US3571872A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pallet locating and clamping apparatus
Assignee: Cross Co
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Filing: 1968-07-30
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Granted: 1971-03-23
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Expires: 1988-07-30
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for supporting and transferring workpieces for successive machine operations, including rails on which a series of pallets adapted to support the workpieces can be positioned. A fixture adapted to be mounted adjacent to a machine tool is provided for locating a pallet and subsequently for clamping the pallet to their rails at such location. A single actuator bar is provided for actuating the locating and clamping elements of the fixture.
Inventors
- 👤 John L Van Den Kieboom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:30
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q1/00; B23Q1/25; B23Q1/26; B23Q1/28; B23Q7/00; B23Q7/14; B23Q7/1426; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5124; Y10T409/00; Y10T409/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
In an apparatus for holding workpieces for successive machine operations, the combination of a pallet having a clamping surface and a locating surface, rail means for supporting said pallet for movement to a plurality of stations, and a pallet clamping fixture at one of said stations comprising a stationary frame, a locating pin supported in said frame and movable between a first position in which one end is in locating position relative to said locating surface and a second position in which said one end is retracted therefrom, a clamp supported on said frame and movable between a first position clampingly engaging said clamping surface for holding said pallet against said rail means and a second position out of engagement with said clamping surface, an actuator bar longitudinally movable relative to said frame, means operably connected to said locating pin and to said actuator bar for moving said pin to its first position upon movement of said actuator bar in one direction and for retracting said pin upon movement of said actuator bar in the other direction, and means operably disposed between said clamp and said actuator bar and responsive to forces applied to said actuator bar for moving said clamp to its first position after the actuator bar has completed an initial portion of its stroke in said one direction and for releasing said clamp when said bar is moved in the other direction, the last-named meaNs including a spring mechanism through which force applied to said actuator bar is transmitted to said clamp when said actuator bar is moved in said one direction so that a plurality of such clamps can be actuated by said actuator bar and clamping of one clamp will not interfere with clamping of other clamps.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
In an apparatus for holding workpieces for successive machine operations, the combination of a pallet having a clamping surface and a locating surface, rail means for supporting said pallet for movement to a plurality of stations, and a pallet clamping fixture at one of said stations comprising a stationary frame, a locating pin supported in said frame and movable between a first position in which one end is in locating position relative to said locating surface and a second position in which said one end is retracted therefrom, a clamp supported on said frame and movable between a first position clampingly engaging said clamping surface for holding said pallet against said rail means and a second position out of engagement with said clamping surface, an actuator bar longitudinally movable relative to said frame, means operably connected to said locating pin and to said actuator bar for moving said pin to its first position upon movement of said actuator bar in one direction and for retracting said pin upon movement of said actuator bar in the other direction, and means operably disposed between said clamp and said actuator bar and responsive to forces applied to said actuator bar for moving said clamp to its first position after the actuator bar has completed an initial portion of its stroke in said one direction and for releasing said clamp when said bar is moved in the other direction, the last-named meaNs including a spring mechanism through which force applied to said actuator bar is transmitted to said clamp when said actuator bar is moved in said one direction so that a plurality of such clamps can be actuated by said actuator bar and clamping of one clamp will not interfere with clamping of other clamps.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
116 words
In an apparatus for holding workpieces for successive machine operations, the combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the means operably disposed between said clamp and said actuator rod includes a wedge block and an associated clamp-actuator rod, said block and said rod having abutting complementary inclined planes for effecting movement of said rod in either axial direction in response to movement of said block in either longitudinal direction of said actuator bar, said rod being connected to said clamp for moving the latter, and said block being in juxtaposition to said actuator bar to be moved thereby in either direction after the initial portion of the stroke of the bar has occurred in either direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
In an apparatus for holding workpieces for successive machine operations, the combination as defined in claim 2 wherein a spring mechanism is supported by said wedge block and through which the forces applied to the wedge block by said actuator bar are transmitted when said actuator bar is moved in said one direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
In an apparatus for holding workpieces for successive machine operations, the combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said locating surface comprises a socket into which the end of said locating pin can enter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
182 words
A pallet locating and clamping fixture comprising a frame, a locating pin mounted for reciprocable movement in said frame between locating position and a retracted position, a clamp mounted on said frame for movement between a clamping position and a release position, an actuator bar movable relative to said frame, pin-actuator means operably connecting said locating pin and said actuator bar for moving said pin to its locating position upon movement of said actuator bar in one direction and for retracting said pin upon movement of said actuator bar in the other direction, and clamp-actuator means operably positioned between said clamp and said actuator bar and responsive to forces applied to said actuator bar for moving said clamp to its clamping position after the actuator bar has completed an initial portion of its stroke in said one direction and for releasing said clamp when said bar is moved in the other direction, said clamp-actuating means including a spring mechanism through which force applied to said actuator bar is transmitted to said clamp when said actuator bar is moved in said one direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
182 words
A pallet locating and clamping fixture comprising a frame, a locating pin mounted for reciprocable movement in said frame between locating position and a retracted position, a clamp mounted on said frame for movement between a clamping position and a release position, an actuator bar movable relative to said frame, pin-actuator means operably connecting said locating pin and said actuator bar for moving said pin to its locating position upon movement of said actuator bar in one direction and for retracting said pin upon movement of said actuator bar in the other direction, and clamp-actuator means operably positioned between said clamp and said actuator bar and responsive to forces applied to said actuator bar for moving said clamp to its clamping position after the actuator bar has completed an initial portion of its stroke in said one direction and for releasing said clamp when said bar is moved in the other direction, said clamp-actuating means including a spring mechanism through which force applied to said actuator bar is transmitted to said clamp when said actuator bar is moved in said one direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
A pallet locating and clamping fixture as defined in claim 5, wherein said actuator bar includes two abutment surfaces in spaced relation along its length, and said clamp-actuator means includes a slidable wedge block positioned between said abutment surfaces and of a length smaller than the distance between said abutment surfaces for selective engagement thereby, and a clamp-actuator rod supported in said frame for reciprocable movement and seated at one end on the inclined surface of said wedge block, the other end of said clamp-actuator rod operatively engaging said clamp for actuating the same on movement of said clamp-actuator rod.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A pallet locating and clamping fixture as defined in claim 6, wherein said spring mechanism comprises a preloaded compression spring supported in said wedge block and engageable with one of said abutment surfaces when said wedge block is moved in one direction by said actuator bar.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
238 words
A pallet locating and clamping fixture comprising a frame, a locating pin mounted for reciprocable movement in said frame between a locating position and a retracted position, a clamp mounted on said frame for movement between a clamping position, an actuator bar movable relative to said frame, pin-actuator means operably connecting said locating pin and said actuator bar for moving said Pin to its locating position upon movement of said actuator bar in one direction and for retracting said pin upon movement of said actuator bar in the other direction, and clamp-actuator means operatively positioned between said clamp and said actuator bar and responsive to forces applied to said actuator bar for moving said clamp to its clamping position after the actuator bar has completed an initial portion of its stroke in said one direction and for releasing said clamp when said bar is moved in the other direction, said actuator bar having two abutment surfaces in spaced relation along its length, and said clamp-actuator means including a slidable wedge block operatively positioned between said abutment surfaces and of a length smaller than the distance between said abutment surfaces for selective engagement thereby, and a clamp-actuator rod supported in said frame for reciprocable movement and seated at one end on the inclined surface of said wedge block, the other end of said clamp-actuator rod operatively engaging said clamp for actuating the same on movement of said clamp-actuator rod.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
238 words
A pallet locating and clamping fixture comprising a frame, a locating pin mounted for reciprocable movement in said frame between a locating position and a retracted position, a clamp mounted on said frame for movement between a clamping position, an actuator bar movable relative to said frame, pin-actuator means operably connecting said locating pin and said actuator bar for moving said Pin to its locating position upon movement of said actuator bar in one direction and for retracting said pin upon movement of said actuator bar in the other direction, and clamp-actuator means operatively positioned between said clamp and said actuator bar and responsive to forces applied to said actuator bar for moving said clamp to its clamping position after the actuator bar has completed an initial portion of its stroke in said one direction and for releasing said clamp when said bar is moved in the other direction, said actuator bar having two abutment surfaces in spaced relation along its length, and said clamp-actuator means including a slidable wedge block operatively positioned between said abutment surfaces and of a length smaller than the distance between said abutment surfaces for selective engagement thereby, and a clamp-actuator rod supported in said frame for reciprocable movement and seated at one end on the inclined surface of said wedge block, the other end of said clamp-actuator rod operatively engaging said clamp for actuating the same on movement of said clamp-actuator rod.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A pallet locating and clamping fixture as defined in claim 8, wherein said clamp-actuator means includes a spring mechanism operatively positioned between said actuator bar and said clamp to impart a resilient clamping force to said clamp when said clamp is moved to its clamping position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A pallet locating and clamping fixture as defined in claim 9, wherein said frame is supported on a base member, and said actuator bar and said wedge block are slidably positioned on said base member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
A pallet locating and clamping fixture as defined in claim 9, wherein a second clamp is mounted on said frame adjacent to the first-named clamp for movement between a clamping position and a release position, and the other end of said clamp-actuator rod also operatively engages the second clamp for actuating the same on movement of said clamp-actuator rod.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2484887A
Cited
US2673386A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-22 | 1974-09-21 | 1975-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-22 | 1978-09-21 | 1979-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-22 | 1982-09-21 | 1983-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |