Processing system

A method of processing first and second work pieces, comprising the steps of:

• providing a work piece location;
• positioning a plurality of clamp devices around the work piece location in order to clamp the first and second work pieces at different clamping sites thereon, the work pieces having substantially common peripheries and the clamp devices extending inwardly toward the work piece location;
• providing each clamp device with a lower clamp unit and an upper clamp unit;
• providing the lower clamp unit of each clamp device with a pair of lower jaws, each lower jaw having a distal end for engaging a work piece and a proximal end, at least one of the lower jaws being pivotally mounted near its proximal end for rotational movement about a first pivot axis relative to the other of the lower jaws between a clamped position and an unclamped position;
• actuating each of the lower clamp units to clamp the first work piece by pivoting said at least one pivotally mounted lower jaw between the clamped and unclamped positions, firstly to separate the adjacent distal ends of the lower jaws of each lower clamp unit in order for the lower clamp units to receive the first work piece, and secondly to clamp the distal ends of the adjacent lower jaws of each lower clamp unit against a corresponding location near a peripheral region of the first work piece at a first elevation;
• providing the upper clamp unit of each clamp device with a pair of upper jaws, each upper jaw having a distal end for engaging a work piece and a proximal end, one of the upper jaws being pivotally mounted near its proximal end for rotational movement about a second pivot axis relative to the other of the upper jaws between a clamped position and an unclamped position;
• mounting the other of the upper jaws on the pivotally mounted lower jaw for travel therewith;
• actuating each of the upper clamp units to clamp the second work piece by pivoting the pivotally mounted upper jaws between the clamped and unclamped positions, thirdly to separate the adjacent distal ends of the upper jaws of each upper clamp unit in order for the upper clamp units to receive the second work piece, and fourthly to clamp the distal ends of the adjacent upper jaws of each upper claim unit against a corresponding location near a peripheral region of the second work piece at a second elevation, the second elevation being relatively above the first elevation.