Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for moving a member including a first clamp assembled to a fixed surface for selectively clamping the member and a second clamp moveable with respect to the first clamp for selectively clamping the member. A piezo actuator is disposed between the first and second clamps for moving the member in response to expansion of the actuator. Resilient means bias the second clamp toward the first clamp.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for moving a member including a first clamp assembled to a fixed surface for selectively clamping the member and a second clamp moveable with respect to the first clamp for selectively clamping the member. A piezo actuator is disposed between the first and second clamps for moving the member in response to expansion of the actuator. Resilient means bias the second clamp toward the first clamp.

Abstract: A vacuum cup actuator for applying and releasing vacuum to a workpiece engaging vacuum cup wherein a housing provides a passageway for communicating vacuum to the vacuum cup, and a vacuum is actuated in response to the relative position of the vacuum cup with respect to the housing. A piston is slidably disposed within a stepped bore of the housing, and a valve is slidably disposed within the piston for relative movement therein. A valve cover is connected to the piston and disposed above the valve. The passageway extends through a port provided through a side wall of the housing and extends through the piston and the valve to the vacuum cup. A flexible seal is circumferentially connected to the valve for engaging and disengaging a shoulder of the piston thus closing and opening, respectively, the passageway. A quick connect releasable mount is provided for releasably connecting the vacuum cup to the valve to place the vacuum cup in communication with the passageway.

Abstract: A power actuated parallel gripper for engaging and holding a workpiece wherein a pair of linkage assemblies actuate a pair of jaws for linear reciprocal movement thereof and prohibit unpowered movement of the jaws from the clamped position. In the preferred embodiment, the configuration of the linkage assemblies provides for the clamping of an outer diameter of the workpiece. In a second embodiment, the configuration of the linkage assemblies may be manipulated to engage the internal diameter of the workpiece. The linear movement of the jaws is guided by a guide rod having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The jaws cooperatively receive the guide rod through apertures provided in the jaws, and compression springs are utilized between the ends of the guide rod and the ends of the apertures provided in the jaws to maintain the position of the guide rod between the jaws.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an enclosed power clamp from individual planar plates which when stacked and secured in the proper manner provide an inexpensive, lightweight and structurally sound enclosed power clamp. The enclosed housing of the power clamp is defined and sectioned into a plurality of planar laminations. A plurality of planar plates are formed having configurations corresponding to the planar laminations. The planar plates are then stacked in a predetermined sequence corresponding to the planar laminations. The internal mechanisms of the power clamp are assembled to the planar plates of the power clamp, and the planar plates are secured together to form an integral unit of the power clamp.

Abstract: An apparatus selectively supplies a source of pressurized fluid to a load device and selectively exhausts pressurized fluid from the load device. The apparatus includes a first housing for defining a longitudinally extending aperture communicating through first, second, and third passages with spaced first, second and third external surface portions of the first housing. A valve spool is engageable within the first aperture for longitudinal movement between a first position communicating the second passage with the third passage and a second position communicating the first passage with the second passage. The valve spool is normally biased toward the first position. Modular port members are connectable to the first, second and third spaced external surface portions for connecting the first passage to a source of pressurized fluid, the second passage to the load device, and the third passage to an exhaust port.

Abstract: A rotary clamp having a common plane mounting arrangement that provides a first planar surface for mounting the rotary clamp to a support member and a second planar surface for mounting a workpiece engaging means to the rotary clamp wherein the first and second planar surfaces lie in a common plane for simplifying the set up procedure of the rotary clamp. The first planar surface is formed on a housing of the rotary clamp, and the second planar surface is formed on a pivot pin of the rotary clamp. The first and second planar surfaces are spaced from one another to provide proper relief so that the workpiece engaging means may freely rotate without interference from the second planar surface. The pivot pin provides a large end portion seated within a recess of the housing that remains externally accessible with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A power actuated gripper for engaging and holding a workpiece wherein a cam surface is pivotally linked to a reciprocating actuator for actuating at least one of a first and second jaws between a clamped position, wherein the first and second jaws engage and hold the workpiece, and an unclamped position, wherein the first and second jaws disengage and release the workpiece. The reciprocating linear actuator provides a fluid motor with a piston and piston rod for providing linear reciprocal movement. The piston rod is connected to a coupling member which is pivotally connected to a pair of linkage members for each of the first and second jaws. A pair of lever arms are pivotally connected to the linkage members and are integral with a shaft link. The cam surface is formed on the shaft link and actuates a cam follower, biased toward the cam surface, connected to the first and second jaws.

Abstract: A clamp secures a workpiece relative to a work piece support. A clamp arm is connected to an external end of the clamp for movement between workpiece clamping and release positions. An inflatable bladder disposed within a bladder support is releasably attached to the clamp arm between the workpiece and the clamp arm. A proportional regulator controls the inflation of the bladder, so that when the bladder is inflated, the bladder provides uniform distribution of the pressure to be exerted along a greater portion of the workpiece to protect the workpiece surface from undesirable indentations or defects.

Abstract: A rotary clamp having a common plane mounting arrangement that provides a first planar surface for mounting the rotary clamp to a support member and a second planar surface for mounting a workpiece engaging means to the rotary clamp wherein the first and second planar surfaces lie in a common plane for simplifying the set up procedure of the rotary clamp. The first planar surface is formed on a housing of the rotary clamp, and the second planar surface is formed on a pivot pin of the rotary clamp. The first and second planar surfaces are spaced from one another to provide proper relief so that the workpiece engaging means may freely rotate without interference from the second planar surface. The pivot pin provides a large end portion seated within a recess of the housing that remains externally accessible with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A rotary clamp for a linear actuator having means for converting linear actuator motion between a first position and a second position into rotary clamp motion between an unclamped position and a clamped position wherein a reciprocating member provides means, separate from the linear actuator, for resetting the converting linkage toward the first position without having to disassemble the rotary clamp of the linear actuator. The reciprocating member also provides a secondary stop to prevent the converting linkage from reaching an over-center position. The reciprocating member is slidably disposed and captured within a wall of a housing of the rotary clamp. If power is lost to the rotary clamp, the clamp may become "locked" in the clamped position, and the reciprocal member may be struck from the outside of the housing in order to drive the linear actuator toward the unclamped position thus manually resetting the converting means of the clamp.

Abstract: A gripper assembly for gripping a workpiece having removable and replaceable mountings. A gripper assembly is substantially square-shaped and has a corresponding square-shaped mounting spacer. The mounting spacer may be positioned about any side of the gripper assembly. This allows an operator to locate the assembly in any orientation to a workpiece assembly unit. The mounting is also removable and replaceable with other mounting configurations as desired. Several mounting couplings may be provided on the gripper to restrict or enlarge movement of the gripper about a workpiece holder assembly.

Abstract: A vacuum control apparatus is positioned remote from the vacuum operated work holding devices themselves, thereby allowing for a remote control system over a plurality of vacuum operated work holding devices. The apparatus also provides the ability to increase the vacuum flow rate available to the vacuum operated work holding devices within the system by increasing the number of vacuum generating venturis engaged in the system. The apparatus includes a venturi manifold and a plurality of venturi nozzles in fluid communication with the manifold. A venturi control valve controls the flow of pressurized air into the manifold and venturi nozzles. The system is fluidly connected to vacuum operated work holding devices by various passages and ports in the manifold. The manifold, venturi valve and venturi nozzles are stackable in two different ways.

Abstract: A work holder support apparatus includes an elongate support member having an undercut longitudinal slot. A base plate at one side of the support member carries a spherical ball and a clamp bolt seated in a recessed bore in the ball passes through the base plate and slot to be threadably received in a first clamp plate at the opposite side of the support member. An elongate work holder mounting member and a second clamp plate cooperatively define a ball receiving socket at one end of the mounting member enabling the mounting member to be clamped at any of a wide range of rotative adjustments relative to the ball. An opening into the socket affords access to the recessed clamping bolt head.

Abstract: A work holder support apparatus includes an elongate support member having an undercut longitudinal slot. A base plate at one side of the support member carries a spherical ball and a clamp bolt seated in a recessed bore in the ball passes through the base plate and slot to be threadably received in a first clamp plate at the opposite side of the support member. An elongate work holder mounting member and a second clamp plate cooperatively define a ball receiving socket at one end of the mounting member enabling the mounting member to be clamped at any of a wide range of rotative adjustments relative to the ball. An opening into the socket affords access to the recessed clamping bolt head.

Abstract: A dual-belt shuttle unit for transporting an article lifting device between work stations includes a fixed frame assembly for supporting the overhead transfer system. A bracket assembly, supported by the fixed frame, extends along a horizontal plane between two work stations. The bracket has two guide rails extending the length of the assembly for guiding a multiplicity of carriage assemblies in a horizontal plane relative to the bracket assembly. A conveyor system drives the carriage assemblies. The drive unit for the conveyor system is demountable and replaceable when required to transfer heavier workloads. The dual-belt shuttle unit is self-supporting and can be attached in series to several other dual-belt shuttle units to create a complete assembly line.

Abstract: A dual-belt shuttle unit for transporting an article lifting device between work stations inlcudes a fixed frame assembly for supporting the overhead transfer system. A bracket assembly, supported by the fixed frame, extends along a horizontal plane betweeen two work stations. The bracket has two guide rails extending the length of the assembly for guiding a multiplicity of carriage assemblies in a horizontal plane relative to the bracket assembly. A conveyor system drives the carriage assemblies. The drive unit for the conveyor system is demountable and replaceable when required to transfer heavier workloads. The dual-belt shuttle unit is self-supporting and can be attached in series to several other dual-belt shuttle units to create a complete assembly line.

Abstract: A workpiece transfer device includes a mounting frame assembly having an upper fixed frame and an inner subframe slidably mounted to the fixed frame. The inner subframe supports a gear rack on its upper surface and a separate conveying system within its frame. A drive unit is mounted on top of the fixed frame and includes idler rollers and a drive gear. The drive gear engages the gear rack thereby moving the whole inner subframe assembly, including the conveyor system in a horizontal path between two presses. As the inner subframe moves along a horizontal plane, a locking plate assembly prevents the conveyor belt from traveling with the inner subframe. The end gears in the conveyor rotate along the stationary belt forcing a workpiece carrier to move from one end of the conveyor system to the opposite end in the same direction as the inner subframe. Therefore, as the inner subframe moves in a horizontal path, the carrier is simultaneously moved along the same path.

Abstract: Various forms of mounting devices for mounting workpiece gripper carrying spreader bars upon a boom of a transfer device are disclosed. The boom is formed within an undercut T slot which extends the length of the boom and slidably receives a retainer member. A base spans the slot and is clamped to the side of the boom by clamping screws threadably received in the retainer member so that the base and retainer can be fixedly clamped to the boom at any selected location longitudinally of the boom. A recessed clamp member cooperatively defines within a recess in the base the socket of a ball and socket joint. In one form of the device, the same clamping screws which clamp the base to the boom simultaneously clamp a spherical coupling member fixed to a spreader bar and received in the socket in a selected fixed angularly adjusted position between the clamp member and base.