EP0803331B1 - Toggle clamp for car bodywork construction - Google Patents

Description

T"-förmige Gestalt mit einer Befestigungsschiene und einem Flansch aufweist, an den sich ein mit seiner Längsachse parallel zur Längsachse der Kolbenstange erstreckendes Profil anschließt.The invention relates to a toggle lever clamping device for the body shop with a rectangular in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the piston rod cross-section, which is constructed from two housing parts, and with an axially extending to the cylinder-side end of the clamping head, in which an alternating on both sides by means of pressure medium pressure, in particular by air pressure to be acted upon pistons, which are guided in a longitudinally displaceable and sealing manner and which axially engages through the cylinder and a cavity of the clamping head with its piston rod, with a toggle joint arrangement which is coupled to a clamping arm being attached to the free end of the piston rod, with limit switches or Position transmitters in the form of microswitches, inductive switches, pneumatic switches or sensors which are integrated in a space of the clamping head, the switches being adjustable relative to one another and forming a cover for the same End holder are arranged and fastened as an overall interchangeable query cassette in the form of a board in the area of a slot in the axial direction of the clamping head, the query cassette being a plan view

T "-shaped shape with a fastening rail and a flange, to which a profile extending with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the piston rod is connected.

Such a toggle lever tensioning device according to the preamble of independent claim 1 forms the subject of the applicant declining DE 93 11 132.0 U1 and the same European Patent application 0 636 449 (94 105 296.1-2302). In the embodiment 1, no slot is provided, while in the embodiment 8 the cassette is grown from the side.

DE 92 15 151.5 U1 describes a tensioning device for tightening Known workpieces, consisting of a fork-shaped head piece which the clamping arm is pivotally mounted, the end of a movable Control rod of the device drive is connected, in the range of travel the end of the control rod next to this limit switch are arranged and at the end of the adjusting rod of the bearing pin for Guide rollers of the actuating rod is extended and forms the position transmitter that in an elongated hole extending parallel to the control rod in the arrangement area the end position sensor protrudes, the head piece on an outer flank one of his fork parts with a flat, against the travel range of the end of the adjusting rod and recesses open to the outside is, the at least one with in the recess open to the outside two end position sensors provided end position interrogation switch and the recess with the end position interrogation switch arranged therein closed with a cover plate detachably arranged on the head piece is.

The latter type requires awkward cavities in which the switches are to be arranged and the adaptation of special cover plates. In the event of malfunctions, the cover plate must first be removed and the in the switches mounted in the cavities can be loosened and replaced. The order of these special cavities is costly, as well as replacing them defective switches and their assembly is very time consuming.

DE-U-90 16 781.3 describes a tensioning device with an adjusting unit, Tension arm, end position interrogation devices and actuator stem with which the tension arm directly or indirectly between the end position sensing elements predetermined end positions is pivotable, previously known. The End position query elements are in a separate, with the clamping device Detachably connected housing in addition to an axial in this housing guided and adjustable sensor rod provided with position transmitter, which extends parallel to a housing connection surface and with its upper end protrudes from the housing, between the and the Position rod one with the upper end and the control rod axially fixed Driver crossbar is arranged. The end position query elements are in the housing is arranged adjustable in relation to the position transmitter. This Clamping device is arranged with a clamping arm in a on the drive unit fork-like head piece pivotally mounted. The case is on the Clamping arm side or the side of the device remote from the clamping arm with its housing connection surface arranged, the entrainer from the Guide rod between the fork parts of the head piece to the control rod extends. At least in one fork part of the head piece is laterally and parallel to the control rod a longitudinal slot and on the longitudinal slot side of the device arranged the housing, which is between the upper end of the Sensor rod and the actuator cross bar extending through extends the longitudinal slot. The control rod is with the tension arm from the drive unit simultaneously rotating and movable in the axial direction. The housing is arranged on one of the two sides of the device remote from the swivel range, the driver crossbar with the adjusting rod and / or the tension arm is rotatably connected. The connecting rod end of the driver crossbar on the rod side is fork-shaped.

DE 30 22 376 C2 describes a toggle lever clamping device for clamping of workpieces, in particular body parts, consisting of a Pressure cylinder with double-acting piston and piston rod, previously known, the end of which is provided with a head piece which is in one on the cylinder guided axially attached guide piece and a hinged intermediate member movable with one on the guide piece on one side Swivel-mounted tension lever connected and via a flat guide is supported on the guide piece, this flat guide in one Plane is parallel to the one through the piston rod axis Level and on the side facing away from the swivel joint of the tensioning lever is arranged. The flat guide is on a maximum inner surface of the piston rod axis Guide piece arranged. At the free end of the guide piece is a Stroke control element arranged near the flat guide.

The invention has for its object a toggle lever device in the genre-presupposed kind in such a way that they do not only from the back, but also from all four sides of device parts can be added while maintaining the well-known cassette technology Advantages.

This object is achieved by the features set out in claim 1 .

In the tensioning device according to the invention, the query cassette is removed from the Back of the tensioner housing through a narrow, slit-shaped recess inserted into the housing. As a result, the query cassette is only narrow designed and includes the sensors, the plugs that are wired together and any fastening nuts or screws. Although the query cassette from the back into a slot-shaped recess in the housing is introduced, the cultivation option located there can be fully used means that the toggle clamp device can also be attached from this side. The toggle lever tensioning device can thus also be attached from the rear or consoles, brackets etc. located there can be screwed on become. Any limit switches, microswitches, adjustable inductive switches, sensors or the like, to set different opening angles, strokes or the like. This Cassette technology is very easy to service, because by loosening, for example the complete query cassette with switches and plugs with just one screw, which are completely wired in themselves, must be replaced. So in stock Completely interchangeable query cassettes are kept ready can be replaced in a few simple steps. This means there are only short downtimes expected, it should be necessary to replace the query cassette.

In claim 2 , a preferred embodiment of the invention is described. In this embodiment, the interrogation cassette has an approximately L-shaped shape in a section made orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the piston rod, on the end of which a shape is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the L "running flange connects in one piece, with which the query cassette, covering the slot-shaped recess of the housing, is screwed to the housing.

According to claim 3 , the rail of the query cassette extends in the longitudinal axis direction of the piston rod, that is to say runs parallel to the latter. On this rail, the limit switches, microswitches, inductive switches or sensors are arranged in a variable position and are damped by a switching flag assigned to the piston rod, that is to say they are swept over when the piston rod is displaced and thereby trigger the various sequential controls.

Claim 4 describes a further advantageous embodiment of the invention.

The assembly of a toggle lever clamping device in a device, for example for the body shop of the motor vehicle industry, requires a precise procedure to ensure that the clamping force is also guaranteed after the clamping arm has been set up. In order to achieve this, according to the invention, a screw is screwed in except for the block in the delivery state of the toggle lever tensioning device. Due to this screw position, the tab of the toggle lever tensioning device is at an angle of approximately 12 degrees. Now that the pressure piece has been attached to the clamping arm, this screw is unscrewed, up to the end stop. The toggle lever clamping device can then be moved to the dead center position by pressure medium pressure, for example by pneumatic pressure, as a result of which the full clamping force is applied. With the screw, however, the toggle lever tensioning device can also be released from this over-dead center position by screwing in, if necessary, in order to enable manual opening or retraction of the toggle lever tensioning device. The screw thus serves to set up the tensioning device and to achieve the tensioning force and also to release the toggle lever tensioning device from the dead center or over dead center position ( claim 5 ).

In the embodiment according to claim 6 , a threaded plug is provided, which is set as a further end stop of the toggle joint. In the end position, i.e. when the toggle lever tensioning device is closed, which at the same time usually corresponds to the dead center position, the toggle lever joint moves against a stop, in the present case against a threaded plug, in order to thereby bring the tension arm into a play-free and absolutely fixed position. The threaded plug is adjustable from the outside and is therefore easy to assemble in order to compensate for any tolerances of the joint parts.

Fig. 1

eine Kniehebelspannvorrichtung, insbesondere für den Karosseriebau, im Axiallängsschnitt;

Fig. 2

einen Querschnitt nach der Linie II - II der Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Abfragekassette in der Seitenansicht;

Fig. 4

eine linke Stirnansicht zu Fig. 3 und

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht zur Fig. 3.

In the drawing, the invention is illustrated - partly schematically - for example. Show it:

Fig. 1

a toggle lever tensioning device, in particular for body construction, in axial longitudinal section;

Fig. 2

a cross section along the line II - II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

a query cassette in side view;

Fig. 4

a left front view of Fig. 3 and

Fig. 5

3 shows a top view of FIG. 3.

The reference numeral 1 designates a clamping head on which axially one Cylinder 2 connects. The cylinder 2 is facing the clamping head 1 End through a cover 3 and on its opposite end face a bottom cover 4 delimited pressure-tight.

A piston 6 is longitudinally displaceable in the cylinder 2 via a seal 5 guided longitudinally and sealingly, which is connected to a piston rod 7 is. The piston rod 7 passes through a bore 8 in the cover 3 and is sealed with a seal 9 fluid-tight.

The piston rod 7 passes axially through the clamping head 1 and is at its end connected to a toggle joint assembly 10, which is an unspecified Clamp arm is assigned. The tension arm is in direction A or B pivotable about a certain opening angle about an axis 11 fixed to the housing arranged in the clamping head 1. The opening angle can be obtuse be.

The chuck 1 has a housing that in the illustrated embodiment consists of two shell-shaped housing parts 12 and 13 (FIG. 2), which lie on top of each other in a sandwich-like and gap-free manner and thus the piston rod 7, the toggle joint assembly 10 and all other between the Housing parts 12 and 13 objects are dirt and moisture proof encapsulate.

The housing parts 12 and 13 are through a straight dividing plane 14 (Fig. 2) separated from each other, so that the housing parts 12 and 13 flat through walls 15 and 16, respectively, and by screws (not referred to) are releasably connected. If necessary, can the walls may also be assigned sealing elements (not shown).

The housing parts 12 and 13 are closed on all sides and have only on one side each have an approximately semicircular recess (not shown), which thus complement each other through a bore through which the piston rod 7 in the space 17 delimited by the housing parts 12 and 13 protrudes. The toggle joint arrangement 10 is also arranged in this space 17. The end of the piston rod 7 located within the space 17 and the toggle joint arrangement 10 are thus dirt, dust and spray liquid tight encapsulated to the outside. The two shell-shaped housing parts 12 and 13 each have an orthogonally penetrating bore (not shown) through which the axis 11 passes. Instead, the Axis 11 but also in non-penetrating formations of the relevant housing part 12 or 13 may be mounted. Furthermore, the two shell-shaped housing parts 12 and 13 guide grooves (not shown) on. The guide grooves can be of the same design and with each other in the assembled state, the housing parts 12 and 13 correspond, such that the toggle joint assembly 10 with associated components in Longitudinal axis direction is performed. Furthermore, the housing parts 12 and 13 holes for screws, not shown, by means of which the housing parts 12 and 13 can be screwed together in a joint-tight manner. For example can the holes of a housing part as through holes be formed while the associated coaxially arranged thereto Holes of the other housing part are blind holes with thread. By screwing in bolts, not shown, can be the housing parts 12 and 13 releasably, but tightly connect. The Housing parts 12 and 13 can be made of steel or aluminum or another suitable workpiece, for example also from an injection molding material, consist. The walls 15, 16 can be of high quality at the parting plane 14 trained, for example ground or with appropriate surface quality be poured so that they are full and tight on one another.

The toggle joint arrangement 10 can be assigned fork arms (not shown) be with their ends square or polygonal in cross section designed end portions of the axis 11 are arranged. For this may be provided a tab that against the fork-shaped end of the assigned fork arm attacks and with formally adapted recesses engages around the end sections of the pivot pin and with the relevant one Fork arm is connected by screws (also not shown).

It can also be assigned a screw-on part of the fork arm is arranged centrically or eccentrically with respect to the fork arm.

As can be seen from Fig. 2, the housing of the clamping head 1 is in an orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 18 of the piston rod 7 cross section rectangular educated. In principle, this means that the housing can be namely on the opposite sides of the rectangle either on device parts, for example in the body shop of the automotive industry, grown, for example screwed on.

Fig. 2 shows that in the area of one narrow side of the rectangular Basic shape of the housing, a slot 19 of width X is arranged is (Fig. 1) extends approximately over the length Y and in which a query cassette 20 is arranged. This query cassette 20 essentially consists from a guided in an orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 18 of the piston rod 7 Cross-section L-shaped profile 21, which is designed as a mounting rail and has two spaced switches 22 and 23, respectively Microswitches, inductive switches, limit switches or pneumatic switches can be and adjustable in the longitudinal axis direction of the L-profile 21 and are arranged lockable, depending on the desired operating conditions. As you can see, these switches 22 and 23 are parallel to the Parting plane 14 extending web of the L-profile 21 attached during this orthogonal transverse web 24 is arranged in the slot 19 and seals it as joint-tight as possible to the outside and thus space 17 also closes to the outside here. The crossbar 24 extends over the Length Y (FIG. 1) of the slot 19.

A flange 25 is suitably made in one piece with the L-shaped profile 21 connected, the present two through holes 26 (Fig. 5) for arrangement of the feeders 27 and 28 for electrical cables 29 and 30, respectively are connected to switches 22 and 23. In addition, the flange 25 a through hole 31 through which a screw, not shown reaches through, by means of which the query cassette 20 on the clamping head 1 can be exchanged is attached. There can also be several holes and therefore several Screws may be provided (not shown).

As can be seen, a switching flag 32 is connected to the piston rod 7, which is arranged with a gap distance to the switches 22 and 23 and at damped the reciprocation of the piston rod 7 and thereby switching functions triggers. It can be clearly seen from Fig. 1 that the query cassette 20 with the L-shaped profile 21 within the contours of the housing comes to lie so that it does not interfere with the outside. Only the feeders 27 and 28 protrude above the projection. The flange 25 is also on the outside arranged the housing 1. However, this also gives the opportunity to side of the toggle clamp device, i.e. from the back to install any device parts. Of course this can also on the opposite side and on the two opposite Long sides of the housing, which is rectangular in cross section, happen that the toggle clamp is optionally attached from four sides and can be attached with it. In the invention, the query cassette 20 inserted from the back of the housing into the slot 19 and fastened and does not interfere in any way, so that the toggle clamp - As mentioned - can also be attached from this back. The Cassette technology is therefore easy to service, because by loosening only one Screw the complete query cassette 20 with switches and plugs into itself completely wired, can be replaced.

With the threaded plug 33, the end stop of the toggle joint arrangement 10 set. In the end position, i.e. when the tensioner is closed and at the same time moved to the dead center position, the toggle joint arrangement moves 10 against the threaded plug 33, thereby the clamping arm in to bring a play-free and absolutely fixed position. As you can see is this threaded plug 33 adjustable from the outside and thus assembly and easy to service, to tolerances in the joint parts of the toggle joint arrangement 10 to be able to compensate.

The reference numeral 34 denotes an adjusting screw, which is also is accessible from the outside. Assembling a toggle clamp of the shown construction namely requires a precise procedure to ensure that the clamping force after setting up the clamping arm too is actually guaranteed. To achieve this, the adjusting screw 34 when leaving the manufacturing plant down to the block, i.e. fully screwed in. Due to this screw position, the tab of the toggle joint arrangement is located 10 at an angle of about 12 degrees. Now that Pressure piece was attached to the clamping arm, which later on the workpiece acts, the adjusting screw 34 is unscrewed to a further end stop. The toggle clamp device can now by the appropriate Pressurizing the piston 6 to the dead center position be driven, i.e. apply their maximum resilience. With the adjusting screw 34 can be screwed in, for example in the event of energy loss the adjusting screw 34, the toggle lever clamping device from its dead center position can be easily solved to manually open or retract the To enable Spanners. The adjustment screw 34 is also used for setting up of the clamping arm and for achieving the clamping force.

The in the summary, in the claims and in the description described features and can be seen from the drawing both individually and in any combination for the realization of the Invention to be essential.

bibliography

DE-OS 25 55 207

DE-OS 41 11 430

DE-PS 30 22 376

DE-U-89 08 288.5

DE-U-90 05 183.1

DE-U-90 16 781.3

DE-U-92 15 151.5

DE-U-93 11 132.0

DE-U-295 04 267

DE-U-295 13 586

EP-A-0 256 208

EP-A-0 313 767

EP-A-0 317 924

EP-A-0 359 073

EP-A-0 595 074

EP-A-0 636 449

FR-PS 2 427 179

FR-PS 2 618 718

U.S. Patent 3,371,953

U.S. Patent 3,482,831

U.S. Patent 4,905,973

U.S. Patent 5,072,652

U.S. Patent 5,201,838

Brochure from the company ISI Automation Anlagen- und Components Vertriebs GmbH - New force in gripper technology. Only from ISI. "

Quick Change Gripper Head Mounts "from ISI Manufacturing Inc.

Brochure from ISI Manufacturing Inc. Other ISI Products ", in particular The Grip-Lok System: Proven Gripper Technology "

Brochures relating to KG84A32101, KG84A32102, KG84A32103, KG84A32104 from DE-STA-CO Metallfertigung products GmbH Curve clamp gripper, single clamp gripper, double clamp gripper "

Brochure from Sommer Automatic GmbH Toggle gripper GK 20, GK 25 "

Brochure sheet from Fritz Schunk GmbH Toggle gripper, type PKG, pneumatic "

Brochure sheet from Fritz Schunk GmbH 15.2 "and 15.3 "

Catalog Clamping technology "from DE-STA-CO, Frankfurt 1972/73, p. 72/73

Reference list

1

Clamping head

2nd

cylinder

3rd

cover

4th

Bottom cover

5

poetry

6

piston

7

Piston rod

8th

drilling

9

poetry

10th

Toggle joint arrangement

11

Axis, housing-fixed

12th

Housing part, bowl-shaped

13

Housing part, bowl-shaped

14

Dividing plane, straight

15

Wall

16

Wall

17th

room

18th

Longitudinal axis

19th

slot

20th

Query cassette

21

Profile, L-shaped

22

Switches, inductive switches, microswitches, sensors, pneumatic switches

23

Switches, inductive switches, microswitches, sensors, pneumatic switches

24th

Crossbar

25th

flange

26

Through hole

27

Feed

28

Feed

29

Cable, electrical

30th

Cable, electrical

31

Through hole

32

Switch flag

33

Threaded plug, end stop, stop

34

Adjustment screw, end stop

A

Swivel direction of the tension arm

B

Swivel direction of the tension arm

X

Width of the slot 19

Y

Length of the slot 19

Claims (6)

1. A toggle clamp for car bodywork construction with a rectangular grip holder (1) having a cross-section guided orthogonally in relation to the longitudinal axis (18) of the piston rod (7), said grip holder (1) being constructed from two housing sections (12, 13) and guided with a cylinder (2) attaching in axial extension to the cylinder-side end of the grip holder (1), in which a piston (6) to be acted upon alternately on both sides by pressure medium pressure, especially air pressure, is guided in a longitudinally displaceable and sealing manner and reaches through the cylinder (2) and a hollow space of the grip holder (1) with its piston rod (7) in axial direction; a toggle joint arrangement (10) with a clamping arm coupled thereto being fixed at the free end of the piston rod (7), with limit switches and/or position indicators in the form of microswitches, inductive switches, pneumatic switches or sensors (22, 23) integrated within a space (17) of the grip holder (1); the switches (22, 23) being adjustable relative to one another and arranged and fixed to a mount forming the cover therefor as an altogether interchangeable interrogator cassette (20) in the form of a printed circuit in way of a slot (19) in axial direction of the grip holder (1); the interrogator cassette (20), in top plan view, being of T-shaped configuration and having an attachment rail and a flange (25) to which a section (21) extending with its longtiduinal axis in parallel with the longitudinal axis (18) of the piston rod is linked up; characterized in that the interrogator cassette (20) is plugged through a narrow slot (19) extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis (18) of the piston rod (7) from the rear of the housing of the grip holder (1) and, while maintaining the possibility of attachment of the toggle joint arrangement from all four sides, especially from the rear, in such a manner that the section (21) will seal the slot (19) towards the outside, preferably, joint-tight.
2. Toggle clamp as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the section (21) is designed in L-shaped configuration in a cross-section guided orthogonally in relation to the longitudinal axis (18) of the piston rod (7), the land of the "L" extending in parallel with the longitudinal axis (18) of the piston rod (7) and the switches (22, 23) being adjustable, while the crossbar (24) closes the slot (19) towards the outside.
3. Toggle clamp as claimed in Claims 1 or 2, with a grip holder (1) consisting of two dish-shaped housing sections (12, 13) lying flush on top of each other and encasing the toggle joint arrangement (10), the piston rod (7) and the limit switches (22, 23) in a dirt and dust proof manner towards the outside; characterized in that the two dish-shaped housing sections (12, 13) feature the slot (19) for arranging the interrogator cassette (20) on the one, i.e. the narrower side of the grip holder (1) of rectangular cross-section.
4. Toggle clamp as claimed in Claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the section (21) plunges into the slot (19) to such an extent that the one, i.e. the narrower side of the grip holder (1) of rectangular cross-section surmounts the boundary of the L-shaped section (21) which is pointing towards the outside.
5. Toggle clamp as claimed in Claim 4 with a limit stop (33) for the toggle joint arrangement (10), primarily in the above-dead-centre position of the toggle joint; characterized in that the limit stop (33) is designed as a stop which is adjustable in its longitudinal axis direction to be actuated from outside, especially as a screw cap (33).
6. Toggle clamp as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that a further adjustable limit stop (34) for manually releasing the toggle joint arrangement (10) from the above-dead-centre position is arranged on the front side of the grip holder (1).

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