Self-centering steady with retractable gripping arms
First Claim
1. A self-centering steady comprising:
- a housing including a slide guide;
a pair of rotating elements provided in said housing adjacent a first end thereof;
a center gripping arm slidably received in said slide guide so as to be movable in and out of said first end of said housing between a retracted position and an extended position;
a pair of side gripping arms for gripping a workpiece, said side gripping arms being slidably received in said rotating elements, respectively;
an actuator indirectly connected to said side gripping arms and having first and second cam surfaces for imparting a workpiece engagement movement and a workpiece disengagement movement to said side gripping arms,said actuator being disposed so as to be directly engageable with said center arm, wherein;
said side gripping arms are rectilinearly movable in and out of said housing;
said side gripping arms are rotatable during the workpiece engagement and disengagement movements; and
said rotating elements, said side gripping arms, said center gripping arm, and said housing form a closed structure which is capable of preventing dust and scraps from entering said housing when said gripping arms are in an extended position or in a retracted position relative to said housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-centering steady of the closed type includes a housing (H), an actuator (14), a center gripping arm (11) and a pair of side gripping arms (12, 13) intended to grip a workpiece (P) under the action of the actuator (14). The actuator is provided with cam surfaces (31, 32) for engaging the side gripping arms (12, 13) in order to cause the workpiece engagement and/or disengagement movements. Each side gripping arm (12, 13) is connected to the actuator (14) and is slidably received in a rotating element (26) provided in the steady housing (H). The center gripping arm (11) is slidably received in a slide guide (G) provided in the steady housing (H). The rotating elements (26) together with the side gripping arms (12, 13) and with the center gripping arm (11) form a closed structure which prevents dust and scraps from entering the steady housing (H), both with the gripping arms (11, 12, 13) in the retracted and in the extended positions.
11 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A self-centering steady comprising:
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a housing including a slide guide; a pair of rotating elements provided in said housing adjacent a first end thereof; a center gripping arm slidably received in said slide guide so as to be movable in and out of said first end of said housing between a retracted position and an extended position; a pair of side gripping arms for gripping a workpiece, said side gripping arms being slidably received in said rotating elements, respectively; an actuator indirectly connected to said side gripping arms and having first and second cam surfaces for imparting a workpiece engagement movement and a workpiece disengagement movement to said side gripping arms, said actuator being disposed so as to be directly engageable with said center arm, wherein; said side gripping arms are rectilinearly movable in and out of said housing; said side gripping arms are rotatable during the workpiece engagement and disengagement movements; and said rotating elements, said side gripping arms, said center gripping arm, and said housing form a closed structure which is capable of preventing dust and scraps from entering said housing when said gripping arms are in an extended position or in a retracted position relative to said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification