WO2021005424A1

WO2021005424A1 - Pneumatic linear slide actuator

Info

Publication number: WO2021005424A1
Application number: PCT/IB2020/054270
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Bellandi
Original assignee: GIMATIC S.r.l.
Priority date: 2019-07-05
Filing date: 2020-05-06
Publication date: 2021-01-14

Abstract

A pneumatic linear slide actuator is described, more commonly identified as pneumatic slide, comprising a body, inside which there is at least one cylindrical chamber, and a piston movable in the corresponding cylindrical chamber in response to the thrust applied by a pressurized fluid supplied to the cylindrical chamber itself from the outside; the pneumatic slide also comprises a header connected to the piston, or pistons if more than one, and susceptible of reciprocate movements with respect to the body between a proximal position and a distal position, an adjusting rod to adjust the end-of-travel, the former being threaded and housed in the body parallel to the cylindrical chamber, or cylindrical chambers if more than one, and at least one stop element, or spacer, arranged on the adjusting rod; in the distal position or in the proximal position of the header, the stop element is in abutment against an abutment surface of the body. Advantageously, in a first configuration, defined as locked, the at least one stop element is locked on the adjusting rod and is not susceptible of movements with respect to the latter, and in a second configuration, defined as tightened, the at least one stop element meshes the thread of the adjusting rod and a displacement of the stop element on the adjusting rod itself corresponds to a rotation of the adjusting rod.

Description

GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l.

Translation (Rule 12.3) 28 May 2020

PNEUMATIC LINEAR SLIDE ACTUATOR

DESCRIPTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pneumatic linear actuator, of the slide type.

State of the Art

In the field of the industrial automation the use is known of pneumatic linear slide actuators that are more commonly known by the name of pneumatic slides.

The pneumatic slides generally comprise a body, or slide, and a header connected to the body, reciprocally movable closer or away with respect to the body itself.

Inside the body one or more cylinder shaped chambers are obtained, to which a pressurized fluid, usually compressed air, is supplied from the outside.

In the chamber, or in each of the chambers if more than one, a piston is housed susceptible of reciprocate movements with respect to the body in response to a thrust applied by the pressurized fluid in the corresponding chamber.

For the sake of convenience reference will be made to the pneumatic slides already known to the art, comprising two chambers and two pistons, i.e. provided with a piston in each chamber; however what will be described in reference to the slides with two chambers can be also extended to the pneumatic slides provided with a single chamber or to those having three or more chambers.

The header is connected to the body just at the pistons. In particular, a guide pillar is fastened to each piston, the guide pillar being constrained, at an end thereof, to the respective piston positioned in the body of the pneumatic slide, and at the other end, to the header.

Since the header is rigidly connected to the pistons by means of the guide pillars, the away movement of the header with respect to the body GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. corresponds to the piston movement in a first direction, and the approaching movement of the header with respect to the body corresponds to the piston movement in a second direction opposite the first one.

In practice the header is movable with respect to the body between a proximal position and a distal position, and vice versa, in response to the reciprocate movements of the pistons in the respective chambers in the first direction, or in the opposite direction.

The pneumatic slides are used in the industrial automation just because the header can alternately move away or closer with respect to the body. Usually indeed, the pneumatic slide body is fastened to a support and the header is equipped with a tool, for example a clamp: it is thereby possible, for example, to alternately move a clamp closer or away with respect to a work surface to grip the pieces as they pass on the work surface and move them elsewhere.

It is clear however that there is the need of being able to adjust the header travel with respect to the body, i.e. to adjust the largest distance the header can be positioned with respect to the body when the header is pushed to distal position.

It is further convenient to emphasize that the travel adjustment has to be carried out accurately (fine adjustment) since the tool, or tools if more than one, is required to reach the predefined position with respect to the work surface or with respect to the piece to be moved, with as accurate as possible clearances.

For this reason the conventional pneumatic slides also comprise adjusting means to adjust the header travel. For example some known pneumatic slides comprise a decelerator or an adjustment screw combined with a corresponding locking nut that allow, indeed, the distal position the header can reach to be adjusted. Such adjusting means are positioned at the side of the distal body of the header and protrude with respect thereto in opposite direction with respect to the header itself, i.e. protrude outwards and thus increase the slide size; adjusting the travel of the header occurs by screwing or GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. unscrewing such adjusting means with respect to the body such that they are protruding from the slide body proportionally to the travel of the header.

The larger thus the travel of the header, the larger the length by which the adjusting means protrude with respect to the body.

This aspect is for sure a drawback since it limits the possibility of adjusting the header travel along the whole length that would allow the pistons’ travel. In fact, in order to prevent that the adjusting means excessively protrude from the body, such pneumatic slides are arranged such that the header travel is smaller than the maximum allowed by the pistons’ travel. Therefore, since in the working environments of the industrial automation excessive size are not advisable, the conventional pneumatic slides allow the header travel to only be adjusted by 10-20% of the maximum possible travel.

Other known pneumatic slides are provided with adjusting means to adjust the travel of the header, which are arranged as a block fitted on a respective rod and provided with two lockable portions, by means of one or more screws, on the rod itself.

Essentially, depending on how much the two portions are kept mutually spaced, the block is lockable by an operator on the rod or released to be displaced on the latter such to adjust the travel of the header. Such solutions are described in EP 1 306 563, JP S58 112704, JP H8 8324, JP S57 127905, US 4 736 675. Another type of pneumatic slide is described in JP S62 40306.

In US 2016/153480 a pneumatic slide is furthermore described, which is provided with two threaded rods fastened to the header and on which header adjusting means shaped as nuts, also threaded, are fitted. Such nuts are arranged movable on the respective threaded rod in response to a rotation applied to each nut by an operator, in order to adjust the travel of the header. Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pneumatic linear slide actuator that overcomes the drawbacks of the conventional solutions, which is easy to implement, which is compact also when the travel of the header is the GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. largest and that allows easily, quickly and accurately adjusting the travel of the header.

The invention thus relates to a pneumatic linear slide actuator, hereinafter identified as pneumatic slide, according to claim 1.

The pneumatic slide according to claim 1 comprises a body, or slide, provided with at least one cylindrical chamber, and a piston movable in the respective cylindrical chamber in response to the thrust applied by a pressurized fluid supplied to the cylindrical chamber from the outside.

The slide further comprises a header connected to the piston, or pistons if more than one, an adjusting rod of the end-of-travel and at least one stop element, or spacer.

The header is susceptible of reciprocate movements with respect to the body, corresponding to the displacements applied to the piston, or pistons, between a proximal position and a distal position to the body itself, and the adjusting rod of the end-of-travel is threaded and housed in the body parallel to the cylindrical chamber, or chambers if more than one.

The at least one stop element in abutment against an abutment surface of the body corresponds to the header in distal position or proximal position. In other words, the stop element, depending on where it is arranged on the adjusting rod and depending on the abutment surface against which it abuts, defines the proximal position, and in this case it will be identified as spacer, or the distal position of the header with respect to the body.

Advantageously, in a first configuration, defined as locked, the at least one stop element is locked on the adjusting rod and is not susceptible of movements with respect to the latter, and in a second configuration, defined as tightened, the at least one stop element meshes the thread of the adjusting rod, and a displacement of the stop element on the adjusting rod itself corresponds to a relative rotation of the adjusting rod.

In practice, in the first configuration the stop element is locked on the adjusting rod without being able to move with respect to the latter, and in the GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. second configuration the stop element is instead movable on the adjusting rod in response to a relative rotation between the adjusting rod and the stop element itself.

The herein described pneumatic slide offers firstly the advantage of being able to adjust the travel of the header with respect to the body more easily and quickly with respect to the conventional means and the already known pneumatic slides.

In fact, since the stop element is arranged on the adjusting rod in a first or second configuration, the pneumatic slide allows, when the stop element is in a locked configuration, to ensure that the travel of the header remains constant and does not vary during the work cycle, and allows, when the stop element is in the tightened configuration, the position of the stop element to be finely adjusted on the adjusting rod by applying a rotation of the adjusting rod itself.

The stop element allows an easier adjustment with respect to conventional locking means, for example consisting in a nut and a lock nut, since it does not require the use of bulky tools, such as for example keys, to lock or unlock such locking means to/from the adjusting rod.

Furthermore, the herein described pneumatic slide is compact also when the travel of the header is the largest allowed by the piston, or pistons if more than one, travel.

In fact, the adjusting rod of the end-of-travel is housed in the body and does not protrude from the side of body opposite the header, not even when it is rotated to adjust the position of the stop element. Therefore, the pneumatic slide herein described allows the travel of the header to be adjusted to the largest distance allowed by the pistons without causing additional space bulks like the conventional adjusting means.

Preferably, the at least one stop element is lockable on the adjusting rod in response to a force provided by an operator. In other words, the stop element can move from the tightened configuration to the locked configuration, i.e. can be made integral with the adjusting rod, in response to a force applied by an GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. operator to the stop element itself. Similarly, the stop element can also be unlocked from the adjusting rod in response to a force applied by an operator, and therefore can switch from the locked configuration to the tightened configuration upon a force applied by an operator.

Preferably the stop element comprises a first portion and a second portion movable between a mutually close position and a mutually spaced position, and vice versa. Essentially the two portions in the mutually close position correspond to the stop element in the locked configuration and the two portions in the mutually spaced position correspond to the stop element in the tightened configuration.

Preferably the at least one stop element is provided with a first threaded through hole obtained in parallel to the adjusting rod of the end-of-travel and to the at least one cylindrical chamber; essentially the first hole is obtained longitudinally in the at least one stop element.

Preferably the first portion and the second portion are arranged opposite with respect to the first hole: in the locked configuration the first portion and the second portion are in a mutually close position and the at least one stop element is locked on the adjusting rod without being able to move with respect thereto, and in the tightened configuration the first portion and the second portion are in a mutually spaced position and the at least one stop element meshes the thread of the adjusting rod at the first hole, being able to rotate on the thread.

Preferably the first hole is defined by the first portion and the second portion.

Preferably the at least one stop element is at least partially elastically deformable, i.e. it can be elastically deformable or can be partially elastically deformable, between the locked configuration, at which the first portion and the second portion are in the mutually close position, and the tightened configuration, at which the first portion and the second portion are in the mutually spaced position, and vice versa. In other words, the first and the GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. second portions are arranged in the mutually spaced position in response at least to the spring back of the at least one stop element.

Optionally, the at least one stop element comprises a hinge and the first portion and the second portion are hinged to the hinge and rotatable with respect to one another between the mutually close position, at which the at least one stop element is in the locked configuration, and the mutually spaced position, at which the at least one stop element is in the tightened configuration, and vice versa. In other words the stop element opens and closes book-like between the locked position and the tightened position, and vice versa.

Preferably the pneumatic slide comprises coupling means to couple the first portion to the second portion, and preferably in the locked configuration of the at least one stop element, the coupling means hold the first portion and the second portion integral with the adjusting rod, and in the tightened configuration the coupling means hold the first portion and the second portion meshed onto the adjusting rod.

In the preferred embodiment, the coupling means comprise at least one second hole obtained in the first portion, at least one third hole obtained in the second portion and a screw screwable in the at least one second hole and at least one third hole; preferably, the at least one second hole and the at least one third hole are obtained transversely with respect to the adjusting rod of the end-of-travel and the screw screwed in the at least one second hole and at least one third hole corresponds to the at least one stop element in locked configuration, and the screw unscrewed or partially unscrewed from the at least one second hole or at least one third hole corresponds to the at least one stop element in tightened configuration.

Such a characteristic offers the advantage of allowing an easy and fast switching from the locked configuration to the tightened configuration, and vice versa: it is in fact enough for an operator to unscrew or screw the screw from/in the respective holes.

In case the at least one stop element is only partially elastically flexible GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. between the locked configuration and the tightened configuration, the first portion and the second portion are arranged in the mutually spaced position in response to the spring back and in response to a force applied by an operator at the screw.

In another embodiment, the coupling means comprise a hooking element arranged on the first portion or the second portion and a fastening element arranged on the second portion or the first portion; in this embodiment, the hooking element is constrainable to the fastening element and, in the at least one stop element in the locked configuration, the hooking element is constrained to the fastening element and, in the stop element in the tightened configuration, the hooking element is not constrained to the fastening element but is separated therefrom.

Preferably the at least one stop element can be arranged on the adjusting rod in a third configuration defined as open, at which the at least one stop element is fitted on the adjusting rod with clearance, without meshing the its thread, and is slidable along the stationary adjusting rod in response to a force manually applied thereon by an operator.

If the stop element comprises a first portion and a second portion mutually movable closer or away as described above, in the stop element in open configuration the first and the second portions are arranged mutually at a distance larger than that they take when the stop element is in tightened configuration.

When the stop element is in the open configuration, is can be easily and quickly positioned by an operator approximatively in the desired position without the need of acting on other components of the pneumatic slide: it is indeed enough that the operator slides the stop element along the same adjusting rod, for example by hand. This allows saving lot of time, since such an approximate adjustment is rapid and is manually carried out without applying rotations to the adjusting rod.

Therefore, an operator can adjust first approximatively the position of the GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. stop element, by prearranging the stop element in open configuration on the adjusting rod, and then finely prearranging the stop element in tightened configuration on the end-of-travel rod.

Preferably the at least one stop element in the open configuration defines an interstice with the adjusting rod and, for this reason, does not mesh the thread thereof but is fitted on the same with clearance.

Preferably the at least one stop element is provided with a shock absorbing element and the shock absorbing element in abutment against an abutment surface of the body corresponds to the header in proximal position or in distal position.

Preferably the body is provided with a guide obtained in parallel to the at least one chamber, i.e. in longitudinal direction, and preferably at least one stop element is housed in the guide: the guide makes a shape coupling with at least one part of the outer surface of the at least one stop element housed within the same.

In other words, the at least one stop element, in cross section, has an outer perimeter of polygonal shape, for example it is prismatic, and the guide obtained in the body has a shape complementary to at least one part of the outer perimeter of the stop element, such to prevent the stop element from accidentally rotating on the end-of-travel rod in response to external forces acting on the pneumatic slide. This way the displacement of the at least one stop element on the rod, and thus the adjustment of the travel of the header, is prevented from occurring inadvertently due to forces applied to the slide during the normal work cycle.

Preferably the guide comprises a first end proximal to the header and a second end distal to the header. In the preferred embodiment a stop element is housed in the guide and is susceptible of reciprocate movements in longitudinal direction, i.e. parallel to the adjusting rod, and the stop element in abutment against the first end of the guide corresponds to the header in distal position and the stop element in abutment against said second end or in intermediate GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. position between the first end and the second ends of the guide corresponds to the header in proximal position.

Preferably the guide is a window at which the stop element is accessible from the outside by an operator.

In other words, in case the operator has to apply a force to the stop element, he can access to the stop element itself at such a window.

In another embodiment a stop element is fitted on the adjusting rod between the header and the body, such to adjust the proximal position of the header. In this embodiment the stop element can be better identified by the name of spacer, since it is not intended to adjust the end-of-travel of the header. In fact the spacer in abutment against the body corresponds to the header in proximal position and the spacer not in abutment against the body but separated from the same corresponds to the header in distal position.

It is therefore clear that the same stop element can adjust the distal position of the header if positioned within the body or can adjust the proximal position of the header if positioned outside the body in intermediate position between the header and the body itself.

The adjusting rod can be entirely threaded and be inserted in a corresponding properly shaped hole obtained in the header, or preferably the adjusting rod comprises a threaded portion on which the stop element is fitted, and a portion, hereinafter identified as insert, at which the adjusting rod is inserted in the header.

Preferably the adjusting rod can be made in a single piece, i.e. the insert is made in a single piece with the threaded portion; alternatively the adjusting rod is made in two pieces, i.e. the insert is not made in a single piece with the threaded portion but can be juxtaposed or separated to/from the latter.

Preferably the adjusting rod extends along an axis and is rotatable with respect to the header on said axis in response to a force applied to the adjusting rod itself by an operator. In practice the adjusting rod is susceptible of rotations, with respect to the header, on an axis parallel to the cylindrical GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. chamber, or cylindrical chambers if more than one. This characteristic offers the advantage of easily and quickly adjusting the travel of the header, since in order to position the stop element in the predefined position it is enough that the operator rotates the adjusting rod on its own axis, without the need of applying rotations directly to the stop element. The advantage is observed especially in case the stop element is housed in the body of the pneumatic slide, since the bulks of the other components would prevent the stop element from easily rotating.

Preferably the adjusting rod is idly and rotatably mounted with respect to the header, i.e. is rotatably mounted with respect to the header without the adjusting rod being able to get disassembled therefrom in response to the rotations applied to the adjusting rod itself. In practice, to the unscrewing, disassembling or separation of the adjusting rod from the header does not correspond the rotation of the adjusting rod itself. For this purpose, preferably, the insert of the adjusting rod has a smooth surface, i.e. is not threaded, and is inserted in a corresponding hole obtained in the header, the hole also having a smooth, thread-free surface.

In case the adjusting rod is made in a single piece, the adjusting rod is rotatable with respect to the header at the insert, i.e. the insert and the threaded portion rotate together with respect to the header.

Instead, in case the adjusting rod is made in two pieces, the adjusting rod is rotatable with respect to the header, meaning that the threaded portion is rotatable with respect to the insert, which remains stationary and constrained to the header.

Preferably the header is connected to the piston, or to each piston if more than one, by means of a guide pillar. In practice the guide pillar, or the guide pillars transfer the reciprocate movements of the piston, or pistons, to the header.

Preferably the body of the pneumatic slide comprises a first cylindrical chamber and a second cylindrical chamber and the adjusting rod is arranged in GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. the lying plane of the cylindrical chambers.

Such an arrangement confers particular compactness and lightness to the pneumatic slide since it allows the volume of the body of the slide itself to be limited.

Preferably the pneumatic slide comprises a control system to control the position of the piston, and thus the header. In practice the pneumatic slide comprises at least one groove in which a sensor can be inserted, and a magnet housed in the at least one cylindrical chamber; the magnet is movable in the at least one cylindrical chamber together with the piston in response to the thrust applied by a pressurized fluid and when the header is in distal position or in proximal position with respect to the body, the sensor detects the presence of the magnet and sends a corresponding signal to an external unit.

Therefore, preferably the at least one groove is obtained in proximal position to the at least one cylindrical chamber for allowing the position of the magnet in the cylindrical chamber to be detected.

Preferably the stop element in the tightened configuration is movable along the whole length of the adjusting rod, between a first position proximal to the header and a second position distal to the header, wherein a minimum travel of the header with respect to the body corresponds to the stop element in the first position and a maximum travel of the header with respect to the body corresponds to the stop element in the second position, and wherein the adjusting rod is housed in the body and does not protrude from the side of the body distal with respect to the header when an operator configures the travel of the header from the maximum to the minimum one, or vice versa.

In other words, the adjusting rod does not protrude from the side of the distal body to the header not even when the travel of the header goes from the maximum possible to the minimum possible in response to the rotations applied to the adjusting rod itself by an operator.

Brief list of the figures

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. evident by the review of the following specification of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments depicted for illustration purposes only and without limitation, with the aid of the attached drawings, wherein:

- figure 1 is a front partially sectional view of a first embodiment of a pneumatic linear slide actuator, or pneumatic slide, according to the present invention, in a first use status;

- figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pneumatic slide shown in figure 1 ;

- figure 3 is a front perspective view of the pneumatic slide shown in figure 1 ;

- figure 4 is a front perspective view of the pneumatic slide shown in figure 1 in a second use status;

- figure 5 is a front perspective view of a detail, in a first configuration, of the pneumatic slide shown in figure 1 ;

- figure 6 is a side sectional view of a detail, in a first configuration, of the pneumatic slide shown in figure 1 ;

- figure 7 is a front prospective view of a detail, in a second configuration, of the pneumatic slide shown in figure 1 ;

- figure 8 is a side sectional view of a detail, in a second configuration, of the pneumatic slide shown in figure 1 ;

- figure 9 is a schematic view of a detail, in a first configuration, of a second embodiment of a pneumatic linear actuator, or pneumatic slide, according to the present invention;

- figure 10 is a side sectional view of a detail, in a third configuration, of a third embodiment of a pneumatic linear actuator, or pneumatic slide, according to the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Figure 1 shows a pneumatic linear actuator 1 , hereinafter identified by the more commonly used name of pneumatic slide, comprising a body 2 and a header 3. The header 3 is arranged to be provided with one or more tools, such

- IB - GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. as for example grip clamps and jaws, not shown in the figures, while the body 2 is arranged to be fastened to a support, also not shown in the figures.

The body 2 is shaped as a rectangular parallelepiped, with two horizontal sides 4a, 4b parallel to one another and two vertical sides 4c, 4d parallel to one another. As it is shown in figure 1 , the two horizontal sides 4a, 4b have a length larger than the two vertical sides 4c, 4d and, in addition, the vertical side 4c is distal with respect to the header 3 while the vertical side 4d is proximal to the header 3.

In other words the header 3 is positioned at the vertical side 4d of the body 2.

In the embodiment herein described, the body 2 comprises in turn two cylindrical chambers extending longitudinally in the body 2, i.e. parallel to the horizontal sides 4a, 4b. The two chambers both lie a same plane identified as lying plane of the cylindrical chambers, which plane is orthogonal to the horizontal sides 4a and 4b. In particular, in the sectional portion of figure 1 , the first cylindrical chamber 5 is shown, which is obtained in proximal position with respect to the horizontal side 4a.

Remaining on figure 1 , it can be seen that a first piston 6 is housed within the cylindrical chamber 5, which piston is susceptible of longitudinal displacements inside the cylindrical chamber 5 in response to the thrust applied by a working fluid, for example compressed air, supplied to the cylindrical chamber 5 from the outside at the vertical sides 4c and 4d.

In practice the piston 6 is reciprocally movable with respect to the body 2 in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first one, parallel to the horizontal sides 4a, 4b.

The working fluid is supplied to the cylindrical chamber 5, for example by means of a duct 16 positioned at the vertical side 4c and that communicates the cylindrical chamber 5 with an external line supplying a working fluid. The cylindrical chamber 5 communicates with another external line which supplies a working fluid by means of a second duct, not shown in figure, positioned at the GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. vertical side 4d.

Essentially the piston 6 has of double-acting type and moves in the first direction in response to the thrust applied by the working fluid supplied by the duct 16 and in the second direction, opposed the first one, when the working fluid is supplied to the duct at the vertical side 4d.

By shifting our attention to figure 2, which shows an exploded view of the pneumatic slide 1 shown in figure 1 , it can be seen that at the piston 6 a magnet 33 is positioned, whose function will be described below, and that the pneumatic slide 1 comprises, in addition to the first piston 6 already mentioned above, also a second piston 7. The piston 7 is housed in a second cylindrical chamber, not shown in the figures, and is movable in the second cylindrical chamber similarly to what described referring to the piston 6.

In practice the pistons 6, 7 are movable between a position proximal to the vertical side 4c and a position distal to the vertical side 4c; in particular the piston positioning in a position distal to the vertical side 4c corresponds to the movement of the pistons 6, 7 in a first direction while the piston positioning in a position proximal to the vertical side 4c corresponds to the movement of the pistons 6, 7 in a second direction.

Remaining on figure 2 it can be observed that on the vertical side 4c, i.e. on the side opposite the vertical side 4d proximal to the header 3, two holes 8 are obtained: one at each of the first cylindrical chamber 5 and the second cylindrical chamber. When the pneumatic slide 1 is assembled, each hole 8 is sealed with a gasket 9, i.e. an O-ring, with a plug 10 and a Seeger ring 11.

The pneumatic slide 1 also comprises two guide pillars 12, 13 interposed between the pistons 6, 7 and the header 3. Each guide pillar 12, 13 has a first end 12a and 13a and a second end 12b and 13b.

In particular, the header 3 is connected to the pistons 6, 7 by means of the guide pillars 12, 13. Specifically, the ends 12b and 13b of the guide pillars 12, 13 are inserted in respective holes 20a, 20b obtained in the header 3 and the ends 12a and 13a are fastened, respectively, to the piston 6 and the piston GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l.

7.

The guide pillars 12, 13 therefore rigidly connect the pistons 6, 7 to the header 3 and transfer the reciprocate movement of the pistons 6, 7, in the respective cylindrical chambers, to the header 3. This way the movement away of the header 3 with respect to the body 2 corresponds to the movement of the pistons 6, 7 in the first direction and the approaching movement of the header 3 with respect to the body 2 corresponds to the movement of the pistons 6, 7 in the second direction opposite the first direction.

In other words, the header 3 is movable between a proximal position and a distal position, and vice versa, with respect to the body 2 in response to the movement of the pistons 6, 7 in the first direction and the second direction. In practice the header 3 in proximal position with respect to the body 2 corresponds to the pistons 6, 7 in proximal position with respect to the vertical side 4c, whereas the header 3 in distal position with respect to the body 2 corresponds to the pistons 6, 7 in distal position with respect to the vertical side 4c.

The away and approaching reciprocate movements of the header 3 with respect to the body 2 are used to move the tool, or tools if more than one, possibly constrained to the header 3, respectively, closer or away with respect to a work surface not shown in the drawings.

As previously mentioned, each first cylindrical chamber 5 and second cylindrical chamber is sealed at the vertical side 4c by a plug 10; at the vertical side 4d opposite the side 4c, such cylindrical chambers are instead sealed by means of a plain bearing, or bushing, 14, 15, and respective gaskets 21a, for example O-ring, and elastic elements 21 b that ensure both the sliding of the guide pillars 14, 15 with respect to the body 2 and the required sealing.

The guide pillars 14, 15, since fastened to the header 3, should in fact be able to slide with respect to the body 2 in the movements of the header 3 approaching or away with respect to the body 2 itself.

As can be seen in figure 1 , the pneumatic slide 1 also comprises an GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. adjusting rod 18 housed in the body 2 and on which a stop element 19 positioned inside a guide 26 is provided. In practice the guide 26 is a window obtained longitudinally in the body 2, i.e. parallel to the horizontal sides 4a and 4b of the body 2, and having a first end 26a proximal to the header 3 and a second end 26b distal with respect to the header 3. In other words the stop element 19, in the herein described embodiment, is not positioned outside the body 2 of the pneumatic slide 1 but inside the same, such to limit the space sizes.

The adjusting rod 18 extends along a longitudinal axis X-X parallel to the two cylindrical chambers 5, 6; in practice the adjusting rod 18 is interposed between the first cylindrical chamber 5 and the second cylindrical chamber and is positioned in the lying plane of the cylindrical chambers themselves.

This characteristic confers to the pneumatic slide 1 particular compactness since, by arranging the adjusting rod 18 on the same lying plane of the cylindrical chambers, a pneumatic slide having a limited thickness can be made, which is lighter and easier to use in tight workplaces.

Remaining on figure 2 it can be observed that the adjusting rod 18 comprises a threaded portion 22 and an insert 23. The insert 23 is positioned in the header 3 at a hole 24 obtained in the header 3 itself. For this reason the adjusting rod 18 moves longitudinally with respect to the body 2 following the movements of the header 3 with respect to the body 2 itself.

In the herein shown embodiment the adjusting rod 18 is made in a single piece, i.e. the insert 23 is in a single piece with the threaded portion 22. The adjusting rod 18 is rotatable on the longitudinal axis X-X in a first direction or a second direction opposite the first one, in response to a corresponding rotation applied by an operator. In practice the adjusting rod 18 idly rotates with respect to the header 3 at the insert 23, without screwing or unscrewing to/from the header 3 itself.

In another embodiment not shown in figure, the adjusting rod 18 is made in two pieces, i.e. the insert 23 and the threaded portion 22 can be juxtaposed GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. or separated to/from one another. Also in this case the adjusting rod 18 is rotatable with respect to the header 3, but meaning that the threaded portion 22 is pivoted on the insert 23 and is just the threaded portion 18 that is rotatable on the longitudinal axis X-X in a first direction or a second direction opposite the first one, in response to a corresponding rotation applied by an operator. In practice in this embodiment the insert 23 is the pivot respect to which the threaded portion 22 idly rotates on the axis X-X without being screwed or unscrewed with respect to the insert 23 itself.

It will be clearer below the usefulness of arranging the whole adjusting rod 18 idly rotatable with respect to the header 3 or the threaded portion 22 idly rotatable with respect to the insert 23.

As it can be seen in addition in figure 1 and figure 2, the threaded portion 22 comprises on its end opposite the one that is engaged on the insert 23 a shock absorbing element 25 intended to abut against the end 26b of the guide 26 when the header is in proximal position with respect to the body 2.

As mentioned above, on the adjusting rod 18 a stop element 19 is arranged: the stop element 19 defines the largest distance the header 3 can travel when it is in distal position with respect to the body 2.

This can be appreciated by the comparison between figures 3 and 4.

Figure 3 shows the header 3 in proximal position with respect to the body 2 and with the stop element 19 in position intermediate between the end 26a and the end 26b of the guide 26. Figure 4 shows instead the header 3 in distal position with respect to the body 2 and the stop element 19 in abutment against the end 26a of the guide 26 therefore acting as an abutment surface for the stop element 19.

Essentially, the pistons 6, 7 push the header 3 away with respect to the body 2 as long as the stop element 19 is not in abutment against the end 26a of the guide 26. Therefore the stop element 19 defines the distance taken by the header 3 in distal position with respect to the body 2, and for this reason the end-of-travel 19 is also defined spacer. GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l.

When the pneumatic slide 1 is operating, the stop element 19 does not modify its position with respect to the adjusting rod 18 but moves with the adjusting rod 18 itself: it is in fact required that when the pneumatic slide 1 is operating the header 3 travels always to the same distal position with respect to the body 2.

Since there is the need of adjusting the distal position taken by the header 3 with respect to the body 2, i.e. of modifying the travel of the header 3 away with respect to the body 2, the stop element 19 is arranged movable on the adjusting rod 18 in response to a force applied by an operator.

Before dealing with how the stop element 19 is arranged movable on the adjusting rod 18, the reader attention is drawn to figures 5-8 that show, in particular, the stop element 19.

From these figures it can be seen that the stop element 19 is a block comprising two opposite portions denoted in the corresponding figures by the reference numbers 28a and 28b. The two portions 28a and 28b can be defined as opposite with respect to the adjusting rod 18 on which, as described above, the stop element 19 is arranged.

Indeed the end-of-travel block 19 also comprises a longitudinal hole 29 visible in figure 10, defined by the two portions 28a and 28b and having a thread at which, as shown in figure 8, the end-of-travel block 19 meshes the adjusting rod 18.

In an embodiment the two portions 28a and 28b are elastically flexible in mutual approaching or away movement: from the comparison between figures 6 and 8 it can be seen that the end-of-travel block 19 is flexible between a first locked configuration on the adjusting rod 18, as shown in figure 6, wherein the portions 28a and 28b are in close position to one another and a second tightened configuration, shown in figure 8, wherein the portions 28a and 28b are in distal position from one another.

The configuration variation is obtained, in this embodiment, by means of a screw 30 screwable in a proper hole not visible in figure, obtained both in the GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. portion 28a and in the portion 28b in transverse direction with respect to the axis X-X of the adjusting rod 18.

In practice the screw 30 can be screwed by an operator both in the portion 28a and in the portion 28b such to cause the relative approaching between the portions 28a and 28b. The screw 30 is accessible by the operator since the end-of-travel block 19 is positioned in the body within the guide 26 that, as described above, is a window obtained in the body 2.

Of course, by unscrewing the screw 30 from the portion 28b, the two portions 28a and 28b are arranged in the mutually spaced position as a result of the spring back.

In practice, the screw 30 remains always screwed in the two portions 28a and 28b but the two portions 28a, 28b in the mutually close position and the stop element in locked configuration correspond to the screw completely screwed in the corresponding holes of the portions 28a and 28b, and the two portions 28a, 28b in the mutually spaced position and the stop element in tightened configuration correspond to the screw 30 partially screwed (or partially unscrewed) in the corresponding hole of the portion 28b.

As it can be seen by the comparison between figures 6 and 8, the end-of- travel block 19 in the locked configuration, i.e. with the screw 30 completely screwed in the portions 28a and 28b, is locked on the adjusting rod 18 whereas the end-of-travel block 19 in the tightened configuration, i.e. with the screw 30 partially unscrewed from the portion 28b, meshes the thread of the adjusting rod 18.

Since the stop element 19 is in the locked configuration integral with the adjusting rod 18, the displacement of the stop element 19 on the same adjusting rod 18 does not correspond to the rotation of the adjusting rod 18 on the axis X-X. In practice, the stop element 19 undergoes elastic deformation in response to the force applied by the screw 30 that does not allow the stop element 19 to rotate relative to the adjusting rod 18.

Essentially the locked configuration allows the stop element 19 to not GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. modify its position on the adjusting rod 18 while the pneumatic slide 1 is in operation: it is fundamental in fact that during the same work cycle the travel of the header 3 always remains constant over time.

The stop element 19 in tightened configuration, as mentioned above, meshes the adjusting rod: unlike the conformation of the stop element 19 in the locked configuration, the stop element 19 in tightened configuration is not deformed and therefore meshes the adjusting rod 18 with the possibility of rotating with respect to the latter.

In practice, the displacement of the stop element 19 in a first direction, for example away from the side 4c of the body 2, corresponds to the rotation of the adjusting rod 18 in a first direction, whereas the displacement of the stop element 19 in a second direction, for example approaching to the side 4c of the body 2, corresponds to the rotation of the adjusting rod 18 in a second direction.

In practice this configuration allows, when decided by an operator, the position of the stop element 19 on the adjusting rod 18 and, therefore, the travel of the header 3 to be modified with respect to the body 2.

From the above it is clear that the pneumatic slide 1 herein described allows the drawbacks of the above mentioned conventional pneumatic slides to be solved.

First of all, the adjusting rod 18 positioned within the body 2 allows the travel of the header 3 to be adjusted without affecting the compactness of the pneumatic slide 1 itself.

In fact, unlike what described referring to the conventional pneumatic slides, in the pneumatic slide 1 the adjusting rod 18 does not protrude from the side 4c of the body 2 distal to the headed 3 since it remains confined inside the body 2 also when the travel of the header 3 varies from the largest to the smallest one.

For example, by accounting that the stop element in the tightened configuration is movable on the adjusting rod 18 between a first position proximal to the header 3 and a second position distal to the header 3, if the GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. adjusting rod 18 allows the header 3 to have a travel from 1 mm to 100 mm, a travel of the header 3 of 1 mm corresponds to the stop element 19 in the first position, and a travel of the header 3 of 100 mm corresponds to the stop element 19 in the second position.

Thanks to the pneumatic slide 1 comprising the above described adjusting rod 18, no bulk is generated due to the travel of the header 3 varying from the largest of 100 mm to the smallest of 1 mm since the adjusting rod does never protrude over the side 4c of the body 2.

In practice an operator can adjust the travel of the header 3 from 1 mm to 2 mm, or to 60 mm, or to 100 mm, and vice versa, without additional bulks being generated.

In practice the pneumatic slide 1 allows the need of having the largest possible travel of the header 3 to be conjugated with the need of limiting the sizes.

Second, the herein described pneumatic slide allows the position of the stop element 19 to be adjusted easily and quickly.

Indeed since the stop element 19 is provided with two portions 28a, 28b that can be moved mutually closer or away, it allows the travel of the header 3 to be adjusted more easily and quickly with respect to what the conventional means consisting, for example, in a nut and a lock nut, would allow.

It would be difficult in fact for an operator to screw or unscrew by a key a nut from the respective lock nut positioned on an adjusting rod within a guide: it is of course more convenient to screw and unscrew one or more screws 30 inserted transversely in the two portions 28a, 28b as described above.

The herein described pneumatic slide also provides a control system to control the position of the header 3 with respect to the body 2. Returning to figure 2, it can in fact be seen that the pneumatic slide 1 has two grooves 32 obtained on the horizontal side 4a proximal to the first cylindrical chamber 5. In such grooves 32 a sensor, not shown in figure, can be inserted that detects the position of the magnet 33 in the first cylindrical chamber 5 and sends a signal to GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. an external control unit. As mentioned above, the magnet 33 is in fact positioned at the piston 6 in the first cylindrical chamber 5 and moves with the piston 6 in response to the thrust applied by the working fluid.

Optionally, the stop element 19 can comprise two screws 30 and 31 , as shown in figure 1 and 2, and not only one screw, to screw or unscrew, and thus approaching or moving away, the two portions 28a and 28b and to cause the switching from the locked configuration the tightened one and vice versa. In figure 2 it can be seen that the two screws 30 and 31 mesh corresponding threaded holes 30a, 30b obtained in the first portion 28a of the stop element 19; of course, corresponding threaded holes, not shown in figure, are also obtained in the second portion 28b.

In another embodiment not shown in the figures, the two portions 28a and 28b are only partially elastically flexible in the mutual movements of approaching and moving away.

In other words, the spring back only allows the partial mutual movement away between of two portions 28a and 28b once the screw 30 has been screwed from the corresponding hole of the portion 28b.

In this embodiment, since the spring back is not enough to ensure the repositioning of the stop element in tightened configuration, the two portions 28a and 28b are movable in the mutually spaced position in response to a force applied by the operator by means of the screw 30 in the direction opposite that of mutual approaching of the two portions 28a, 28b.

In another embodiment also not shown in the figures, to the tightened configuration and, therefore, to the two portions 28a, 28b in the mutually spaced position the screw 30 partially unscrewed from the portion 28b does not correspond, but the screw 30 completely unscrewed from the corresponding hole in the portion 28b corresponds.

Figure 9 shows instead a detail of a second embodiment of a pneumatic slide 1 which differs from the first embodiment described referring to figures 1 -8 just by how the coupling between the two portions 28a and 28b is obtained. GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l.

In figure 9 it can be seen that the stop element 19’ is provided with a hinge 34’ to which the two portions 28a and 28b are fastened and respect to which the two portions 28a and 28b are rotatable between the locked configuration and the tightened configuration and vice versa: specifically, in figure 9 the stop element 19’ is shown in locked configuration on the adjusting rod 18.

The stop element 19’ comprises a hook 35’ arranged, for example, on the portion 28a, intended to be inserted in a corresponding housing 36’ arranged, for example, on the portion 28b.

In practice, the portions 28a and 28b in mutually spaced position and the hook 35’ released from the corresponding housing 36’ correspond to the stop element in tightened configuration, while the portions 28a and 28b in close position and the hook 35’ inserted in the corresponding housing 36’ correspond to the stop element 19’ in locked configuration.

In this embodiment the two portions 28a and 28b are not required to be elastically flexible to allow the switching from the locked configuration to the tightened one, and vice versa, since the presence of the hinge 34’ allows the two portions to be opened book-like.

In other embodiments not shown in figure, the pneumatic slide comprises one or more stop elements positioned within the body of the pneumatic slide or outside the same.

For example a stop element 19, 19’ can be arranged on the adjusting rod 18 outside the body 2 between the header 3 and the body 2 itself and abut at the vertical side 4d such as to adjust the distance of the header 3 with respect to the body 2 not in the distal position but in the proximal one (for this reason the stop element has been identified as spacer).

Referring to figure 10 a detail of a third embodiment of the pneumatic slide 1 is described.

Figure 10 shows in fact a stop element 19” able to take a third configuration, defined as open. In this configuration the portions 28a and 28b GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. are mutually arranged at a distance larger than the one taken by the stop element 19” in the tightened position above described and the screw 30 is completely unscrewed from the portion 28b.

In fact, in figure 10 the presence can be seen of an interstice 37, not present in figure 8, between the adjusting rod 18 and the surface of the hole 29 defined by the two portions 28a, 28b.

The stop element 19” is in fact shaped such to be fitted with clearance on the adjusting rod 18, when in open configuration.

The stop element 19” in open configuration is manually slidable along the adjusting rod 18, that remains stationary, both in the first direction and the second direction, without the adjusting rod 18 requiring to be rotated.

In other words, the displacement of the stop element 19” to the open configuration is not subordinated to the rotation of the adjusting rod 18.

In practice the stop element in the open configuration is longitudinally slidable on the adjusting rod 18, in response to a force applied longitudinally to the stop element 19” by the operator, by hand.

From the above it is clear that the adjustment of the position of the stop element 19” can be carried out, if the stop element 19” is in the tightened configuration, by rotating the adjusting rod 18 or, if the stop element 19” is in the open configuration, by applying a force to the stop element 19” itself parallel to the axis X-X.

This double mode for adjusting the position of the stop element 19” allows the required accuracy in defining the position the header 3 has to take in distal position to be conjugated with the need of shorten the preparation times of the pneumatic slide itself between a work cycle and the subsequent one.

In fact, in case there is the need of varying the position of the stop element 19”, an operator provides to unscrew the screw 30 from the portion 28b and to position the stop element 19” in open configuration approximatively in the desired position by sliding the stop element 19” on the adjusting rod 18 (rapid adjustment) and then, in order to adjust the accurate position of the stop GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. element 19”, to screw the screw 30 in the portion 28b and to rotate the adjusting rod 18 in the first or second direction (fine adjustment).

In practice, unlike the pneumatic slides, the adjustment occurs by manually sliding the stop element 19” itself in a direction parallel to the axis X-X.

This allows the times required for positioning the stop element in the right position to be shortened since the time required for manually sliding the stop element on the adjusting rod is smaller than the time required to move the same by applying rotations to the adjusting rod.

Such advantage is due indeed to the stop element 19” being flexible between an open configuration and a closed configuration.

Claims

GIMA076BWO Gimatic S.r.l. CLAIMS

1. A pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) comprising:

- a body (2), or slide, inside which there is at least one cylindrical chamber (5);

- a piston (6, 7) movable in the respective cylindrical chamber (5) in response to the thrust applied by a pressurized fluid supplied to the cylindrical chamber (5) from the outside;

- a header (3) connected to the piston (6), or pistons (6, 7) if more than one, and susceptible of reciprocate movements with respect to the body (2), which movements correspond to the displacements provided to the piston (6), or pistons (6, 7), between a proximal position and a distal position;

- a threaded adjusting rod (18) to adjust the end-of-travel, housed in the body (2) parallel to the cylindrical chamber (5), or cylindrical chambers if more than one;

- at least one stop element (19, 19’, 19”), or spacer, arranged on the adjusting rod (18),

wherein in the distal position or in the proximal position of the header (3), the at least one stop element (19, 19’, 19”) is in abutment against one abutment surface of the body (2),

characterized in that

in a first configuration, defined locked configuration, the at least one stop element (19, 19’, 19”) is locked on the adjusting rod (18) and is not susceptible of movements with respect to the latter;

and in a second configuration, defined tightened configuration, the at least one stop element (19, 19’, 19”) meshes the thread of the adjusting rod (18), and a relative rotation of the adjusting rod (18) corresponds to a displacement of the stop element (19, 19’, 19”) on the same adjusting rod (18).

2. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one stop element (19, 19’, 19”) is lockable on the adjusting rod (18) in response to a force provided by an operator. GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l.

3. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the stop element (19, 19’, 19”) comprises a first portion (28a) and a second portion (28b) which are movable between a mutually close position and a mutually spaced position, and vice versa, and wherein the two portions (28a, 28b) in the mutually close position correspond to the stop element (19, 19', 19") in the locked configuration and the two portions (28a, 28b) in the mutually spaced position correspond to the stop element (19, 19', 19") in the tightened configuration.

4. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one stop element (19, 19’, 19”) is provided with first threaded through hole (29) obtained parallel to the adjusting rod (18) of the end- of-travel, wherein the stop element comprises a first portion (28a) and a second portion (28b) opposed with respect to said first hole (29) and wherein, in the locked configuration, the first portion (28a) and the second portion (28b) are in mutually close position and the at least one stop element (19) is locked on the adjusting rod (18) at the first hole (29), and in the tightened configuration the first portion (28a) and the second portion (28b) are in a mutually spaced position and the at least one stop element (19, 19’, 19”) is not locked on the adjusting rod but meshes the thread of the adjusting rod (18), being able to rotate on the same, and is susceptible of movements on the same adjusting rod.

5. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the at least one stop element (19) is at least partially elastically deformable between the locked configuration, at which the two portions (28a, 28b) are in the mutually close position, and the tightened configuration, at which the two portions (28a, 28b) are in the mutually spaced position, and vice versa.

6. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the at least one stop element (19’) comprises a hinge (34’), and wherein the first portion (28a) and the second portion (28b) are hinged to said hinge (34’) and rotatable with respect to one another between the mutually GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. close position, at which the at least one stop element (19’) is in the locked configuration, and the mutually spaced position, at which the at least one stop element (19’) is in the tightened configuration, and vice versa.

7. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims 3-6, comprising coupling means (30, 30a, 30b, 31 , 35’, 36’) of the first portion (28a) to the second portion (28b) and wherein, in the locked configuration of the stop element (19, 19’, 19”), the coupling means (30, 30a, 30b, 31 , 35’, 36’) hold the first position (28a) and the second position (28b) locked on the adjusting rod (18), and in the tightened configuration of the stop element (19, 19’, 19”), the coupling means (30, 30a, 30b, 31 , 35’, 36’) hold the first position (28a) and the second position (28b) meshed on the adjusting rod (18).

8. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to claim 7, wherein the coupling means comprise at least one second hole (30a, 30b) obtained in the first portion (28a) and at least one third hole obtained in the second portion (28b), the at least one second hole (30a, 30b) and the at least one third hole being obtained transversally with respect to the adjusting rod (18) of the end-of- travel, and a screw (30, 31 ) screwable in said at least one second hole (30a, 30b) and at least one third hole, wherein the screw (30, 31 ) screwed in the at least one second hole (30a, 30b) and in the at least one third hole corresponds to the at least one stop element (19) in locked configuration, and the screw (30, 31 ) unscrewed or partially unscrewed from the at least one second hole (30a, 30b) or the at least one third hole corresponds to the at least one stop element (19) in tightened configuration.

9. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to the preceding claim 8, wherein the at least one stop element (19) is partially elastically flexible and is movable between the locked configuration and the tightened configuration in response to a force applied by an operator at the screw (30, 31 ).

10. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to claim 7, wherein GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. the coupling means comprise a hooking element (35’) arranged on the first portion (28a) or the second portion (28b) and a fastening element (36’) arranged on the second portion (28b) or the first portion (28a), said hooking element (35’) being constrainable to said fastening element (36’), wherein in the at least one stop element (19’) in locked configuration the hooking element (35’) is constrained to the fastening element (36’) and in the stop element (19’) in tightened configuration the hooking element (35’) is not constrained to the fastening element (36’) but is separated therefrom.

11. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to any one of preceding claims 1 -10, wherein in a third configuration, defined open configuration, the at least one stop element (19”) fits with clearance on the adjusting rod (18), without meshing the thread and it is slidable along the stationary adjusting rod (18).

12. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one stop element (19”) in the open configuration does not mesh the thread of the adjusting rod (18) but defines an interstice (37) with the same.

13. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to any one of preceding claims 1 -12, wherein the at least one stop element (19, 19’, 19”) is provided with a shock absorbing element (25) and wherein the shock absorbing element (25) in abutment against an abutment surface of the body (2) corresponds to the header (3) in proximal position or in distal position.

14. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to any one of preceding claims 1 -13, wherein the body is provided with a guide (26) obtained parallel to the at least one chamber (5), wherein in the guide (26) at least one stop element (19, 19’, 19”) is housed and wherein the guide (26) makes a shape coupling with at least one part of the outer surface of the at least one stop element (19, 19’, 19”).

15. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to claim 14, wherein the guide (26) comprising a first end (26a) proximal to the header (3) and a second end (26b) distal to the header (3), wherein in said guide (26) a stop GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. element (19, 19’, 19”) is housed, being susceptible of movements parallel with respect to the adjusting rod (18) and wherein the stop element (19, 19’, 19”) in abutment against said first end (26a) of the guide (26) corresponds to the header (3) in distal position and the stop element (19, 19’, 19”) in abutment against said second end (26b) or in intermediate position between the first end (26a) and the second end (26b) corresponds to the header (3) in proximal position.

16. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the guide (26) constitutes a window at which the stop element (19, 19’, 19”) is accessible from the outside.

17. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to any one of preceding claims 1 -16, wherein a stop element (19, 19’, 19”) is arranged on the adjusting rod (18) between the header (3) and the body (2) and wherein the stop element in abutment against the body (2) corresponds to the header (3) in proximal position and the stop element (19, 19’, 19”) separated from the body (2) corresponds to the header (3) in distal position.

18. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to any one of preceding claims 1 -17, wherein the adjusting rod (18) comprises an insert (23) and a threaded portion (22), and wherein the adjusting rod (18) either is made in a single piece, i.e. the insert (23) is made in a single piece with the threaded portion (22), or is made in two pieces, i.e. the insert (23) is not made in a single piece with the threaded portion (22) but can be juxtaposed or separated to/from the latter.

19. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to any one of preceding claims 1 -18, wherein the adjustment rod (18) extends along an axis (X-X) and is rotatable with respect to the header (3) on said axis (X-X) in response to a force applied by an operator on the adjusting rod (18) itself.

20. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to claim 19, wherein the adjusting rod (18) can be idly rotated with respect to the header (3).

21. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to claim 19 or claim GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l.

20, wherein the adjusting rod comprises an insert (23) and a threaded portion

(22), and wherein the adjusting rod (18) is made in a single piece, i.e. the insert

(23) is made in a single piece with the threaded portion (22), and wherein the adjusting rod (18) is rotatable with respect to the header (3) at the insert (23).

22. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the adjusting rod (18) comprises an insert (23) and a threaded portion (22), and wherein the adjusting rod (18) is made in two pieces, i.e. the insert (23) is not in a single piece with the threaded portion (22) but can be juxtaposed or separated to/from the latter, wherein the adjusting rod (18) is constrained to the header (3) at the insert (23) and wherein the threaded portion (22) is rotatable with respect to the insert (23) on said axis (X-X).

23. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to any one of preceding claims 1 -22, wherein the header (3) is connected to the piston (6), or each piston (6, 7) if more than one, by means of a guide pillar (12, 13).

24. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to any one of preceding claims 1 -23, wherein the body (2) comprises a first cylindrical chamber (5) and a second cylindrical chamber which are arranged on a lying plane, and wherein the adjusting rod (18) lays on the lying plane of the cylindrical chambers (5).

25. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to any one of preceding claims 1 -24, wherein the body (2) comprises at least one groove (32) in which a sensor can be fitted, wherein in the at least one cylindrical chamber (5) a magnet (33) movable in the at least one cylindrical chamber (5) with the piston (6) is housed and wherein, when the header (3) is in distal position or proximal position with respect to the body (2), the sensor detects the presence of the magnet (33) and sends a corresponding signal to an external unit.

26. Pneumatic linear slide actuator (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 -25, wherein the stop element (19, 19’, 19”) in the tightened configuration is movable along the adjusting rod (18) between a first position proximal to the header (3) and a second position distal to the header (3), GIMA076BWO

Gimatic S.r.l. wherein a minimum travel of the header (3) with respect to the body (2) corresponds to the stop element (19, 19’, 19”) in the first position and a maximum travel of the header (3) with respect to the body (2) corresponds to the stop element (19, 19’, 19”) in the second position, and wherein the adjusting rod (18) is housed in the body (2) and does not protrude from the side of the body (4c) distal to the header (3) when an operator sets the travel of the header from the maximum to the minimum one, or vice versa.