clamp. Different standard configurations of clamp fingers or gripper jaws can be attached to the outer ends of the clamp arm thereby permitting easy changing of the jaw style. Sensors can also be provided for signaling the position of the cam follower or roller to indicate the open position and/or the closed clamp position.
The present invention relates to a clamping apparatus for use with a conventional actuator, such as a fluid-operated cylinder. The clamping apparatus has a support structure defining an internal guide track on the support structure. A slide block is engageable with the guide track such that the slide block can be moved and positioned along the guide track by way of the actuator. At least one pivoting arm is provided. Each pivoting arm is pivotally mounted on the support structure adjacent to the guide track. Each pivoting arm has an elongate slot adjacent to one longitudinal end. The elongate slot has two arcuate surfaces positioned parallel to each other and two end surfaces which join the arcuate surfaces and thereby define the slot as a closed loop surface. The slide block supports a cam or roller positioned within the elongate slot of each pivoting arm to thereby pivot each pivoting arm between a clamped position and a released position as the slide block and roller combination is moved along the guide track and the roller or cam is simultaneously driven against the arcuate surface and moved in the elongate slot of each pivoting arm. The present invention further can provide selectively positionable stop members or screws for limiting the movement of the roller and/or the range of motion for each pivoting arm, a swivel mount and/or a mounting bracket which together enable the clamping apparatus to be positioned in any desired angular orientation. A lost-motion link can be incorporated into the internal cam action of the apparatus if desired, and side plates for preventing the infiltration of foreign matter in the internal cam action can also be provided.
Other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
A clamping apparatus 10 according to the present invention is operably engageable with a linear reciprocal actuator 12 moveable between an extended position illustrated in
The elongate slot 24 of each pivoting arm 22 is defined by two arcuate surfaces 26 and 28 extending parallel to one another with two end surfaces 30 and 32 joining the arcuate surfaces 26 and 28 to one another to define a closed loop surface. The arcuate surfaces 26 and 28 define convex arcuate segments with respect to the pivot axis of each pivoting arm 22. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6-9, each pivoting arm 22 is connected to the housing through a pivot pin 34 defining the pivot axis. The elongate slot 24 extends convex with respect to the pivot axis of the pivot pin 34 having a first end surface 30 closest to the pivot pin 34 and a second end surface 32 furthest from the pivot pin 34. When the pivoting arm 22 is in the clamped position, the actuator 12 is in the retracted position, and the cam 20 is disposed adjacent to the second end surface 32 for furthest from the pivot pin 34. In response to movement of the actuator 12 from the retracted position to the extended position, the cam 20 moves along the elongate slot 24 to a position adjacent to the first end surface 30 closest to the pivot pin 34 as best seen in FIG. 9.
Continuing to refer to
Referring now to
As best seen in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Jan 08 1998 | DELLACH, JEFFERY J | ISI NORGREN INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 033635 | /0867 | |
Jun 06 2000 | ISI NORGREN INC | NORGREN AUTOMOTIVE, INC | CHANGE OF NAME SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 033664 | /0744 | |
Aug 03 2005 | Norgren Automotive, Inc. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Apr 03 2009 | Syron Engineering & Manufacturing, LLC | NORGREN AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS, INC | MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 033636 | /0014 | |
Apr 03 2009 | NORGREN AUTOMOTIVE, INC | NORGREN AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS, INC | MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 033636 | /0014 | |
Nov 23 2011 | NORGREN AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS, INC | Norgren Automation Solutions, LLC | CHANGE OF NAME SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 033664 | /0774 |
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