Patents by Inventor Hans Hediger

Hans Hediger has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12583068
    Abstract: A clamping arrangement has a clamping device is fastened fastenable on a clamping base, and a clamping element able to be tightened thereon. The clamping device has a clamping module with clamping members that can be fixed by a fixing element on the clamping base, wherein the fixing element is configured such that the clamping module is fixed in the X-Y plane in a floating manner. The clamping module is displaceable in the fixed state of the fixing element with respect to the fixing element in the X-Y plane, but is non-displaceable in the Z-direction. The fixing element is provided with Z-support surfaces for the clamping element. The clamping arrangement is particularly suitable for a large clamping system, so that thermally caused dimension changes of the workpiece carrier with respect to the clamping base can be equalized with repeatable accuracy, without the clamping system being over-constrained geometrically/mechanically in the X-Y plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: Erowa AG
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Patent number: 12343837
    Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring arrangement (12) for monitoring the clamping quality of a workpiece carrier clamped in a clamping device (3, 40, 49) as well as a clamping system with clamping device (3, 40, 49) and such a monitoring arrangement (12). The monitoring arrangement comprises at least two sensors (A1-A4) for the independent detection of the clamping quality of a clamped workpiece carrier or workpiece. The monitoring arrangement also comprises a transmitting device (14) and a receiving device (21), wherein the transmitting device (14) is constituted such that it transmits the determined or calculated parameter or parameters redundantly to the receiving device (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Erowa AG
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Publication number: 20240410771
    Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring arrangement (12) for monitoring the clamping quality of a workpiece carrier clamped in a clamping device (3, 40, 49) as well as a clamping system with clamping device (3, 40, 49) and such a monitoring arrangement (12). The monitoring arrangement comprises at least two sensors (A1-A4) for the independent detection of the clamping quality of a clamped workpiece carrier or workpiece. The monitoring arrangement also comprises a transmitting device (14) and a receiving device (21), wherein the transmitting device (14) is constituted such that it transmits the determined or calculated parameter or parameters redundantly to the receiving device (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Patent number: 12023772
    Abstract: An arrangement for processing workpieces includes at least one processing machine, a machine magazine assigned to a respective processing machine for accommodating processing tools, and a robot arranged on a driverless base frame. Processing tools may be supplied to and/or removed again from the machine magazine using the driverless base frame. The driverless base frame is additionally provided with a temporary magazine for accommodating processing tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Erowa AG
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Patent number: 12017285
    Abstract: A clamping chuck is provided for clamping palettes having a clamping spigot. The clamping chuck includes a receiving opening for the clamping spigot and a clamping device that includes an actuating piston displaceable between an initial position and a locking position for actuating clamping members for clamping the clamping spigot in the receiving opening. The clamping chuck includes a monitoring line that is acted upon pneumatically and leads from an inlet to an outlet. the receiving opening includes a conical insertion region, into which at least one control hole connected to the monitoring line emerges, the control hole being closed by the clamping spigot. A valve device is arranged between the inlet and the outlet of the monitoring line to vary the flow of a fluid through the monitoring line depending on the position of the actuating piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Erowa AG
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Publication number: 20240173778
    Abstract: A clamping chuck is provided for clamping palettes having a clamping spigot. The clamping chuck includes a receiving opening for the clamping spigot and a clamping device that includes an actuating piston displaceable between an initial position and a locking position for actuating clamping members for clamping the clamping spigot in the receiving opening. The clamping chuck includes a monitoring line that is acted upon pneumatically and leads from an inlet to an outlet. The receiving opening includes a conical insertion region, into which at least one control hole connected to the monitoring line emerges, the control hole being closed by the clamping spigot. A valve device is arranged between the inlet and the outlet of the monitoring line to vary the flow of a fluid through the monitoring line depending on the position of the actuating piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Publication number: 20230182250
    Abstract: The invention relates to a clamping arrangement with a clamping device (1) which is able to be fastened on a clamping base, and with a clamping element (26) able to be tightened thereon. The clamping device (1) has a clamping module (2), provided with clamping members (15), which is able to be fixed by means of a fixing element (3) on the clamping base, wherein the fixing element (3) is configured such that the clamping module (2) is thus fixed in the X-Y plane in a floating manner on the clamping base. The clamping module (2) is displaceable in the fixed state of the fixing element (3) with respect to the fixing element (3) in the X-Y plane, but is non-displaceable in Z-direction, wherein the fixing element (3) is provided with Z-support surfaces (24) for the clamping element (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Publication number: 20220193850
    Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring arrangement (12) for monitoring the clamping quality of a workpiece carrier clamped in a clamping device (3, 40, 49) as well as a clamping system with clamping device (3, 40, 49) and such a monitoring arrangement (12). The monitoring arrangement comprises at least two sensors (A1-A4) for the independent detection of the clamping quality of a clamped workpiece carrier or workpiece. The monitoring arrangement also comprises a transmitting device (14) and a receiving device (21), wherein the transmitting device (14) is constituted such that it transmits the determined or calculated parameter or parameters redundantly to the receiving device (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Publication number: 20220055121
    Abstract: A clamping chuck is provided for clamping palettes having a clamping spigot. The clamping chuck includes a receiving opening for the clamping spigot and a clamping device that includes an actuating piston displaceable between an initial position and a locking position for actuating clamping members for clamping the clamping spigot in the receiving opening. The clamping chuck includes a monitoring line that is acted upon pneumatically and leads from an inlet to an outlet. The receiving opening includes a conical insertion region, into which at least one control hole connected to the monitoring line emerges, the control hole being closed by the clamping spigot. A valve device is arranged between the inlet and the outlet of the monitoring line to vary the flow of a fluid through the monitoring line depending on the position of the actuating piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Patent number: 11065731
    Abstract: A clamping device includes a clamping chuck and a clamping element, which can be clamped thereto. The clamping chuck has a receiving opening for the clamping element and clamping members for clamping the clamping element in the receiving opening. The clamping element is elongated, while the clamping chuck is provided with an elongated receiving opening for the clamping element. A resiliently flexible centering element, which aligns the clamping element in response to the insertion into the receiving opening at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the receiving opening, is arranged on the clamping chuck in the insertion area of the receiving opening. Such a clamping device is suitable in clamping systems by means of which large to very large workpiece carriers can be clamped in the work area of a machine tool in a repeatably accurate manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: EROWA AG
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Publication number: 20200306903
    Abstract: An arrangement for processing workpieces includes at least one processing machine, a machine magazine assigned to a respective processing machine for accommodating processing tools, and a robot arranged on a driverless base frame. Processing tools may be supplied to and/or removed again from the machine magazine using the driverless base frame. The driverless base frame is additionally provided with a temporary magazine for accommodating processing tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Patent number: 10493575
    Abstract: The invention relates to a clamping chuck for clamping pallets furnished with a clamping spigot. The clamping chuck has a locating opening for the clamping spigot and a clamping device for clamping the clamping spigot in the locating opening. A plurality of sensors are arranged on the clamping chuck, by means of which the clamping force actions on the clamping spigot may be determined as well as other values. The clamping chuck is equipped with a transmitter for wireless transmission of parameters detected by means of the one or more sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Erowa AG
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Publication number: 20180304428
    Abstract: The invention relates to a clamping chuck for clamping pallets furnished with a clamping spigot. The clamping chuck has a locating opening for the clamping spigot and a clamping device for clamping the clamping spigot in the locating opening. A plurality of sensors are arranged on the clamping chuck, by means of which the clamping force actions on the clamping spigot may be determined as well as other values. The clamping chuck is equipped with a transmitter for wireless transmission of parameters detected by means of the one or more sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Patent number: 9937595
    Abstract: The coupling device (1) comprises a clamping fixture (2) fixable to a manipulator and an adapter (40) securely clampable thereto. Both the clamping fixture (2) and the adapter (40) are configured substantially rectangular. The clamping fixture (2) comprises a locking mechanism (5) consisting of two laterally shiftable locking elements (6, 7) and an actuating member (8) disposed inbetween. For fixedly securing the adapter (40) to the clamping fixture (2) the locking elements (6, 7) are urged by means of the actuating member into the side widenings (45, 46) of the locking opening (44). In addition, the clamping fixture (2) is provided with a slotted recess (4) and the adapter (40) with an elongated base (41), the latter being insertable into the slotted recess (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Erowa AG
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Patent number: 9863751
    Abstract: The measuring machine (1) for measuring workpieces (23, 23a) features a machine table (2) and a mechanical device comprising a measuring slide movable in a first linear axis and a cross slide movable in a second linear axis, and a quill shaft (7) arranged on the cross slide and movable in a third linear axis. Arranged on the quill shaft (7) is, in addition to a sensor (9) for measuring the workpiece, also a gripper (11) by means of which a workpiece (23a) can be retrieved from a magazine (22) and transferred to the clamping device (20), or retrieved from the clamping device (20) and transferred to the magazine (22). Due to this configuration the existing mechanical device of the measuring machine (1) can be made use of to mechanically transfer and also retrieve a workpiece (23, 23a) being measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: EROWA AG
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Publication number: 20180001427
    Abstract: A clamping device includes a clamping chuck and a clamping element, which can be clamped thereto. The clamping chuck has a receiving opening for the clamping element and clamping members for clamping the clamping element in the receiving opening. The clamping element is elongated, while the clamping chuck is provided with an elongated receiving opening for the clamping element. A resiliently flexible centering element, which aligns the clamping element in response to the insertion into the receiving opening at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the receiving opening, is arranged on the clamping chuck in the insertion area of the receiving opening. Such a clamping device is suitable in clamping systems by means of which large to very large workpiece carriers can be clamped in the work area of a machine tool in a repeatably accurate manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Patent number: 9738048
    Abstract: The assembly comprises a coupling for direct or indirect coupling the core rod (15) to the lower punch (12) of a powder press. The coupling is configured as a magnetic coupling and comprising two coupling elements (20, 30), the first (20) of which is actively connected to the core rod (15) and the second (30) of which is actively connected to the lower punch (12). The magnetic coupling comprises several permanent magnets (24a, 24b, 33a, 33b) arranged at each coupling element. These permanent magnets (24a, 24b, 33a, 33b) are arranged and adapted to each other such that when coupling the two coupling elements (20, 30) the first coupling element (20) is automatically rotated by the effect of the field lines of the magnets (24a, 24b, 33a, 33b) into a predetermined angular position relative to the second coupling element (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: EROWA AG
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Patent number: 9592579
    Abstract: The invention relates to a clamping fixture comprising a chuck (1) and for locking thereto a workpiece pallet (2). The chuck (1) comprises first centering members in the form of centering spigots (5) whilst said workpiece pallet (2) is provided with a main body (20) and secured thereto a centering disk (23). The centering disk (23) is provided with second centering members in the form of centering openings (24). The centering spigots (5) of the workpiece pallet (2) are adapted to the centering openings (24) of the workpiece pallet (2) that the latter is alignable in the X-direction and Y-direction on clamping to the chuck (1). Provided topping the chuck (1) is a sealing member assembly (7). Disposed between the centering disk (23) and the main body (20) of the workpiece pallet (2) is a sealing disk (21) which overhangs the centering disk (23) radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Erowa AG
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Publication number: 20160303817
    Abstract: The assembly comprises a coupling for direct or indirect coupling the core rod (15) to the lower punch (12) of a powder press. The coupling is configured as a magnetic coupling and comprising two coupling elements (20, 30), the first (20) of which is actively connected to the core rod (15) and the second (30) of which is actively connected to the lower punch (12). The magnetic coupling comprises several permanent magnets (24a, 24b, 33a, 33b) arranged at each coupling element. These permanent magnets (24a, 24b, 33a, 33b) are arranged and adapted to each other such that when coupling the two coupling elements (20, 30) the first coupling element (20) is automatically rotated by the effect of the field lines of the magnets (24a, 24b, 33a, 33b) into a predetermined angular position relative to the second coupling element (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventor: Hans Hediger
  • Publication number: 20160216098
    Abstract: The measuring machine (1) for measuring workpieces (23, 23a) features a machine table (2) and a mechanical device comprising a measuring slide movable in a first linear axis and a cross slide movable in a second linear axis, and a quill shaft (7) arranged on the cross slide and movable in a third linear axis. Arranged on the quill shaft (7) is, in addition to a sensor (9) for measuring the workpiece, also a gripper (11) by means of which a workpiece (23a) can be retrieved from a magazine (22) and transferred to the clamping device (20), or retrieved from the clamping device (20) and transferred to the magazine (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventor: Hans Hediger