Clamping locator

• US 20020135116A1
• Filed: 03/14/2002
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comau LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Progressive Tool & Industries, Co. (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Maybee, William J., Zarna, Fred, Dugas, Michael R., Kilabarda, Velibor, Bildson, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 6,698,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 269/49
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/087 actuated by a hydraulic or pneumatic piston
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/16 Details, e.g. jaws, jaw attachments
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/02 Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components

Abstract

A clamping and locating fixture includes a hollow body, a pin mountable to the body, a locking arm positionable within the body locatable between two positions and a drive pin moveable within the body to engage the locking arm. A workpiece can be directed to a clamping position by the guide pin. The pin includes an aperture allowing a locking projection of the locking arm to extend therethrough and over a workpiece to clamp the workpiece for a processing operation. The locking projection can be retracted through the aperture while the workpiece is being located or is being removed. The drive pin can be moved within the body to engage a cam follower of the locking arm. The drive pin can be supported during movement by one or more rollers mounted in the body. The drive pin can include a pin body and a pin member moveably associated with one another to selectively define the position of a cam surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for locating and clamping a workpiece comprising:

means for guiding the workpiece to a clamping position, guiding means having a port; and

a projection extendable through the port when the workpiece is positioned at the clamping position to clamp the workpiece.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein guiding means further comprises:

a pin having a tapered end for piercing an aperture formed in the workpiece when the workpiece is moved to the clamping position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the projection is rotatably moveable relative to said guiding means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a body operably associated with said guiding means for supporting the workpiece.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a locking arm rotatable relative to said guiding means for supporting the projection.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for extending the projection through the port to clamp the workpiece.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

sensing means for sensing a position of the projection relative to the port.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a locking arm rotatable relative to said guiding means for supporting the projection; and

a body operably associated with said guiding means for supporting the workpiece and for supporting the locking arm during rotation.

9. An method for locating and clamping a workpiece comprising the steps of:

guiding the workpiece to a clamping position with guiding means having a port; and

extending a projection through the port when the workpiece is positioned at the clamping position to clamp the workpiece.

10. An apparatus for locating and clamping a workpiece comprising:

means for guiding the workpiece to a clamping position with guiding means having a port;

a projection extendable through the port when the workpiece is positioned at the clamping position to clamp the workpiece;

a locking arm rotatable relative to said guiding means for supporting the projection; and

a body operably associated with said guiding means for supporting the workpiece.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the locking arm is positionable internal with respect to the body.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:

a pin having a cam surface and moveable between first and second end limits of travel to extend the projection through the port, the first end limit of travel corresponding to a retracted position of the projection and the second end limit of travel corresponding to a extended position of the projection.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the pin further comprises:

a pin body; and

a pin member defining the cam surface, the pin member operable to move relative to the pin body to selectively position the cam surface relative to the pin body.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the pin member is threaded and the pin body further comprises:

a first threaded aperture for receiving the pin member.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the pin further comprises:

a drive surface operably engageable with the locking arm to move the locking arm to a first position corresponding to the retracted position of the projection.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

means for supporting the pin during movement between the first and second end limits of travel.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said supporting means further comprises:

at least one roller for engaging a first surface of the pin.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the at least one roller is disposed internal with respect to the body.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the pin further comprises:

a pin body; and

a pin member defining the cam surface, the pin member operable to move relative to the pin body to selectively position the cam surface relative to the pin body.

19. An apparatus for locating and clamping a workpiece comprising:

means for guiding the workpiece to a clamping position with guiding means having a port;

a projection extendable through the port when the workpiece is positioned at the clamping position to clamp the workpiece;

a locking arm rotatable relative to said guiding means for supporting the projection;

a body operably associated with said guiding means for supporting the workpiece;

a pin having a cam surface and moveable between first and second end limits of travel to extend the projection through the port, the first end limit of travel corresponding to a retracted position of the projection and the second end limit of travel corresponding to a extended position of the projection;

at least one roller disposed internal with respect to the body for engaging a first surface of the pin to support the pin during movement between the first and second end limits of travel.