Clamp for holding flat objects

Details Clamp for holding flat objects Clamp for holding flat objects

2000-05-22

2001-09-18

Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)

Sheet feeding or delivering

Feeding

By means to convey sheet

C271S003240, C271S204000, C198S803800, C414S753100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06290227

ABSTRACT:

The present invention relates to a clamp for retaining sheet-like articles, in particular flexible articles such as printed products containing one or more sheets, according to the preamble of claim
1
and to a conveying apparatus having a number of such clamps for conveying a product formation.
A known clamp of this type, as is disclosed in EP-A-0 767 125, has two clamp legs which are mounted rotatably on a bearing spindle. These clamp legs are retained in a closed position by a closing device which receives the clamp legs between it. Upon pivoting or a translatory movement of the closing device, the clamp legs can be pivoted away from one another into their open or release position. In order to influence the movement of the clamp legs into the open or release position, there is provided a compression spring which is arranged between the clamp legs and subjects the clamp legs to a spreading force and thus retains the clamp legs in a given open position. However, the design of these previously known clamps means that the clamp legs can only open through a comparatively small angle.
The object of the present invention, then, is to provide a clamp of the type mentioned in the introduction in which, along with a straightforward mechanical construction, the clamp legs can be moved back and forth reliably and precisely between the closed position and the open position and, in the process, can be pivoted about a considerably larger angle than a clamp according to the prior art.
This object is achieved by a clamp according to claim
1
.
The actuating device which, in one end position, presses the clamp legs against one another in their closed position causes, upon movement into its other end position by means of the spreading element, the clamp leg or legs to be pivoted in a controlled manner into the open position. The movement of the clamp legs from the closed position into the open position and also vice versa is thus actively controlled by the actuating device alone, without additional elements being necessary for this purpose. The possibility of actively moving the clamp legs in two opposite directions allows the two clamp legs to be caused to execute a controlled, precise closing or opening movement at a certain point in time, in particular in order to release an article at a precise location with simultaneous movement of the clamps. Since, in the closed position, the clamp legs cross one another adjacent to the bearing spindle, the clamp legs can be pivoted about a very large angle during opening.
Since, in the case of the clamp according to the invention, an opening and closing movement can be produced by a single actuating device which is moved in a translatory manner and of which the structural configuration is not subject to any stringent requirements, it is possible for the clamps to be designed easily and cost-effectively in a manner which particularly reduces weight, the materials used and the amount of space required.
Preferred developments of the clamps according to the invention are described in dependent claims
2
-
6
.
A conveying apparatus equipped with clamps according to the invention forms the subject matter of claim
7
. Specific developments of this conveying apparatus are defined in dependent claims
8
-
13
.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4526363 (1985-07-01), Fort
patent: 4534843 (1985-08-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 4583727 (1986-04-01), Fort
patent: 4721296 (1988-01-01), Mowry
patent: 4779717 (1988-10-01), Eberle
patent: 5222727 (1993-06-01), Jaclbsen
patent: 5755436 (1998-05-01), Reist
International Search Report for PCT/CH98/00406, Dec. 23, 1998.

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