EP2257411B1 - Device for fixing or manipulating objects - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates in particular to a temporary fixation or manipulation of objects, in particular objects, specific device having at least a first and a second head, each head having two relatively movable, the object in the fixation or manipulation between them enclosing, front and back active surfaces and is equipped with a means for initiating an active power.

Such a device for temporary handling, fixation or manipulation, for example by transmitting a deforming force, device determined by objects, is realized in practice, for example, by a pair of pliers or scissors, and thus already counts by prior public use of the prior art.

In this case, a pair of pliers is a two-step tool in which the active surfaces are designed for gripping, forming, deforming, cutting or in any other way. Pliers are usually made of three areas, each having a handle lever arms, the joint and the pliers head with the active surfaces. Usually pliers are equipped with two two-sided lever arms, which are connected together by a hinge. As a rule, the handles form the longer arms, the shorter arms form the pliers head. According to the law of leverage, the force applied to the handles hand force is amplified and transmitted by means of the pliers head on an object.

Deviating from the basic type of pliers, there are countless special forms, some of which also find widespread use, such as the knee-lever principle based grip pliers. For example, designs are known as combination pliers, pipe wrenches, water pump pliers, side cutters, circlip pliers, blacksmith tongs, flat nose pliers, hole pliers or piston ring pliers.

Pliers are also widely used in the medical field. By way of example, swab tongs may be mentioned here, which above the handle are a lock have to fix the captured object. In contrast to the pliers, the Magill pliers have a lateral bending of the gripping arms.

Furthermore, countless special pliers have been created for a variety of applications, such as barbecue tongs.

A generic, also also referred to as a pliers device for manipulating objects is known as Enthefterzange or staple remover, in each case two tapered active surfaces form a head. The front-side active surfaces of the parallel heads are integrally connected with each other, as well as their rear active surfaces, so that one could call the front and back active surfaces each as a single, split or perforated effective surface.

The advantage that can be achieved in practice of several heads lies above all in the fact that a plurality of points of attack which are spaced apart from one another by each head better absorb a possible torque around a point of attack, thereby making it easier to handle particularly large objects.

However, the devices of the prior art, in particular multi-head pliers, have the common disadvantage that the front and rear effective surfaces of the adjacent heads always move in parallel. If, therefore, the object to be fixed or manipulated has a shape that is not completely flat and also has a constant material thickness, the transmission of the effective force is essentially limited to a single head, so that the advantageous effect does not occur in the desired manner.

While in the usual pliers, the effective surface is firmly connected to the lever arm, the refers DE 20 2005 006 197 U1 in contrast, on a pair of pliers with two adjustable pliers heads, the pliers mouths in different positions, namely in each case in an open or closed state, can be brought. In order to create such a pair of pliers with a double pliers head, in which two to the rear or reversible lever arms and two pliers heads are present, two pliers heads are operated by means of the handles to open or close a pliers mouth of two jaws respectively the opening and the closing of the forceps jaw can be carried out simultaneously by each pair of jaws.

A pliers known as grip pliers can be adjusted by means of an adjusting screw to an opening width and clamped in this position on the workpiece. The grip pliers are loosened by an additional lever, which in turn overcomes the dead center. The US 72 37 425 B1 discloses a based on this principle of Gripzange double pliers, the independently operable, each connected to a pressure plate lever can be pressed against a common abutment.

In fact, this pair of pliers is a replaceable head, because only one head is in operational readiness, so that only results in an alternative use.

Furthermore, devices of the type in question are known DE 37 39 669 A1 . US Pat. No. 4,725,049 . US 1 539 526 A . US Pat. No. 6,145,823 as well as US 1365 227 A ,

Accordingly, from the prior art devices of the type in question for particular temporary fixation or manipulation of objects, in particular objects, which are equipped with at least two heads, each head having two relatively movable active surfaces. Further, devices of the type in question are equipped with a means for introducing an active force, wherein the respective active surfaces of the adjacent heads are connected to each other, that the rear-side effective surface of the first head is immovably connected to the front-side active surface of the second head.

The invention is based on the object to provide a way to allow a reliable transmission of the active force on the object by means of all effective surfaces.

This object is achieved with a device according to the features of claim 1. The further embodiment of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, therefore, a device is provided in which the respective active surfaces of the adjacent heads are connected to one another in a row arrangement such that the rear-side effective surface of the first head is immovably connected to the front-side active surface of the second head. The The invention is based on the recognition that the transmission of the active force on the object then takes place in an optimal manner, when the active surfaces of the two heads are not parallel as in the prior art, so weggesteuert move, but the heads rather connected in a series circuit and therefore there is a force balance between the two heads. The application of the device according to the invention is not limited to tongs for holding or manipulating, for example, the movement of objects. Rather, the device opens up a variety of applications as a lifting device in conjunction with automated or mechanized systems, such as crane hook or gripping device in Scherenarmmanipulatoren but also as a vise or as a kitchen appliance. In this case, the first arm is connected exclusively to the front-side active surface of the first head and the second arm is connected exclusively to the rear-side effective surface of the second head. In the context of the present invention, the front and back active surfaces are to be understood as an arrangement opposite to the object, that is to say on both sides.

The compensation of the active force is effected by means of the connecting element, by which the rear-side effective surface of the first head and the front-side active surface of the second head are immovably connected, regardless of the respective opening angle of the two heads, so even such objects whose thickness in the range of different Heads is different, or curved surfaces that have no common plane in the head, reliable and burdened with the same potency.

The connecting element may have an almost arbitrary shape, which is suitable to transmit the active force between the active surfaces of the two heads. In this case, the connecting element is not actuated directly, but only indirectly charged with the active force. In contrast, a modification in which the connecting element is arranged at least in sections parallel, in particular coaxial to a joint axis of the joint, and thus permits an extremely compact design, is particularly practical.

In this case, according to a further particularly practical modification, the connecting element have a receptacle for a joint axis of the joint, so that therefore the connecting element as a central element, the active surfaces connects and has the hinge axis, so that only the arms must be supplemented with the corresponding active surfaces. The design effort can be further reduced.

The active surfaces could be arranged to be movable in parallel relative to one another, as is desirable, for example, in the case of a vice, but also in the case of many holding devices and fixing devices. For this purpose, for example, a parallelogram can be provided. Another particularly simple modification, however, is realized in that the active surfaces are arranged pivotally to each other.

The invention can be advantageously realized even in such variants, which have only a one-sided lever arm, so that therefore the joint is arranged on an opposite end of the active surfaces of the lever arm. The application is essentially optimal for those applications in which the increase in force according to the leverage laws is not required. On the other hand, modifications in which the arms are each designed as two-sided lever arms are particularly promising. As a result, an increase in the force can be achieved in a conventional manner and the invention thus be used in almost all known per se pliers, scissors or similar devices.

To increase the power, it is recommended according to another particularly promising modification, when the joint is designed as a multi-joint, as is known and desired, for example, in principle bolt cutters, so that according to the invention, for example, by the parallel introduction allows a nearly matching separation or cutting force becomes.

Furthermore, it proves to be particularly useful if the device has an adjusting means for fixing the active surfaces in a particular arbitrary relative position. As a result, the force required to hold or fix the object can be held by the actuating means according to the principle of a grip pliers, so that a temporary connection without further manual application of force is achieved. The handling of the device is so much easier.

In another likewise particularly practical modification in which the joint has a joint axis and a plurality of joint receptacles for fixing the relative distance of at least one effective surface of the joint in different positions, the opening width between the active surfaces can be adjusted and the active surfaces are applied so almost parallel to the object. Due to the achievable surface contact of the active surfaces, the transmission of the active power is substantially optimized.

In this case, the device can be designed both for manipulation, ie the deformation or actuation of the object, as well as for temporarily holding an object, which are embodiments of the device for practical use own, in which the device is designed as a pair of pliers. Merely by way of example, the combination, forging or long-nosed pliers should be mentioned among the almost any designs.

A contrast modified embodiment of the invention is achieved when the device is designed as a particular intended for industrial applications lifting device, so that the device is not only suitable for manual operation, but also opens up a variety of uses in automated applications. Conceivable are applications for robotic grippers as well as scissor lifts.

Since the movement of the active surfaces is not path-dependent, ie parallel, the heads do not move at the same time during opening and closing in practice. In order to facilitate the opening of the two heads, it is therefore advantageous if the active surfaces are mutually movably arranged against the restoring force of at least one spring element, so that the opening movement is supported by the spring element, preferably the spring element of the respective head, and thereby takes place almost simultaneously.

Furthermore, it proves to be practical if at least one active surface is arranged on a gripping jaw which can be fixed in different positions in order thus to be able to set an orientation which can be brought into agreement with the main extension of the object.

In order to adapt to different textures of the surface of the object or to compensate for the opposite of the main extension plane of the object offset closing plane of the paired active surfaces of the two heads have according to a further particularly useful embodiment, at least one Active surface of the first head on its side facing away from the active surfaces of the second head and / or facing edge region of the contact surface a rounding or angulation. Due to the rounded contact surfaces, the holding force can be optimized and at the same time reliably avoid undesired damage to the surface of the object.

In another, likewise particularly expedient modification, the device has a stop limiting the opening width between the active surfaces of at least one head. As a result, the opening width when releasing the active surfaces of the object is limited, so that the entrainment effect for the last-opening head occurs early. For this purpose, for example, the stop can be fixed as required in different positions and, for example, be infinitely adjustable.

The device could be used to transmit an opening force to the object, for example, to open retaining rings. On the other hand, a modification in which the active force is directed in the direction of action of the respective opposing active surface of the same head, in order to be able to transmit a holding or deforming force to the object enclosed between the active surfaces, is particularly meaningful.

Of course, the heads can be designed coincidentally or in mirror-symmetrical form. Another also particularly useful modification is achieved when the heads have a different shape of their active surfaces.

As a result, several operations can be summarized by the execution of the device in the device and the implementation can be significantly simplified. In particular, the apparatus may have one head for fixing and the other head for cutting the object.

• Fig. 1 eine Prinzipskizze einer Zange mit zwei Köpfen nach dem Stand der Technik in einer Draufsicht;
• Fig. 2 die in der Figur 1 gezeigte Zange nach dem Stand der Technik in einer Vorderansicht;
• Fig. 3 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung eine erfindungsgemäße, als Schmiedezange ausgeführte Vorrichtung;
• Fig. 4 die in der Figur 3 gezeigte Schmiedezange in einer Vorderansicht;
• Fig. 5 eine Abwandlung der in der Figur 3 gezeigten Zange mit einer Abrundung der Anlagefläche;
• Fig. 6 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung eine weitere, als Spitzzange ausgeführte Vorrichtung;
• Fig. 7 die einzelnen Bauelemente der in der Figur 6 gezeigten Spitzzange jeweils in einer Draufsicht oder einer Seitenansicht;
• Fig. 8 eine Prinzipskizze einer weiteren Vorrichtung mit relativ zueinander mittels einer Gewindespindel verschiebbaren Wirkflächen in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;
• Fig. 9 eine Prinzipskizze einer weiteren Vorrichtung mit relativ zueinander mittels einer Pneumatik verschiebbaren Wirkflächen in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;
• Fig. 10 eine Abwandlung der Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 8 in einer Draufsicht.

The invention allows for various embodiments. To further clarify its basic principle, one of them is shown in the drawing and will be described below. This shows in

• Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of a pliers with two heads according to the prior art in a plan view;
• Fig. 2 the in the FIG. 1 shown prior art pliers in a front view;
• Fig. 3 in a perspective view of an inventive, executed as a blacksmith tongs device;
• Fig. 4 the in the FIG. 3 Forged tongs shown in a front view;
• Fig. 5 a modification of the in the FIG. 3 pliers shown with a rounding of the contact surface;
• Fig. 6 in a perspective view of another, designed as a pair of long nose pliers device;
• Fig. 7 the individual components of the FIG. 6 shown needle nose pliers each in a plan view or a side view;
• Fig. 8 a schematic diagram of another device with relative to each other by means of a threaded spindle sliding active surfaces in a perspective view;
• Fig. 9 a schematic diagram of another device with relatively movable by means of a pneumatic active surfaces in a perspective view;
• Fig. 10 a modification of the device according to FIG. 8 in a top view.

The Figures 1 and 2 show in plan view and in a front view a pair of pliers 1 with two heads 2, 3 as known from the prior art. The heads 2, 3 are arranged parallel to each other such that the active surfaces 4, 5, 6, 7, which are designed here as flat jaws, always perform a parallel, ie matching movement. In this case, a respective lever arm 8 is assigned to the two upper active surfaces 4, 6 and a further lever arm 9 to the two lower active surfaces 5, 7 of the parallel heads 2, 3 with respect to an object 10. The advantage of such a forceps 1 lies in the two points of attack 11, 12, which allow safe handling of the object 10, in particular a better transmission of occurring torques.

However, as in the FIG. 2 can be clearly seen, this advantage is not achieved in such objects 10, which in the region of the two heads 2, 3 each have a different material thickness d, D, because then only in the range of single of the two heads 2, 3 a positive connection can be realized.

This disadvantage is with a in the FIG. 3 shown in a perspective view, according to the invention designed as Schmiedezange device 13 avoided. This device 13 for temporary fixing of the object 10 also has a first head 14 and a second head 15. Each head 14, 15 are two, connected by a hinge 16, 17, relatively movable, the object 10 in the fixation or manipulation between them enclosing front and back active surfaces 18, 19, 20, 21 assigned. In this case, however, a first arm 22 is connected exclusively to the front-side active surface 18 of the first head 14 and a second arm 23 exclusively to the rear-side effective surface 21 of the second head 15. The connection of the rear effective surface 19 of the first head 14 with the front-side active surface 20 of the second head 15, however, is achieved by a connecting element 24, which is realized by a one-piece design of the active surfaces 19, 20 and the connecting element 24. For the respective active surfaces 18, 19, 20, 21 of the adjacent heads 14, 15 thus results in a series arrangement, so that a balance of the active force between the two heads 14, 15 takes place automatically.

In particular, there is no positively driven parallel movement of the active surfaces 18, 19, 20, 21, so that as in the FIGS. 4 and 5 to recognize a reliable transmission of the active force by a uniform contact all surfaces 18, 19, 20, 21 results in the object 10, if this in the region of the two heads 14, 15 each have a different thickness d, D, or as in the FIG. 5 shown, with respect to a plane of the joints 16, 17 inclined course. For this purpose, the in the FIG. 5 shown variant of the active surfaces 18, 19, 20, 21 of the two heads 14, 15 at their opposite and facing edge regions of their contact surfaces a rounding 24a.

In FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another, designed as a long-nosed device 25 can be seen. Shown is a position when opening the device 25, in which, due to the series connection according to the invention, the parallel heads 26, 27 do not open at about the same time but in succession. A connecting element 28, which immovably connects the rear-side effective surface 29 of the first head with the front-side active surface 30 of the second head, is included as a coaxial with a hinge axis 31 of the joint 32 arranged molding.

The individual components of in FIG. 6 shown device 25 are in FIG. 7 shown in a plan view or a side view. The connecting element 28 embodied as a molded part can be seen with the rear active surface 29 of the first head 26 formed thereon and the front active surface 30 of the second head 27. Furthermore, the connecting element 28 already carries the joint axis 31 for receiving the two arms 33, 34 For this purpose, in each case a corresponding for receiving the hinge axis 31 certain opening 35 has.

FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the device 36 according to the invention in a perspective view, in which the relatively movable active surfaces 37, 38 are arranged displaceably in a guide 39. The guide 39 is provided for this purpose on a connecting element 40 of the device 36, which has the groove-shaped recess for the movable active surfaces 37, 38, which are arranged relative to each other by means of a threaded spindle 41 slidably. At this connecting element 40, the remaining, the abutment-forming active surfaces 42, 43 are arranged in different positions fixed or interchangeable.

Similarly, another device 44 is constructed, which is based on a schematic diagram in FIG. 9 is shown in more detail. On the connecting element 40 are equipped with rod-shaped projections, telescopically slidable active surfaces 37, 38 and fixed to the connecting element 40 further active surfaces 42, 43 are arranged, wherein the active force is introduced by means of a pneumatic drive, not shown. Due to the z-shaped design of the active surfaces 37, 38 each form a movable active surface 37, 38 together with serving as an abutment immovable active surface 42, 43 a head 45, 46 in a floating arrangement, so that an automatic force balance of the introduced force between the heads 45th , 46 takes place.

FIG. 10 shows a modification of the device 36 according to FIG. 8 in a top view. The mutually movable active surfaces 37, 38 are connected to the active surfaces 42, 43 of the adjacent heads in pairs additionally by a respective, can be applied against the object on the front or back molding 47 with each other. For this purpose, the molding 47 in particular arranged movably on the active surfaces 37, 38, 42, 43 by means of a respective joint 48. By means of this device 36, which is only shown here in accordance with its principle, an excavator bucket for receiving bulk material can be realized, for example, in which the mutually pivotable blade halves are each formed by one of the shaped bodies 47.

Claims (25)

1. A device (13, 25, 36, 44) intended, in particular, to temporarily fix or manipulate objects (10), in particular articles, with at least two heads (14, 15, 26, 27, 45, 46), wherein each head (14, 15, 26, 27, 45, 46) has two active surfaces (18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30, 37, 38, 42, 43) movable relative to each other, and equipped with a means for applying an active force, wherein the respective active surfaces (18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30, 37, 38, 42, 43) of the adjacent heads (14, 15, 26, 27, 45, 46) are connected so that the active surface (19, 29, 42) on the rear side of the first head (14, 26, 45) is immovably connected to the active surface (20, 30, 43) on the front side of the second head (15, 27, 46), characterised in that the respective active surfaces (18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30, 37, 38, 42, 43) of the adjacent heads (14, 15, 26, 27, 45, 46) are connected in a series arrangement.
2. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to claim 1, characterised in that the means for applying an active force has two arms (22, 23, 33, 34), in each case designed in particular as double-sided lever arms.
3. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the means has lever arms for the manual application of the active force.
4. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the means has a pneumatic and/or hydraulic drive or a threaded spindle (41) drivable by an electric motor.
5. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the active surfaces movable relative to each other (18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30, 37, 38, 42, 43) are pivotably connected by a joint (16, 17, 32).
6. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the active surfaces movable relative to each other (37, 38) are movably provided in a guide (39).
7. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the active surface (19, 29, 42) on the rear side of the first head (14, 26, 45) is immovably connected by a connecting element (24, 28, 40) to the active surface (20, 30, 43) on the front side of the second head (15, 27, 46).
8. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to claim 7, characterised in that at least one active surface (42, 43) on the connecting element (24, 28, 40), which at the same time has the guide (39) for the active surfaces movable relative to each other (37, 38), is fixably provided in different positions.
9. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the connecting element (24, 28, 40), at least in sections, is provided parallel, in particular coaxial, to a joint axis (31) of the joint (16, 17, 32).
10. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to claim 7, 8 or 9 characterised in that the connecting element (24, 28, 40) has a joint axis (31) and/or a receiver for a joint axis (31) of the joint (16, 17, 32).
11. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the active surfaces (18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30, 37, 38, 42, 43) are pivotably provided relative to each other by means of a joint (16, 17, 32) designed in particular as a multiple joint.
12. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device (13, 25, 36, 44) has an adjusting means for fixing the active surfaces (18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30, 37, 38, 42, 43) in a particularly desired relative position.
13. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the joint (16, 17, 32) has a joint axis (31) and a plurality of joint receivers for the optional fixing of the relative distance of at least one active surface (18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30) from the joint (16, 17, 32) in different positions.
14. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device (13, 25, 36, 44) is designed in particular as tongs, to temporarily hold an article.
15. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device (13, 25, 36, 44) is designed as a lifting device intended in particular for industrial applications.
16. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the active surfaces (18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30, 37, 38, 42, 43) are provided movable relative to each other against the restoring force of at least one spring element.
17. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one active surface (18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30) is provided on a gripper jaw fixable in different positions.
18. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one active surface (18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30) of the first head (14, 26) has a rounding (24a) and/or angulation on its peripheral region of the contact surface facing away from and/or facing the active surfaces (18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30) of the second head (15, 27).
19. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device (13, 25) has a stop limiting the opening width between the active surfaces (18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30) of at least one head (14, 15, 26, 27).
20. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the active force is directed in the active direction of the respective opposing active surface (18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30) of the same head (14, 15, 26, 27).
21. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the active surfaces (18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30) of the heads (14, 15, 26, 27) are of differing shape.
22. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the respective rear and/or front active surfaces (37, 38, 42, 43) of the adjacent heads (45,46) are connected to each other by means of a shape body (47) placeable against the object (10) at the front or rear side thereof.
23. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to claim 22, characterised in that the shape body (47) is of flexible or elastic design.
24. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to claim 22 or 23, characterised in that the shape body (47) is movably connected to the respective rear or front active surfaces (37, 38, 42, 43), in particular by means of a joint (48).
25. Device (13, 25, 36, 44) according to at least one of claims 22 to 24, characterised in that the device is designed as an excavator shovel to receive, in particular, bulk material, with the halves of the shovel pivotable relative to each other in each case being formed by a shape body.

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