Device for centering and gripping, particularly for pieces of automobile body work

Device for positioning, holding or gripping of pieces of automobile body work, the device comprising a mechanism movable at least partially in translation and an electrical actuating means (2, 32), wherein the mechanism is mounted adjacent to the electrical actuating means (2, 32) and the longitudinal axis of the electrical actuating means is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mechanism, so as to reduce the size of the body (1, 31) of the device, wherein the electrical actuating means is an electrical motor (2, 32) of which one shaft end carries a pinion (9) engaging with a toothed wheel (10, 33) connected to said mechanism, wherein the toothed wheel (10, 33) connected to said mechanism is mounted on two bearings (11, 13;

• 44, 45) disposed on opposite sides of the toothed wheel (10, 33), wherein the mechanism and the electrical motor (2, 32) are received in a body (1) comprising an upper mounting surface (1a) and a lower plate (1b) or block;
• wherein the electrical motor (2, 32) and the mechanism are mounted below the upper surface (1a);
• the pinion (9) and the toothed wheel (10, 33) are mounted near the lower plate (1b) or block;
• and wherein the actuating assembly (3) of the mechanism comprises a threaded rod (4) secured to an enlarged portion (11) integral with the toothed wheel (10).