Clamping device for workpieces

Abstract

The invention relates to a clamping device (1) for workpieces, having: - a clamping table (2), which is designed for the placing and prepositioning of at least one workpiece to be clamped, - at least one clamping means (3), which has a main body (4) and a pressing element (5) which is mounted on the main body (4) so as to be displaceable between a clamping position and a release position, wherein the at least one clamping means (3) is designed to fixedly clamp the at least one workpiece on the clamping table (2) by virtue of the pressing element (5) of the at least one clamping means (3), when in the clamping position, pressing the at least one workpiece placed on the clamping table (2) against the clamping table (2), and - at least one bridge support (6) which extends over the clamping table (2) and has a first bridge support end (6.1), which is mounted on a first side of the clamping table (2), and a second bridge support end (6.2) opposite the first bridge support end (6.1), which is mounted on a second side of the clamping table (6) opposite the first side of the clamping table (2), wherein the at least one clamping means (3) is mounted on the bridge support (6).

Description

[0001] Clamping device for workpieces

[0002] The invention relates to a clamping device for workpieces, comprising a clamping table which is designed to place and pre-position at least one workpiece to be clamped and comprising at least one clamping means which has a base body and a pressing member which is adjustably mounted on the base body between a clamping position and a release position, wherein the at least one clamping means is designed to clamp the at least one workpiece on the clamping table in that the pressing member of the at least one clamping means, in its clamping position, presses the at least one workpiece placed on the clamping table against the clamping table.

[0003] DE 20 2008 007 548 U1 describes a clamping device for workpieces, comprising a plurality of device parts that are movable relative to one another and, in a closed position, clamp the workpieces between them. These device parts carry a support and clamping structure with one or more mutually facing rigid support elements and movable clamping elements, wherein the clamping elements are designed as pressure elements that can be pressed against the workpieces by spring force. The device parts are pivotally connected to one another via a bearing.

[0004] The object of the invention is to create a clamping device for workpieces in which the clamping means can be used particularly flexibly while requiring little space for the entire clamping device.

[0005] The task is solved by a clamping device for

[0006] Workpieces, comprising: - a clamping table which is designed to place and pre-position at least one workpiece to be clamped,

[0007] - at least one clamping means which has a base body and a pressure element which is mounted on the base body so as to be adjustable between a clamping position and a release position, wherein the at least one clamping means is designed to clamp the at least one workpiece on the clamping table, in that the pressure element of the at least one clamping means in its clamping position presses the

[0008] At least one workpiece placed on the clamping table presses against the clamping table, characterized by

[0009] - at least one bridge support extending over the clamping table, which has a first bridge support end which is mounted on a first side of the clamping table and a second bridge support end opposite the first bridge support end which is mounted on a second side of the clamping table opposite the first side of the clamping table, wherein the at least one clamping means is mounted on the bridge support.

[0010] Clamping devices for workpieces are generally used to fix at least one workpiece or several workpieces simultaneously on a clamping table so that they can be machined in a manufacturing process or, where appropriate, an assembly process. The clamping devices therefore serve to clamp the workpieces in predetermined, i.e. pre-positioned positions and / or orientations on the clamping table so that they retain their positions and orientations during the subsequent machining and do not slip or deform in an undesired manner. Once the machining of the workpieces is complete, the clamping devices of the clamping device are opened so that the workpiece or workpiece assembly machined on the clamping table can be removed.

[0011] In the clamping position of the clamping device, the pressure element of the clamping device presses against the surface of at least one workpiece in order to clamp it firmly on the clamping table by compressive force. In the release position, the pressure element is removed from the workpiece so that the workpiece can be removed from the clamping table or a new workpiece can be placed on the clamping table.

[0012] A concrete example of such processing is the welding of workpieces, in particular the welding of at least two workpieces so that they are connected in the desired manner after welding. During welding in particular there is a great risk that the workpieces will be deformed or distorted in an undesirable manner due to the heat introduced into the workpieces during welding or, for example, during friction stir welding due to the forces introduced into the workpieces by the rotating tool of the friction stir welding device when the rotating tool is pushed and / or pulled along the workpieces. The workpieces to be welded must therefore be clamped or held down on the clamping table by the clamping device so that deformation and / or distortion of the workpieces during processing is reliably prevented.Depending on the type and shape of the workpieces, these must be held down at individual points on the workpieces by the clamping devices of the clamping device.

[0013] In the state of the art, it is common practice to provide individually designed and individually fixed clamping devices for each individual workpiece type, depending on the individual type and shape of the workpiece, in order to be able to hold precisely this workpiece on the clamping table in the required manner. For this purpose, the required number of individual clamping devices are arranged directly on the clamping table. The base bodies of the clamping devices are attached directly to the clamping table or to the edge of the clamping table, and movable pressure elements are adjustably mounted on the fixed base bodies. For large workpieces, the pressure elements sometimes have to be very large or very long so that they can reach pressure points in the middle areas of the workpieces despite the clamping devices being attached to the edge of the clamping table. This fixed arrangement of the clamping devices is, however, very inflexible, i.e.If the type or shape of the workpiece changes, the entire clamping device must be extensively rebuilt.

[0014] In a further technical solution known from the prior art, an upper shell which can be pivoted on the clamping table about a horizontal pivot axis and on which the clamping devices are arranged has been proposed. In such a configuration, the clamping devices are accordingly not arranged or fastened on the clamping table, but are provided on the pivotable upper shell which, in an operating position, is pivoted above the clamping table so that the clamping devices are in their desired positions and orientations when the machining process is carried out. A disadvantage here, however, is that when the upper shell is in the operating position pivoted above the clamping table, the finished workpiece or the finished workpiece assembly cannot be easily removed because the upper shell is in the way and thus prevents removal of the finished workpiece or the finished workpiece assembly.For this reason, the upper shell is pivotally mounted so that the upper shell can be pivoted away from the clamping table so that the finished workpiece or the finished workpiece assembly can be removed from the clamping table. However, it is also disadvantageous that, as with clamping devices that are permanently attached to the clamping table, the clamping devices remain permanently attached to the upper shell and can therefore only be used very inflexibly. If the upper shell is pivoted over the clamping table, the clamping devices can only assume a single, predetermined position and / or orientation and cannot be positioned variably.

[0015] According to the invention, it is proposed to provide at least one bridge support extending over the clamping table, which bridge support has a first bridge support end which is mounted on a first side of the clamping table and a second bridge support end opposite the first bridge support end which is mounted on a second side of the clamping table opposite the first side of the clamping table, wherein the at least one clamping means is mounted on the bridge support.

[0016] The bridge girder has a shape in which the bridge girder has a length extending from its first bridge girder end to its second bridge girder end, which is several times greater than the width of the bridge girder extending in the clamping plane of the clamping table. This means that the bridge girder does not completely cover the clamping plane of the clamping table, but because of its small width the bridge girder only covers a small area, in particular only an area of ​​10% to a maximum of 30% of the total area of ​​the clamping plane of the clamping table. One of the consequences of this is that the workpieces placed on the clamping table are easily accessible for machining, even though the bridge girder extends over the clamping table.

[0017] The first bridge girder end and / or the second bridge girder end can be attached or supported directly on two opposite sides of the clamping table. Alternatively, the first bridge girder end and / or the second bridge girder end can be attached or supported on frames separate from the clamping table, which are located on opposite sides of the clamping table in the immediate vicinity of, or at least locally close to, the clamping table.

[0018] As the at least one bridge support only spans a small area of ​​the clamping table, finished workpieces or workpiece assemblies can be removed from the clamping table in a simple manner, even though the bridge support continues to remain in a position spanning the clamping table. In the same way, unmachined workpieces can also be placed on the clamping table in a simple manner, even though the bridge support continues to remain in a position spanning the clamping table. As it can be provided that the at least one bridge support extends over the clamping table, for example in a central area section of the clamping table, the clamping means arranged on the bridge support can be made significantly shorter than would be the case if the clamping means could only be arranged on edge regions of the clamping table.

[0019] At least one clamping means is mounted on the bridge support, said clamping means comprising a base body and a pressing member mounted on the base body so as to be adjustable between a clamping position and a release position, wherein the at least one clamping means is designed to clamp the at least one workpiece on the clamping table in that the pressing member of the at least one clamping means, in its clamping position, presses the at least one workpiece placed on the clamping table against the clamping table.

[0020] The pressure member is adjustably mounted directly or indirectly on the base body so that it can be moved back and forth between a clamped position and a release position. In the clamped position, the pressure member presses against a surface section of a workpiece that is lying on the clamping table. The pressure force that the pressure member exerts on the workpiece in the clamped position fixes the workpiece on the clamping table. In the clamped position, the pressure member is supported via the base body against the bridge girder in order to absorb the reaction forces and to transfer them via the bridge girder into the frames and / or the clamping table.

[0021] The respective pressure element of a clamping device can be automatically adjusted back and forth between the clamping position and the release position by means of its own clamping drive. The respective clamping drive can be, for example, an electric clamping drive or a pneumatic clamping drive. If there are several clamping devices on a bridge girder, two or more clamping devices can be automatically controlled either individually or in groups of several clamping devices together.

[0022] The at least one bridge support can preferably be designed to be adjustable in a plane parallel to the plane of the clamping table, i.e. can be mounted so as to be adjustable.

[0023] If necessary, the at least one clamping device or the plurality of clamping devices can be mounted so that they can be repositioned relative to the bridge girder, either individually or in groups of several clamping devices together, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal extent of the bridge girder from its first bridge girder end to its second bridge girder end. The respective clamping device can be mounted so that it can be repositioned automatically on the bridge girder, for example by means of an electric actuator or a pneumatic clamping drive.

[0024] The first bridge support end can be movably mounted relative to the clamping table by means of a first linear guide in a movement plane parallel to the clamping plane of the clamping table and the second bridge support end can be movably mounted relative to the clamping table by means of a second linear guide in a movement plane parallel to the clamping plane of the clamping table, so that the bridge support above the clamping table can be moved beyond the clamping plane of the clamping table in order to move the at least one clamping device mounted on the bridge support to a selected location above the workpiece placed on the clamping table. The first linear guide forms a first bearing which enables a translational movement of the first bridge support end and consequently a translational movement of the entire

[0025] bridge girder in a straight direction of movement. The first linear guide can, for example, comprise at least one first rail on which at least one first carriage can be moved in a straight direction of movement. The first bridge girder end can be connected to the first carriage or form the first carriage in one piece. The first rail can, for example, be a first round rod on which a first round bushing connected to the first carriage is guided in a linearly adjustable manner. The first rail can preferably be designed as a first profile rail guide. Alternatively, the first rail can, for example, comprise a first prism guide or a first dovetail guide.

[0026] In the same way, the second linear guide can form a second bearing, which enables a translational movement of the second bridge girder end and consequently a translational movement of the entire bridge girder in a straight direction of movement. The second linear guide can, for example, comprise at least one second rail, on which at least one second carriage can be moved in a straight direction of movement. The second bridge girder end can be connected to the second carriage or form the second carriage in one piece. The second rail can, for example, be a second round rod, on which a second round bushing connected to the second carriage is guided in a linearly adjustable manner. Preferably, the second rail can be designed as a second profiled rail guide. Alternatively, the second rail can, for example, be a second prism guide or a second

[0027] Dovetail guide included.

[0028] The first linear guide and the second linear guide can be designed so as to be coordinated with one another such that the bridge support can be moved perpendicular to its longitudinal extent within a plane of movement parallel to the clamping plane of the clamping table. As the bridge support can be moved over the clamping table, the at least one clamping device or the plurality of clamping devices arranged on the bridge support can be moved to a desired position within the clamping plane of the clamping table. Accordingly, the clamping devices can then be moved out of the clamping plane of the clamping table again after the workpieces have been machined on the clamping table, so that no clamping devices stand in the way of removal of the workpieces or removal of a workpiece assembly.In this respect, it can be provided that the bridge girder can be completely extended out of the clamping plane of the clamping table, for example, into a storage or parking position in which the bridge girder no longer extends beyond the clamping plane of the clamping table at all. Thus, the workpieces or a workpiece assembly can even be removed from the clamping table after machining, perpendicular to the clamping plane.

[0029] As the bridge girder can be moved over the clamping table, the at least one clamping device or the plurality of clamping devices that are arranged on the bridge girder can also be moved to a desired first position within the clamping plane of the clamping table in order to produce, for example, a first weld seam in the vicinity of the clamping devices. The plurality of clamping devices can then be moved to a desired further position, i.e. to a second position different from the first position, within the clamping plane of the clamping table in order to produce, for example, a second weld seam different from the first weld seam in the vicinity of the clamping devices. In this way, the bridge girder and thus the clamping devices can be moved step by step in each individual welding step.This can be done automatically, in particular by means of drives.

[0030] The first linear guide can be assigned an electro-mechanical or a pneumatic first drive which is designed to move the bridge support automatically and / or the second linear guide can be assigned an electro-mechanical or a pneumatic second drive which is designed to move the bridge support automatically.

[0031] An electro-mechanical first drive can, for example, comprise a first electric motor which has a first motor shaft, to which, for example, a first spindle can be coupled, on which a first spindle nut is mounted, so that when the first spindle is rotationally driven by the first electric motor, the first spindle nut can be moved linearly, i.e. along the longitudinal extent of the first spindle. The first bridge support end can, in this respect, be connected to the first spindle nut. In the same way, alternatively or additionally, an electro-mechanical second drive can, for example, comprise a second electric motor which has a second motor shaft, to which, for example, a second spindle can be coupled, on which a second spindle nut is mounted, so that when the second spindle is rotationally driven by the second electric motor, the second spindle nut can be moved linearly, i.e.can be moved along the longitudinal extent of the second spindle. The second bridge girder end can be connected to the second spindle nut.

[0032] In the case of a pneumatic first drive, a first pneumatic cylinder can be provided, the first cylinder housing of which can be arranged in a fixed manner, for example, and the movable first rod of which can be coupled to the first bridge support end, so that when the first rod moves relative to the first cylinder housing, the bridge support coupled via the first bridge support end can be moved in accordance with the adjustment movement of the first rod. Alternatively or additionally, a second pneumatic cylinder can be provided as a pneumatic second drive, the second cylinder housing of which can be arranged in a fixed manner, for example, and the movable second rod of which can be coupled to the second bridge support end, so that when the second rod moves relative to the second cylinder housing, the bridge support coupled via the second bridge support end can be moved in accordance with the adjustment movement of the second rod.

[0033] The first linear guide may comprise at least one first rail which is fixed with respect to the clamping table and has a first carriage which is movable on the first rail and on which the first bridge support end is mounted, and / or the second linear guide may comprise at least one second rail which is fixed with respect to the

[0034] Is fixed on a clamping table and has a second carriage which can be moved on the second rail and on which the second bridge girder end is mounted.

[0035] The first rail can, for example, be attached directly to the clamping table. Alternatively, the first rail can be attached to a first frame separate from the clamping table, which can be positioned in close proximity to the side of the clamping table. The first bridge support end of the bridge support can be connected to the first carriage in this respect.

[0036] In an analogous manner, the second rail can also be attached directly to the clamping table, for example. Alternatively, the second rail can be attached to a second frame separate from the clamping table, which can be positioned in close proximity to the side of the clamping table. The second bridge support end of the bridge support can be connected to the second carriage in this respect.

[0037] The first bridge girder end can be movably mounted relative to the clamping table by means of a first lifting device in a lifting direction perpendicular to the clamping plane of the clamping table and / or the second bridge girder end can be movably mounted relative to the clamping table by means of a second lifting device in a lifting direction perpendicular to the clamping plane of the clamping table, so that the bridge girder above the clamping table can be raised or lowered relative to the clamping table.

[0038] Since the bridge support above the clamping table can be raised or lowered relative to the clamping table by means of the first lifting device and / or the second lifting device, the clamping devices arranged on the bridge support above the clamping table are also raised or lowered relative to the clamping table. This can be useful, for example, if the bridge support and thus the clamping devices are to move over at least one workpiece placed on the clamping table in a plane of movement parallel to the clamping plane and the workpiece, due to its special shape, has raised sections with which the clamping devices or the bridge support could collide during its movement if the bridge support or the clamping devices were not raised.For example, the bridge support can be raised by means of the first lifting device and / or the second lifting device in order to be able to travel over such raised sections of the workpiece. The first lifting device and / or the second lifting device can be designed so that the bridge support can be fixed at a desired height and is secured against undesired adjustment of the height of the bridge support. This is particularly useful to ensure that the bridge support does not move upwards in an undesired manner when the clamping devices are moved into their clamping positions. If the first lifting device and / or the second lifting device is designed to be self-locking, as can be the case, for example, in a design with a lifting spindle and lifting spindle nut, a locking device could be omitted.However, in the version with pneumatic drive, a corresponding locking device may be necessary.

[0039] If the tensioning device has at least a first bridge girder and at least a second bridge girder, the two bridge girders can be guided on different rails in such a way that one bridge girder can move under the other bridge girder. For this purpose, it can also be expedient, for example, if one bridge girder can be raised or the other bridge girder can be lowered, so that if the two bridge girders change position they do not collide with each other. After the two bridge girders have moved over each other, the raised bridge girder in question can be lowered again or the lowered bridge girder can be raised again.

[0040] The first lifting device can be assigned an electro-mechanical or a pneumatic first lifting drive which is designed to automatically raise or lower the bridge girder, and / or the second lifting device can be assigned an electro-mechanical or a pneumatic second lifting drive which is designed to automatically raise or lower the bridge girder.

[0041] An electro-mechanical first lifting drive can, for example, comprise a first electric motor which has a first motor shaft, to which, for example, a first lifting spindle can be coupled, on which a first lifting spindle nut is mounted, so that when the first lifting spindle is rotationally driven by the first electric motor, the first lifting spindle nut can be moved vertically, i.e. vertically along the longitudinal extent of the first lifting spindle. The first bridge girder end can, in this respect, be connected to the first lifting spindle nut. In the same way, alternatively or additionally, an electro-mechanical second lifting drive can, for example, comprise a second electric motor which has a second motor shaft, to which, for example, a second lifting spindle can be coupled, on which a second lifting spindle nut is mounted, so that when the second lifting spindle is rotationally driven by the second electric motor, the second lifting spindle nut can be moved vertically, i.e.i.e., can be moved vertically along the longitudinal extent of the second lifting spindle. The second bridge girder end can be connected to the second lifting spindle nut.

[0042] In the case of a pneumatic first lifting drive, a first pneumatic cylinder can be provided, the first cylinder housing of which can, for example, be arranged in a fixed manner and the movable first lifting rod of which can be coupled to the first bridge support end, so that when the first lifting rod moves relative to the first cylinder housing, the bridge support coupled via the first bridge support end can be raised or lowered in accordance with the adjustment movement of the first lifting rod.Alternatively or additionally, a second pneumatic cylinder can be provided as a pneumatic second lifting drive, the second cylinder housing of which can, for example, be arranged in a fixed manner and the movable second lifting rod of which can be coupled to the second bridge support end, so that when the second lifting rod moves relative to the second cylinder housing, the bridge support coupled via the second bridge support end can be raised or lowered in accordance with the adjustment movement of the second lifting rod.

[0043] The first lifting drive can be combined with the first drive of a first linear guide, so that both adjustment directions are possible, in particular independently of one another. Accordingly, the second lifting drive can also be combined with the second drive of a second linear guide, so that both adjustment directions are possible, in particular independently of one another. In this respect, at least one bridge girder can be raised or lowered while the bridge girder is moved in the movement plane parallel to the clamping plane.

[0044] The clamping device can have at least one first bridge support extending over the clamping table and at least one second bridge support extending over the same clamping table and arranged parallel to the first bridge support.

[0045] If the tensioning device thus has at least a first bridge girder and at least a second bridge girder, the two bridge girders can be guided on different rails in such a way that one bridge girder can move under the other bridge girder. For this purpose, it can also be expedient, for example, if one bridge girder can be raised or the other bridge girder can be lowered, so that if the two bridge girders change position they do not collide with each other. After the two bridge girders have moved over each other, the raised bridge girder in question can be lowered again or the lowered bridge girder can be raised again.

[0046] The second bridge girder can thus be mounted so that it can move relative to the clamping table independently of the first bridge girder.

[0047] Several clamping devices can be mounted on each bridge girder, which can be adjusted individually or in groups of several clamping devices together, between their clamping positions and release positions.

[0048] In a first embodiment, the clamping devices required for clamping a specific workpiece or a specific workpiece type can be mounted at individually specified positions on the bridge support. This has the advantage that only the number of clamping devices actually required is provided on the clamping device.

[0049] For further flexibility, a second design variant can mount a specific number of clamping devices on the bridge girder, regardless of how many clamping devices are required for a specific workpiece or workpiece type. In this case, only a subset of the clamping devices present on the bridge girder can actually be used. For example, the multiple clamping devices can be mounted on the bridge girder at equal distances from one another, and only those clamping devices that are actually required can be controlled for clamping.

[0050] In a third embodiment, a certain number of multiple clamping devices can be repositionably mounted on the bridge girder. For example, it can be provided that initially equally spaced clamping devices are mounted on the bridge girder so that they can be adjusted relative to one another, in particular they can be automatically driven and adjusted, so that the relative distances between two immediately adjacent clamping devices can be changed, i.e., increased or decreased.

[0051] The at least one clamping device can be driven by means of a clamping drive and is designed to be automatically adjustable. The clamping drive can be designed as a membrane clamping module. The respective clamping device, in which the pressing member is adjustably mounted on the respective base body of the clamping device between the clamped position and the release position, can be adjusted automatically between the clamped position and the release position in that the clamping device has a clamping drive with which the pressing member can be moved automatically. The clamping drive can be designed specifically as a membrane clamping module. Membrane clamping modules of this type have, for example, an essentially circular disk-shaped housing, on the top of which a pressure cylinder is mounted so that its height can be adjusted. The stroke height can be just a few millimeters, which is sufficient.Such membrane clamping modules have a very low overall height, but can generate a sufficiently high compressive force to move the pressure element, which is adjustable and mounted on the base body, into a clamping position in which the pressure element is pressed with the required compressive force against the workpiece to be clamped on the clamping table.

[0052] A specific embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the accompanying figures. Regardless of the specific context in which they are mentioned, specific features of this exemplary embodiment may, if appropriate, also represent general features of the invention, whether considered individually or in further combinations.

[0053] It shows :

[0054] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a clamping device according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a top view of the exemplary clamping device according to Fig. 1,

[0055] Fig. 3 a side view of the exemplary

[0056] Clamping device according to Fig. 1,

[0057] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a single bridge girder of the exemplary tensioning device according to

[0058] Fig. 1 in a unique position,

[0059] Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of the exemplary tensioning device according to Fig. 1 in the region of a bridge girder end of the bridge girder according to Fig. 4,

[0060] Fig. 6 is a partial side view of the exemplary tensioning device according to Fig. 1 in the region of a bridge girder end of the bridge girder according to Fig. 4, and

[0061] Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of the

[0062] Bridge girder according to Fig. 4 in a central section of the bridge girder with three clamping devices shown as examples, which are mounted on the bridge girder. Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a clamping device 1 according to the invention for workpieces.

[0063] The clamping device 1 has a clamping table 2 which is designed to place and pre-position at least one workpiece to be clamped.

[0064] The clamping device 1 comprises a plurality of clamping means 3. Each clamping means 3 has a base body 4 and a pressing member 5 which is adjustably mounted on the base body 4 between a clamping position and a release position, wherein the at least one clamping means 3 is designed to clamp the at least one workpiece on the clamping table 2 in that the pressing member 5 of the at least one clamping means 3, in its clamping position, presses the at least one workpiece placed on the clamping table 2 against the clamping table 2. Three exemplary clamping means 3 are shown in more detail in an enlarged view in Fig. 7.

[0065] The clamping device 1 has at least one bridge support 6 which extends over the clamping table 2 and which has a first bridge support end 6.1 which is mounted on a first side of the clamping table 2 and a second bridge support end 6.2 which is opposite the first bridge support end 6.1 and is mounted on a second side of the clamping table 2 which is opposite the first side of the clamping table 2, wherein a plurality of clamping means 3 are mounted on the respective bridge support 6.

[0066] In Fig. 1, a bridge girder 6 is shown four times in total. The clamping device 1 does not actually have to have four bridge girders 6. Rather, Fig. 1 shows a single bridge girder 6 or two separate bridge girders 6 in a total of four different positions above the clamping table 2. This fact is particularly evident in the fact that the two middle bridge girders 6 shown are shown overlapping and are therefore only intended to show two different positions of the same bridge girder 6.

[0067] In the foreground of Fig. 1, a rotating tool 7 of a friction stir welding device (not shown in detail) is shown in two different positions.

[0068] The first bridge support end 6 . 1 is movably mounted relative to the clamping table 2 by means of a first linear guide 8 . 1 in a plane of movement parallel to the clamping plane of the clamping table 2. The second bridge support end 6 . 2 is movably mounted relative to the clamping table 2 by means of a second linear guide 8 . 2, likewise in a plane of movement parallel to the clamping plane of the clamping table 2, so that the bridge support 6 can be moved above the clamping table 2 beyond the clamping plane of the clamping table 2 in order to move the clamping means 3 mounted on the bridge support 6 to a selected location above the workpiece (not shown) placed on the clamping table 2.

[0069] The first linear guide 8.1 and the second linear guide 8.2 each form a bearing which enables a translational movement of the first bridge girder end 6.1 or of the second bridge girder end 6.2 and consequently a translational movement of the entire bridge girder 6 in a straight direction of movement R. The first linear guide 8.1 and the second linear guide 8.2 can, for example, each comprise a rail 9.1, 9.2 on which at least one carriage 10.1, 10.2 can be moved in a straight direction of movement. The first bridge girder end 6.1 can be connected to the first carriage 10.1 or form a single piece of the first carriage 10.1. The first rail 9.1 can, for example, comprise a first profiled rail guide. The second bridge girder end 6.2 can be connected to the second carriage 10.2 or form a single piece of the second carriage 10.2. The second rail 9.2 may, for example, comprise a second profile rail guide, as shown in particular in Fig. 5.

[0070] In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the second linear guide 8.2 is assigned a pneumatic drive 11.2 which is designed to move the bridge support 6 automatically.

[0071] Accordingly, the first linear guide 8.1 comprises a first rail 9.1, which is fixed relative to the clamping table 2, and a first carriage 10.1, which is movable on the first rail 9.1 and on which the first bridge girder end 6.1 is mounted. The second linear guide 8.2 comprises the second rail 9.2, which is fixed relative to the clamping table 2, and a second carriage 10.2, which is movable on the second rail 9.2 and on which the second bridge girder end 6.2 is mounted.

[0072] As shown in particular in Fig. 6, the first bridge girder end 6.1 is by means of a first lifting device

[0073] 12.1 is mounted so as to be movable relative to the clamping table 2 in a lifting direction H perpendicular to the clamping plane of the clamping table 2. In the same way, the second bridge girder end 6.2 is supported by means of a second lifting device

[0074] 12.2 is mounted so as to be movable relative to the clamping table 2 in a lifting direction H perpendicular to the clamping plane of the clamping table 2, so that the bridge girder 6 above the clamping table 2 can be raised or lowered relative to the clamping table. This is shown in more detail in Fig. 6.

[0075] The first lifting device 12.1 can be assigned an electromechanical or pneumatic first lifting drive, which is designed to automatically raise or lower the bridge girder 6. Similarly, the second lifting device 12.2 can be assigned an electromechanical or pneumatic second lifting drive, which is designed to automatically raise or lower the bridge girder 6.

[0076] Specifically, Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show that the clamping device 1 has a first bridge support 6a extending over the clamping table 2 and at least one second bridge support 6b extending over the same clamping table 2 and arranged parallel to the first bridge support 6a. To illustrate the mobility, the second bridge support 6b is shown in a total of three different positions.

[0077] The second bridge support 6b is accordingly mounted so as to be movable relative to the clamping table 2, independently of the first bridge support 6a.

[0078] In Fig. 4 and Fig. 7 it is shown in detail that in the case of the present embodiment at the respective

[0079] Bridge girders 6, 6a, 6b each have several clamping devices 3 mounted thereon, which can be adjusted individually or in groups of several clamping devices 3 together, between their clamping positions and release positions.

[0080] The respective clamping device 3, in which the pressing member 5 is adjustably mounted on the respective base body 4 of the clamping device 3, the adjustment between the clamping position and the release position can take place automatically in that the clamping device 3 has a clamping drive 13 with which the pressing member 5 can be moved automatically. The clamping drive 13 can be specially designed as a diaphragm clamping module. Such diaphragm clamping modules have, for example, an essentially circular disk-shaped housing, on the top of which a pressure cylinder is mounted so that its height can be adjusted. The stroke height can be only a few millimeters, which is sufficient.Such membrane clamping modules have a very low overall height, but can generate a sufficiently high compressive force to move the pressure element 5, which is adjustably mounted on the base body 4, into a clamping position in which the pressure element 5 is pressed with the required compressive force against the workpiece to be clamped on the clamping table 2.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Clamping device for workpieces, comprising: - a clamping table (2) which is designed to place and pre-position at least one workpiece to be clamped, - at least one clamping means (3) which has a base body (4) and a pressing member (5) which is mounted on the base body (4) so ​​as to be adjustable between a clamping position and a release position, wherein the at least one clamping means (3) is designed to clamp the at least one workpiece on the clamping table (2) in that the pressing member (5) of the at least one clamping means (3) in its clamping position presses the at least one workpiece placed on the clamping table (2) against the Pressed on clamping table (2), characterized by - at least one bridge support (6) extending over the clamping table (2), which has a first bridge support end (6.1) which is mounted on a first side of the clamping table (2) and a second bridge support end (6.2) opposite the first bridge support end (6.1) which is mounted on one of the first sides of the Is mounted on the second side of the clamping table (2) opposite the clamping table (2), wherein the at least one clamping means (3) is mounted on the bridge support (6).

2. Clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first bridge support end (6.1) is movably mounted relative to the clamping table (2) by means of a first linear guide (8.1) in a movement plane parallel to the clamping plane of the clamping table (2) and the second bridge support end (6.2) is movably mounted relative to the clamping table (2) by means of a second linear guide (8.2) in a movement plane parallel to the clamping plane of the clamping table (2), so that the bridge support (6) above the clamping table (2) over the clamping plane of the Can be moved across the clamping table (2) in order to move the at least one clamping means (3) mounted on the bridge support (6) to a selected location above the workpiece placed on the clamping table (2).

3. Clamping device according to claim 2, characterized in that the first linear guide (8.1) is assigned an electro-mechanical or a pneumatic first drive (11.1) which is designed to move the bridge support (6) automatically and / or the second linear guide (8.2) is assigned an electro-mechanical or a pneumatic second drive (11.2) which is designed to move the bridge support (6) automatically.

4. Clamping device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first linear guide (8.1) comprises at least one first rail (9.1) which is fixed with respect to the clamping table (2) and has a first carriage (10.1) which can be moved on the first rail (9.1) and on which the first Bridge girder end (6.1) is supported, and / or the second linear guide (8.2) at least one second Rail (9.2) which is fixed with respect to the clamping table (2) and has a second carriage (10.2) which can be moved on the second rail (9.2) and on which the second bridge support end (6.2) is mounted.

5. Clamping device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first bridge support end (6.1) is movably mounted relative to the clamping table (2) by means of a first lifting device (12.1) in a lifting direction (H) perpendicular to the clamping plane of the clamping table (2) and / or the second bridge support end (6.2) is movably mounted relative to the clamping table (2) by means of a second lifting device (12.2) in a lifting direction (H) perpendicular to the clamping plane of the clamping table (2), so that the bridge support (6) above the clamping table (2) can be raised or lowered relative to the clamping table (2).

6. Clamping device according to claim 5, characterized in that the first lifting device (12.1) is assigned an electromechanical or a pneumatic first lifting drive which is designed to automatically raise or lower the bridge girder (6), and / or the second lifting device (12.2) is assigned an electromechanical or a pneumatic second lifting drive which is designed to automatically raise or lower the bridge girder (6).

7. Clamping device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the clamping device (1) has at least one clamping element extending over the clamping table (2). extending first bridge support (6a) and at least one second bridge support (6b) extending over the same clamping table (2) and arranged parallel to the first bridge support (6a).

8. Clamping device according to claim 7, characterized in that the second bridge support (6b) is mounted so as to be movable relative to the clamping table (2) independently of the first bridge support (6a).

9. Clamping device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a plurality of clamping means (3) are mounted on the respective bridge support (6), which clamping means (3) can be adjusted individually or in groups of a plurality of clamping means (3) together, between their clamping positions and release positions.

10. Clamping device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the at least one clamping means (3) is driven by means of a clamping drive (13), which can be designed as a membrane clamping module, and is designed to be automatically adjustable.

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