FR2780324A1 - POSITIONING, HOLDING OR TIGHTENING DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

A clamping device, in particular a body part, comprises a housing (1) containing a movable assembly 26 movable in translation. One end 26a of the movable assembly 26 is connected to an actuating means 25 and the other end 27 of the movable assembly 26 is connected to a clamping member 24. The housing 1 has two separate orifices 8, 9 and spaced apart, each capable of receiving a sensor 18, 19 for the position of the moving assembly 26 or of a rod 25a of the actuating means 25.

Description

The invention relates to a device for holding or tightening the device.

  to a holding or clamping positioning device, in particular for bodywork parts, of the type comprising a housing containing a movable element movable in translation, one end of the movable element being connected to an actuating means and the other end of the mobile equipment being connected to or

  forming a positioning, clamping or holding member.

  The means of actuating the movable assembly can be pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, electric cylinders, or any other suitable connection means capable of transmitting actuation forces. A first type of device used particularly for positioning is

  known to those skilled in the art as the "pilot carrier".

  A second type of device is known to those skilled in the art under

  the designation "toggle clamp".

  A third type of device is known to the skilled person under

  the designation "form ramp clamping".

  In the second and third types of device, the blocking of a holding or clamping arm is generally obtained in a position in which the clamping arm is substantially perpendicular to the force transmission axis of the means 2 0 d ' actuation All these devices are advantageously used in automobile construction, to maintain body parts or metal sheets during various operations of the stamping, welding, or any other deformation or

  intermetallic connection by machines, assembly or welding robots.

  In this application, there is also known the use of housings or modules comprising at least one position sensor of the mobile assembly or of a rod of the actuating means, so as to know the state of the device Generally, as described for example in the German utility model 9215151, the housing of the device is machined to open an elongated slot allowing the placement of adjustable capteums to determine or adjust the position of the organ of

  positioning, clamping or keeping in contact with body parts.

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  However, the presence of this elongated slot has the drawback of weakening the body or casing of the device or alternatively requires strengthening or

  to increase the thickness of this body or housing.

  The object of the invention is to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks, by proposing a new device offering good precision in adjusting the positioning, tightening, holding and hleration of body parts, by avoiding the machining of an elongated slot. likely to weaken the device or increase its manufacturing cost. The subject of the invention is a holding or clamping positioning device, in particular for a bodywork part, of the type comprising a housing containing a movable element movable in translation, one end of the movable element being connected to an actuating means and the other end of the moving element being connected to or forming a positioning, holding or clamping member, characterized in that the housing has two separate and spaced orifices, each capable of receiving a position sensor of the moving element or of a rod of the actuating means. According to other characteristics of the invention: the device comprises a detection module with two position sensors each inserted inside a said orifice of the housing; the orifices are arranged on the side of the rear fixing range of the device; The orifices are arranged on the side of a lateral area for fixing the device; the orifices are arranged at an angle on spaced chamfers formed between a lateral fixing range and the rear fixing range; - the position sensors are mounted on a rigid plate; - the rigid plate carries an electronic block; 2 5 - at least one plate or plate carrying at least one sensor is mounted on the stiff box with a fixing screw; - the rigid plate is pierced for the passage of fixing screws on a support, - the detection module has a dumbbell conformation with two blocks connected by an intermediate part;

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  The invention will be better understood thanks to the description which will follow given to

  by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 schematically represents a perspective view of a first

  embodiment of the device according to the invention.

  Figure 2 schematically shows a perspective view of a second

embodiment of the invention.

  FIG. 3 schematically represents a rear view according to arrow Ii of the

  Figure II of a device according to the invention.

  Figure 4 schematically shows a side view with partial section through

  a longitudinal median plane of the device of FIG. 2.

  Figure 5 schematically shows a perspective view of a third

  embodiment of the invention.

  Figure 6 schematically shows a side elevation view of a

  fourth embodiment of the invention.

  Figure 7 schematically shows a sectional view along line VII-

VII of figure 6.

  In Figure 1, a device housing according to the invention comprises two half

  boxes 1, 2 assembled one to the other by means of screws 3. The assembled box contains an internal movable element extended by an end 4 in the form of a square intended to receive a sen'age arm not shown. The housing has a front fixing face 5, two lateral fixing faces 6 and a rear face 7 for fixing to a support, not shown. On either side of the rear fixing range 7, two separate openings 8 and 9 are formed and spaced apart from one another. A detection module 10 is intended to be assembled to the housing by displacement in the direction of the arrow 11 and screwing of a screw 12 passing through an orifice 13 of the module in a thread 14 of the ari.re fixing range. The module 10 has substantially the form of a metal plate 15 at two ends 15a, 15b carrying an electronic unit 16 with a connector 17a and possibly light-emitting display diodes 17b. On the side opposite to the electronic unit 16, the plate 15 carries a first position sensor 18 and a

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  second position sensor 19. The position sensor 18 preferably detects the position of the moving assembly when the desired tightening, holding or positioning is obtained, while the sensor 19 detects the retraction of the rod of the means

  actuation in the event of release of the positioned, maintained or clamped part.

  The sensors 18 and 19 are shaped to engage in the orifices 8 and 9 until they come close to the targets, flags or elements whose position it detects, these elements, targets or flags being integral with the mobile equipment or the rod of the actuating means In FIG. 1, the detection module prohibits the use of the rear mounting area 7, due to the closure of the threads other than the thread 14 formed on

this rear fixing range.

  With reference to FIG. 2, the elements identical or functionally equivalent to the elements of FIG. 1 are identified by reference numbers

identical to those of figure 1.

  The difference between this second embodiment and the embodiment of FIG. 1 consists in a different conformation for the metal plate 15 of the detection module 10: in fact, this metal plate 15 has six orifices 20 in

  look of the threads or orifices 21 of the rear fixing area 7.

  By virtue of this arrangement, it is possible to mount the box stiffly from the rear fixing range 20 on a support not shown by positioning the corresponding fixing screws through the orifices 20 of the plate 15: thus, this plate 15 East

  trapped between the support, not shown, and the rear fixing area 7.

  In the case where the fixing is not carried out from the rear, the detection module 10 can advantageously be fixed to the housing by means of the screw 12 inserted at

  through the passage 22 and screwing into the internal thread 23 of the housing.

  In this second embodiment, it is therefore possible to use the attachment from the rear of the housing, this however necessitating trapping the plate 15 of the

  detection module 10 between the rear shelf 7 and the support, not shown.

  In FIGS. 3 and 4, elements identical or functionally equivalent to those of FIG. 2 are represented by reference numbers identical to those of

Figure 2.

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  The device comprises a clamping or holding arm 24 and an actuating means 25 arranged at the ends of a movable element 26. The jack 25 comprises a stem 25a into which is screwed a threaded rod 26a forming part of the movable element 26 comprising several articulated levers transforming the translational movement of the rod 25a of the jack 25 into a rotational movement of the clamping arm

24 around axis 27.

  The threaded rod 26a extends into a sleeve carrying a target, element or flag 26b, while the rod 25a carries a target element or flag 25b. The clamping position of the arm 24 is obtained when the cable 26b is facing the position sensor 18, so as to provide a detection signal to the electronic unit 16 to be transmitted using the connector 17a to a control means or control, of the programmable automaton type or equivalent Also, the target 25b is detected by the sensor 19 when the arm 24 is in the open or release position (not shown), so as to transmit an opening signal to the electronic unit 16 and to transmit this signal by the connector 17a or a cable directly connected to the block

  electronics 16, to a measurement center or a programmable controller not shown.

  With reference to FIG. 5, a third device housing according to the invention 30 is assembled from two half-housings 31, 32. The housing 30 has a lower orifice 33 for the passage of a rod of actuating means not shown and a clamping arm 34 mounted on a rotation shaft driven by an internal moving assembly. The housing also includes a front fixing face 35, two lateral fixing faces 36 and a rear fixing face 37. A row between a lateral face 36 and the bitter face 37 is formed a groove 38 intermediate between two chamfers 39 and 40 in which are made respectively holes 41 and 42 as well as threads 43 and 44. A detection module having a dumbbell conformation with an intermediate part 45 intended to be applied on the groove 38 and two blocks 46, 47 intended to be fixed respectively at the locations of the chamfers 40 and 39 is associated with the housing, so as to allow the detection of the position of the mobile assembly or of the rod of the actuation means. For this purpose, the block 46 comprises a plate 46a carrying a sensor for proximity 46b and a fixing screw 46c intended to cooperate with the bore 44, while

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  that the block 47 comprises a bevelled plate 48 with on the lower face equipped with proximity sensor 48a and on the upper face a connector 48b, a fixing screw 48c intended for Are screwed into the thread 43 and three light-emitting diodes 48d indicating the state of the device The third embodiment is advantageous in that it allows the device to be fixed on a support (not shown) using any fixing range without trapping the detection module. It is thus possible to replace the detection module.

  detection without removing the device from its support.

  Although it is possible to protect the detection module by a sheet which is not shown, sufficient rigidity could be obtained by overmolding the intermediate connecting part 45 containing a transmission cable between the detector 46b and

  the electronic unit 48 by means of a rigid synthetic material resistant to shocks.

  According to a variant not shown, use is made as intermediate portion 45 with flexible cable connecting the sensors 46b and 48a: this arrangement makes it possible to adapt the same

  detection module to different stroke devices.

  With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, a fourth embodiment of the invention comprises elements identical or functionally equivalent to those of FIGS. 1

  à4, which are identified by reference numbers identical to those of FIGS. 1 to 4.

  In this fourth embodiment, two bores 49 and 50 are formed in a half-housing 2 on the side of a lateral fixing range 6. The bores 49 and 50 receive proximity sensors 51 and 52 mounted on a plate 53 bearing a block 54 with a connector 55 and two light-emitting diodes 56 for indicating status. The aforementioned elements 51 to 56 form a detection module fixed at the stiff end of a via 58 screwed into a tapping 59 made in the half-housing 2. Thus, during the movement of the targets or flags 25b or 26b, the sensor 51 detects the position of the element 26b in the closed or soreage position, while the sensor 52 detects the position shown in dotted lines of the sensor 25b in the open or release position. The invention described with reference to several embodiments is in no way limited thereto, but on the contrary covers all modifications of form and all

  variant embodiments within the scope and spirit of the invention.

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Claims (10)

  1. Positioning, holding or clamping device, in particular of bodywork part, of the type comprising a housing (1-2, 31-32) containing a movable assembly (26) displaceable in translation, one end (26a) of the mobile assembly (26) being connected to an actuating means (25) and the other end (4, 27) of the mobile assembly (26) being connected to or forming a positioning, holding or clamping member (24 , 34), characterized in that the housing (1-2, 31-32) has two separate and spaced orifices (8, 9; 41, 42; 49.50), each capable of receiving a sensor (18, 19, 46b, 48a, 51, 52)   position of the moving element (26) or of a rod (25a) of the actuating means (25).   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device comprises a detection module (10, 45-48) with two sensors (18, 19, 46b, 48a, 51,   52) of position each inserted inside a said orifice (8,9; 41,42; 49,50) of the housing.   3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the orifices (8, 9) are arranged on the side of the area (7) for rear fixing of the device 4. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the orifices (49, 50) are arranged on the side of a lateral area (6) for fixing the device 5. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the openings (41, 42) are arranged at an angle on spaced apart chamfers (39, 40)   between a lateral fixing area (6) and the rear fixing area (7).   6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized   in that the position sensors (18, 19; 51, 52) are mounted on a rigid plate (15, 53)   7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the rigid plate (15,   53) carries an electronic unit (16, 54).   8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized   in that at least one plate (15, 53) or plate (46a) carrying at least one sensor   is mounted on the housing (1-2; 31-32) using the fixing screw (12, 58).   30 9. Device according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that the rigid plate (15) is pierced (20) for the passage of fixing screws on a support 8 2780324   10. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the detection module has a barbell configuration with two blocks (46, 47) connected by a intermediate part (45).