MOVABLE POLE EXTENSION FOR A MAGNETIC CLAMPING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC CLAMPING APPARATUS HAVING SUCH MOVABLE POLE EXTENSION

• US 20100187735A1
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mag-Autoblok Tecnomagnete SPA (Autoblok SpA)
• Original Assignee: Tecnomagnete S.P.A. (Autoblok SpA)
• Inventors: Faranda, Roberto, Cardone, Michele, Giglio, Antonino, Cosmai, Giovanni
• Granted Patent: US 8,646,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 269/8
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/1543 using electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/1546 using permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/04 by magnetic means

Abstract

The present invention relates to a movable pole extension (4) for a magnetic clamping apparatus (1) for holding a ferromagnetic workpiece (P), comprising a fixed pole member (5) extending in a predetermined longitudinal direction (X-X) and at least two pole members (6, 7) attached to said fixed pole member (5), said at least two pole members (6, 7) being movable relative to said fixed pole member (5). The movable pole extension is characterized in that it has holder means (8) operably coupled to said fixed pole member (5), wherein said holder means (8) are movable in said predetermined longitudinal direction (X-X) between a first operating position (P1) and a second operating position (P2) and operate on said at least two movable pole members (6, 7) to hold them in coupled contact with said fixed pole member (5).

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A movable pole extension for a magnetic clamping apparatus (1) for holding a ferromagnetic workpiece (P), comprising:

a fixed pole member (5) extending in a predetermined longitudinal direction (X-X) and

at least two pole members (6, 7) coupled to said fixed pole member (5), said at least two pole members (6, 7) being movable relative to said fixed pole member (5), characterized in that it comprises holder means (8) operably coupled to said fixed pole member (5), wherein said holder means (8);

are movable in said predetermined longitudinal direction (X-X) between a first operating position (P1) and a second operating position (P2) and

operate on said at least two movable pole members (6, 7) to hold them in mating contact with said fixed pole member (5).

22. A movable pole extension as claimed in claim 21, wherein said at least two movable pole members (6, 7) are each movable in different directions relative to said predetermined longitudinal direction (X-X).

23. A movable pole extension as claimed in claim 21, wherein said holder means (8) include a hollow member (9) in slideable mating relationship with said fixed pole member (5), said hollow member (9) being able to hold at least one portion (5A) of said fixed pole member (5) by a form fit between complementary profiles.

24. A movable pole extension as claimed in claim 23, wherein said hollow member (9) comprises an end wall (9A) with side walls (9B) extending therefrom in said longitudinal direction (X-X) to contain said at least one portion (5A) of said fixed pole member (5).

25. A movable pole extension as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that it has abutment means (10) for urging said holder means (8) to slide in said longitudinal direction (X-X) between said first operating position (P1) and said second operating position (P2), thereby limiting the stroke of said holder means (8) relative to said fixed pole member (5).

26. A movable pole extension as claimed in claim 21, wherein said fixed pole member (5) has a receptacle (11) that defines at least two curved surfaces (12, 13) relative to said predetermined longitudinal direction (X-X) and a bottom (14), said at least two movable pole members (6, 7) being each in slideable mating contact with one respective surface of said at least two surfaces (12, 13).

27. A movable pole extension as claimed in claim 26, wherein said at least two curves surfaces (12, 13) are oriented in opposite directions, converging towards said bottom (14).

28. A movable pole extension as claimed in claim 27, wherein said at least two curves surfaces (12, 13) are second order algebraic surfaces.

29. A movable pole extension as claimed in claim 28, wherein said at least two second order algebraic surfaces (12, 13) are substantially cylindrical.

30. A movable pole extension as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that it comprises elastic means (17) operating on said two movable pole members (6, 7) for holding said at least two movable pole members (6, 7) in contact with said fixed pole member (5).

32. A movable pole extension as claimed in claim 25, wherein said fixed pole member (5) has at least two planar surfaces inclined to said predetermined longitudinal direction (X-X), said at least two movable pole members (6, 7) being each in slideable mating contact with one respective inclined surface of said fixed pole member.

33. A movable pole extension as claimed in claim 32, wherein said at least two surfaces (12A, 12B, 13A, 13B) define respective sliding surfaces (12A, 13A) for said at least two movable pole members (6, 7), said respective surfaces (12, 13A) being oriented in opposite directions.

34. A movable pole extension as claimed in claim 33, wherein each of said respective surfaces (12A, 12B, 13A, 13B) forms an angle of 40°

to 50°

, preferably 45°

, relative to said predetermined longitudinal direction (X-X).

35. A movable pole extension as claimed in claim 32, characterized in that it comprises elastic means (17) operating on two movable pole members (6, 7) for holding said at least two movable pole members (6, 7) in contact with said fixed pole member (5).

36. A movable pole extension as claimed in claim 21, wherein said fixed pole member (5) has fastener means (15) for fixation thereof to said clamping plate (2) of said magnetic clamping apparatus (1).

37. A movable pole extension as claimed in claim 21, wherein said holder means (8) and said fixed pole member (5) have a circular plan shape.

38. A movable pole extension as claimed claim 21, wherein said holder means (8) and said fixed pole member (5) have a polygonal or elliptic plan shape or a polygonal shape with rounded corners.

31. A movable pole extension as claimed in claim 130 wherein said elastic means (17) include at least one spring interposed between said at least two movable pole members (6, 7) and said fixed pole member (5).

39. A magnetic clamping apparatus comprising a frame adapted to contain a plurality of pole pieces, each of said plurality of pole pieces having a ferromagnetic pole member which defines a clamping surface, characterized in that at least one of said plurality of pole pieces is designed to be associated to a movable pole extension (4), said movable pole extension (4) comprising:

a fixed pole member (5) extending in a predetermined longitudinal direction (X-X) and

at least two pole members (6, 7) coupled to said fixed pole member (5), said at least two pole members (6, 7) being movable relative to said fixed pole member (5), wherein said holder means (8) operably coupled to said fixed pole member (5), wherein said holder means (8);

are movable in said predetermined longitudinal direction (X-X) between a first operating position (P1) and a second operating position (P2) and

operate on said at least two movable pole members (6, 7) to hold them in mating contact with said fixed pole member (5).