US 2015/0306743 A1 · ROTARY ACTUATED AXIAL CLAMP

Abstract

Disclosed is a rotary actuated axial clamp that includes a primary fixture, having a rotatable primary clamp, having primary clamp fingers that engage secondary clamp fingers on a stationary secondary clamp. The primary fixture is attached to a positioner, while the secondary fixture is attached to the work piece. Different secondary fixtures can be utilized to fit the shape and size of the work piece, while maintaining a secondary clamp that is able to engage the primary clamp of the primary fixture. The primary fixture can consequently be utilized with numerous different work pieces having different shapes and sizes by simply modifying a secondary fixture to adapt to the size and shape of the work piece. Roller engagement of the primary clamp and secondary clamp reduces the force required to clamp and unclamp the primary and secondary fixtures. This reduces problems associated with attaching a work piece to a positioner.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A method of clamping a work piece to a positioner comprising:

attaching a primary fixture to said positioner so that said primary fixture can be rotated on said positioner around a primary clamp;
rotating said primary clamp on said primary fixture so that primary clamp fingers on said primary clamp are disposed in an open position;
attaching a secondary fixture to said work piece;
assembling said secondary fixture with said primary fixture so that secondary clamp fingers of a secondary clamp are aligned with openings between said primary clamp fingers;
rotating said primary clamp to a closed position so that said primary clamp fingers are aligned with said secondary clamp fingers and said primary fixture is clamped to said secondary fixture.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rotary actuated axial clamp

Life of this patent

Rotary actuated axial clamp

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6