EP1309426B1 - Toggle clamping device - Google Patents

Description

genus

The invention relates to a toggle lever device, in particular for use in the body shop of the automotive industry.

State of the art

DE 198 24 579 C1 describes a toggle lever device, in particular for use in the bodywork of the automotive industry, with a clamping head and in an axial extension adjoining cylinder in which a alternately on both sides by pressure medium to be acted upon piston longitudinally displaceable, twist-proof and sealing is performed with his piston rod passes through the cylinder and the clamping head, wherein at the free end of the Piston rod within the housing of the clamping head a toggle joint arrangement is arranged, which is associated with a clamping arm, wherein the piston the cylinder into a Zylinderrückhubraum and a Zylinderspannhubraum divided, and the Zylinderspannhubraum end face by a lid, a Housing wall or the like, is sealed, with Endstellungsabfragevorrichtungen for the piston in the form of non-contact, for example inductive sensors or the like, with a brake piston or a stop piston, which is assigned to the piston and in the same cylinder as the Piston is arranged coaxially thereto, arranged with a in the cylinder bottom Adjustment device for the brake piston or the stop piston, with which of these steplessly axially in both directions without disassembly of the toggle lever device from the outside to the cylinder bottom for simultaneous and common Change and / or adjustment of the opening angle of a clamping arm and the Endlagenabfragung is adjustable and lockable, wherein a sensor the end position sensing device associated with the brake or stop piston is. The adjusting device is as coaxial with the brake or stop piston arranged clamping screw formed in a hole in the cylinder bottom arranged and locked by a lock nut. The adjusting device Can also be used as a linear motor, air motor, hydraulic motor, electric spindle motor or as to be acted upon alternately on both sides with fluid pressure Be formed piston-cylinder unit. The brake piston and thus the Opening angle, the end position detection and, if necessary, the end position damping are adjustable in the axial direction stepwise - intermittently -.

With this toggle clamping device, the cylinder end position, the opening angle a clamping arm, the Endlagenabfragung and possibly a Set end cushioning simultaneously and together via an actuator. Change, for example, working conditions, needs about the actuator, without dismantling the toggle lever and its cylinder, only the Setting to be made. This can be shared and at the same time the matching parameters, ie cylinder end position, opening angle the clamping arm, Endlagenabfragung and possibly also the Adjust end cushioning and lock in the desired position. This may possibly also occur during operation. This is then advantageous if, for example, it should be shown that tolerances are not exact adhered to or contours of the parts to be clamped change. In In this case, from the outside of the toggle lever tensioning device, the actuating element be pressed to the desired settings, so to speak, with a handle, make. This is a not to be underestimated advantage, since it then too no downtime in production lines of the automotive industry comes, what else high costs for set-up times etc. are connected. In addition, the actuator allows the respective desired sensitive adjustment under operating conditions. Since the actuator at a non-obstructing point, for example, the cylinder bottom, can be arranged, also the outer contour of the toggle lever device not adversely affected, so that its all-round mounting option is preserved from four sides. It does not need any Openings on the cylinder to be provided on the chuck or the like, for example, to arrange sensors. Rather, it is in this embodiment possible, all electrical wires, sensors and damping elements in the Toggle clamping device, for example in the cylinder and / or the clamping head, hineinzuverlagern.

As can be seen, are in all embodiments sensors and contacts as well protected electrical lines in the toggle lever device arranged. Of particular advantage, it is possible that by a simple tool Cylinder end query, opening angle, end position detection and, if necessary End position damping simultaneously and in the same direction, ie very fast and with a built-in toggle-lever clamping device, sensitively change and lock to let.

From DE 298 11 331 U1 is a device for holding, positioning or Clamping, in particular for holding, positioning or tensioning body parts with a housing previously known in which a under the action of an actuator translationally movable device is arranged, and a clamping and holding arm, wherein the movable device and the rod of the Actuation device by means of a length-adjustable device with each other are connected. The rod of the actuator has a threaded hole on, wherein the movable device as with a connecting element, having an external thread at one end connected to a length adjustment by mutual screwing of the threaded hole in the Rod to reach the threaded end of the connecting element. The Connecting element is rotatably connected to the movable device. The Connecting element has a configuration that with a Endstellungsabfrageeinrichtung the clamping and holding position cooperates, wherein the connecting element is provided with a flag whose position is determined by a suitable end position sensing device connected to the housing of the device is detectable. The rod of the actuator is with the actuator rotatably connected, for example, in which they on an elongated or rectangular piston is attached. The rod and the actuator have such a configuration, which with a Endstellungsabfrageeinrichtung cooperates to determine the release or opening position. A flag is attached to the pole, the position of which end position sensing device connected to the housing of the device is detectable. At least one final position interrogator, the is connected to the housing of the device is a non-contact, preferably inductive end position sensing unit. The end-position query devices are located in the same end position query module. By this construction If the task is to be solved, remedy for the disadvantages of writing cited prior art, with which it should be possible, the Paths and angles without disassembly and without modification of the device to adjust, with good accuracy of adjustment while holding and Release the parts to be kept guaranteed. To the setting perform the piston-cylinder unit of the chuck through Unscrewing fixing screws are released, whereupon the Piston-cylinder unit in total with the piston rod around the axis of her Turn external thread. This should be a gradual adjustment of one Angular degree at the clamping and holding degree for every half revolution of the piston-cylinder unit to be reached around the screw axis. It will allows the clamping and holding position and the opening and Set release position without any intervention other than that Screw the piston-cylinder unit in its entirety around the threaded rod is required. This should make it possible to use the same device for one wide, usable angle and positioning range.

task

The invention is based on the object, a toggle lever of the assumed type to simplify that the rod without disassembly the toggle clamping device, in particular without removing its drive, is adjustable from the outside in the longitudinal axis direction, thereby the opening angle to adjust the clamping arm.

solution

The object is solved by the reproduced in claim 1 or 2 features.

Some advantages

In the invention, the piston rod is facing at its the clamping head End provided with an external thread and with this in a sleeve-shaped Part of a transmission element, in particular a clevis, with the toggle joint arrangement connected, more or less screwed, to thereby change and adjust the opening angle of the clamping arm.

It can be a fine thread, z. B. M 10 x 1, or as a metric thread, or a suitable trapezoidal thread, are used.

Claim 2 denotes another inventive solution with a ball screw.

On the rod a guide plate is arranged, which is diametrically opposite Pages has at least two projections, which provided in the already provided Guide grooves for roles engage the toggle joint assembly and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod and thus the function can take over the rotation of the rod.

At the adjusting device, in particular one alternately on both sides with Pressure medium pressure, in particular by air pressure, to be acted upon piston-cylinder unit, a linear motor, air motor, hydraulic motor, electric spindle motor or the like facing end, the chuck has a transversely to the Longitudinal axis extending circumferential extension, in which the guide grooves out and in which the guide plate enters with its projections, if an adjustment of the spindle by the rotation about its longitudinal axis should.

In contrast to the prior art needs in the invention, the adjusting device, for example, a piston-cylinder unit, a linear motor or the like, not to be unscrewed from the clamping head, but it is optionally only a bottom cover on the side facing away from the clamping head of the adjusting device, or a mother provided there, removed, by a then released opening by means of a screwdriver can be to reach the pole and then this in one or the other Direction to turn, thereby adjusting the opening angle of To bring low tension, after previously the guide plate in the Extension occurred. After adjustment, the guide plate is restored returned to the guide grooves, so that the rod arranged against rotation is.

Further embodiments

Further embodiments are described in the claims 3 and 4 .

In the embodiment according to claim 3 , the adjustment can be done by the bottom cover of the adjustment, for example, in that a central opening is exposed and through this by means of a screwdriver the end provided with a hexagon socket or with a slot rod is reached to this in the to turn one way or the other.

The claims 4 and 5 describe advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1

eine Kniehebelspannvorrichtung im axialen Längsschnitt, wobei eine Schalenhälfte des Spannkopfes abgenommen ist;

Fig. 2

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

Fig. 3

die aus den Fig. 1 und 2 ersichtlichen Kniehebelspannvorrichtungen nach einer Verstellung und erneuten Arretierung der Kolbenstange und

Fig. 4

eine mit einem Elektromotor als Antrieb ausgerüstete Kniehebelspannvorrichtung mit Kugelumlaufspindel, teils in der Seitenansicht, teils im Schnitt.

In the drawing the invention - partly schematically - exemplified. Show it:

Fig. 1

a toggle lever device in axial longitudinal section, wherein a shell half of the clamping head is removed;

Fig. 2

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

Fig. 3

1 and 2 apparent toggle lever clamping devices after an adjustment and re-locking the piston rod and

Fig. 4

equipped with an electric motor as a drive toggle lever clamping device with ball screw, partly in the side view, partly in section.

By reference numeral 1, a clamping head is generally designated, consisting of two sandwich and closely superposed shell halves 1a, 1b, which Seal a toggle joint assembly 2 dirt and moisture-proof. The Toggle joint assembly 2 is a housing-fixed axis 3 in the chuck 1 stored and drives a clamping arm 4, which is pivotally movable in the direction A and B. is driven.

In longitudinal axial direction of the clamping head 1, a drive 5 is arranged on these, the present in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 as a piston-cylinder unit is trained. A cylinder is designated 6, the terminals 7 and 8 for the connection of compressed air lines (not shown), by a in the cylinder 6 longitudinally displaceable and sealingly guided piston 9 air pressure is supplied to drive it in the direction of X or Y liftable.

With the piston 9 is designed as a piston rod rod 10 by a Seal 11 sealed connected. The piston rod 10 passes through a Seal 12 seals a lid 13. On the lid 13 turned away Side of the cylinder 6 is closed by a bottom cover 14. The bottom cover 14 has a central bore 15 through a plug 16 by means Screws is sealed to the outside. Of the screws are only the centerlines to recognize.

The piston rod 10 passes through the interior of the clamping head 1 and has at its end facing away from the piston 9 over a certain length External thread 17, by means of which they are in a sleeve-shaped transmission element 18th is screwed. The transmission element 18 may be a clevis act, which is operatively connected to the toggle joint assembly 2.

The piston rod 10 has at its the piston 9 facing end portion a thickened head 19 with a recess 20 for coupling with a not shown tool, in particular with a screwdriver, on, after Removing the plug 16 through the bore 15 in the cylinder interior is introduced to the piston rod 10 in the manner to be described and Way to turn about its longitudinal axis 21 to the left or to the right and thereby the threaded end portion 22 more or less far in the sleeve-shaped transmission element 18 on or unscrew. The thread 17 can be right- or left-hand thread and as a fine thread or as Trapezoidal be formed to the piston rod 10 in the direction X and Y, So in the stroke direction to be able to adjust accordingly sensitive. For example the execution and arrangement of the thread can be made such that by the left or right rotation of the piston rod 10, the opening angle of Low-tension 4 can be changed and adjusted by one degree or less. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the Outer diameter of the thread 17 twelve mm, while the slope of the Thread 17 is one mm at metric thread.

The chuck 1 is in the direction of the longitudinal axis 21 with the same size, parallel arranged to each other, symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis 21 of the piston rod 10 arranged guide grooves 23 and 24 provided, in which not represented, optionally rolling bearings, z. B. ball bearings or rolling bearing bearing rollers are guided rolling, a bolt 25 of the Toggle joint assembly 2 are assigned to thereby a smooth running to reach. As can be seen from Fig. 2, is on the piston rod 10 a Guide plate 26 is arranged, with the side projections 27 and 28 in the Guide grooves 23 and 24 engages with play and the rotation of the Piston rod 10 and thus also the toggle lever assembly 2 is used. The Guide plate 26 can be at an axial displacement in the direction X and after the entry into the lid 13 facing free space 29 about the longitudinal axis 21 both right- and anti-clockwise rotate, since the guide grooves 23 and 24 in open the space 29 of the fork head 1.

With the transmission element 18, a switching lug 30 is connected to the sensors 31 and 32 cooperates and thereby the position of the piston rod 10 and Indirectly indicating the opening angle of the clamping arm 4. Both Sensors 31 and 32 may be suitable inductively operating sensors Micro switch or in case of need also to pneumatic switch, act. The Sensors 31 and 32 can be connected to an only schematically indicated board 33 be arranged as a replaceable unit extending from the back of the toggle lever through a slot 34 in the interior 35 of the clamping head 1 can be used. The slot 34 extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis 21 and is in the illustrated embodiment symmetrical with respect to two shell halves 1a and 1b of the clamping head 1 arranged distributed. Of the Slit 34 is dirt and dustproof by the board 33 as well as possible sealed moisture-tight to the outside, so that no possible contamination through the slot 34 in the interior 35 of the clamping head. 1 can get into it. The training and arrangement of the board can in the rest are taken as described in DE 196 16 441 C1 (EP 0 803 331 B1). described and illustrated.

The adjustment of the opening angle is done in the one shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 Embodiment as follows:

The piston 9 is moved in the direction X until the guide plate 26 in the Free space 29 has occurred. After removal of the plug 16 can by means of a Screwdrivers are engaged in the recess 20 of the piston rod 10, to turn these either left or right and thereby the opening angle of the clamping arm 4 to change. Then the guide plate 26 brought back into the guide grooves 23 and 24 and thereby against Twisting locked. The clamping arm 4 is characterized on the new swing angle set. The plug 16 is returned to its closed position and attached. The adjustment of the swivel angle thus happens from the back of the drive 5 ago, without the toggle clamp otherwise disassembled needed to be. This allows the opening angle the tensioning arm 4 sensitively and in a few steps and, if necessary, in the Adjust the built - in state without disconnecting the device and place in Lock the desired position also.

In Fig. 4, the invention is applied to a further embodiment described. For parts of the same function are apparent from Figs. 1 to 3 Reference numerals have been used.

The reference numeral 36 is a stator of a not shown in detail Electric motor, to which a rotor 37 is assigned, the one in detail Not shown, having the nut with the thread 17 as Ball screw trained rod 10 meshes. It is also possible to enter here metric thread, a Whitworth thread or a spindle with Trapezoidal thread provided. Also, the nut of the rotor 37 meshes with the appropriate transmission elements, the ball screw 10 in Direction X or Y drives, while the mother itself and thus the rotor 37 is stationary, since it is fixed in the stator 36, so that only the Ball screw 10 in the direction of Y or X reciprocated, depending on the drive the electric motor, where they are more or less far in the nut the rotor 37 screwed or unscrewed from this and thereby the Clamp arm 4 drives accordingly.

With 38 a shock absorber is called, which is too hard striking the Guide plate 26 against the rotor housing 37 and prevent its mother should. The shock absorber can be made of a rubber elastic properties comprising body, for example of a polyurethane plastic.

The stator 36 is end by a bottom cover 39 by means of screws (not shown) closed, so that by means of a tool, for example by means of a screwdriver, after driving the guide plate 26 in the Free space 29, the ball screw 10 corresponding to more or less in the nut into or out of it can be screwed, thereby the To change the swivel angle.

The reference numeral 40 denotes electric cable for supplying electric Energy.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

clamping head

1a

shell half

1b

"

2

Toggle lever arrangement

3

axis

4

clamping arm

5

drive

6

cylinder

7

Connection

8th

"

9

piston

10

Rod, piston rod, ball screw

11

poetry

12

"

13

cover

14

bottom cover

15

Bore, centric

16

Plug

17

external thread

18

gear element

19

head

20

deepening

21

longitudinal axis

22

end

23

guide

24

"

25

bolt

26

guide plate

27

Projection, lateral

28

"

29

free space

30

Schaltfahne

31

sensor

32

"

33

circuit board

34

slot

35

inner space

36

stator

37

rotor

38

shock absorber

39

bottom cover

40

electric cable

A

Swing direction of the clamping arm 4

B

"" "

X

Lifting direction of the rod 10 and the piston. 9

Y

"" "" "" "

bibliography

DE-AS 22 22 686

DE-AS 29 26 258

DE-OS 24 31 706

DE-OS 25 19 251

DE-OS 25 55 207

DE-OS 27 18 639

DE-OS 41 11 430

DE-OS 42 42 601

DE-PS 24 48 028

DE-PS 28 28 344

DE-PS 30 22 376

DE-PS 34 03 961

DE-PS 196 16 441

DE-PS 198 24 579

DE-U-87 14 390

DE-U-89 08 288.5

DE-U-90 05 183.1

DE-U-90 16 781.3

DE-U-91 04 532.0

DE-U-91 05 755.8

DE-U-92 15 151.5

DE-U-93 11 132.0

DE-U-295 04 267

DE-U-295 13 586.7

DE-U-295 19 232.1

DE-U-297 00 981

DE-U-297 18 644.2

DE-U-298 11 331

EP-A-0 005 407

EP-A-0 080 565

EP-A-0 256 208

EP-A-0 313 767

EP-A-0 317 924

EP-A-0 359 073

EP-A-0 417 024

EP-A-0 433 601

EP-A-0 595 074

EP-A-0 636 449

EP-A-0 648 941

EP-A-0 695 603

EP-A-0 778 107

EP-B-0 803 331

EP-A-0 962 285

WO-A-92/08899

GB-A-1 413 751

GB-A-495 563

FR-A-2 427 179

FR-A-2 431 625

FR-A-2 618 718

JP-AS 9548/73

U.S. Patent 2,980,387

U.S. Patent 2,983,256

U.S. Patent 2,985,140

U.S. Patent 3,180,236

U.S. Patent 3,371,953

U.S. Patent 3,482,831

U.S. Patent 3,815,480

U.S. Patent 3,961,559

U.S. Patent 3,994,539

U.S. Patent 4,240,620

U.S. Patent 4,424,737

U.S. Patent 4,429,715

U.S. Patent 4,664,364

U.S. Patent 4,700,611

U.S. Patent 4,905,973

U.S. Patent 5,072,652

U.S. Patent 5,171,001

U.S. Patent 5,201,838

U.S. Patent 6,220,588

US-08/759 518

Catalog "Clamping Technology" DE-STA-CO, Frankfurt 1972/1973, p.72 / 73

Prospectus of the company ISI Anlagen- und Komponenten Vertriebs GmbH - "Neue Kraft in the gripper technology. Only from ISI. "

"Quick Change Gripper Head Mounts" from I.S.I. Manufacturing Inc.

Prospectus of the company ISI Manufacturing Inc. "Other ISI Products", in particular "The Grip-Lok System: Proven Gripper Technology"

Leaflets KG84A32101, KG84A32102, KG84A32103, KG84A32104 the Company DE-STA-CO Metallerzeugnisse GmbH concerning "Curve clamping gripper, Single clamp gripper, double clamp gripper "

Brochure of the company Sommer Automatic GmbH "Knee heel grapple GK 20, GK 25"

Leaflet of the company Fritz Schunk GmbH "toggle gripper type PKG, pneumatic"

Leaflet of Fritz Schunk GmbH "15.2" and "15.3"

Claims (5)

1. Toggle lever clamping device, in particular for use in bodywork construction in the automotive industry, with a grip holder (1), a drive unit (5) connecting in axial direction which is a piston-cylinder unit pressurised alternately on both sides by a pressurising medium, or linear motor or linear electric motor, which drives a rod (10) back and forward (X and Y) in the direction of their lengthwise axis, which is coupled with a toggle joint arrangement (2) by means of a gear element (18) such as a guide rod or fork head, where the toggle joint arrangement (2) drives a clamping arm (4) pivotably back and forward, where the rod (10) is connected with the gear element (18) by means of a thread (17) in such a way that it can be adjusted in length axially in both directions, characterised in that

   a) the rod (10), which has an external thread (17) (metric thread, Whitworth thread, trapezoid thread) on its end section (22) facing the toggle joint arrangement (2), is screwed into a bore in the gear element (18) which has an internal thread;

   b) the rod (10), can be turned around its lengthwise axis (21) in both directions through a bore (15) in a bottom cover (14) at the end facing away from the grip holder (1) in order to adjust it axially;

   c) the rod (10) is fitted with a guide plate (26) which engages with projections (27, 28) arranged diametrically opposite one another in guide grooves (23, 24) in the grip holder (1) which guide guiding rollers of a pin (25) in lengthwise direction of the grip holder (1);

   d) a free space (29) is located on the end section facing the drive (5) whose extensions measured at right angles to the lengthwise axis (21) of the rod (10) are considerably larger than the transverse dimensions of the guide plate (26) measured in this direction.
2. Toggle lever clamping device, in particular for use in bodywork construction in the automotive industry with a grip holder (1), and a drive unit (5) in form of an electric motor connected to it in axial direction, which drives a rod (10) in form of a circulating-ball spindle back and forward in their lengthwise direction (X and Y), which is coupled with a toggle joint arrangement (2) by means of a gear element (18) such as a guide rod or fork head, where the toggle joint arrangement (2) drives a clamping arm (4) pivotably back and forward, where the circulating-ball spindle (10) is connected with the gear element (18) in such a way that it can be adjusted in length in both directions, characterised in that

   a) the circulating-ball spindle (10) combs with a stationary nut located in the stator (36), where the circulating-ball spindle at its end facing away from the grip holder (1) can be adjusted by turning in both directions, if necessary after removing a bottom cover (39), in order to adjust the pivoting movement of the clamping arm (4);

   b) the circulating-ball spindle (10) is fitted with a guide plate (26) which engages with projections (27, 28) arranged diametrically opposite one another in guide grooves (23, 24) in the grip holder (1) and which guides guiding rollers of a pin (25) in lengthwise direction of the grip holder (1);

   c) a free space (29) is located on the end section facing the drive unit (5) whose extensions measured at right angles to the lengthwise axis (21) of the circulating-ball spindle (10) are considerably larger than the transverse dimensions of the guide plate (26) measured in this direction.
3. Toggle lever clamping device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the rod (10) has a recess (20) or similar feature for receiving a tool on its end side facing the bottom cover (14).
4. Toggle lever clamping device according to claim 1 or one of the claims following claim 1, characterised in that the guide plate (26) is in form of a right angle viewed in axis direction of the rod (10) and, transversely to the lengthwise axis of the rod, has lengthwise sections which extend into diametrically opposite guide grooves (23, 24) which form the projections (27, 28).
5. Toggle lever clamping device according to claim 2 or one of the claims following claim 2, characterised in that a shock absorber (38) is located in the chamber between the free space (29) and the rotor (37) to limit the stroke of the guide plate (26).

Images