Self-centering clamping device

A self-centering clamping device being matable to an output pipe of a food product processing machine, said device comprising:

• a cylinder having an upper flange wherein said upper flange is configured to be mated to the output pipe of the food product processing machine;
• a pair of clamp mounts, each clamp mount of said pair of clamp mounts being coupled to said cylinder, said pair of clamp mounts being positioned on opposite sides of said cylinder from each other;
• a pair of clamping units, each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units being pivotally coupled to a respective clamp mount of said pair of clamp mounts wherein each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units is configured to be manipulated by a user, each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units being urgeable into a clamping position having each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units being positioned over said upper flange wherein each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units is configured to secure the output pipe of the food product processing machine in said upper flange such that a food product can flow through said cylinder, each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units being urgeable into a releasing position having each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units being spaced upwardly from said upper flange and being laterally spaced from said upper flange wherein said pair of clamping units is configured to release the output pipe of the food product processing machine such that said cylinder can be removed from the output pipe of said food product processing machine, each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units includes a clamp being curved to extend partially around an outlet pipe cylinder of the outlet pipe wherein said clamp is configured to center said cylinder on the output pipe;
• wherein said upper flange has an angled wall angling outwardly from an outer wall of said cylinder having said angled wall extending around a full circumference of said outer wall;
• wherein said angled wall is spaced a distance away from an upper end of the cylinder;
• wherein said upper flange has an outside wall extending upwardly from said angled wall having said outside wall extending around at least a partial circumference of said angled wall wherein said outside wall is configured to insertably receive the output pipe of the food product processing machine having the output pipe of the food product processing machine resting against said upper end of said cylinder;
• wherein said outside wall forms a circle which has an inside diameter being greater than an inside diameter of said outer wall of said cylinder;
• wherein said cylinder has a gasket recess being recessed into said upper end of said cylinder;
• wherein said gasket recess extends around a full circumference of said upper end;
• wherein said outside wall has an inwardly facing surface;
• wherein said inwardly facing surface has a first section being perpendicularly oriented with said upper end of said cylinder;
• wherein said inwardly facing surface has a second section which angles outwardly between said first section and a top end of said outside wall;
• wherein said outside wall has a pair of cutouts each extending between said top end of said outside wall and said angled wall;
• wherein said pair of cutouts is positioned on opposite sides of said outside wall from each other;
• wherein each clamp mount of said pair of clamp mounts includes a first wall having a back edge being coupled to an outer surface of said outer wall of said cylinder;
• wherein said first wall is oriented to extend from said angled wall of said upper flange toward a lower end of said cylinder;
• wherein said first wall has a front edge being spaced from said outer surface of said outer wall;
• wherein said first wall has a bottom edge extending between said front edge and said back edge;
• wherein said front edge has a rounded portion which intersects said bottom edge and a first angled portion which angles toward said back edge from said rounded portion;
• wherein said front edge has a vertical portion which extends between said first angled portion and a second angled portion of said front edge;
• wherein said vertical portion lies on a plane being oriented parallel to said back edge;
• wherein said second angled portion angles inwardly between said vertical portion and a lower surface of said angled wall of said upper flange;
• wherein said front edge has a notch being recessed into said rounded portion;
• and
• wherein said notch in said rounded portion is positioned between said bottom edge and said first angled portion of said front edge.

A self-centering clamping device being matable to an output pipe of a food product processing machine, said device comprising:

• a cylinder having an upper flange wherein said upper flange is configured to be mated to the output pipe of the food product processing machine, said upper flange having an angled wall angling outwardly from an outer wall of said cylinder having said angled wall extending around at least a partial circumference of said outer wall, said angled wall being aligned with an upper end of said cylinder having said angled wall extending upwardly beyond said upper end, said upper flange having an outside wall extending upwardly from said angled wall having said outside wall extending around a full circumference of said angled wall wherein said outside wall is configured to insertably receive the output pipe of the food product processing machine having the output pipe of the food product processing machine resting against said upper end of said cylinder, said outside wall forming a circle which has an inside diameter being greater than an inside diameter of said outer wall of said cylinder, said cylinder having a gasket recess being recessed into said upper end of said cylinder, said gasket recess extending around a full circumference of said upper end, said outside wall having an inwardly facing surface, said inwardly facing surface having a first section being perpendicularly oriented with said upper end of said cylinder, said inwardly facing surface having a second section which angles outwardly between said first section and a top end of said outside wall, said outside wall having a pair of cutouts each extending between said top end of said outside wall and said angled wall, said pair of cutouts being positioned on opposite sides of said outside wall from each other;
• a pair of clamp mounts, each clamp mount of said pair of clamp mounts being coupled to said cylinder, said pair of clamp mounts being positioned on opposite sides of said cylinder from each other, each clamp mount of said pair of clamp mounts comprising:
• a first wall having a back edge being coupled to an outer surface of said outer wall of said cylinder, said first wall being oriented to extend from said angled wall of said upper flange toward a lower end of said cylinder, said first wall having a front edge being spaced from said outer surface of said outer wall, said first wall having a bottom edge extending between said front edge and said back edge, said front edge having a rounded portion which intersects said bottom edge and a first angled portion which angles toward said back edge from said rounded portion, said front edge having a vertical portion which extends between said first angled portion and a second angled portion of said front edge, said vertical portion lying on a plane being oriented parallel to said back edge, said second angled portion angling inwardly between said vertical portion and a lower surface of said angled wall of said upper flange, said first wall having a first slot extending through a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface of said first wall, said first slot having a primary section being oriented to angle downwardly between said vertical portion of said front edge of said first wall and said back edge of said first wall, said first slot having a secondary section extending downwardly from said primary section having said secondary section being oriented parallel to said back edge of said first wall, said front edge having a notch being recessed into said rounded portion, said notch in said rounded portion being positioned between said bottom edge and said first angled portion of said front edge, said first wall having a first pin hole extending through said first lateral surface of said first wall and said second lateral surface of said first wall, said first pin hole being spaced from said bottom edge of said first wall such that said rounded portion of said front edge curves around said first pin hole;
• and
• a second wall having a rear edge being coupled to said outer surface of said outer wall of said cylinder, said second wall extending between said angled wall of said upper flange toward said lower end of said cylinder, said second wall being spaced from said first wall, said second wall having a forward edge being spaced from said outer surface of said outer wall, said second wall having a lower edge extending between said forward edge and said rear edge, said forward edge having a rounded portion of said forward edge which intersects said rear edge and a first angled portion of said forward edge which angles toward said rear edge from said rounded portion of said forward edge, said forward edge having a vertical portion of said forward edge which extends between said first angled portion of said forward edge and a second angled portion of said forward edge, said vertical portion of said forward edge lying on a plane being oriented parallel to said rear edge, said second angled portion of said forward edge angling inwardly between said vertical portion of said forward edge and said lower surface of said angled wall of said upper flange, said second wall having a second slot extending through a first lateral surface of said second wall and a second lateral surface of said second wall, said second slot having a primary section of said second slot being oriented to angle downwardly between said vertical portion of said forward edge and said rear edge of said second wall, said second slot having a secondary section of said second slot extending downwardly from said primary section of said second slot having said secondary section of said second slot being oriented parallel to said rear edge of said second wall, said forward edge having a notch in said forward edge being recessed into said rounded portion, said notch in said rounded portion of said forward edge being positioned between said lower edge and said first angled portion of said forward edge, said second wall having a second pin hole extending through said first lateral surface of said second wall and said second lateral surface of said second wall, said second pin hole being spaced from said bottom edge of said second wall having said rounded portion of said forward edge curving around said second pin hole;
• a pair of clamping units, each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units being pivotally coupled to a respective clamp mount of said pair of clamp mounts wherein each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units is configured to be manipulated by a user, each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units being urgeable into a clamping position having each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units resting upon said upper flange wherein each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units is configured to secure the output pipe of the food product processing machine in said upper flange such that a food product can flow through said cylinder, each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units being urgeable into a releasing position having each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units being spaced upwardly from said upper flange and being laterally spaced from said upper flange wherein said pair of clamping units is configured to release the output pipe of the food product processing machine such that said cylinder can be removed from the output pipe of said food product processing machine, each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units includes a clamp being curved to extend partially around an outlet pipe cylinder of the outlet pipe wherein said clamp is configured to center said cylinder on the output pipe, each clamping unit of said pair of clamping units comprising:
• an arm having a bottom end and a top end of said arm and a front edge of said arm and a back edge of said arm, said arm having a first sidelong surface and a second sidelong surface each extending between said bottom end of said arm and said top end of said arm, said front edge of said arm having a front angled portion angling outwardly between a lower portion and an upper portion of said front edge, said back edge of said arm having a back angled portion angling toward said front edge of said arm between a bottom portion and a top portion of said back edge, said back angled portion being oriented parallel to said front angled portion, each of said lower portion of said front edge of said arm and said bottom portion of said back edge of said arm defining a lower section of said arm, each of said upper portion of said front edge of said arm and said top portion of said back edge of said arm defining an upper section of said arm, said upper section being offset from said lower section of said arm, said lower section being associated with said bottom end of said arm, said upper section being associated with said top end of said arm, said upper section being spaced a greater distance from said outer wall of said cylinder than a distance between said lower section and said outer wall, said front edge of said arm having a plurality of tooth depressions each extending toward said back edge of said arm, said plurality of tooth depressions being evenly spaced apart from each other and being distributed from said bottom end of said arm toward said front angled portion of said front edge of said arm to define a plurality of teeth on said front edge of said arm, said arm associated with each of said pair of clamping units being positioned between said first wall and said second wall of a respective one of said pair of clamp mounts, said arm having a primary pin hole extending through said first sidelong surface and said second sidelong surface, said primary pin hole being positioned on said lower section of said arm at a point located closer to said front angled portion of said front edge of said arm than said bottom end of said arm, said arm having a set screw well extending into said lower portion of said front edge of said arm and intersecting said primary pin hole, said arm having a secondary pin hole extending through said first sidelong surface and said second sidelong surface, said secondary pin hole being located on said upper section of said arm, said secondary pin hole being located closer to said top end of said arm than said back angled portion of said back edge of said arm, said secondary pin hole being elongated along an axis extending between said top end of said arm and said bottom end of said arm such that said secondary pin hole has an ovoid shape, said arm having a spring well being located within said arm, said spring well extending from said secondary pin hole toward said lower section of said arm, said arm having a screw hole extending into said top end of said arm and intersecting said secondary pin hole;
• a first pin extending through said primary pin hole, said first pin extending through said first slot in said first wall of a respective one of said pair of clamp mounts, said first pin extending through said second slot in said second wall of said respective clamp mount, said arm being oriented to travel upwardly along said outer wall of said cylinder when said first pin travels along said secondary section of said first slot and said secondary section of said second slot, said arm being oriented to angle away from said outer wall of said cylinder when said first pin travels along said primary section of said first slot and said primary section of said second slot;
• a first set screw extending through said set screw well in said lower portion of said front edge of said arm, said first set screw threadably engaging a bounding surface of said set screw well, said first set screw compressing against said first pin when said first set screw is tightened in said set screw well for retaining said first pin in said arm, said first set screw being displaced from said first pin when said first set screw is loosened such that said first pin is removable from said arm;
• a lever having a lobed section and a grip section angling away from said lobed section, said lobed section having an outer edge being continuously arcuate about a center of said lobed section such that said lobed section has a rounded shape, said grip section having frontmost edge which has a lower section of said frontmost edge extending between said outer edge of said lobed section and an upper section of said frontmost edge angling upwardly from said lower section of said frontmost edge, said grip section having a rearmost edge being oriented parallel to said upper section of said frontmost edge and intersecting said outer edge of said lobed section, said rearmost edge having a plurality of depressions being evenly spaced apart from each other, each of said plurality of depressions having a bounding edge being concavely arcuate with respect to said frontmost edge wherein each depression of said plurality of depressions is configured to conform to the shape of fingers of the user when the user grips said grip section of said lever, said lever having a pin aperture extending through a first lateral surface of said lever and a second lateral surface of said lever, said pin aperture being centrally located on said lobed section such that said outer edge of said lobed section curves around said pin aperture, said lever having a primary pin hole in said lever extending through said first lateral surface of said lever and said second lateral surface of said lever, said primary pin hole in said lever being located proximate an intersection between said outer edge of said lobed section of said lever and said rearmost edge of said grip section of said lever, said lever having a secondary pin hole in said lever extending through said first lateral surface of said lever and said second lateral surface of said lever, said secondary pin hole in said lever being positioned between said primary pin hole in said lever and said lower section of said frontmost edge of said grip section, said secondary pin hole in said lever being elongated along an axis extending between said pin aperture and said upper section of said frontmost edge of said grip section of said lever such that said secondary pin hole in said lever has an ovoid shape, said lever having a spring well in said lever extending from said upper section of said frontmost edge of said grip section into said secondary pin hole in said lever, said outer edge of said lobed section having a plurality of tooth depressions being evenly spaced apart from each other and being distributed along said outer edge to define a plurality of teeth on said outer edge, said plurality of teeth on said outer edge enmeshing with said plurality of teeth on said front edge of said arm, said arm being lifted upwardly when said lever is pivoted into a first position having said lever angling away from said cylinder such that said first pin travels along said secondary section of said first slot and said secondary section of said second slot, said arm angling away from said cylinder along an axis extending between said bottom end of said arm and said top end of said arm when said first pin travels along said primary section of said first slot and said primary section of said second slot, said arm being lowered downwardly when said lever is pivoted into a second position having said lever being pivoted toward said cylinder having said first pin traveling along said primary section of said first slot and said primary section of said second slot and then traveling along said secondary section of said first slot and said secondary section of said second slot such that said arm is oriented parallel to said outer wall of said cylinder;
• said clamp having a clamping portion which has a concave front edge extending between a top surface and a bottom surface of said clamping portion, said clamp having a mounting portion extending downwardly from said bottom surface of said clamping portion, said mounting portion having a bottom end of said mounting portion and a front side, said mounting portion having a slot extending from said bottom end of said mounting portion toward said bottom surface of said clamping portion, said clamp having a lip extending downwardly from said bottom surface of said clamping portion, said lip being aligned with and being co-arcuate with said concave front edge, said clamping portion having a slot in said clamping portion extending through said top surface and said bottom surface, said slot in said clamping portion intersecting said slot in said mounting portion, said top end of said arm being positioned in said slot in said mounting portion such that said clamp is spaced upwardly from said upper flange of said cylinder having said concave front edge being aligned with said first section of said inwardly facing surface of said outside wall of said upper flange and having said mounting portion being aligned with a respective cutout of said pair of cutouts in said outside wall of said upper flange, said lip being spaced inwardly from said inwardly facing surface of said outside wall of said upper flange and traveling downwardly toward said upper end of said cylinder and having said mounting portion extending into said respective cutout in said outside wall of said upper flange when said lever is pivoted toward said cylinder wherein said concave front edge of said clamping portion is configured to extend around the output pipe thereby centering the output pipe over said cylinder and wherein said lip is configured to compress a flange of the output pipe of the food product processing machine against said upper end of said cylinder, said lip traveling upwardly beyond said upper flange on said cylinder having said concave front edge of said clamping portion being spaced outwardly from said first section of said inwardly facing surface of said outside wall of said upper flange when said lever is pivoted away from said cylinder wherein said clamp is configured to be displaced from the output pipe of the food product processing machine such that said cylinder can be removed from the output pipe;
• a clamp pin extending laterally through said mounting portion of said clamp and extending through said secondary pin hole in said arm such that said mounting portion is pivotally coupled to said arm;
• a first biasing member being positioned in said spring well in said arm, said first biasing member abutting said clamp pin such that said first biasing member biases said clamp pin to travel toward said top end of said arm;
• a second set screw extending through said screw hole in said top end of said arm, said second set screw compressing against said clamp pin, said second set screw urging said clamp pin to travel downwardly in said secondary pin hole when said second set screw is tightened to adjust a height of said clamp with respect to said upper flange of said cylinder;
• a third set screw extending through said front side of said mounting portion of said clamp, said third set screw abutting against said upper portion of said front edge of said arm, said third set screw urging said clamp to travel toward said upper flange of said cylinder when said third set screw is tightened wherein said third set screw is configured to adjust said clamp to accommodate a diameter of the output pipe of the food product processing machine;
• a lock comprising a medial member extending between and being perpendicular to a pair of outward members, each outward member of said pair of outward members having an angled portion angling upwardly from a respective outward member, each outward member of said pair of outward members having a curved portion curving downwardly and forwardly from a respective outward member, each outward member of said pair of outward members having a distal portion extending between said angled portion and said curved portion, said distal portion of a respective outward member intersecting said curved portion of said respective outward member at a locking point which protrudes beyond said distal portion, said distal portion of a respective outward member intersecting said angled portion of said respective outward member at a pivot point, said lever being positioned between said pair of outward members having said medial member being spaced from said frontmost edge of said grip section of said lever wherein said medial member is configured to be manipulated by the user;
• a first lock pin extending through said pivot point associated with each outward member of said pair of outward members of said lock, said first lock pin extending through said primary pin hole in said lever to pivotally attach said lock to said lever;
• a second lock pin extending through each outward member of said pair of outward members at a point located adjacent to said locking point associated with each outward member of said pair of outward members, said second lock pin extending through secondary pin hole in said lever;
• a second biasing member being positioned in said spring well in said lever such that said second biasing member biases said second lock pin to travel in said secondary pin hole in said lever toward said pin aperture in said lever;
• and
• a thumb screw threadably engaging a bounding surface of said spring well in said lever, said thumb screw compressing said second biasing member when said thumb screw is tightened to increase a spring force of said second biasing member, said thumb screw decompressing said second biasing member when said thumb screw is loosened to decrease said spring force of said second biasing member;
• wherein said pair of clamping units includes a first clamping unit and a second clamping unit;
• said lock associated with said first clamping unit being biased into a locking position having said locking point associated with a respective outward member of said pair of outward members of said lock associated with said first clamping unit being positioned in said notch in said front edge of said first wall of a respective clamp mount and having said locking point associated with a respective outward member of said pair of outward members associated with said first clamping unit being positioned in said notch in said forward edge of said second wall of said respective clamp mount to retain said lever associated with said first clamping unit in said second position, said lock associated with said first clamping unit being urgeable into an unlocking position having said locking point associated with a respective outward member of said pair of outward members of said lock associated with said first clamping unit being displaced from said notch in said front edge of said first wall of said respective clamp mount and having said locking point associated with said respective outward member of said lock associated with said first clamping unit being displaced from said notch in said forward edge of said second wall of said respective clamp mount such that said lever can be pivoted into said first position;
• and
• said lock associated with said second clamping unit being biased into a locking position having said locking point associated with a respective outward member of said pair of outward members of said lock associated with said second clamping unit being positioned in said notch in said front edge of said first wall of a respective clamp mount and having said locking point associated with a respective outward member of said pair of outward members associated with said second clamping unit being positioned in said notch in said forward edge of said second wall of said respective clamp mount to retain said lever associated with said second clamping unit in said second position, said lock associated with said second clamping unit being urgeable into an unlocking position having said locking point associated with a respective outward member of said pair of outward members of said lock associated with said second clamping unit being displaced from said notch in said front edge of said first wall of said respective clamp mount and having said locking point associated with said respective outward member of said lock associated with said second clamping unit being displaced from said notch in said forward edge of said second wall of said respective clamp mount such that said lever can be pivoted into said first position.