Device for joining consolidated lamellar material

A device which is adapted to be supported from a pair of substantially parallel elongated rails for retaining consolidated lamellar material, comprising:

• a sectional rail having a generally J-shaped cross-section and including long and short leg portions, said sectional rail including first and second suspension means extending respectively from said long and short legs for engaging respective ones of said substantially parallel rails to support said device therefrom;
• a clamp rail having first and second leg portions joined to form a generally L-shaped cross-section and an apex portion corresponding to the juncture of said leg portions;
• a channel extending along said short leg and having a predetermined cross-sectional shape, the cross-section of said channel being wider at the interior of said leg than at the surface thereof;
• a ridge-like projection extending along said clamp rail in the vicinity of the apex portion thereof, said projection being a continuation of said first leg and having a cross-sectional shape conforming substantially to the cross-section of said short leg channel and being journaled therein;
• and
• actuating means acting on said second leg and said sectional rail for selectively pivoting said clamp rail with respect to said sectional rail;
• said lamellar material being retained in said device by being placed between said long leg and said first leg, said actuating means being operated to pivot said clamp rail so that said first leg rotates about a fixed point, said long leg and said first leg clamping said lamellar material therebetween.

A device for simultaneously retaining a plurality of stacks of consolidated lamellar material in side-by-side relationship, comprising:

• a sectional rail having a generally J-shaped cross-section and including a short and long leg portion, said sectional rail extending in its longitudinal direction for a distance approximately equal to the sum of the widths of said stacks of lamellar material;
• a plurality of clamp rails each corresponding to one of said stacks of lamellar material and extending longitudinally for a distance approximately equal to the width of the corresponding stack of lamellar material, each of said clamp rails having a first and second leg portion joined to define a generally L-shaped cross-section and an apex portion corresponding to the juncture of said leg portions;
• means for mounting said clamp rails in a side-by-side arrangement for pivotal movement with respect to said sectional rail, said mounting means mounting each clamp rail in the vicinity of its apex portion to said short leg of said sectional rail so that the first leg thereof is in spaced, opposed relationship with said long leg and the second leg thereof extends between said first leg and said long leg;
• actuating means acting on said second legs and said sectional rail for selectively pivoting said clamp rails with respect to said sectional rail;
• and
• resilient means disposed between said sectional rail and at least one of said clamp rails to provide a force therebetween tending to separate said long leg and said first legs;
• each of said stacks of lamellar material being retained in said device by being placed between said long leg and the first leg of the corresponding clamp rail, said actuating means being operated to pivot each clamp rail so that said long leg and the corresponding first leg clamp the respective stack of lamellar material therebetween.

A device which is adapted to be supported from a pair of substantially parallel elongated rails, for simultaneously retaining a plurality of stacks of consolidated lamellar material in side-by-side relationship, comprising:

• a sectional rail of generally J-shaped cross-section and including a short and long leg portion, said sectional rail extending in its longitudinal direction for a distance approximately equal to the sum of the width of said stacks of lamellar material, said sectional rail further including first and second suspension means extending respectively from said long and short legs for engaging respective ones of said substantially parallel rails to support said device therefrom;
• a plurality of clamp rails each corresponding to one of said stacks of lamellar material and extending longitudinally for a distance approximately equal to the width of the corresponding stack of lamellar material, each of said clamp rails having a first and second leg portion joined to define a generally L-shaped cross-section and an apex portion corresponding to the juncture of said leg portions;
• means for mounting said clamp rails in a side-by-side arrangement for pivotal movement with respect to said sectional rail, said mounting means mounting each clamp rail in the vicinity of its apex portion to said short leg of said sectional rail so that the first leg thereof is in spaced, opposed relationship with said long leg and the second leg thereof extends between said first leg and said long leg;
• and
• actuating means acting on said second legs and said sectional rail for selectively pivoting said clamp rails with respect to said sectional rail;
• each of said stacks of lamellar material being retained in said device by being placed between said long leg and the first leg of the corresponding clamp rail, said actuating means being operated to pivot each clamp rail so that said long leg and the corresponding first leg clamp the respective stack of lamellar material therebetween.