Clamp for holding sheet-like objects

Details Clamp for holding sheet-like objects Clamp for holding sheet-like objects

2000-01-27

2001-09-11

Valenza, Joseph E. (Department: 3651)

Conveyors: power-driven

Conveyor section

Unit load conveying surface means moved about an endless or...

C271S204000, C294S099100, C294S103100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06286662

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a clamp for holding flat objects as they move along a path travel.
A clamp of the generic type, designed in the manner of a pair of tongs, is disclosed in Swiss Patent No. 569 197 and in the corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,551. It has a clamping tongue which is permanently arranged on a holding part. A clamping jaw can be pivoted about an axis extending at right angles to the clamping tongue, from an open position into a clamping position, in which it forms a clamping gap with the clamping tongue. The clamping tongue and the clamping jaw can be moved relative to each other in the extent of the clamping gap, away from each other in the open position and toward each other into their clamping position. This makes it necessary for the clamp to be rotated through 90° out of and into the area defined by the object during the opening and closing operations. Simultaneous rotation of the entire clamp and the movement of the clamping jaw relative to the clamping tongue are therefore necessary which, in addition to the space requirement during gripping and releasing an object, requires complicated control. On the other hand, this known clamp has particular advantages. It is self-locking and self-retaining, it adds virtually nothing to the thickness of the flat objects and there is consequently space for it both in an interleaved formation of the objects and in the case of buffering or stacking of the objects—with a virtually constant space requirement. Furthermore, it has such a low weight that, when necessary, it can be carried and held by the object itself.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a clamp of the generic type which, while maintaining the advantages of the known clamp, is simpler to handle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the provision of a clamp which comprises a supporting part, a clamping tongue fixed to the supporting part, a clamping jaw moveably mounted on the supporting part for movement between an open position separated from the clamping tongue and a clamping position in which a free end of the clamping jaw forms with the clamping tongue a clamping gap adapted to engage and hold a flat article therebetween, and wherein during movement from the open position toward the clamping position, the free end of the clamping jaw moves along a movement path which forms an acute angle with the clamping tongue and during continued movement after encountering an article resting on the clamping tongue the clamping jaw is resiliently deflected out of the path of movement in a direction transverse to the clamping tongue so as to produce a clamping force on the article.
Rotating the clamp according to the invention during opening and closing is no longer necessary. It is simple in construction, inexpensive to produce and extremely simple to handle. Furthermore, the clamping jaw is held in the clamping position by self-locking; locking elements are not needed. The slim construction of the clamp enables the buffering of the objects held by the clamp in the smallest possible space, while maintaining the separation of the objects; that is to say each object is gripped individually and can thus be handled individually. Furthermore, the clamp can be opened when adjacent clamps are resting on one another in a buffer.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2716910 (1955-09-01), Guerinet
patent: 3662875 (1972-05-01), Salomon
patent: 3948551 (1976-04-01), Reist
patent: 3986745 (1976-10-01), Langguth
patent: 4007824 (1977-02-01), Reist
patent: 4036356 (1977-07-01), Reist
patent: 5489093 (1996-02-01), Morehead, III
patent: 569 197 (1975-11-01), None
patent: 552 330 (1932-06-01), None
patent: 23 03 424 (1974-08-01), None
patent: 0 643 001 (1995-03-01), None
patent: 1 123 381 (1968-08-01), None
patent: WO 98/03420 (1998-01-01), None
patent: WO 98/03421 (1998-01-01), None

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