Force-exerting apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for exerting force in lateral directions with respect to a longitudinal axis comprising a fluid power cylinder having a piston rod coaxial with said axis, said piston rod having an outer end and being longitudinally movable between retracted and extended positions, a pair of elongated, transversely spaced, parallel frame members respectively having opposite ends, said frame members having first ends respectively secured to opposite sides of said cylinder and extending longitudinally forwardly therefrom on opposite sides of said piston rod in spaced, parallel relationship therewith, the other ends of said frame members extending longitudinally forwardly from said outer end of said piston rod when the same is in its extended position, a pair of force-exerting elements respectively on opposite sides of said frame members and movable laterally outwardly away from and inwardly toward said frame members, a first pair of links respectively hAving opposite ends, first means for pivotally connecting first ends of said first links to said outer end of said piston rod, the other ends of said first links being respectively pivotally connected to said elements, a second pair of links respectively having opposite ends, a first end of each of said second links being pivotally connected to a respective first link, and second means for pivotally connecting the other ends of said second links to said frame members longitudinally forwardly of said outer end of said piston rod when the same is in its extended position, said first and second pairs of links forming a toggle whereby movement of said piston rod toward said extended position causes said toggle simultaneously to move said elements laterally outwardly in opposite directions away from said frame members and movement of said piston rod toward its retracted position causes said toggle simultaneously to move said elements laterally inwardly toward said frame members.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first ends of said second links are respectively pivotally connected to said first links intermediate said ends thereof.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second links are respectively curved toward said first means.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a restraining member extending transversely between said frame members forwardly of and closely adjacent said other ends of said second links, said other ends of said second links being arcuately curved and bearing against said restraining member, said first means including a pivot member secured to said outer end of said piston rod and having said first ends of said first links pivotally connected thereto, said first and other ends of said first links being arcuately curved and respectively bearing against said pivot member and said elements.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame members respectively have top and bottom edges and oppositely facing outer surfaces, said elements being respectively movable outwardly from and inwardly toward said top and bottom edges, said elements respectively having a transverse width generally equal to the transverse spacing between said outer surfaces of said frame members.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first ends of said first links are pivotally connected to said first means on a first common pivot axis which bisects said longitudinal axis, said other ends of said second links being pivotally connected to said second means on a second common pivot axis in spaced, parallel relationship with said first pivot axis and which bisects said longitudinal axis.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first means comprises a pivot member secured to said outer end of said piston rod between said frame members and a first pivot pin on said first pivot axis for pivotally connecting said first ends of said first links to said pivot member, said second means comprising a second pivot pin on said second pivot axis extending transversely between said frame members and secured thereto, and further comprising a restraining member extending transversely between and secured to said frame members forwardly of said second pivot pin, said other ends of said second links being arcuately curved about said second pivot axis and bearing against a complementary surface of said restraining member, said first ends of said first links being arcuately curved about said first pivot axis and bearing against a complementary surface of said pivot member, said other ends of said first links being arcuately curved about their respective pivotal axes and respectively bearing against complementary surfaces of said elements.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elements respectively have outwardly facing surfaces, and further comprising a pair of shoes having means for respectively removably attaching the same to said surfaces of said elements, said shoes respectively having outer surfaces which are arcuately curved about said horizontal axis and defining a circle wHen said elements are moved outwardly by a predetermined amount.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said elements has forward and rear edges, each of said shoes having forward and rear edges, each of said attaching means comprising an outwardly extending flange on one of said shoe edges and an outwardly extending reentrant flange on the other of said shoe edges which removably receives one of said element edges.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second pair of force-exerting elements respectively on opposite sides of said frame members and spaced longitudinally forwardly from said first-mentioned pair of elements, said second pair of elements being movable laterally outwardly away from and inwardly toward said frame members, a third pair of links respectively having opposite ends, first ends of said third links being disposed forwardly of said second means, third means for pivotally connecting together said first ends of said third links, means for connecting said first means to said third means whereby longitudinal movement of said piston rod simultaneously longitudinally moves said first and third means, the other ends of said third links being respectively pivotally connected to said second pair of elements, a fourth pair of links respectively having opposite ends, a first end of each of said fourth links being pivotally connected to a respective third link, the fourth means for pivotally connecting said other ends of said fourth links to said frame members longitudinally forwardly of said third means, said third and fourth pairs of links forming a second toggle whereby movement of said piston rod toward said extended position causes said toggles simultaneously to move said first and second pairs of elements laterally outwardly in opposite directions away from said frame members and movement of said piston rod toward its retracted position causes said toggles simultaneously to move said first and second pairs of elements laterally inwardly toward said frame members.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first means includes a pivot member secured to said outer end of said piston rod between said frame members and a first pivot pin pivotally connecting said first ends of said first links to said pivot member, said third means including a second pivot pin pivotally connecting said first ends of said third links; said connecting means including a pair of elongated connecting members respectively extending parallel with said frame members adjacent the outer sides thereof and having opposite ends, and means for respectively connecting said opposite ends of said connecting members to said pivot member and said second pivot pin.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said last-mentioned connecting means comprises a first pair of longitudinally elongated, transversely aligned slots respectively formed in said frame members, said first pivot pin having opposite ends respectively extending through said first slots and secured to said connecting members adjacent one end thereof, and a second pair of longitudinally elongated, transversely aligned slots respectively formed in said frame members forwardly of said first pair of slots, said second pivot pin having opposite ends respectively extending through said second slots and secured to said connecting members adjacent the other end thereof, said slots accommodating longitudinal movement of said pivot pins in response to longitudinal movement of said piston rod.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said third means further includes a second pivot member between said frame members and having said second pivot pin connected thereto, said last-mentioned connecting means comprising portions of said connecting members respectively adjacent said opposite ends thereof which extend over the respective frame members and are respectively secured to said first and second pivot members.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame members are transversely spaced apart in a first direction and said eleMents are transversely spaced apart in a second direction normal to said first direction, and further comprising a second pair of elongated, parallel frame members transversely spaced apart in said second direction and having opposite ends, means for securing first ends of said second frame members to said other ends of said first-mentioned frame members with said second frame members extending longitudinally forwardly therefrom, a second pair of force-exerting elements respectively on opposite sides of said second frame members transversely spaced apart in said first direction and spaced longitudinally forwardly from said first-mentioned pair of elements, said second pair of elements being movable laterally outwardly away from and inwardly toward said second frame members, a third pair of links respectively having opposite ends, first ends of said third links being disposed between said second frame members, third means for pivotally connecting together said first ends of said third links, means for connecting said first means to said third means whereby longitudinal movement of said piston rod simultaneously longitudinally moves said first and third means, the other ends of said third links being respectively pivotally connected to said second pair of elements, a fourth pair of links respectively having opposite ends, a first end of each of said fourth links being pivotally connected to a respective third link, and fourth means for pivotally connecting said other ends of said fourth links to said second frame members longitudinally forwardly of said third means, said third and fourth pairs of links forming a second toggle whereby movement of said piston rod toward said extended position causes said toggles simultaneously to move said first and second pairs of elements laterally outwardly in opposite directions away from said first and second frame members, respectively, and movement of said piston rod toward its retracted position causes said toggles simultaneously to move said first and second pairs of elements laterally inwardly toward said first and second frame members, respectively.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said first means includes a pivot member secured to said outer end of said piston rod between said first frame members and a first pivot pin pivotally connecting said first ends of said first links to said first pivot member, said third means including a second pivot member between said second frame members and a second pivot pin pivotally connecting said first ends of said third links to said second pivot member, said connecting means comprising a pair of elongated connecting members respectively extending parallel with said first frame members adjacent the outer sides thereof and having opposite ends, portions of said connecting members adjacent first ends thereof extending over the respective first frame members and being respectively secured to said first pivot members, the other ends of said connecting members being secured to said second pivot member.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pair of elongated arms respectively having opposite ends, said arms respectively having first ends and intermediate portions transversely spaced apart on opposite sides of said frame members, means for respectively pivotally connecting said first ends of said arms to said frame members adjacent said first ends thereof, said elements respectively engaging said intermediate portions of said arms, said arms respectively having outer force-exerting ends extending forwardly of said other ends of said frame members, said outer ends of said arms engaging when said piston rod is in its retracted position and said elements are in their innermost positions, said outward movement of said elements in response to extension of said piston rod causing said arms to pivot outwardly thereby separating said outer ends of said arms.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said outer ends of said arms are tapered forwardly toward a point whereby said outer ends when so eNgaged may be inserted in the end of a collapsed roll of sheet material thereby to spread the same upon said separation of said outer ends.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elements respectively comprise longitudinally elongated shoe members having opposite ends, said shoe members respectively having outer ends longitudinally spaced forwardly from said other ends of said frame members, said pivotal connections of said shoe members to said first links permitting said shoe members to pivot so that said outer ends are in engagement when said piston rod is in its retracted position.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said outer ends of said shoe members when so engaged define a point adapted for insertion in the end of a deformed roll of sheet material thereby to spread the same upon extension of said piston rod, and further comprising means attached to said cylinder adapted to be impacted thereby to drive said point into said roll end.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pair of foot members respectively attached to said other ends of said frame members, said foot members respectively having flat portions projecting longitudinally forwardly from said other ends, said foot portions being transversely spaced apart and lying in a common plane spaced laterally outwardly in one direction from said frame members, the respective one of said elements having a flat toe portion projecting longitudinally forwardly therefrom, said toe portion being disposed between said foot portions and lying in said plane when said piston rod is in said retracted position whereby extension of said piston rod causes said toe portion to move laterally outwardly in said one direction away from said plane and foot portions.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said elements comprises a longitudinally elongated arm having opposite ends, a first end of each of said arms being inwardly curved and engaging said frame members, the other end of each of said arms projecting forwardly of said other ends of said frame members, and further comprising spring means for biasing said first ends of said arms into engagement with said frame members, and a pair of clamping elements respectively pivotally connected to said other ends of said arms whereby extension of said piston rod causes lateral separation of said clamping elements and retraction of said piston rod causes lateral movement of said clamping elements toward each other thereby to clamp an article therebetween.

Claim 23

Apparatus for exerting force in lateral directions with respect to a longitudinal axis comprising a pair of force-exerting elements respectively on opposite sides of said axis and movable laterally outwardly away from and inwardly toward said axis, a toggle having first and second pairs of links, first means for pivotally connecting each pair of links to a respective element, a linear power actuator having a fixed member carrying a reciprocable rod member coaxial with said axis and longitudinally movable between retracted and extended positions, second means for pivotally connecting one link of each pair to said rod member, third means for pivotally interconnecting the other links of each pair at a point on said axis spaced forwardly of said rod member when the same is in its extended position, and fourth means rigidly connecting said third means to said fixed member whereby movement of said rod member toward said extended position thereof causes said toggle simultaneously to move said elements laterally outwardly in opposite directions away from said axis and movement of said rod member toward its retracted position causes said toggle simultaneously to move said elements laterally inwardly toward said axis.

Claim 24

Apparatus for exerting force in lateral directions with respect to a longitudinal axis comprising a pair of force-exerting elements respectively on opposite sides of said axis and movable laterally outwardly away from and inwardly toward said axis, a toggle having first and second pairs of links, first means for pivotally connecting each pair of links to a respective element, a linear power actuator having a fixed member carrying a reciprocable rod member coaxial with said axis and longitudinally movable between retracted and extended positions, second means for pivotally connecting one link of each pair to said rod member, third means for pivotally interconnecting the other links of each pair at a point on said axis spaced forwardly of said rod member when the same is in its extended position, and fourth means rigidly connecting said third means to said fixed member whereby movement of said rod member toward said extended position thereof causes said toggle simultaneously to move said elements laterally outwardly in opposite directions away from said axis and movement of said rod member toward its retracted position causes said toggle simultaneously to move said elements laterally inwardly toward said axis.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said fourth means comprises a frame secured to said fixed member and extending longitudinally forwardly therefrom, said third means pivotally connecting said other links to said frame.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said frame includes a pair of elongated, transversely spaced portion extending longitudinally forwardly from said fixed member on opposite sides of said rod member in spaced, parallel relationship therewith.