Work holders – With fluid means – Vacuum-type holding means
Patent
1993-08-26
1996-04-02
Watson, Robert C.
Work holders
With fluid means
Vacuum-type holding means
269 41, B25B 300
Patent
active
055033776
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a device for mounting elements in sheet form, such as glass sheets, a plurality of which form an object, for example a shelf unit, and which are first temporarily held by the mounting device and then permanently joined together, for example by adhesive bonding, said device consisting of suction feet which are detachably fastenable to the elements by the creation of a vacuum, and of components, for example bars, which can be detachably joined together and to which the suction feet can be detachably fastened.
In a known device of this kind (DBGM 77 23 048) at each suction foot there is provided a tightening lever which can be turned over by hand and thus produces a vacuum under the suction foot. The distance between a surface of the element and the facing surface of the suction foot is variable and amounts to a few millimeters when the suction foot is in the holding position. The temporary mounting of an object by means of this device entails problems. Turning the tightening lever demands the application of a not inconsiderable force. This has a particularly detrimental effect in the case of objects, for example of glass, the mounting of which requires sensitive handling.
The problem underlying the invention is that of so constructing the device mentioned in the preamble that the temporary mounting is simpler and easier, that is particularly it is possible with less exertion of force.
According to the invention this problem is solved in that the suction feet can be connected by hoses to a vacuum tank connected to a vacuum pump, in that in each of the lines between the suction regions of the suction feet and the vacuum tank a shutoff valve which can be operated by hand and has an easy action is located, in that the suction regions of the suction feet are arranged with a very short fixed distance, particularly of about 0.3 mm, between the surface of the element and the facing surface of the suction foot, in such a manner that after the shutoff valve has been opened the holding force of the vacuum can act very quickly, and in that the suction regions of the suction feet are each connected via a very small bore, particularly one having a diameter of about 1 mm, to a hose in such a manner that any pressure increase in a suction region of a suction foot can affect the remainder of the vacuum system only very slowly or practically not at all.
With a device of this kind an object can be temporarily assembled simply and easily. This is primarily due to the fact that the turning of the tightening lever, which requires force in the known device, is eliminated.
The very short distance between the .elements and the facing surfaces of the suction foot, resulting in very rapid action of the vacuum after the shutoff valve has been opened, provides the advantage that the temporarily assembled object has great rigidity. The very small bore has the consequence that any leakage in a suction region of a suction foot will not give rise to the disconnection of the elements already assembled.
A further development of the invention consists in that the wall region of a suction foot facing the element is inelastic and that a sealing strip lying against the element is situated in the edge of the suction foot. The elements are thus seated substantially immovably on the suction feet, thus further increasing the rigidity of the temporarily assembled object.
In addition, it is proposed that the shutoff valve should be disposed on the suction foot. Handling is particularly simple as a result.
It is then proposed that the shutoff valve should have a reciprocatingly slidable sleeve which surrounds the line and by which the passage of air is blocked in one position and freed in the other position. This configuration of the shutoff valve results in a further simplification in respect of handling.
A further development of the invention then consists in that on its side remote from the suction region the suction foot has a pin which preferably projects at right angles and by means of which the suction foot can be connect
REFERENCES:
patent: 799922 (1905-09-01), Moxham
patent: 3174188 (1965-03-01), Wood
patent: 4561642 (1985-12-01), Parque
patent: 5135206 (1992-08-01), Martinez
patent: 5245736 (1993-09-01), Schertler
Parlevliet Theodor
Plickert Bernd
Stone Mark P.
Watson Robert C.
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