Eccentric Cylinder Or Disc Patents (Class 269/235)
  • Patent number: 10808469
    Abstract: A wrench assembly comprising an upper clamp assembly, a lower clamp assembly coupled to the upper clamp assembly, and an alignment device disposed between the upper and lower clamp assemblies to allow the upper clamp assembly to move laterally relative to the lower clamp assembly when rotated relative to the lower clamp assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: FORUM US, INC.
    Inventor: Han Vo
  • Patent number: 10808468
    Abstract: A spinner tool includes a plurality of rollers configured to rotate a tubular and a linkage assembly configured to move the rollers into and out of contact with the tubular. The tool further includes a carriage assembly configured to support the linkage assembly. The carriage assembly has a frame, a pair of carriage rollers positioned on opposite sides of the frame, and a pair of spring cylinders positioned on opposite sides of each carriage roller. The spring cylinders are coupled at one end to the carriage roller and at an opposite end to the frame to force the carriage assembly into a centered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: FORUM US, INC.
    Inventor: Han Vo
  • Patent number: 10668626
    Abstract: A series-parallel movable heavy-load casting robot, includes a four-driving-wheel type moving platform, a rotating device, an upright assembly, a lifting drive device, a parallel working arm, an end actuator and a binocular vision system. The four-driving-wheel type moving platform is driven by adopting four omnidirectional wheels, the platform utilizes rear hydraulic supporting legs and adjustable hydraulic supporting legs to implement stationary point self-balancing supporting, and a robot body has five freedom degrees of motion in space; and the rotating device and the lifting drive device can respectively implement rotating and lifting adjustment, the four-degree-of-freedom parallel working arm can carry out attitude adjustment for the end actuator, different end actuators can be changed according to working requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: ANHUI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Chengjun Wang, Yongcun Guo, Runrun Ren, Yuzhe Shen, Yan Zheng, Long Li, Hongtao Yang, Jun Zhang, Peng Wang
  • Patent number: 10486276
    Abstract: A securing structure is provided, including a frame, a movable member, a fixed member, a first abutting member, a screwing member. The frame includes a passage. The movable member is slidably disposed in the passage, and includes a threaded portion and a guiding slot. The fixed member is affixed on the frame and extends through the guiding slot. The first abutting member has a first inclined surface and is pivotally connected to the movable member. The screwing member is detachably joined to the threaded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: WISTRON CORP.
    Inventors: Meng-Chian Shiu, Chi-Jen Lo
  • Patent number: 10384257
    Abstract: A punch press quick tool change system comprising a reciprocally movable upper support member arranged on a punch press frame. The system also includes a lower support member arranged on the punch press frame. A pair of tool gripping members are arranged on the upper support member and also on the lower support member. The tool gripping members comprises a 1st pair of spaced-apart parallel keeper positioners secured to the upper support member for securing the tool gripping arrangement plate adjustably against the upper support member. A 2nd pair of parallel keeper positioners are secured to the lower support member for securing a 2nd tool gripping plate adjustably against the lower support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Inventor: Don Halgren
  • Patent number: 9105778
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods, apparatuses and systems for fabricating photovoltaic cells and modules. In certain embodiments, the methods, apparatuses and systems involve coating ferromagnetic substrates with thin film solar cell materials and using magnetic force to constrain, move or otherwise manipulate partially fabricated cells or modules. According to various embodiments, the methods, apparatuses and systems provide magnetically actuated handling throughout a photovoltaic cell or module fabrication process, from forming photovoltaic cell layers on a substrate to packaging the module for transport and installation. The magnetically manipulated processing provides advantages over conventional photovoltaic module processing operations, including fewer mechanical components, greater control over placement and tolerances, and ease of handling. As a result, the methods, apparatuses and systems provide highly efficient, low maintenance photovoltaic module fabrication processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Apollo Precision (Kunming) Yuanhong Limited
    Inventors: Bruce Krein, Darin Birtwhistle, Jeff Thompson
  • Patent number: 8777202
    Abstract: A tool is disclosed for adjusting a seal. The tool includes an engagement block. The engagement block defines a slot configured to capture a portion of the seal. The tool further includes an impact surface connected to the engagement block, and a hammer head movable along a strike axis with respect to the engagement block and configured for striking the impact surface. Striking of the impact surface with the hammer head can cause movement of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John William Herbold, Charles V. Spanos
  • Patent number: 7131363
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus is provided for cutting a sheet material. The cutting apparatus includes a bed for resting thereon the sheet material, a hollow rail structure spaced from the bed, a cutting element moved along the hollow rail structure to travel on the sheet material and cut it in a desired manner, a holding plate coupled to the hollow rail structure for depressing the sheet material on the bed to facilitate the cutting operation of the cutting element, and a sustaining element disposed in the hollow rail structure. The sustaining element sustains against an upper inner surface of the hollow rail structure to lift up the holding plate and sustains against a lower inner surface of the hollow rail structure to put down the holding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Tzu-Feng Tseng
  • Patent number: 6752390
    Abstract: A tool for stabilizing slack fiber cable that has been withdrawn from a cable duct includes an inner sleeve portion for stabilizing the end portion of the cable remaining in the duct and a collar that is coupled to the sleeve and attaches to the exterior periphery of the duct. A set of cable-locking rollers is coupled to the collar and used to engage the slack portion of the cable and hold it in place as various fibers within the cable are repaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Walter F. Boles, Jr., Hossein Eslambolchi, John Sinclair Huffman
  • Patent number: 6694851
    Abstract: A miter box is comprised of two incomplex components, namely, a base and a U-shaped guide member, which are assembled by engagement of a pivot post on the guide member within a passage extending normal to the surface of the table of the base. An assembly for clamping the workpiece against a fence member on the base consists of a lug that is engageable at each of numerous locations along the length of a channel for location proximate the fence, and a clamping piece that is rotatably mounted on the lug piece for being turned into clamping engagement with the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventor: James S. Erisoty
  • Patent number: 6199846
    Abstract: A clamping apparatus includes a housing and a pivot pin mounted for pivoting movement about an axis of rotation with respect to the housing. A clamp member is connected to the pivot pin and is moveable between a clamped position and a released position in response to rotation of the pivot pin. The pivot pin has an arm extending radially outwardly from the axis of rotation. A drive member is mounted for linear reciprocal movement along a fixed path with respect to the housing, and a linkage connects the drive member to the arm of the pivot pin for converting reciprocal movement of the drive member into pivoting movement of the pivot pin. An electric motor is connected to an output shaft with an axis of rotation, and an adjustable converting mechanism connects the drive member to the electric motor for adjustably converting the rotary motion driving force into a linear reciprocal harmonic motion of the drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: ISI Norgren, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Crorey
  • Patent number: 6189878
    Abstract: A workpiece clamp is disclosed for pressing first and second workpieces into engagement by a chucking tool (6) and a counter-holding device (7) supported by a frame (5). A pair of clamping jaws (11,12) with spiral shaped clamping surfaces (13,14) are pivotally mounted on the clamping jaw support (8) of U-shape having two spaced apart support members. First and second pivot pins (21,22) are mounted opposite and parallel to each other on the support members. The clamping jaws squeeze and hold one workpiece therebetween when the chucking tool (6) is moved against the other workpiece to force the workpieces into engagement. The spaced apart support members provide a clearance space to allow one of the workpieces to be inserted between the jaws at any angle for engagement with the other workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Meese Spanntechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Ludwig Meese
  • Patent number: 6095507
    Abstract: A clamp having a pneumatic cylinder with an actuating rod connected to one end of a drive arm which has its other end attached to a crankshaft which in turn has crankpins eccentrically mounted thereon to drive inner and outer clamp arms between retracted and advanced positions corresponding to open and closed positions of the clamp. The length of the drive arm, the extent to which the crankpins are offset from the crankshaft, the specific portion of a quadrant through which the crankpins are rotated, and the distance between the application of the force to the clamp arms and the axes about which the clamp arms pivot all provide a significant mechanical advantage and an extremely large clamping force from relatively low pressure compressed air supplied to the pneumatic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Unova IP Corp.
    Inventors: Gerald A. Brown, Jeffrey S. McNamara, Donald D. Pagels, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6003850
    Abstract: A clamping apparatus includes a housing and a pivot pin mounted for pivoting movement about an axis of rotation with respect to the housing. A clamp member is connected to the pivot pin and is moveable between a clamped position and a released position in response to rotation of the pivot pin. The pivot pin has an arm extending radially outwardly from the axis of rotation. A drive member is mounted for linear reciprocal movement along a fixed path with respect to the housing, and a linkage connects the drive member to the arm of the pivot pin for converting reciprocal movement of the drive member into pivoting movement of the pivot pin. An electric motor is connected to an output shaft with an axis of rotation, and a first converting mechanism connects the drive member to the electric motor for converting the rotary motion driving force into a linear reciprocal harmonic motion of the drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: ISI Norgren, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Crorey
  • Patent number: 5989342
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus holds a rotating substrate without idly rotating the substrate and keeps the substrate in proper balance while the substrate is rotated. In a revolvable holding member, a column-shaped holding part is disposed on a top surface of a column-shaped supporting part, at an eccentric position with respect to a rotation axis of the supporting part. The revolvable holding member is supported by a rotation base for free rotation, and linked to a magnet holding part which incorporates a permanent magnet. On the other hand, a ring-shaped magnet which is disposed in a processing liquid collecting cup is freely driven by an air cylinder in a vertical direction. As the ring-shaped magnet is moved upward or downward and crosses a predetermined line as viewed in a positional relationship relative to the permanent magnet, which is at a height where the permanent magnet is disposed, the direction of a magnetic line of flux of the ring-shaped magnet is reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahide Ikeda, Masami Ohtani
  • Patent number: 5934657
    Abstract: A setup device for use in a machine way channel of a machine table comprising an elongate member having opposed first and second ends. The elongate member has a stock engaging surface located adjacent the first end for facilitating alignment of a desired piece of stock relative to the machine way channel. The second end of the setup device supports a locking arrangement for releasably engaging with the machine way channel of a machine table. The setup device also includes a mechanism for facilitating rotation of the setup device for locking and unlocking the setup device, as desired, from the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Marc J. Chauvette
  • Patent number: 5933942
    Abstract: A component mounting apparatus for automatically mounting components on a circuit board includes a mounting unit for picking up a component from a component pickup location and mounting it at a mounting location. The mounting table can be driven to the pickup location and can removably secure a cassette table that can support a plurality of components that are to be mounted on the circuit board. A cassette table can be removable clamped to the mounting table. A carrier cart can transport the cassette table to a position for attachment to the mounting table. The carrier cart can be appropriately aligned and secured relative to the mounting table to enable the cassette table to be removably attached to the mounting table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Kitamura, Wataru Hirai, Noriaki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5884905
    Abstract: A device for clamping two bevel-cut strips (24) so that they may be joined to each other comprises slides (20) for clamping the strips (24) and a displacement member (36). The slides (20) are L-shaped in cross-section, are displaceable at right angles to each other and are located in guides (34) mounted on a base plate (10). Each slide (20) is associated with a displaceable clamping member (46) which engages the respective strip (24). The guide (34) of each slide (20) has sufficient play in the vertical direction so that the vertical position of the slide (20) on the base plate (10) can be adjusted before the strips are joined (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventor: Werner Keindl
  • Patent number: 5791222
    Abstract: A tool including two flat parallel flanges (2 and 3), defining between them a space (4) which corresponds to the thickness of a cutting blade (5) and including two symmetrical slots which have profiles that are roughly identical to that of a gutter (7) so as to constitute a guiding cradle for cutting the gutter by operation of the cutting blade (5) between flanges (2 and 3). The guiding cradle is defined by slots delimited in an upper zone by a convex contour (6b) of a fixed part of the flanges, and in a lower zone by the concave contour (6a) of a movable part, so that a movable part can be articulated at one of its ends around a fixed axis of rotation (8) like a jaw (9) in the open position (0), to allow free passage of the gutter (7) and in the closed position (F) constitutes a fixed support for cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Dal'Alu S.A.
    Inventor: Jean Pierre Micouleau
  • Patent number: 5730032
    Abstract: A saw setter having a base, a pair of clamping members mounted on the base for receiving a saw blade therebetween with the saw teeth pointing upwardly, an advancing lever and pawl for engaging selected teeth and moving the saw blade through the clamping members, a first jaw pivotally mounted on the base, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the base and connected to the first jaw by a force magnifying linkage, a second jaw pivotally mounted on the base, a linkage between the first and second jaws for causing them to either move simultaneously toward each other or away from each other and a first saw setting finger on the first movable jaw and a second saw setting finger on the second movable jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Kraft-Tech Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Kraft, Shane M. Blakeslee
  • Patent number: 5573230
    Abstract: The device comprises: a central pin (18) provided with means (23, 34) for its blocking to the support plane (10) axis A of the pin (18) perpendicular to the plane itself; an anular hub (20), freely rotating around the pin (18), provided with driving means (60) for its rotation and having a peripherical male screw cutting eccentric in relation to the axis of the pin (18); and a ring nut (22) having an internal screw cutting (52) coupled to the external screw cutting of the hub (20) and presenting on into periphery at least a face (54, 56) for laterally engaging the piece (W), like a thightening jaw, the coupled screw cuttings of the hub (20) and of the ring nut (22) having an irreversible pitch (FIG. 2 ).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Officina Meccanica Lombarda S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Lambertini
  • Patent number: 5527435
    Abstract: The clamping system makes it possible to hold a free portion of a part during operations performed thereon. The device includes a plurality of blocks, each integral either with a pin or with a tube equipped with a small operating lever. The assembly is mounted in a gripping base between two shoulders. Gripping of each block in the clamping position is accomplished by a screw and two plates which make it possible to lock the assembly. The clamping system permits clamping of turbojet blades during the electrochemical machining or milling operation thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation "Snecma"
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Arnau
  • Patent number: 5499802
    Abstract: A system for holding a workpiece has a support table having a support surface and formed with an array of anchor seats opening at the support surface. At least one clamp securable in a one of the seats has a clamp body displaceable parallel to the support surface. A stop body normally lying on the surface has a centering formation defining an axis generally perpendicular to the support surface and has a polygonal periphery defined by a plurality of flat sides generally perpendicular to the surface and lying at different spacings from the axis. An anchor centered on the axis and seated in a one of the seats secures the stop body to the surface with one of its sides bearing against the workpiece and the stop-body axis fixed relative to the respective seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Gerhard Haberle
    Inventor: Rainer Haberle
  • Patent number: 5129637
    Abstract: A device for fixing a work in position on a base having a protrusion and a hole formed adjacent the protrusion for mounting the device. The device includes a rotational member mountable in the hole of the base and rotatable around the axis of the hole. The rotational member has a shank insertable into the hole and a head disposed on an upper end of the shank. The head is provided with a lateral surface for pressing the work against the protrusion. The distance from the rotational axis of the rotational member to the lateral surface is varied in a circumferential direction of the head. The rotational member further includes a first engaging portion for engagement with a tool for rotating the rotational member. A threaded hole is formed to extend from the head to the shank along the rotational axis of the rotational member. A screw member is threadably engaged with the threaded hole of the rotational member and has a second engaging portion for engagement with another tool for rotating the screw member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignees: Infom Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Mori Coating
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ito, Takao Kondo
  • Patent number: 5125306
    Abstract: An overload assembly is disclosed for use with a tube cutting apparatus of the type having a die set for holding a tube while a blade cuts the tube. The die set comprises two die jaws having cam followers which contact a die jaw cam to move the die jaws to clamp the tube. The overload assembly allows one of the die jaws of the die set to stop moving when an obstruction is encountered. The overload assembly includes a spring mounted through a lever arm to the cam follower. An overload biasing force is applied to the cam follower through the lever arm. If an obstruction force exceeds the overload biasing force, the lever arm is rotated and the effective length of the lever arm is reduced, causing the overload biasing force to decay to a lesser value. A scarfing blade may initially score the tube prior to cutting. In one embodiment, the overload biasing force is applied to the die jaw which does not encounter a binding force between the scarfing blade and the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Inventor: John Borzym
  • Patent number: 5044615
    Abstract: A printed circuit board holder wherein several boards are securely held in place in a fixture by force exerting devices pushing against the board edges. The fixture includes recessed openings where the boards are located and force exerting devices positioned between pairs of the openings. The force exerting devices include an elliptical member which is mounted flush with the boards and is rotatable to push the two adjacent boards apart from each other. Contact is made only with the board edges to provide a smooth surface across the force exerting means, the circuit boards, and the fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Newman, Michael C. Weller, Frank P. Zickefoose
  • Patent number: 5009140
    Abstract: A clamping apparatus allowing an operator to securely position and clamp a cut-off die set to the carriage of a cut-off press. The clamping arrangement includes outwardly beveled sides on the die set coacting with an inwardly beveled stop and an inwardly beveled eccentric clamping member. The clamping member being rotatable to allow the die set to be placed in the proper position on the carriage. After positioning the die set on the carriage, the eccentric clamping members are rotated to contact the outwardly beveled edge of the platen thereby wedging the platen between the stop and the eccentric clamping members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: Alpha Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Nolan, Dennis H. Skvarce
  • Patent number: 4949946
    Abstract: The quick-acting clamping device for clamping preferably identically shaped workpieces has a base part (1) comprising an elongate yoke plate (2) and a fixed jaw (3) at each of the end faces. Into a longitudinally oriented guide slot (6) in the base part (1) is inserted a clamping block (7) which is longitudinally displaceable between the jaws (3), can be locked on the base part (1) at any desired point in the displacement range by means of a set screw (36) and has a side part on which a clamping head (8), held by means of a connecting link guide, is longitudinally displaceably mounted. The clamping head (8) can be moved in the clamping direction (C) towards a jaw (3) by means of an excentric part (22) rotatably mounted in the slide part in order to hold the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Buchter Formenbau AG
    Inventor: Beat Buchter
  • Patent number: 4915367
    Abstract: The embodiments of the invention described relate to clamping apparatus for parts to be machined comprising cramps presenting elastically deformable fingers which engage the flanks of the part to be machined and rigid fingers which abut the part, a T-grooved bed-plate, sliders bearing the cramps, and locking braces for locking the sliders on the bed-plate. Eccentrics enable the cramps to be advanced on the slider to bend the deformable fingers and bring the rigid fingers into abutment with the part. The opposite cramps are secured to the bed-plate in alignment with a reference face perpendicular to the grooves. Lateral grooves are provided for engagement by clamps to fix the bed-plate to a table of a machine tool. Cramps are provided in recesses under the sides of the bed-plate for alternative engagement by the jaws of a vice. Variants are described, which enable parts with non-parallel sides to be clamped. The clamping apparatus is particularly suitable for repetitive use (mass production).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Carossino Freres
    Inventor: Andre Carossino
  • Patent number: 4805888
    Abstract: Quick-action clamping, for holding workpieces in machine tools, and the like, is developed via orbital movements of a clamp member as induced by relative rotation of the mated eccentric head portion of a cooperating special machine screw threadedly engaged with a suitable mount. In a simple and economical expression of the clamp in a highly-advantageous low-profile form, the bolt is adapted from a steel hex-socket button-head scap screw, by machining a cylindrical exterior to its head in a laterally-offset relation to the central longitudinal axis of the cap screw, and the eccentric head of that modified screw member is fitted within an accommodating cylindrical recess in a shallow brass nut-like clamp member having "flats" about its periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Inventor: Maurice E. Bishop
  • Patent number: 4790507
    Abstract: A tool for the controlled, precise movement in the horizontal plane, for machines such as electric motors, gear boxes, compressors and the like, for the purpose of achieving an accurate alignment between two or more machines.The tool, comprising of a body (1) having a rotatable circular member (2) engaged in a hole (6) in said body (1). Said body (1) having a lip (3) to contact a machine foot, and being adjustable by a screw (4).Said circular member (2) having an off set fulcrum (8), rotation of said circular member (2) around said off set fulcrum, causes longitudinal movement of said body (1) being in contact with a machine, moves said machine a longitudinal amount as a ratio of rotational movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Inventor: Brian J. Morrissey
  • Patent number: 4779919
    Abstract: A device for securing a motor vehicle windshield has rotatable eccentric members which serve as a means to raise the windshield from an initial installation position into a final position. The eccentric member is arranged on a rotatable spacer which is non-uniform in thickness. This arrangement provides that the gap between the inner windshield surface and the windshield frame can also be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Helmut E. Muller
  • Patent number: 4772162
    Abstract: Apparatus for gripping panels or stacks of panels during cutting thereof, comprising a series of identical mechanical grippers grouped side by side in battery formation. The grippers are each formed by two vertically superposed levers (1, 6) acting along a vertical plane, interconnected at a common fulcrum point (7) and urged in the closing direction by a spring (9) and in the opening direction by a centralized mechanical system comprising a shaft (10) which cooperates transversely with the upper levers (6), which is supported by the same structure as the grippers and which may be selectively raised and lowered by one central motion unit (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Giben Impianti S.p.A.
    Inventor: Piergiorgio Benuzzi
  • Patent number: 4698475
    Abstract: A workpiece pallet suitable for fixing and transferring workpieces on machine tools is provided with direction-bound guidance on transfer holders. The transfer holders cooperate with a workpiece loading mechanism. The direction-bound guidance devices are located outside the working range of the fixed workpiece or outside the working range of the machining tools belonging to the machine tool. This ensures an all-round accessibility to the fixed workpiece during machining. With the aid of a quick-clamping device, the pallet can be rapidly and precisely used on the machine tool, independently of the workpiece clamping insert. Even in the case of the mass production of items, it is possible to maintain a particularly high precision in the reproduced position of the workpieces and consequently in the machining quality. The pallet can additionally be provided with a controllable waste piece locking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: AG fur Industrielle Elektronik AGIE
    Inventors: Michael Lothenbach, Peter Herzog
  • Patent number: 4665733
    Abstract: A die clamp arrangement for a press has a clamping lever that is shifted horizontally by a dog between an extended and a retracted position and rotated in a vertical plane between a clamping position and a released position. The cam and dog are interconnected for rotation in unison by a single shaft. In the retracted position the clamping lever is adapted to permit vertical movement of a die into and out of a press. Means are provided for actuating the clamps at the rear and at each side of the die from the front side of the press. The clamps at the front and/or the rear sides of the press are arranged to be pivoted from an operative position downwardly to an out-of the-way position below the top face of the press bolster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Inventor: Bernard J. Wallis
  • Patent number: 4622123
    Abstract: A device for compressing a pair of plates composed of a slotted post extending upright from one of the plates, arranged to pass through a port in the second of the plates, and a circular ramp member rotatably attached to the second of said plates, which ramp is positioned to engage the post slot. Upon rotation of the ramp, the post is drawn through the port resulting in a closing of the distance between or compression of the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Ionics, Incorporated
    Inventor: Samuel Nejame, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4602704
    Abstract: Brake block fastening device for bicycle, made up of a body and a resilient element, which combined together form a cavity capable of receiving and retaining the brake block, the resilient element being kept close to the body by a shifting cam device, capable of selectively locking or unlocking the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Assignee: Modolo Adamo & C. S.N.C.
    Inventor: Domenico Modolo
  • Patent number: 4602497
    Abstract: A die is clamped to the bolster plate of a press by means of clamps around the sides of the die. Each clamp is operated by a rotatable shaft which extends from the clamp to the front side of the press. The operating shafts for the clamps at the rear side of the die are disposed below the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Inventor: Bernard J. Wallis
  • Patent number: 4501413
    Abstract: A plate stack clamping element is formed of adjacent leaf springs preformed to diverge where they extend beyond the plate stack. Compression of the diverging portions creates large area contact clamping force against the plate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: Varta Batterie Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Illmann, Heribert Fullgraf
  • Patent number: 4492368
    Abstract: Apparatus for applying force in one direction to an article and restraining movement of the article in the opposite direction. There is provided a reciprocally rotatable link and means to rotate the link connected to a first end of the link and a cam shaft having a first and second cylindrical portion, said first cylindrical portion having a different central axis of rotation than the second cylindrical portion. The first cylindrical portion of the cam shaft is secured to the end of the link opposite the end connected to the rotating means to provide rotational movement of the cam shaft when the link is rotated. A mounting block with a bore therethrough has the first cylindrical portion of the cam shaft passing through the bore. A rotating member pivotal at one end and movable from a first position to a second position has the second cylindrical portion of the cam shaft rotatably secured thereto at the end opposite from the pivotal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Cornelius DeLeeuw, Thomas O. Blunt
  • Patent number: 4489926
    Abstract: The workpiece supporting and clamping universal device of the invention comprises essentially an outer ring which can be secured to a base plate and into which are inserted a plurality of discs arranged concentrically in one another except for a disc which is eccentric with respect to the others, the discs being each provided with a column so that the columns are thus apt to cover all the points of any given surface by means of relative rotation of the discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: Automatique Industrielle S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Blatrix
  • Patent number: 4484381
    Abstract: An assembly comprising a board 1 and a mechanism 17 for clamping a marginal portion of the board adjacent an edge between two opposed substantially flat parallel walls 7a. The mechanism 17 is mounted on a major surface 19 of the board 1 and includes a spring strip 21 extending longitudinally along the mechanism, and having corrugations transverse to its length. An elongate cam 27 extends along the length of the strip 21, overlying the strip, and being supported for rotation about its longitudinal axis. Rotation of the cam 27 causes expansion of the mechanism 17 in a direction normal to the surface 19, limitation of the expansion by the walls 7a leading to compression of the corrugations in the strip 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: Marconi Avionics Limited
    Inventors: Stafford M. Ellis, James P. M. Keay
  • Patent number: 4477064
    Abstract: Several versions of a tooling plate clamp are disclosed. Each comprises a retainer pin a circular part of which extends outwardly from the face of the plate. An eccentric clamp body rotates on the circular part of the retainer pin and is held against the face of the plate, or against a spacer, by an overhanging head on the pin. The clamp body can be cylindrical to exert a lateral force on the workpiece or conical so that it exerts lateral and downward forces simultaneously. In one version, the clamp body has an edge which engages the workpiece along a narrow line of contact rather than over a wide area. The clamp body may also be a hold-down clamp with two oppositely directed helical overhanging surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Inventor: Mario DiGiulio
  • Patent number: 4381105
    Abstract: There is disclosed a clamp which is particularly adapted for use in high-temperature applications in which arms bearing clamping faces are mounted on a flat bar in a manner such that they can be released to slide along the bar and clamped in any desired position. One arm has a fixed clamping face and the other arm has a movable clamping face movable toward the other. The latter is affixed to the free end of an elongate member adapted to reciprocate back and forth in the other arm and to be moved toward the first clamping face by a spiral cam. Means is provided for locking the arms to the backbone member and for locking the spiral cam in the clamping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1983
    Assignee: Gordon W. Hueschen
    Inventors: Otis W. Goff, Melvin J. Goff
  • Patent number: 4369956
    Abstract: A self-centering fixture makes use of an air actuated motor which is drivingly rotated in one direction. The fixture has a pair of levers pivoted to a base. As the motor is actuated, a cam positioned between the longer arms of each lever rotates and acts to move the longer arms apart. Thus, on the other side of the pivot, jaws on the shorter arms move towards one another to grasp the workpiece. The workpiece is released by reversely activating the motor. Since the cam is counteracted by springs which pull the long ends together, the jaws open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Inventor: Orvil R. Aronson
  • Patent number: 4367776
    Abstract: A machine for the manufacture of reinforcing bodies for concrete pipes and the like, which comprises longitudinal bars and wire wound about the longitudinal bars. Two coaxial discs are provided. A main disc, fixedly mounted on a base frame, carries radially displaceable guide pieces for the longitudinal bars. A support disc, mounted on a carriage movable in the direction of the axis of the main disc, carries a clamping device for clamping the ends of the longitudinal bars at a selectively different spacing from the axis of the disc. The clamping device comprises elongate clamping members which constitute radially extending clamping slits. The clamping slits open and close in parallel over their entire length. The length and position of the clamping members correspond to the range of adjustment of the guide pieces on the main disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1983
    Assignee: MBK Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Pfender
  • Patent number: 4342449
    Abstract: A plate stack clamping element is formed of adjacent leaf springs preformed to diverge where they extend beyond the plate stack. Compression of the diverging portions creates large area contact clamping force against the plate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1982
    Assignee: Varta Batterie Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Illmann, Heribert Fullfgraf
  • Patent number: 4294147
    Abstract: A ram driven tube cutting apparatus of the double cut type in which sections of tubing are successively severed from a continuous length thereof by a notching cut followed by a severing cut, includes improved mechanism for clamping the tubing during the cutting process. A pair of opposed, complemental die jaws are mounted on slides controlled by spaced cam followers carried by the slides. A reciprocating wedge cam engages and forces the cam followers apart to move the slides thereby closing the jaws on the tubing. One of the cam followers comprises a roller mounted on an eccentric shaft which may be selectively rotated to adjust the clearance between the die jaws. The other cam follower is spring loaded toward the cam within a slide mounting provided in its slide and automatically shifts to an overload position to avoid damage to the mechanism when foreign objects become lodged between the die jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1981
    Inventor: John J. Borzym
  • Patent number: 4222490
    Abstract: An apparatus for storing multiple pairs of skis in bottom-to-bottom facing arrangement and in a generally upright orientation, with the skis contacting one another at forward and rearward contact zones, includes a generally upright support on which individually adjustable sets of upper and lower clamping assemblies are positioned. Both the upper clamping assembly and the lower clamping assembly of each set are operable to apply a releasable clamping force against the top surfaces of the associated pair of skis. At least one of the clamping assemblies is movable toward and away from the other one, whereby the clamping forces may be applied at spaced locations relative to the forward and rearward contact zones so as to restrain warping of the stored pair of skis. The support is rotatably mounted on a dish-like receptacle for melted snow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1980
    Inventor: Theodore N. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4092923
    Abstract: Apparatus for holding an end portion of a printing blanket on an associated printing cylinder is provided and employs an elongate holding bar and bar support which cooperate to hold such end portion in position in a highly efficient manner and the apparatus has double eccentric means for quickly attaching and detaching the holding bar relative to the bar support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1978
    Assignee: Dayco Corporation
    Inventor: Jacob A. Bollmer