Transfer system and transfer device

A transfer device transferable from one support to another support, said transfer device comprised of:

• a housing having first and second support-receiving recesses, each recess dimensioned to receive a support therein;
• a first clamping element mounted to said housing, said first clamping element being associated with said first recess and being movable relative thereto between a support-clamping position wherein said clamping element captures said support in said first recess and a release position wherein said support is movable into and out of said first recess;
• a second clamping element mounted to said housing, said second clamping element being associated with said second recess and being movable relative thereto between a support-clamping position wherein said clamping element captures said support in said second recess and a release position wherein said support is movable into and out of said second recess;
• and
• an actuator connected to said first and second clamping elements for moving each of said clamping elements between said support-clamping position and said release position, wherein said actuator is a rotatable cam and said first and second clamping elements each include a roller thereon that engages said cam.

A transfer device transferable from one support to another support, said transfer device comprised of:

• a housing having first and second support-receiving recesses, each recess dimensioned to receive a support therein;
• a first clamping element mounted to said housing, said first clamping element being associated with said first recess and being movable relative thereto between a support-clamping position wherein said clamping element captures said support in said first recess and a release position wherein said support is movable into and out of said first recess;
• a second clamping element mounted to said housing, said second clamping element being associated with said second recess and being movable relative thereto between a support-clamping position wherein said clamping element captures said support in said second recess and a release position wherein said support is movable into and out of said second recess;
• and
• an actuator connected to said first and second clamping elements for moving each of said clamping elements between said support-clamping position and said release position;
• and
• a control handle that is rotatable about a handle axis through said housing, said control handle being connected to said actuator to cause said actuator to move between first and second actuator positions, wherein said first clamping element is in a support clamping position and said second clamping element is in a release position when said actuator is in said first actuator position, and said second clamping element is in a support clamping position and said first clamping element is in a release position when said actuator is in said second actuator position.

A transfer device transferable from one support to another support, said transfer device comprised of:

• a housing having first and second support-receiving recesses, each recess dimensioned to receive a support therein;
• a first clamping element mounted to said housing, said first clamping element being associated with said first recess and being movable relative thereto between a support-clamping position wherein said clamping element captures said support in said first recess and a release position wherein said support is movable into and out of said first recess;
• a second clamping element mounted to said housing, said second clamping element being associated with said second recess and being movable relative thereto between a support-clamping position wherein said clamping element captures said support in said second recess and a release position wherein said support is movable into and out of said second recess;
• and
• an actuator connected to said first and second clamping elements for moving each of said clamping elements between said support-clamping position and said release position, wherein said actuator is movable between a first actuator position and a second actuator position, said first clamping element being in said support-clamping position when said actuator is in said first actuator position and being in said release position when said actuator is in said second actuator position, and said second clamping element being in said release position when said actuator is in said first actuator position and being in said support-clamping position when said actuator is in said second actuator position.

A device transferable between one support and another support, said device comprised of:

• a housing;
• first and second movable clamping elements mounted to said housing, each of said clamping elements being movable between a support-clamping position and a support-release position;
• a movable actuator connected to said first and second clamping elements, said actuator movable between a first actuator position and a second actuator position and operable to move each of said clamping elements between said support-clamping position and said support-release position;
• a locking element connected to said actuator, said locking element having:
• a first position preventing movement of said actuator;
• a second position allowing limited movement of said actuator between said first and second actuator positions;
• a third position allowing full movement of said actuator between said first and second actuator positions, wherein said actuator is a rotatable cam and said first and second clamping elements each include a roller thereon that engages said cam.

A transfer device for transferring an apparatus from one support to another support, said transfer device comprising:

• a housing;
• two movable clamping elements mounted to said housing;
• each of said clamping elements being movable between a support-clamping position and a release non-clamping position;
• an actuator in operative engagement with said two clamping elements to move each of said clamping elements between said support-clamping position and said release position, said actuator having a first actuator position wherein one of said clamping elements is in said support-clamping position and another of said clamping elements is in said release position, and a second position wherein said one of said clamping elements is in said release position and said another of said clamping elements is in said support-clamping position.

A transfer system, comprised of:

• a plurality of supports, each of said supports having areas of like cross-sectional shapes;
• a device alternately attachable to one of said supports, said device having two jaws that are each movable between a support clamping position, wherein said jaw captures a support in said device and a release, non-clamping position, one of said jaws being in said clamping position attaching said device to one of said plurality of supports when the other of said jaws being in a release, non-clamping position, wherein said one of said jaws is movable from said clamping position to said release, non-clamping position when said other jaw moves to said clamping position;
• an actuator connected to said jaws for controlling movement thereof;
• a locking assembly preventing movement of said jaws unless a support is disposed in a clamping position relative to each of said jaws, wherein said locking assembly includes a locking element associated with each of said jaws, and wherein each of said locking elements has:
• a first position preventing movement of said actuator;
• a second position allowing limited movement of said actuator between said first and second actuator positions;
• and
• a third position allowing full movement of said actuator between said first and second actuator position.