Table Clamp Device with Segmented Flange Fixing Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional table clamp devices using worm gear mechanisms suffer from backlash-induced looseness, leading to positioning accuracy deviations and processing inaccuracies, and are not suitable for high-speed swiveling tables due to difficulty in achieving a desired clamping force and susceptibility to tilting or axial displacement.
Innovation Solution
A table clamp device featuring fixing plates with inner flange portions that deform easily, interposing a braking plate to provide a reliable clamping force, and a shock-absorbing mechanism to reduce load on the housing, allowing for increased spacing between components to prevent contact during high-speed swiveling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If circular plates are pressed upward to clamp the table, then clamping force is applied, but the plates resist deformation causing counterforce and difficulty in achieving desired clamping force
Solution Approach 1:
The circular plate is segmented into a braking plate and multiple fixing plates with inner flange portions. This segmentation allows the inner flange portions to deform and absorb counterforce while the braking plate provides the primary clamping surface, resolving the contradiction between applying clamping force and resisting deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner flange portions are designed with specific local properties (protruding structure with pitch) that allow controlled deformation. This local quality enables the fixing plates to yield under pressure, reducing counterforce and facilitating achievement of desired clamping force on the braking plate.
2Force
If circular plates are pressed upward to clamp the table, then clamping is achieved, but distortion occurs causing table tilting or axial displacement
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the clamping structure into multiple fixing plates with inner flange portions rather than a single circular plate, the deformation is distributed across multiple elements. This prevents concentrated distortion that would cause table tilting or axial displacement, maintaining positioning accuracy while achieving clamping force.
3Force
If space between fixed and rotational circular plates is set narrow for clamping, then clamping force is concentrated, but contact occurs during normal swiveling preventing high-speed operation
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation into multiple fixing plates with pitch between inner flange portions creates controlled spacing that prevents contact during swiveling. This allows the use of narrower overall spacing for force concentration while the pitch prevents premature contact, enabling high-speed operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner flange portions are designed to deform dynamically under load. During high-speed swiveling, this deformation capability allows the structure to accommodate dynamic forces without contact between fixing plates and braking plate, maintaining both clamping effectiveness and high-speed performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances positioning accuracy, prevents tilting and axial displacement, and supports high-speed swiveling by providing a consistent clamping force while reducing the risk of housing damage through the absorption of clamping pressure, thus improving processing accuracy and durability.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic pressure is supplied from the 'b' side in the hydraulic cylinder 56 to move the clamp piston 57 upward
Implementation Method 2
a shock-absorbing mechanism to reduce load on the housing, allowing for increased spacing between components
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp device is provided that can prevent a table from being tilted at the time of clamping, can suppress a displacement in an axial direction at the time of clamping to a minimum, and also can be suitably used for a table unit with its table swiveling at a high speed. A table has fixedly attached thereto a braking plate swiveling with the table. A frame has fixedly attached thereto fixing plates having inner flange portions protruding to a swiveling axis side of the table with a predetermined pitch so that the inner flange portions interpose the braking plate. Moreover, a hydraulic cylinder having a clamp piston freely movable between a clamp position at which the braking plate is clamped and an unclamp position at which the clamp state is released is provided with the flame.