Work-clamp pallet for machine tool

Claim 1

A pallet for clamping a plurality of workpieces on a vertical machine tool comprising: (a) a base block of generally rectangular shape and having X and Y axes and an upper workpiece mounting surface; (b) means to attach the base block to the bed of the machine tool in a fixed, pre-determined position; (c) a standard frame attached to an upper surface of the base block and extending generally parallel to the X axis, the standard frame having a pair of oppositely facing work positioning faces; (d) a plurality of positioning stoppers removably attached to the standard frame so as to define a plurality of work clamping stations along the length of the standard frame; and, (e) clamping means disposed on both sides of the standard frame, each clamping means comprising: (i) a clamp frame attached to the upper surface of the base block so as to extend generally parallel to the standard frame, the clamp frame defining a plurality of hydraulic cylinder chamber, each hydraulic cylinder chamber extending generally parallel to the Y-axis, and further defining a hydraulic oil path connecting to each hydraulic cylinder chamber; (ii) adjustable attaching means to attach the clamp frame to the base block such that the position of the clamp frame is adjustable in a direction generally parallel to the Y-axis; and, (iii) a plurality of hydraulic cylinder clamping devices, each device slidably mounted in a hydraulic cylinder chamber of the clamp frame so as to be aligned with each work clamping station, the clamping devices each exerting a clamping force generally parallel to the Y axis so as to clamp a workpiece between the clamping device and a work positioning face of the standard frame.