Pin Clamp Assembly Linear Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pin clamp assemblies require rotational movement of components to hold a workpiece, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A pin clamp assembly design that utilizes a housing, a movable locating pin, a drive rod, and an actuator, where the locating pin and drive rod move linearly only, without rotational movement, to engage and disengage fingers for clamping and unclamping, using a cam member and driver to control the finger's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional pin clamp assemblies use rotational movement of components to hold a workpiece, then the clamping function is achieved, but the mechanism becomes cumbersome and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rotational mechanical movement with linear reciprocating movement. The locating pin moves linearly along its axis to engage and disengage the fingers, eliminating the need for rotational components while achieving the same clamping function. This substitution simplifies the mechanism and improves operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using rotational movement to achieve clamping, the invention inverts the approach by using linear reciprocating movement. The locating pin moves in and out linearly, and through the cam mechanism, this linear motion is converted to linear motion of the fingers, achieving clamping without any rotational components.
2Ease of operation
If rotational components are used to move the finger between clamped and unclamped positions, then the finger can be positioned correctly, but the mechanism requires more complex rotational movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes rotational mechanical systems with a linear reciprocating system. The cam mechanism converts the linear motion of the locating pin into linear motion of the drive rod and fingers, eliminating rotational components while maintaining precise finger positioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism acts as an intermediary between the locating pin and the drive rod. It receives linear motion from the locating pin and transforms it into controlled linear motion of the drive rod, which then positions the fingers. This intermediary mechanism achieves precise positioning without requiring rotational movement.
3Reliability
If a combination of linearly and rotationally moving components is used, then the workpiece can be held against the clamp body, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the combination of linear and rotational moving components with a purely linear reciprocating system. The locating pin moves linearly, the cam converts this to linear motion of the drive rod, and the fingers move linearly to hold the workpiece. This substitution maintains reliable workpiece holding while eliminating rotational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of combining linear and rotational movement, the invention inverts the approach by using only linear reciprocating movement throughout the mechanism. The cam mechanism enables this inverted approach by transforming the linear motion of the locating pin into the linear motion needed for finger actuation, achieving reliable clamping without rotational components.
Data Source
AI summary
A pin clamp assembly having a housing, locating pin, at least one finger, a drive rod and an actuator is provided. At least a portion of the locating pin may be extendable exterior of the housing. The finger is located adjacent the locating pin and movable relative thereto. The drive rod is movable and is engagable with the finger to move the finger between clamped and unclamped positions. The actuator drives the locating pin and the drive rod. Movement of the locating pin and drive rod is linear only and no rotational movement of the locating pin and drive rod is employed to move the finger between clamped and unclamped positions.