Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a machine tool holding device for clamping a piece to be clamped that includes a contact surface. The holding device includes at least one claw intended to come into contact with the contact surface of the piece to be clamped. The claw includes a plurality of clamping plates stacked on each other, and each including on their edge a clamping surface arranged to be in contact with a portion of the contact surface of the piece to be clamped.

Abstract: A vise includes a base and two opposed jaws. At least one of the jaws is movable with respect to the other so that an object can be gripped therebetween. At least one of the two opposed jaws includes a frame and an array of polygon-shaped pins stacked parallel to one another. The frame has a bottom side and two opposed sides tapering towards the bottom side. The pins are disposed on the bottom side. Each pin has a cross-sectional shape such that when stacked together, the pins fit flush with one another and an area defined by the frame is tiled by the pins without any substantial gaps therebetween. The pins are oriented such that the tapering opposed sides direct force vectors to increase a pin-to-pin clamping force and the frame selectively clamps down on the pins such that the pins are held in place.

Abstract: A crate-stacking system having a multiplicity of crates for stacking in a crate-stacking direction and having a crate-stacking apparatus for automatic stacking, wherein the crate-stacking apparatus has: a crate conveying apparatus designed to convey the crates from a crate feed section to a crate stacking section and to convey the stacked crates from the crate stacking section to a crate discharge section, a crate lifting apparatus arranged at the crate stacking section and which, on opposite sides of the conveying path, has gripping elements such that a respective crate can be gripped at mutually opposite sides by virtue of gripping fingers engaging, at the mutually opposite sides, into associated engagement longitudinal recesses, and a control apparatus connected to the crate conveying apparatus and to the crate lifting apparatus and which is designed to control the crate conveying apparatus and crate lifting apparatus in order to stack the crates.

Abstract: In a device and a method for aligning and holding a plurality of singulated semi-conductor components in receiving pockets of a terminal carrier that are separated from each other, the terminal carrier has spring elements, which are part of a spring plate. The spring plate has a plurality of recesses disposed next to each other for forming a corresponding plurality of receiving pockets for the semi-conductor components, wherein the spring elements are formed from the spring plate in one piece.

Abstract: A ring supporting device is provided with six support shafts capable of approaching and separating from the inner walls of metal rings. Each of the support shafts has an exposed side wall having formed thereon annular ridges and grooves. The side walls of the support shafts each have cushioning materials having a height substantially corresponding to the height of each of the grooves. The cushioning materials deform when the inner walls of the metallic rings make contact with the cushioning materials, and this relaxes a force which tries to expand the metallic rings from the inner wall side to the outer wall side.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is glazing which incorporates at least one electrically controllable system having variable optical and/or energy properties, especially in the form of a system comprising one or more reversible-insertion materials of the electrochromic-system type, in the form of an optical-valve or viologen-based system or in the form of a liquid-crystal or cholesteric-gel system. This glazing also includes at least one means for adjusting the optical appearance conferred on the said glazing by the said system, these means comprising at least one coating having antireflection properties in the visible.

Abstract: The press tool includes a frame, an abutment part mounted to one end of the frame, and a lever actuated ram mounted to the other end of the frame. The ram includes a pair of interchangeable fittings (one for affixing the push nuts and one for removing the push nuts). Rocker plates pivotally connect the rams to a long lever, which extends and retracts the ram through a tubular sleeve mounted to the frame. The assembly fitting includes a magnet that holds a push nut to the ram. When the lever is depressed, the ram extends and the push nut is pressed axially onto the axle rod. The removal fitting has a two pronged head. When the lever is depressed, the prongs deform the push nut flange, which bends back the teeth that secure the push nut to the axle.

Abstract: A workpiece can be clamped between the jaws of a vise in a defined position easily when it is supported by positioning pins. They are located in a plurality of bores in the jaw and can be projected out of the jaw in operation. The pins comprise a pin body and a stop member. Both elements provide a shape which allows an economical production and easy connection with each other. In normal operation the pins can be projected out of the jaw by fluid pressure and be pushed back manually. A bent pin can be pushed or pulled to the front out of the jaw easily by destroying the stop member in a predetermined way or separating it from the pin body.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is glazing which incorporates at least one electrically controllable system having variable optical and/or energy properties, especially in the form of a system comprising one or more reversible-insertion materials of the electrochromic-system type, in the form of an optical-valve or viologen-based system or in the form of a liquid-crystal or cholesteric-gel system. This glazing also includes at least one means for adjusting the optical appearance conferred on the said glazing by the said system, these means comprising at least one coating having antireflection properties in the visible.

Abstract: An apparatus and accessories are disclosed for a flexible support apparatus 100, 900 using elongated support members 110 to support a face of a workpiece 10 and respective protrusions 335. The elongated support members 110 are arranged through at least one plane of perforated material 120, where the elongated support members 110 are profiled against the workpiece 10 and respective protrusions 335. The profile of the elongated support members 110 is created by contacting forces 132 generated by bringing the workpiece 330 and the plurality of elongated support members 110 together. A holding force is then applied to the elongated support members 110 to support the workpiece 10 against forces applied by a workstation. Fluid 902 is used to raise expansion members to raise the plurality of elongate support members 110. A perforated plate 920 is used to control the flow of fluid 902 between a fluid cavity 910 and the plurality of expansion members 904.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a clamp assembly having a pair of clamp handles and a clipping member or a poking member, and the clamp handles use an extendible clamp wire set to control the clipping member or the poking member, so that the tool can be extended into a small narrow operating space for its application.

Abstract: An apparatus and accessories are disclosed for a flexible support apparatus 100, 900 using elongated support members 110 to support a face of a workpiece 10 and respective protrusions 335. The elongated support members 110 are arranged through at least one plane of perforated material 120, where the elongated support members 110 are profiled against the workpiece 10 and respective protrusions 335. The profile of the elongated support members 110 is created by contacting forces 132 generated by bringing the workpiece 330 and the plurality of elongated support members 110 together. A holding force is then applied to the elongated support members 110 to support the workpiece 10 against forces applied by a workstation. Fluid 902 is used to raise expansion members to raise the plurality of elongate support members 110. A perforated plate 920 is used to control the flow of fluid 902 between a fluid cavity 910 and the plurality of expansion members 904.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic vise jaw incorporates a fluid supply which communicates hydraulic fluid to an area behind a plurality of pistons such that the pistons are held outwardly against a part with a generally uniform force. Each piston is positioned in a piston cylinder. The piston cylinders are arranged in several columns and a supply passage connects each of the piston cylinders in an upper row and a second supply passage connects each of the piston cylinders in a lower row. A communication hole selectively connects a first piston cylinder in the top row with a second piston cylinder in the bottom row. Preferably, the communication hole connects piston cylinders which are in distinct columns. In this way, the flow of hydraulic fluid between the rows is somewhat restricted such that an equal and adequate holding force is maintained on the pistons. In another feature, a pin selectively holds the pistons within the piston cylinders such that they are prevented from moving outwardly of the body.

Abstract: A universal fixture for holding printed circuit board assemblies during stencil printing, pick-and-place processing, and other PCB assembly processes. In one embodiment, a universal printed circuit board holder has a base and a plurality of support members movably attached to the base. The support members may project away from the base along support paths, and the support members are selectively positionable along the support paths when the support members engage a side of a printed circuit board assembly. Accordingly, the support members may be selectively positioned at heights corresponding to a topography of the side of the printed circuit board assembly to uniformly support the printed circuit board assembly.

Abstract: A self aligning clamp for fixturing two items of unequal thickness together in a stationary relationship in a vice device prior to joining the items together by welding or the like is disclosed. The self aligning clamping device has a fixed rigid lower jaw adapted to receive an underside of the two items of unequal thickness together in a stationary co-planar relationship, the lower jaw being disposed transversely to the vice device and further having a lower region adapted for releasable communication with a lower extent of the vice device, each jaw still further having a solid cylindrical shape for urging continuous, rigid, unbending contact communication with the upper side of each item.

Abstract: A vice jig that can accommodate a multiplicity of similarly sized and shaped work pieces provides by a hydraulic piston mechanism an even pressure on all such work pieces upon closure of the vice, in spite of variations in the specific sizes of those work pieces and of the cavities in which the work pieces are held. the invention can accommodate a number of work pieces that is fewer than the number of cavities provided therefor, without there occurring any ejection of any such pistons or of hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: A vise with a clamp having a housing with clamp fingers and load transfer elements enabling the fingers to move relative to each other to compensate for tolerance variations between workpieces simultaneously clamped or contour variations in a workpiece. Each finger is elongate and reciprocable relative to the housing. Preferably, each element is disc-shaped and can be constructed and arranged to interlock with other elements to promote clamp stability. The elements are constructed and arranged within the housing in a first row of elements behind the clamp fingers and a second row of elements behind the first row and can move relative to each other. Preferably, there are the same number of elements in the first row as there are clamp fingers and one less element in the second row. To encourage stability, the housing preferably has inwardly extending dividers between fingers and inwardly extending sidewall portions that can be inwardly inclined to form an element guide surface.

Abstract: A plastic pipe butt fusion machine has a base, a clamp on the base for securing a first length of plastic pipe, a second clamp mounted on the base for securing a second length of plastic pipe to be fusion welded to the first in axial end-to-end alignment, the second clamp being moveable relative to the base, a spring positioned between the second clamp and the base so that when the spring is tension loaded the second clamp is urged in the direction toward the first clamp to thereby resiliently urge the plastic pipes held by the first and second clamps into axial abutted relationship during fusion.

Abstract: A robotic hand to grasp objects, either of regular or irregular configuration, and to provide information related to the shape of the object. Numerous embodiments are described: each embodiment includes a housing and a plurality of finger units that are deployed from the housing, with tips of fingers contacting the object at a sufficient number of points to support the object. Each finger unit is provided with a guide whereby the finger unit is constrained to move along a fixed path. Pneumatic, hydraulic and electromechanical deployment systems are typically used. Deployment is in unison, individually or in groups. Each finger unit is provided with a suitable form of distance measuring system so as to determine the distance of travel of each finger unit from the housing along the fixed path to its position of contact. Typical systems for distance measurement include resistive, capacitive, inductive and digital encoder reading.

Abstract: Precision centering device useful for positioning items in a predetermined position has first and second halves which are held within a frame. The first and second halves are maintained against retaining walls within the frame by resilient material. The bottom portion of the halves extends from the bottom of the frame and each has a tapered edge which face each other in order to hold the item to be positioned. The top of the halves are maintained within the frame by a resilient structure which allows the halves to move in a vertical position. The halves which accomplish the positioning do not have to be made from precision parts. As the parts wear the centering precision is maintained since the parts are mirror images of each other made from a common piece of stock material.

Abstract: A tool for loosening a seized ball joint from a tie rod in a motor vehicle and consists of a shank having a stationary jaw with a wedged shaped seat so that the seized ball joint can sit in the wedged shaped seat. A movable jaw is pivotly secured to the shank while a puller bolt is transversely threaded through the shank causing the moveable jaw to pivot to press against end of the seized ball joint. A handle with a removable handle extension having a support portion is threadably attached to the shank so that a hammer can hit against the support portion to loosen the seized ball joint from the tie rod.

Abstract: A common hydraulic reservoir holds one or more rows of slidable pistons or "fingers" in a base, or "hand". The individual fingers in each row expose graduated cross-sectional fluid application areas to the hydraulic fluid in the reservoir, with the smallest fluid application area in the center of the row and graduating to progressive larger fluid areas towards both ends of each row. The fingers are elongated pistons. Exposed outer ends of each piston extending away from the reservoir, house a transverse pad to contact an object to be held. The transverse pads are universally ball-joint and spring-center mounted in a longitudinally located opening at the outer tapered end of each finger. Simple and effective capacitance metering in the reservoir is provided for each finger.

Abstract: A fixture for holding parts to be joined together in which a frame-like structure provides a seating surface for an assembly of parts. A cam acting lever is adjustable to exert single point pressure, and means comprised in the structure transmits such single point pressure to multiple pressure points applied uniformly in a seating or clamping of the assembly of parts to the seating surface. In the illustrative embodiment a plurality of pressure applying members is in an approximate linear orientation and functions best in connection with an assembly of parts presenting a flat pressure receiving surface.

Abstract: A fixture for holding parts to be joined together featuring clustered arrangements of pressure applying members. An interconnected yet independent mounting of individual pressure applying members enables a distributed pressure to be applied over a contacted area of a work surface, irrespective of whether such area is flat or curved. Single point pressure is applied uniformly to multiple pressure points. In an illustrated embodiment, clusters of pressure applying members are suspended within a generally C-shaped fixture which includes a cam lever manipulative to apply and to release pressure effects.