Workpiece clamping device
OwnerRitchie G. Bonkowskiinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The limited working region of a numerically controlled machine can be filled to maximum capacity with multiple strips of workpiece stock by providing one or more workpiece holding units each of which has opposed vertical walls between which two or more strips of workpiece stock may be disposed. An expansion device is actuated between the walls to generate outwardly directed forces against the walls and the two or more workpieces. The expansion device has a wedge that is elastically pushed between a plurality of laterally movable jaw pieces to force the jaw pieces apart.
Claims19
A clamping device comprising:
- a fixture having a force containing portion of a generally U-shaped cross section, wherein opposed vertically directed segments of the U-shaped force containing portion define first and second fixture walls;
- a first movable jaw piece, mounted to a fixture between the first and second fixture walls so as to reciprocate laterally toward and away from the fixture walls and having an inclined portion facing one of the walls;
- a movable wedge, disposed between the first jaw piece and the first fixture wall, the wedge being adapted to reciprocate vertically and being shaped to include a first inclined portion which faces one of the walls and is engagable with the inclined portion of the first jaw piece to thereby drive the first jaw piece in the lateral direction;
- and
- actuator means, coupled to the wedge, for driving the wedge in the vertical direction.
A clamping device for clamping one or more workpieces comprising:
- a force containing fixture having opposed vertical walls spaced apart from one another to provide free space into which the one or more workpieces can be inserted;
- and
- an expansion means, disposed between the vertical walls, for expandingly reducing the free space between the walls and applying laterally directed forces outwardly against the one or more workpieces inserted between one of the walls and the expansion means;
- wherein the expansion means includes an expansion wedge disposed to reciprocate in a first direction generally parallel to the opposed vertical walls and a jaw piece having an engaging end that is engagable with the wedge, the jaw piece being disposed to reciprocate in a second direction, generally perpendicular to at least one of the vertical walls, thereby reducing the free space between the vertical walls.
An expansion device for developing an outwardly directed set of expansion forces, comprising:
- a housing having top, bottom and side faces, at least one of the side faces being substantially planar;
- a movable wedge disposed to reciprocate vertically in the housing, the wedge including a vertical face having an inclined portion;
- a first movable jaw piece disposed to reciprocate laterally within the housing, the movable jaw piece including a wedge engaging end having an inclined portion that is adapted to slidably engage with the inclined portion of the wedge;
- and
- force applying means, coupled to the wedge, for applying a substantially vertical force to the wedge and reciprocating the jaw piece laterally.
A method for securing one or more workpieces comprising:
- providing an expansion device having at least one laterally reciprocating jaw piece with a workpiece end that may be extended outwardly away from the expansion device;
- providing a workpiece holding fixture having opposed vertical walls between which the expansion device and the one or more workpieces may be fitted;
- arranging the one or more workpieces and the expansion device laterally between the walls in a line that is generally perpendicular to the walls;
- and
- actuating the expansion device to apply opposed forces outwardly of the expansion device so that the opposed forces are directed against the one or more workpieces and the walls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.