FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a clamping apparatus used in conjunction with a conventional actuator, the clamping apparatus having an improved cam-action for pivoting and positioning one or more clamp arms of the clamping apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Prior known power clamps or grippers typically include a pneumatic or hydraulic differential pressure motor with a cylinder housing fixedly mounted to a support structure. At the forward or rod end of the cylinder housing, a clamp arm or gripper jaw mounting structure is connected to the cylinder housing to support movement of at least one clamp arm or gripper jaw connected to the piston rod of the motor. The jaw or clamp arm is pivoted to an open position in response to reciprocal movement of the piston rod in one direction, and is driven to a closed work piece gripping position in response to reciprocal movement of the piston rod in the opposite direction. Typical configurations of known power clamps can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,152,568 and 3,599,957. U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,568 discloses a gripper jaw driven through a linkage assembly, while U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,957 discloses a clamp arm driven through cam rollers connected to a rod and moveable in angular slots in the arm to pivot the arm.
It is also known to provide a mounting bracket rotatably mounted on the support with a pair of pivotally mounted plates each having a clamping arm and a cam track. The mounting bracket is known to include an annular shoulder engaging the support, where a flange draws the shoulder against the support to thereby selectively lock the bracket and the piston and cylinder against rotation in any of a plurality of rotational positions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a clamping apparatus having a conventional fluid operated cylinder actuator. A mounting bracket is positionable in any one of a variety of positions with respect to a longitudinal axis of the actuator and clamp. According to the present invention, the clamping apparatus includes an internal cam action for the clamp arm. The fluid cylinder actuator drives the roller or cam follower reciprocally between first and second positions in order to move the clamp arm from the clamped position to the released position. As the roller or cam follower reciprocates, it drives the clamp arm by following an arcuate cam surface or slot formed in each clamp arm. It is desirable in the present invention to also provide the capability of a swivel mounting of the clamp arm or gripper jaw to the cylinder housing to allow the clamp to be positioned in any desired angular orientation with respect to a longitudinal axis of the fluid cylinder actuator by rotation with respect to a circular collar extending through a mounting bracket. The clamp can be held in any desired angular orientation with respect to the cylinder housing by tightening a locking mechanism, such as set screws. The present invention can also provide an adjustable stop to define the angular orientation of the open clamp position. The stop member, such as a threaded screw, can be positioned to engage an outer end of the cylinder rod as the roller or cam follower is driven toward the released position. By threading the adjustable stop further into a threaded aperture, a maximum angle of opening for the clamp arm can be limited to a position less than a full released angular orientation, which generally corresponds to approximately 90° from the clamped position. The internal cam action according to the present invention provides a cam surface or slot and cam follower in a completely enclosed housing to prevent the infiltration of foreign matter into the cam mechanism. Rubber seals can also be provided if desired extending along the periphery of the housing to further obstruct the infiltration of foreign matter through areas where the clamp arm extends through and rotates with respect to the housing. By removing one side plate, the corresponding clamp arm can be changed in the field without disassembling the entire clamp. Different standard configurations of clamp fingers or gripper jaws can be attached to the outer ends of the clamp arm thereby permitting easy changing of the jaw style. Sensors can also be provided for signaling the position of the cam follower or roller to indicate the open position and/or the closed clamp position.
The present invention relates to a clamping apparatus for use with a conventional actuator, such as a fluid-operated cylinder. The clamping apparatus has a support structure defining an internal guide track on the support structure. A slide block is engageable with the guide track such that the slide block can be moved and positioned along the guide track by way of the actuator. At least one pivoting arm is provided. Each pivoting arm is pivotally mounted on the support structure adjacent to the guide track. Each pivoting arm has an elongate slot adjacent to one longitudinal end. The elongate slot has two arcuate surfaces positioned parallel to each other and two end surfaces which join the arcuate surfaces and thereby define the slot as a closed loop surface. The slide block supports a cam or roller positioned within the elongate slot of each pivoting arm to thereby pivot each pivoting arm between a clamped position and a released position as the slide block and roller combination is moved along the guide track and the roller or cam is simultaneously driven against the arcuate surface and moved in the elongate slot of each pivoting arm. The present invention further can provide selectively positionable stop members or screws for limiting the movement of the roller and/or the range of motion for each pivoting arm, a swivel mount and/or a mounting bracket which together enable the clamping apparatus to be positioned in any desired angular orientation. A lost-motion link can be incorporated into the internal cam action of the apparatus if desired, and side plates for preventing the infiltration of foreign matter in the internal cam action can also be provided.
Other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side view of a clamping apparatus in a clamped position with internal cam-action clamp arms according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the clamping apparatus in a released position according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the clamping apparatus in a clamped position according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an internal cam action clamp according to the present invention with one side plate removed for illustrative purposes;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the clamp housing with both side plates and the internal cam mechanism removed for purposes of illustration;
FIGS. 6-9 are schematic, side views of one clamp arm according to the present invention illustrating the interaction of the internal cam-action elements and incorporating optional motion-limiting stop members mounted in various alternative positions;
FIG. 10 is a schematic, side view of the clamping apparatus having a single clamp arm in a clamped position and a lost notion link according to the present invention; and,
FIG. 11 is a schematic, side view of the clamping apparatus having a single clamping arm in a released position with the lost-motion link according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A clamping apparatus 10 according to the present invention is operably engageable with a linear reciprocal actuator 12 moveable between an extended position illustrated in FIG. 2 and a retracted position illustrated in FIG. 1. A hollow housing 14 has a guide track 16 defined on opposing inner surfaces of the hollow housing 14. A slide block 18, best seen in FIG. 4 and FIG. 9, is operably engageable with the guide track 80. The slide block 18 is capable of being driven, moved, and positioned along the guide track 80 by the actuator 12 between first and second end limits of movement corresponding to the retracted and extended positions respectably of the actuator 12. A cam 20 is connected to or carried by the slide block 18 for movement along the guide track 16. The cam 20 is operably connected to the actuator 12 for movement along the guide track 80 in response to movement of the actuator between the retracted and extended positions. At least one pivoting arm 22 is pivotably mounted for rotation about a pivot axis with respect to the housing 14. The pivot axis of each pivoting arm is disposed adjacent to and spaced from the pivot axis. Each pivoting arm 22 has an elongate slot 24 disposed adjacent to and spaced from the pivot axis. The cam 20 is positioned within the elongate slot 24 of each pivoting arm 22 for converting linear reciprocal movement of the cam 20 into pivoting rotation of each pivoting arm 22. Each pivoting arm 22 is in a clamped position when the slide block 18 or cam 20 is in the first end limit of movement as illustrated in FIG. 1, and each pivoting arm 22 is in a released position when the slide block 18 or cam 20 is in the second end limit as illustrated in FIG. 2.
The elongate slot 24 of each pivoting arm 22 is defined by two arcuate surfaces 26 and 28 extending parallel to one another with two end surfaces 30 and 32 joining the arcuate surfaces 26 and 28 to one another to define a closed loop surface. The arcuate surfaces 26 and 28 define convex arcuate segments with respect to the pivot axis of each pivoting arm 22. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6-9, each pivoting arm 22 is connected to the housing through a pivot pin 34 defining the pivot axis. The elongate slot 24 extends convex with respect to the pivot axis of the pivot pin 34 having a first end surface 30 closest to the pivot pin 34 and a second end surface 32 furthest from the pivot pin 34. When the pivoting arm 22 is in the clamped position, the actuator 12 is in the retracted position, and the cam 20 is disposed adjacent to the second end surface 32 for furthest from the pivot pin 34. In response to movement of the actuator 12 from the retracted position to the extended position, the cam 20 moves along the elongate slot 24 to a position adjacent to the first end surface 30 closest to the pivot pin 34 as best seen in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 illustrates the pivoting arm 22 in the fully open or released position.
Continuing to refer to FIGS. 6-9, at least one pivot pin 34 is supported from the housing 14 or connection through each pivoting arm 22. Each pivoting arm 22 is pivotal about the pivot axis to define a potential range of arm motion from the clamped position illustrated in FIG. 6 to the fully released position illustrated in FIG. 9. An optional stop projection 86 can be supported from the housing 14 for obstructing or abbreviating the range of arm motion in selective positions to define selectable positions between the clamped position of FIG. 6 and the released position of FIG. 9. By way of illustration, a first stop projection 36a is illustrated in FIG. 7 to restrict further arm motion toward the released position beyond that illustrated. Further movement of the pivoting arm 22 is restricted by engagement of the pivot arm 22 with the first stop projection 36a to provide a released position of approximately 30° open or rotated with respect to the clamped position. Correspondingly, the cam 20 is stopped at a position spaced from the first end surface 30 when using the optional first stop projection 36a as illustrated in FIG. 7. If a greater range of arm motion is required, the optional stop projection 36 can be positioned as illustrated at 36b in FIG. 8. The position of stop projection 36b permits further opening movement of each pivoting arm 22 to a position of approximately 45° with respect to the clamped position. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the cam 20 is permitted to move closer to the first end surface 30 than that permitted in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, but is still spaced from the first end surface 30 preventing the full arm motion to the position illustrated in FIG. 9. It should be apparent from this description that if a second pivoting arm 22 is provided, it would appear as an inverted mirror image of that depicted in FIGS. 6 and 9 having a separate pivot pin, elongated slot and optional stop projections. The cam 20 would be extended through both elongate slots on a common axis as best seen in FIGS. 1-3.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the present invention can include a swivel joint 38 for supporting the housing 14 in any angular orientation with respect to the actuator 12. The swivel joint 38 is connected to or carried by the actuator 12 or mounting bracket 40. The swivel joint 38 includes a plate 42 or portion of the mounting bracket 40 having a collar 44 extending outwardly from the plate 42. The housing 14 includes an aperture 46 complementary in shape to the collar 44 allowing the housing 14 to seat on the collar 44 with the aperture 46 substantially surrounding the collar 44. Fastener means 48 is provided for securing the housing 14 on the collar 44 of the swivel joint 38. The fastener means 48 can include one or more set screws 50 or any other suitable fastener. The swivel joint 38 permits the housing to be seated and secured with respect to the collar 44 in any desired angular orientation with respect to a longitudinal axis of the linear reciprocal actuator 12. The mounting bracket 40 can include means 52 for supporting the clamping apparatus 10 with respect to a support structure. The supporting means 52 can be mounted on the plate 42 or form a portion of the mounting bracket 40. By way of example and not limitation, the supporting means 52 can include a ball or semi-spherical collar 54 engageable with, carried by or connected to the support structure (not shown). The outer periphery of the ball or semi-spherical collar 54 is adjustably engaged between two portions of a split ring 56 and 58 respectively. The two portions of the split ring 56 and 58 are lockingly engageable with respect to the spherical surface of the ball or semi-spherical collar 54 when driven toward engagement with one another by a suitable fastener, such as bolt 60 engaging within threaded aperture 62.
As best seen in FIGS. 1-3, any suitable configuration of fingers 64 can be connected to the outer end of each pivoting arm 22 to provide the desired gripper jaw or end treatment. The selected set of complementary fingers 64 can be connected to the outer ends of each pivoting arm 22 by any appropriate fasteners, such as by way of example and not limitation, bolts 66 threadably engaged within threaded apertures 68.
Referring now to FIG. 4, means 70 is provided for encasing the elongate slot 24 of each pivoting arm 22 and cam 20. The encasing means 70 can include a side plate or cover 72 for substantially enclosing the pivoting arm 22 with respect to the housing 14. In FIG. 4, the side plate or cover 72 is connected to the far side of the housing 14 while the side plate or cover 72 on the near side of the housing 14 has been removed to show the internal structure of the pivoting arm 22, cam 20 and the outer portion of slide block 18. The side plate 72 can be reconnected to the housing 14 by any suitable means, such as threaded fasteners connecting to the inner portion of the housing 14 or through the end plate 74 into the side plate 72. The encasing means 70 attaches to the housing 14 and serves to protect the elongate slot and cam from contamination or foreign matter that can be present in industrial production environments.
Referring now to FIG. 5, the inner portion of the hollow housing 14 is depicted with the end plate, both side plates, both pivoting arms, cam and slide block assembly being removed for clarity. The internal portion of the housing 14 includes first and second opposing surfaces 76 and 78 defining a longitudinally extending slot 80 within the hollow housing 14. The longitudinally extending slot 80 operably receives the inner portion of slide block 18 best seen in FIG. 9. The cam 20 extends outwardly from the inner portion of the slide block 18 to the outer portion of the slide block 18, which is supported by slot 80 located in each side plate 72, after passing through the elongate slot 24 of the pivoting arm 22 as best seen in FIG. 4. The inner portion of the slide block 18 includes an adapter 82, best seen in FIG. 9, for receiving the outer end of a rod extending from the linear reciprocal actuator 12 seen in FIGS. 1-3. The inner portion of the slide block 18 also includes a stop-engaging surface 84. An adjustable stop 86 is threadably engaged through the aperture 88 formed in the inner portion of the housing 14 best seen in FIGS. 5 and 9. The adjustable stop member 86 can be threadably adjusted with respect to the hollow interior of the housing 14 for abbreviating a permissible range of motion for the cam 20 along the guide track 80. The guide track 80 defines the permissible range of motion for the slide block 18 and cam 20. The abbreviating means 90, such as adjustable stop member 86, can partially limit the range of arm motion by adjusting the stop member 86 to further encroach on the end portion of the guide track 80 thereby preventing the slide block 18 from reaching the fully extended position of the actuator 12.
Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, a clamping apparatus 10 according to the present invention can also include a second arm portion 92 hingedly connected to the pivoting arm 22 with pivot pin 94. A lost-motion link 96 is pivotally mounted with respect to the housing 14 for rotational movement about pin 98. The lost-motion link 96 also includes an elongate slot 100 for operably receiving a portion of the cam 20 carried by the slide block 18. The second arm portion 92 includes a linear slot 102. A second cam 104 is connected to or carried by the lost-motion link 96 adjacent an end opposite from the elongate slot 100. The second cam 104 operably engages within the linear slot 102 of the second arm portion 92 for moving the second arm portion 92 in response to movement of the cam 20 within the first elongate slot 24 of the pivoting arm 22 and the second elongate slot 100 of the lost-motion link 96. The lost-motion link 96 is rotatably attached to the housing 14. The lost-motion link has a curved slot 100 for receiving the cam 20 to move the pivoting second arm portion 92 of the pivoting arm 22 between the clamped position and the released position as the cam 20 is moved within the elongate slot 24 and the curved slot 100 in response to movement of the slide block 18 along the guide track 80. The cam 20 is positioned within the first and second elongate slots 24 and 100 for converting linear reciprocal movement of the cam into pivoting rotation of the pivoting arm 22 and second arm portion 92. The second arm portion 92 of the pivoting arm 22 is in the clamped position, illustrated in FIG. 10, when the cam 20 and slide block 18 are in the first end limit of movement or retracted position of the linear reciprocal actuator. The second arm portion 92 of the pivoting arm 22 is in a released position, illustrated in FIG. 11, when the slide block 18 and cam 20 are in the second end limit of movement corresponding to the extended position of the linear reciprocal actuator.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.
Patent Grant
RE39786
