Self-Centering Three-Jaw Clamp with Coplanar Transfer Levers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial clamps with three jaws for automation require simultaneous movement to prevent misalignment and minimize size and weight for versatile use, as existing designs often result in uneven jaw activation and bulkier structures.
Innovation Solution
A self-centering clamp design with three coplanar jaws, utilizing transfer levers that rotate and translate to ensure identical travel for all jaws, minimizing vertical size and weight, and an actuator system with a cursor and elastic elements for synchronized motion and force adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the clamp uses a conventional activation device for three jaws, then the structure becomes simpler, but the jaws cannot move simultaneously causing misalignment and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The activation device is segmented into independent modular units, each controlling one jaw through a dedicated lever mechanism. This allows each jaw to be activated independently yet simultaneously, ensuring synchronized movement while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
A cursor acts as an intermediary element that translates the actuator's linear motion into simultaneous rotational motion of three levers. The cursor serves as a mediator that coordinates the movement of all three jaws, ensuring they move synchronously without requiring a complex centralized control mechanism
2Weight of moving object
If the clamp size is minimized for versatility, then the dynamic performance improves, but the activation device space becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The activation device components are arranged in a distributed three-dimensional configuration within the clamp body rather than concentrated in a single plane. The levers and cursor are positioned to utilize available space efficiently, allowing compact overall dimensions while accommodating all necessary activation mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The lever mechanisms and cursor are nested within the clamp body structure, with components arranged concentrically around the central axis. The levers rotate within the available radial space, and the cursor moves along the axial direction, creating a compact nested arrangement that minimizes overall clamp size
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 clamp achieves synchronized jaw movement, preventing premature interaction with workpieces, ensuring self-centering and reducing the risk of damage, while minimizing size and weight for improved dynamic performance and versatility.
Implementation Method 1
a device for activating the jaws, that is in its turn provided with an actuator and means to drive the motion of the actuator to the jaws. The drive means comprise a cursor translatable in the clamp body, integrally with a first jaw, in response to the start of the actuator. Suitable transfer means impart the movement of the cursor to the second jaw and the third jaw too.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-centering clamp having three jaws, for the industrial automation field is provided and is adapted to equip robotic arms. One of the jaws is controlled by a cursor directly activated by the clamp actuator, which can be electric, pneumatic, oleopneumatic, etc. The other two jaws are controlled by corresponding transfer levers kinematically coupled to the cursor. The levers rotate in a lying plane parallel to the handling plane of the jaws and the cursor.