Apparatus and a method of support and retaining a curved sheet in position

• US 4,838,531 A
• Filed: 11/17/1987
• Issued: 06/13/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jobs S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Jobs S.p.A.
• Inventors: Corsi, Armando
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US07/122,047
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 269/21, 269/71, 269/75, 269/76, 279/3, 294/64.1
• US Class Current: 269/21
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/035 with an array of longitudinally movable rods defining a reconfigurable support surface
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/5462 with one supplementary sliding pair
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/76 Steadies; Rests B23B13/126 takes precedence; steadies combined with cutting tool holders B23B29/16
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 11/005 Vacuum work holders

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting and retaining in position a curved sheet (5) which is to be subjected to a machining operation comprising a plurality of support devices (6) spaced apart at regular intervals on a support plate (7), which support devices are positionable at predetermined locations to support and retain the sheet (5), wherein each support device (6) comprises a sliding support member (10) positionable against a contact member, the support member having means (12) capable of adhering to a sheet (5) pivotally mounted thereon, and control means (31) for controlling the pivotal movement of the adhesion means (12) so as to bring the sheet (5) into contact with the positioned support member (6) and to hold the sheet in position to permit machining to take place.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting and retaining a curved sheet in a desired position of the type comprising a plurality of support devices spaced apart at regular intervals on a support plane, which devices are capable of being positioned at predetermined heights to support and retain the sheet, wherein each support device comprises:

an upright member slidably mounted within a support flange and immobilizable in any desired position, a pneumatically actuated double-acting piston slidably displaceable within the upright member, a collar member located within a leaktight chamber extending around the double-acting piston, which collar is displaceable between a substantially horizontal position in which the piston is free to slide and an inclined position in which the collar engages the surface of the piston and immobilizes it, a suction cup mounted on the upper end of the piston through the intermediary of a ball joint so as to permit inclination of the suction cup in any desired direction;

means for injecting and extracting air from the interior of the suction cup to provide detachable adhesion of a sheet resting upon the suction cup to the cup, and a single-acting piston slidably displaceable with the double-acting piston, the single-acting piston being attached to the ball joint, the end of the single-acting piston being connected to a movable portion of the ball joint on which a support of the suction cup is mounted.

2. An apparatus for supporting and retaining in position a curved sheet which is to be subjected to a machining operation comprising:

a support plate;

a plurality of support devices spaced apart at regular intervals on said support plate, said support devices being positionable at predetermined locations to support and retain the sheet, each support device including a slidable support slidably positioned relative to said sheet, a suction cup and a ball joint means, said ball joint means connecting, said suction cup to said support member for permitting said suction cup to be inclined relative to said support member so as to permit movement of said suction cup so that it adopts the curvature of the sheet.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said ball joint is connected to said support member by connection members which are free to slide relative to said support member.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the displacement of the freely slidable members of the ball joint is controlled by a single-acting piston, which piston is slidably displaceable in the hollow interior of the double-acting piston, the single-acting piston being subject to the action of resilient means urging it upwardly and means being provided for the injection of a pressurized fluid into the chamber in the double-acting piston in which the single-acting piston is slidably displaceable, above the piston to control the descent thereof.

5. An apparatus for supporting and retaining in position a curved sheet which is to be subjected to a machining operation comprising:

a support plate;

a plurality of supports spaced apart at regular intervals on said support plate, said support devices being positionable at predetermined locations to support and retain the sheet, each support member including an upright housing member, a double acting piston positioned within said upright housing member, a slidable support member slidable with said piston, means defining an annular chamber surrounding a portion of said slidable support member, and a collar disposed within said annular chamber including a collar edge portion adapted to engage said support member to immobilize said piston, said collar being positioned on one side by a projection formed at the base of said means defining an annular chamber, a spring supported by said means defining an annular chamber engaging a portion of said collar in a region substantially diametrically opposed to said projection to urge the collar into an inclined position, fluid inlet means communicating with said chamber beneath said collar for restoring said collar to a horizontal position to overcome the force of said spring for releasing said support member.