Worm Patents (Class 269/226)
  • Patent number: 11305389
    Abstract: An output rod (20) of an electric clamping device includes: a tubular power transmission member (25) screw-connected to a decelerator (6); and an output rod main body (24) disposed radially inward of an inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical hole of the power transmission member (25) with a clearance between the output rod main body (24) and the inner peripheral surface. The output rod (20) further includes: a rotation preventing mechanism (26); a lock-side driving mechanism (27, 42), a release-side driving mechanism (28), and an output rod guide mechanism (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: KOSMEK LTD
    Inventor: Ryota Kojima
  • Patent number: 10476277
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement such as for energy and/or signal transmission, optionally for use in a machining center, respectively a turning and/or milling center, comprising a clamping unit comprising an outer housing of a preferably cylindrical basic shape, an inner housing received within the outer housing, as well as an inner cylinder held within the inner housing to be adjustable in an actuating direction A, said inner cylinder being configured to transmit a compressive or tensile force for clamping purposes, wherein the inner housing is supported against the outer housing via springs, and is displaceably mounted in the actuating direction A with respect to the outer housing and thus forms a spring force storage, wherein an electric motor is arranged integrated within the clamping unit to apply force in the actuating direction A to the inner cylinder via intermediate gear means, a console having a rotary table mounted therein to be rotatable, at least one first transmission device connected to the console
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: SMW-AUTOBLOK Spannsysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Eckhard Maurer
  • Publication number: 20150048565
    Abstract: A clamping unit, in particular for use in a machining center, or a turning or milling center, wherein the clamping unit comprises an external housing (12), preferably having a cylindrical basic design, an internal housing (15) accommodated in the external housing (12), and an internal cylinder (11) that is retained in the internal housing (15) such that it can be displaced in a vertical adjustment direction A when in the operating state, which is designed for transferring a pressure or tensile force for clamping purposes, wherein the internal housing (15) is supported in the external housing (12) by means of springs (13, 14), and is supported with respect to the external housing (12) such that it can be displaced in the adjustment direction A, and thus forms a spring force storage unit (21), and wherein an electric motor (16) is disposed inside the clamping unit, integrated therein, preferably encompassed by the external housing (12), furthermore, preferably accommodated inside the internal housing (15), in o
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Harald Deininger, Eckhard Maurer
  • Publication number: 20140361478
    Abstract: An electric clamp apparatus includes a body, a rotary drive unit which is driven rotatably by an electric signal, and a rotary body rotated under a driving action of the rotary drive unit. Gear teeth of a clamp arm are enmeshed with helical screw grooves formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotary body. The rotary body is rotated by driving the rotary drive unit, whereby the clamp arm, which is enmeshed with the screw grooves, is rotated through a predetermined angle to bring about a clamped state for clamping a workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chiaki Fukui, Noriyuki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8246027
    Abstract: A clamping apparatus includes a motor, a first cone gear secured to a shaft of the motor, and two clamping bodies attached to opposite sides of the motor. Each of the clamping bodies includes a second cone gear meshing with the first, a threaded post fixed to the second cone gear, a carriage threadedly connected with the threaded post, and a clamp arm fixed to the carriage. The motor rotates the first cone gear, and in turn the second cone gears and the corresponding threaded posts. With the rotation of the threaded posts, the carriages move towards or away from each other, whereby the clamp arms cooperatively acquire an object between the clamp arms, or release the object therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shen-Chun Li, Shou-Kuo Hsu
  • Publication number: 20120146275
    Abstract: Disclosed is a clamping device which reduces the overall size typical clamping devices used for similar operations by implementing a motor as a driving source and maintaining a clamping force applied to a panel constantly through accurate stroke control by incorporating a worm gear. More specifically, the clamping device includes a locator on which a panel is seated and a driving motor incorporated into a portion of the locator. A gear box rotates a rotation rod by receiving a rotational force from the driving motor and a clamper connected with the rotation rod, clamps the panel seated on the locator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeongho Choi, In Ho Jeong
  • Patent number: 7600557
    Abstract: A heat sink mechanism includes a fixed and a movable clamping piece, at least one adjusting gearwheel rotatably mounted to and between the fixed and the movable clamping piece via a fixing shaft while an end of the fixing shaft is screwed to the movable clamping piece, and an adjusting worm shaft rotatably mounted to the fixed clamping piece for driving the adjusting gearwheel to rotate via meshed worm threads on the worm shaft and gear teeth on the adjusting gearwheel. When the adjusting worm shaft is rotated, the meshed worm threads and gear teeth bring the adjusting gearwheel and the fixing shaft thereof to rotate, so that the movable clamping piece screwed to the rotating fixing shaft is brought to move toward or away from the fixed clamping piece to thereby fix the heat sink mechanism to a heat-producing source to achieve the purpose of heat dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Asia Vital Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Chieh Chiang, Lin-Yu Lee
  • Patent number: 7144005
    Abstract: A clamping device in which there is no need to carry out troublesome setting operation of a clamping position according to a size of a workpiece and wear of respective components and an operation efficiency can be further improved. A worm which is engaged with a worm wheel provided to a periphery of a rotating shaft of a clamping arm and which is connected to an electric motor can reciprocate in an axial direction. On the axis, a clamping force applying mechanism to be actuated in response to contact of the rotated clamping arm with the workpiece to apply an axial force in a direction of the axis to the worm is provided. The clamping arm is rotated by driving the worm for rotation by the electric motor and the clamping force applying mechanism applies a clamping force to the clamping arm which has come in contact with the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Sato, Akira Tadano
  • Patent number: 7004459
    Abstract: A clamping device includes a first clamping arm and a second clamping arm, an arm driving portion for displacing the first clamping arm to a clamping position and a non-clamping position, and a clamping force applying portion for applying a required clamping force to the clamping arm. The arm driving portion has a first driving source for displacing the first clamping arm and a power transmission mechanism. The clamping force applying portion has a pressing member for applying the clamping force to the first clamping arm by applying a rotating force in a clamping direction to the rotary shaft and a second driving source for displacing the pressing member from a non-operating position to an operating position for applying the clamping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Sato, Akira Tadano
  • Patent number: 6783123
    Abstract: A vise jaw assembly for supporting and securing an object to be worked upon in a vise is provided. The jaw assembly 10 has a block 14 with a plurality of apertures 16, a plurality of channels 40 passing through a portion of the block 14, a plurality of inlet holes 44, and a plurality of pins 48. Each pin 48 is located within an aperture 16 and is in slidable engagement with the aperture 16. The channels 40 can extend in a generally longitudinal direction of the block 14. Each channel has a first segment 42 in fluid communication with an inlet hole 44 and a second segment 45 in fluid communication with at least one aperture 16. At least one fluid passageway 46 extends from an inlet hole 44 to at least one aperture 16. Each pin 48 is independently deployable to a use position P1 and retractable to a non-use position P2. A plate 18 is secured to the rear surface 32 of the block 14 to enclose the channels 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Easy-Set Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Guimont, Gus Romas
  • Patent number: 6588995
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining a bitting pattern of a key comprising a housing used for optically outlining at least the profile of the blade of the key so as to form an image. The image is digitized and information created therefrom, including information about the width of the blade of the key at a plurality of selected longitudinal positions along the length to include the width of the blade at the location of at least one cut of the bitting pattern. The information about the bitting pattern of the key digitized can then be used to cut the bitting patten into a key blank. Alternatively, the information can be compared to stored information and the detected width of the blade adjusted at a location of at least one cut to be one of a plurality of predetermined widths from the manufacturer, thereby creating a regenerated bitting pattern of the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip R. Wills, Roger F. Kromann, Norman N. Axelrod, Wesley A. Schroeder, James A. Berilla, Bryce Burba
  • Publication number: 20010033781
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining a bitting pattern of a key comprising a housing used for optically outlining at least the profile of the blade of the key so as to form an image. The image is digitized and information created therefrom, including information about the width of the blade of the key at a plurality of selected longitudinal positions along the length to include the width of the blade at the location of at least one cut of the bitting pattern. The information about the bitting pattern of the key digitized can then be used to cut the bitting patten into a key blank. Alternatively, the information can be compared to stored information and the detected width of the blade adjusted at a location of at least one cut to be one of a plurality of predetermined widths from the manufacturer, thereby creating a regenerated bitting pattern of the key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Applicant: wills
    Inventors: PHILLIP R. WILLS, ROGER F. KROMANN, NORMAN N. AXELROD, WESLEY A. SCHROEDER, JAMES A. BERILLA, BRYCE BURBA
  • Patent number: 6233900
    Abstract: A partition clamping device for holding partitions, such as cubical partition walls, in place with one another when assembling the partitions during installation. The partition clamping device includes first and second clamp members each comprising a cross brace and a spaced apart first and second side braces coupled to the cross brace. A threaded rod is threadingly extended through a first of the side braces towards the second side brace. A plate is coupled to an inner end of the threaded rod. The cross braces of the clamp members each have a bore therethrough through which an elongate pole is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Inventor: Larnell Gill
  • Patent number: 5516087
    Abstract: In order to improve a clamping device, in particular for clamping workpieces on a machine table, comprising a housing securable in position on a support surface of a carrier by means of an anchoring element, a clamping element movable relative to the housing and having a clamping arm projecting from the housing and a clamping spindle rotatably mounted on the housing for moving the clamping element, such that the housing can be secured in place on the support surface in as simple a manner as possible, it is suggested that a fastening element supported on the housing be movable relative to the housing from a first position into a second position for securing the housing in position, that in the first position the housing be detachable from the support surface and that in the second position the fastening element secure the housing in position on the support surface by acting on the anchoring element with a fastening force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Bessey & Sohn GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Clemens Schmid, Gerhard Kloepfer
  • Patent number: 5080336
    Abstract: A device for clamping or immobilizing workpieces to be machined includes a casing adapted to be fixed to a worktable and in which is disposed a mobile part rotatable about a horizontal axis. The mobile part has a toothed sector cooperating with a lead screw. It also has an arm forming a lever whose end is adapted to bear on the workpiece to be machined. The arm is removably mounted in the mobile part and able to move in translation in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the mobile part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Freres Carossino
    Inventor: Andre Carossino
  • Patent number: 4700936
    Abstract: A workpiece clamping device with a movable clamp member actuated by a jack screw driven by a reversible electric motor through a worm meshing with a gear connected to the jack screw. To yieldably bias the clamp member into engagement with the workpiece, a spring is compressed by axial movement of the worm caused by rotating it after the clamp member is forced into engagement with the workpiece by the jack screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Lamb Technicon Corp.
    Inventor: Garfield R. Lunn
  • Patent number: 4635911
    Abstract: A motorized over center clamp for clamping parts or work pieces utilizes a sequence controller to drive an electric motor and rotate a worm wheel mounted on a worm wheel shaft. A crank rod assembly is rotationally mounted in an off center position on the worm wheel and has curved closed end track portions that ride on the worm wheel shaft. The crank rod assembly is connected to a piston that moves a clamp rod under spring pressure. When the motor has rotated its shaft to the clamped position of the clamp, rotation of the motor shaft is stopped and the clamp is held in position by the spring forcing a mechanical over center condition of the crank rod assembly relative to the worm wheel shaft. The spring length is sensed to determine energy stored in the spring and detect lack of work pieces, work pieces out of position or work pieces that are oversized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Inventor: Rodger T. Lovrenich
  • 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: 4500081
    Abstract: A clamp for clamping parts on cutting machine tools includes a housing containing a rotary disc having a clamp arm and a toothed sector projecting from the disc which meshes with a tangential screw which rotates the disc to apply a clamping force to the clamp arm. The disc is journalled in a pair of cheek members that are fixed within the housing, and cooperate with the disc to present cylindrical radial bearing surfaces and planar annular lateral bearing surfaces. The annular lateral bearing surfaces of the disc are contiguous with the cylindrical outer surface of the disc on which a pair of scraper blades run, and the annular lateral bearing surfaces of the cheeks are substantially flush with the inner wall of the housing so as to protect the housing against ingress of foreign matter. The diameter of the outer cylindrical surface portion of the disc is less than the inner diameter of the toothed sector to enable a fixing screw to be accessible by a tool from the top of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: Carossino Freres
    Inventor: Andre Carossino
  • Patent number: 4438911
    Abstract: A quick set hydraulic work holding vise comprising an elongated stationary base plate member, a front stationary jaw fixed to the base plate member at a front end thereof and a rear jaw movable toward and away from the stationary jaw slidably movable along an elongated slide plate member supported for limited movement longitudinally. The slide member has an upwardly facing helical screw threaded channel and the movable jaw carries an interrupted worm screw interlocking device to interfit with the screw threads of the channel for locking the movable jaw longitudinally, which can then be locked against raising or skewing by tightening screw to compress the jaw on the slide plate member. A hydraulic piston is connected to the slide plate member for rapidly moving it and the movable jaw thereon to the gripping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Inventor: Thomas F. McDougal
  • Patent number: 4381858
    Abstract: This invention relates to a fluid operated, positioning apparatus for a workholder (43, 144, 146, 148, 150) for maintaining the locating surfaces (22 and 24) of a workpiece, such as a crosshead (2), in contact with fixed abutments (62 and 68) of a workholder (43, 144, 146, 148, 150) designed to receive workpieces (2) subject to substantial manufacturing tolerances in which forces are imparted to each workpiece (2) during machining operations which tend to move the locating surfaces (22 and 24) of the workpiece (2) away from the fixed abutments (62 and 64) of the workholder. The positioning apparatus (44) includes an L-shaped member (46) in which are mounted a movable pin (70) operating in an advanced position to clamp a crosshead against fixed abutments (62 and 64) of the workholder (43, 144, 146, 148, 150) and a retracted position in which the crossheads (2) may be inserted and removed from the workholder (43, 144, 146, 148, 150).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1983
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Riche