Work piece holding arrangement
First Claim
1. A work piece holding arrangement comprising an array of movable engagement members for engaging a work piece, an actuator for moving a plurality of the engagement elements into engagement with the work piece, and a deformable clamping member to clamp the engagement elements, wherein the clamping member is deformable between a clamping condition in which at least some of the engagement elements are engaged by the clamping member and clamped in respective positions, and a non-clamping condition in which the engagement elements can move, each engagement element comprises an inner part and an outer part, the outer part being telescopically movable over the inner part, the inner and outer parts define a fluid path and each engagement element is movable by the flow of a fluid through the fluid path, and the actuator comprises a fluid supply assembly for supplying said fluid to each engagement element.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A work piece holding arrangement (10) includes an array of engagement elements (12) for engaging a work piece. The arrangement (10) also includes an actuator (34) for moving a plurality of the engagement elements (12) into engagement with the work piece, and a deformable clamping member (26) to clamp the engagement elements (12). The clamping member (26) is deformable between a clamping condition in which at least some of the engagement elements (12) are engaged by the clamping member (26) and clamped in respective positions, and a non-clamping condition in which the engagement elements (12) can move.
-
Citations
27 Claims
- 1. A work piece holding arrangement comprising an array of movable engagement members for engaging a work piece, an actuator for moving a plurality of the engagement elements into engagement with the work piece, and a deformable clamping member to clamp the engagement elements, wherein the clamping member is deformable between a clamping condition in which at least some of the engagement elements are engaged by the clamping member and clamped in respective positions, and a non-clamping condition in which the engagement elements can move, each engagement element comprises an inner part and an outer part, the outer part being telescopically movable over the inner part, the inner and outer parts define a fluid path and each engagement element is movable by the flow of a fluid through the fluid path, and the actuator comprises a fluid supply assembly for supplying said fluid to each engagement element.
- 20. An engagement element for use in a work piece holding arrangement comprising an inner part and an outer part, the inner and outer parts being telescopically movable relative to each other, wherein the inner and outer parts define a fluid path and the relative telescopic movement of the inner and outer parts is effected by a flow of a fluid through the fluid path.
Specification