Clamp for presses

Claim 2

A clamping device for use on presses comprising, a housing having a bore therethrough, an elongate clamping rod in said bore, said rod being rotatable in opposite directions relative to said bore and axially reciprocable relative thereto, said rod having opposite ends and clamping means on one of said ends, guide means between said housing and rod guiding reciprocation of said rod relative to said bore along a generally linear path between extended and retracted positions relative to said bore and guiding rotation of said rod relative to said bore along a circumferential path at said extended position and between a first circumferential rod position circumferentially coinciding with said linear path and a second circumferential rod position circumferentially spaced from said linear path less than 360°, drive means on the other of said opposite ends of said rod, said drive means including external thread means on said rod and internally threaded sleeve means threadedly engaged with said external thread means, means supporting said sleeve means for rotation relative to said housing and against axial displacement relative to said bore, means for rotating said sleeve means in opposite directions, and means for controlling said means for rotating said sleeve means to achieve, in sequence, linear movement of said clamping rod from said retracted to said extended position of said rod, rotation of said rod in said extended position and in one circumferential direction from said first to said second circumferential rod position, rotation of said rod in said extended position and in the opposite circumferential direction from said second to said first circumferential rod position, said linear movement of said rod from said extended to said retracted position of said rod.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1, wherein said guide means includes a first slot in and extending longitudinally of said rod along said linear path and having opposite ends corresponding to said extended and retracted positions, a second slot in said rod and extending circumferentially from said first slot at the end thereof corresponding to said extended position, said second slot having an end circumferentially spaced from said first slot and corresponding to said second circumferential position of said rod, and guide pin means mounted on said housing and extending into said bore, said pin means having an end portion received in said first slot and cooperable therewith to hold said rod against rotation during movement of said rod between said extended and retracted positions, and said end portion of said pin means being axially aligned with said second slot when said rod is in said extended position so that said rod may rotate relative to said pin means to said second circumferential position.

Claim 4

A clamping device for use on presses comprising, a housing having a bore therethrough, an elongate clamping rod in said bore and rotatable and axially reciprocable relative thereto, said rod having opposite ends and clamping means on one of said ends, guide means between said housing and rod guiding reciprocation of said rod relative to said bore along a generally linear path between extended and retracted positions relative to said bore and guiding rotation of said rod relative to said bore along a circumferential path at said extended position and between a first circumferential position at said linear path and a second circumferential position circumferentially spaced from said linear path less than 360°, drive means on the other of said opposite ends of said rod, said drive means including external thread means on said rod and internally threaded sleeve means threadedly engaged with said external thread means, means supporting said sleeve means for rotation relative to said housing and against axial displacement relative to said bore, means for rotating said sleeve means in opposite directions, means for controlling said means for rotating said sleeve means to achieve sequential movement of said clamping rod between said retracted, extended and second circumferential positions and between said second circumferential, extended and retracted positions, said guide means including a first slot in and extending longitudinally of said rod along said linear path and having opposite ends corresponding to said extended and retracted positions, a second slot in said rod and extending circumferentially from said first slot at the end thereof corresponding to said extended position, said second slot having an end circumferentially spaced from said first slot and corresponding to said second circumferential position of said rod, and guide pin means mounted on said housing and extending into said bore, said pin means having an end portion received in said first slot and cooperable therewith to hold said rod against rotation during movement of said rod between said extended and retracted positions, and said end portion of said pin means being axially aligned with said second slot when said rod is in said extended position so that said rod may rotate relative to said pin means to said second circumferential position, and locking pin means mounted on said housing, said locking pin means being extendable and retractable relative to said first slot, said locking pin means being cooperable with said first slot in the extended position of said locking pin means to hold said rod against rotation during movement of said rod from the extended toward the retracted position thereof.

Claim 5

A clamping device for use on presses comprising, a housing having a bore therethrough, an elongate clamping rod in said bore and rotatable and axially reciprocable relative thereto, said rod having opposite ends and clamping means on one of said ends, guide means between said housing and rod guiding reciprocation of said rod relative to said bore along a generally linear path between extended and retracted positions relative to said bore and guiding rotation of said rod relative to said bore along a circumferential path at said extended position and between a first circumferential position at said linear path and a second circumferential position circumferentially spaced from said linear path less than 360°, drive means on the other of said opposite ends of said rod, said drive means including external thread means on said rod and internally threaded sleeve means threadedly engaged with said external thread means, means supporting said sleeve means for rotation relative to said housing and against axial displacement relative to said bore, means for rotating said sleeve means in opposite directions, means for controlling said means for rotating said sleeve means to achieve sequential movement of said clamping rod between said retracted, extended and second circumferential positions and between said second circumferential, extended and retracted positions, said guide means including a first slot in and extending longitudinally of said rod along said linear path and having opposite ends corresponding to said extended and retracted positions, a second slot in said rod and extending circumferentially from said first slot at the end thereof corresponding to said extended position, said second slot having an end circumferentially spaced from said first slot and corresponding to said second circumferential position of said rod, and guide pin means mounted on said housing and extending into said bore, said pin means having an end portion received in said first slot and cooperable therewith to hold said rod against rotation during movement of said rod between said extended and retracted positions, and said end portion of said pin means being axially aligned with said second slot when said rod is in said extended position so that said rod may rotate relative to said pin means to said second circumferential position, and locking pin means mounted on said housing, said locking pin means being extendable and retractable relative to said first slot, said locking pin means being cooperable with said first slot in the extended position of said locking pin means to hold said rod against rotation during movement of said rod from the extended toward the retracted position thereof.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1, wherein said means for rotating said sleeve means includes a reversible drive motor, said means for controlling said means for rotating said sleeve means including means for sensing axial and circumferential positions of said clamping rod relative to said bore, and means responsive to said sensing means to control directional operation of said drive motor.

Claim 7

A clamping device for use on presses comprising, a housing having a bore therethrough, an elongate clamping rod in said bore and rotatable and axially reciprocable relative thereto, said rod having opposite ends and clamping means on one of said ends, guide means between said housing and rod guiding reciprocation of said rod relative to said bore along a generally linear path between extended and retracted positions relative to said bore and guiding rotation of said relative to said bore along a circumferential path at said extended position and between a first circumferential position at said linear path and a second circumferential position circumferentially spaced from said linear path less than 360°, drive means on the other of said opposite ends of said rod, said drive means including external thread means on said rod and internally threaded sleeve means threadedly engaged with said external thread means, means supporting said sleeve means for rotation relative to said housing and against axial displacement relative to said bore, means for rotating said sleeve means in opposite directions, means for controlling said means for rotating said sleeve means to achieve sequential movement of said clamping rod between said retracted, extended and second circumferential positions and between said second circumferential, extended and retracted positions, said means for rotating said sleeve means including a reversible drive motor, said means for controlling said means for rotating said sleeve means including means for sensing axial and circumferential positions of said clamping rod relative to said bore, and means responsive to said sensing means to control directional operation of said drive motor, said sensing means including recesses in said rod at locations corresponding to said extended and retracted positions of said rod and operator means positioned in said bore to enter the corresponding recess when said rod is in each of said positions, and said means responsive to said sensing means including motor control switch means for each operator means.

Claim 8

A clamping device for use on presses comprising, a housing having a bore therethrough, an elongate clamping rod in said bore and rotatable and axially reciprocable relative thereto, said rod having opposite ends and clamping means on one of said ends, guide means between said housing and rod guiding reciprocation of said rod relative to said bore along a generally linear path between extended and retracted positions relative to said bore and guiding rotation of said relative to said bore along a circumferential path at said extended position and between a first circumferential position at said linear path and a second circumferential position circumferentially spaced from said linear path less than 360°, drive means on the other of said opposite ends of said rod, said drive means including external thread means on said rod and internally threaded sleeve means threadedly engaged with said external thread means, means supporting said sleeve means for rotation relative to said housing and against axial displacement relative to said bore, means for rotating said sleeve means in opposite directions, means for controlling said means for rotating said sleeve means to achieve sequential movement of said clamping rod between said retracted, extended and second circumferential positions and between said second circumferential, extended and retracted positions, said means for rotating said sleeve means including a reversible drive motor, said means for controlling said means for rotating said sleeve means including means for sensing axial and circumferential positions of said clamping rod relative to said bore, and means responsive to said sensing means to control directional operation of said drive motor, said sensing means including recesses in said rod at locations corresponding to said extended and retracted positions of said rod and operator means positioned in said bore to enter the corresponding recess when said rod is in each of said positions, and said means responsive to said sensing means including motor control switch means for each operator means.

Claim 9

A clamping device for use on presses comprising, a housing having a bore therethrough, an elongate clamping rod in said bore and rotatable and axially reciprocable relative thereto, said rod having opposite ends and clamping means on one of said ends, guide means between said housing and rod guiding reciprocation of said rod relative to said bore along a generally linear path between extended and retracted positions relative to said bore and guiding rotation of said rod relative to said bore along a circumferential path at said extended position and between a first circumferential position at said linear path and a second circumferential position circumferentially spaced from said linear path less than 360°, drive means on the other of said opposite ends of said rod, said drive means including external thread means on said rod and internally threaded sleeve means threadedly engaged with said external thread means, means supporting said sleeve means for rotation relative to said housing and against axial displacement relative to said bore, means for rotating said sleeve means in opposite directions, means for controlling said means for rotating said sleeve means to achieve sequential movement of said clamping rod between said retracted, extended and second circumferential positions and between said said second circumferential, extended and retracted positions, said means for rotating said sleeve means including a reversible drive motor, said means for controlling said means for rotating said sleeve means including means for sensing axial and circumferential positions of said clamping rod relative to said bore, and means responsive to said sensing means to control directional operation of said drive motor, said guide means including a first slot in and extending longitudinally of said rod along said linear path and having opposite ends corresponding to said extended and retracted positions, a second slot in said rod and extending circumferentially from said first slot at the end thereof corresponding to said extended position, said second slot having an end circumferentially spaced from said first slot and corresponding to said second circumferential position of said rod, and guide pin means mounted on said housing and extending into said bore, said pin means having an end portion received in said first slot and cooperable therewith to hold said rod against rotation during movement of said rod between said extended and retracted positions, and said end portion of said pin means being axially aligned with said second slot when said rod is in said extended position so that said rod may rotate relative to said pin means to said second circumferential position.

Claim 10

A clamping device for use on presses comprising, a housing having a bore therethrough, an elongate clamping rod in said bore and rotatable and axially reciprocable relative thereto, said rod having opposite ends and clamping means on one of said ends, guide means between said housing and rod guiding reciprocation of said rod relative to said bore along a generally linear path between extended and retracted positions relative to said bore and guiding rotation of said rod relative to said bore along a circumferential path at said extended position and between a first circumferential position at said linear path and a second circumferential position circumferentially spaced from said linear path less than 360°, drive means on the other of said opposite ends of said rod, said drive means including external thread means on said rod and internally threaded sleeve means threadedly engaged with said external thread means, means supporting said sleeve means for rotation relative to said housing and against axial displacement relative to said bore, means for rotating said sleeve means in opposite directions, means for controlling said means for rotating said sleeve means to achieve sequential movement of said clamping rod between said retracted, extended and second circumferential positions and between said said second circumferential, extended and retracted positions, said means for rotating said sleeve means including a reversible drive motor, said means for controlling said means for rotating said sleeve means including means for sensing axial and circumferential positions of said clamping rod relative to said bore, and means responsive to said sensing means to control directional operation of said drive motor, said guide means including a first slot in and extending longitudinally of said rod along said linear path and having opposite ends corresponding to said extended and retracted positions, a second slot in said rod and extending circumferentially from said first slot at the end thereof corresponding to said extended position, said second slot having an end circumferentially spaced from said first slot and corresponding to said second circumferential position of said rod, and guide pin means mounted on said housing and extending into said bore, said pin means having an end portion received in said first slot and cooperable therewith to hold said rod against rotation during movement of said rod between said extended and retracted positions, and said end portion of said pin means being axially aligned with said second slot when said rod is in said extended position so that said rod may rotate relative to said pin means to said second circumferential position.

Claim 11

The device of claim 6, and further including locking pin means mounted on said housing, said locking pin means being extendable and retractable relative to said first slot, said locking pin means being cooperable with said first slot in the extended position of said locking pin means to hold said rod against rotation during movement of said rod from the extended toward the retracted positions thereof.

Claim 12

The device of claim 7, and further including solenoid motor means operable when energized to move said locking pin means from the extended to the retracted position thereof, spring means biasing said locking pin means toward the extended position thereof, said means for sensing axial positions of said rod including means sensing movement of said rod into said extended position thereof from said retracted position thereof, said means responsive to said sensing means including means energizing said solenoid motor means and retracting said locking pin means from said first slot to permit rotation of said rod from said extended position thereof to said second circumferential position, and said spring means displacing said locking pin means into said first slot upon rotation of said rod from said second circumferential position to said extended position of said rod.

Claim 13

The device of claim 8, wherein said sleeve means includes means defining an end wall spaced from said other end of said rod, said end wall having a non-circular drive socket centrally located therein, said means for rotating said sleeve means including a motor having a non-circular drive shaft received in said socket.