Tools – Hand held holder or having clamp
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-18
2001-01-16
Smith, James G. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Hand held holder or having clamp
C269S096000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173629
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is broadly concerned with power operated holder and actuator units for supporting and actuating of variety of conventional manually operable pivoted dual-leg tools such as pliers, crimpers, bolt cutters or nippers. More particularly, the invention pertains to such a holder and actuator unit which preferably includes a pneumatically operated piston and cylinder actuator together with a tool holder releasably attached to the actuator and which can be readily modified to accommodate a variety of crossed-leg tools, as well as dual-leg tools of the toggle joint or pivoted compound joint type
2. Description of the Prior Art
In many light manufacturing operations, workers are required to perform repetitive tasks using tools of various types. To give but one example, in jewelry manufacture, it is often necessary to remove waste sprues as a part of the manufacturing process. While each individual task of this type is generally not in itself difficult, experience has proved that over time workers may be injured by many repetitions of the task. Such repetitive motion injuries can include carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful condition which may require surgery to correct.
It has been suggested in the past to provide specialized production units as a replacement for hand cutters, pliers or other conventional manual tools. Generally speaking these prior production units are of highly specialized design and are expensive. Moreover, without known exception these units require the purchase and stocking of non-standard tool heads which are themselves very costly. While large manufacturing operations can justify the expense of prior production units of this type, they are often too costly for small manufacturing concerns.
There is accordingly a need in the art for improved, low cost power operated tool holder and actuator units which can accommodate low cost manual tools readily available from many sources and which have the necessary degree of operational flexibility allowing their use in many different types of businesses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above, and provides a power operated tool holder and actuator for supporting and actuating manually operable pivoted dual-leg tools of conventional design. These tools broadly have a pair of pivotally joined legs, with each of the legs having a manual manipulation end and an opposed work performing end. Broadly speaking, the holder and actuator units of the invention include a holder operable to receive and hold the manipulating ends of a pivoted dual-leg tool so that the tool is located to receive and then perform a selected work operation on a workpiece placed between the work performing ends of the tool legs. The holder is operably coupled with a power actuator in order to shift at least one of the manipulation ends of the tool toward the opposed manipulation end thereof, thereby performing the desired work operation.
Preferably, the holder includes first and second clamps for respectively receiving and holding the manipulating ends of the tool legs, with the power actuator connected to one of the clamps for shifting of the tool leg held thereby. The power actuator is normally a reciprocal mechanism engageable with one of the clamps, such as a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly. Operation of the actuator is advantageously controlled by means of a foot switch, such as a pneumatic switch in the case of the preferred pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly.
The units of the invention find utility in a number of contexts, such as in the jewelry, eyeglass, electronics and other light manufacturing industries, and in other situations where repetitive motion operations are encountered.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3741562 (1973-06-01), Resch
patent: 3888003 (1975-06-01), Brown
patent: 4105188 (1978-08-01), Mendoza et al.
patent: 4363476 (1982-12-01), Whittle
patent: 4442581 (1984-04-01), Molnick
Techni-Tool Catalog 44, p. 62 (1993).
Catalog; Simonds Ergonomic Power Tools, p. 3 Date Unknown.
Glendo Corporation
Hovey Williams Timmons & Collins
Smith James G.
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