CLAMPING DEVICE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for clampingly picking up a number of objects, comprising a number of clamping members and a drive for moving the clamping members.

[0002] Such a clamping device is known in the field, for instance for the purpose of clamping a row of bricks. The devices known in the field are usually provided with a drive formed from a plurality of pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders. An example of such a device is known from the American patent US3782047. French patent FR1514514 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention has for its object to provide a device of the type stated in the preamble which has lower production costs and costs of use due to simplicity and operational reliability.

[0003] The device according to the invention has for this purpose the feature that the drive comprises a drive body configured to increase in volume when receiving a fluid, which drive body is connectable to means for supplying the fluid to the drive body, wherein the drive body lies against the clamping members. The drive body is a hose and is preferably an air-inflatable drive body. Application of this inventive drive in the form of a drive body which can be filled and expanded with fluid for the purpose of driving the movement of the clamping members results in an enormous saving in production costs. The device is moreover easy to transport since the weight of this drive is much lower than that of the known device. In addition, the drive body has a flexible form which adapts to the counterpressure of each object on the clamping members, whereby the device according to the invention is particularly suitable for picking up a series of irregularly shaped objects such as used bricks. At least a number of the clamping members comprises a lever lying against the drive body.

[0004] According to a further preferred embodiment, the device comprises biasing means for biasing at least a number of the clamping members in the non-clamping position.

[0005] In yet another preferred embodiment the device comprises a series of first and second clamping members which co-act in pairs and are movable relative to each other for the purpose of clamping the objects, wherein the drive body lies at least against one of the two clamping members of each pair.

[0006] The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a first preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention; and

Figure 2 is a detail view of a part of the device of figure 1.

[0007] Like components are provided in the figures with like reference numerals.

[0008] Figure 1 is a schematic view of device 1 for clampingly picking up a number of objects. Figure 2 is a detail view of device 1. In the shown embodiment device 1 is suitable for clamping bricks. Device 1 is provided for this purpose with a number of clamping members 10 and 20. The clamping members are movable relative to each other. This relative movement takes place under the influence of a drive. The drive comprises a drive body 2 and means 3 for filling drive body 2 with a fluid. Drive body 2 lies against a number of the clamping members, in this embodiment against clamping members 10.

[0009] A suitable drive body increases in volume by being filled with a fluid and decreases in volume due to the fluid being allowed to drain from the drive body. The fluid is preferably air and the drive body an inflatable body. The drive body is a hose. Suitable materials for the drive body are known in the relevant field.

[0010] Clamping member 10 comprises a lever formed from two components 12A and 12B which are connected to each other at an angle. The clamping member comprises a pressing body 11 at one outer end. The clamping member can also be designated as a clamping jaw.

[0011] Clamping member 10 is mounted pivotally on shaft 13. Lever arm 12B rests on drive body 2. In order to prevent damage to drive body 2 the contact with lever arm 12B preferably takes place by means of a roller 15.

[0012] Lever arm 12A is provided with a spring 14 which supports via a support element 16 on drive body 2. Clamping member 10 is thus biased in the non-clamping position.

[0013] Device 1 comprises a second type of clamping member 20 which is movable relative to clamping member 10 and co-acts pairwise with clamping member 10. Clamping member 20 likewise comprises a lever formed by parts 22A and 22B which are connected to each other at an angle. Clamping member 20 comprises a pressing body 21 at one outer end. Clamping member 20 can also be designated as a clamping jaw. At the other outer end clamping member 20 is fixedly connected to a tube 23. Pressing body 21 is fixedly connected to a base plate 24.

[0014] In the shown preferred embodiment device 1 comprises a series of respective first and second clamping members 10 and 20 placed mutually adjacently and co-acting in pairs. Clamping members 10 all rest on the hose-like drive body 2 and are mounted movably on device 1. Inflating the hose with means 3 will move all pressing bodies 11 toward the opposite pressing bodies 21. An object present therebetween, for instance a brick 100, will then be clamped between pressing bodies 11 and 21 of a pair of clamping members.

[0015] The air pressure will be distributed in the hose subject to the resistance the clamping members encounter from the object. This enables device 1 according to the invention to clamp a series of objects even when the dimensions of these objects are not uniform. Clamping device 1 is for instance particularly suitable for clamping used paving bricks.

[0016] Clamping device 1 can be lifted by means of lifting means 4.

[0017] In the shown preferred embodiment tube 23 is hollow and drive body 2 is connected airtightly to the tube. Filling means 3 are connected to the tube for the purpose of filling drive body 2. A drive body in the form of an endless hose could alternatively be connected to filling means 3.

[0018] The invention is of course not limited to the described and shown preferred embodiment, but extends to any embodiment falling within the scope of protection as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. Device (1) for clampingly picking up a number of objects (100), comprising a number of clamping members (10, 20) and a drive (2) for moving the clamping members, wherein the drive comprises a drive body configured to increase in volume when receiving a fluid, which drive body is connectable to means (3) for supplying the fluid to the drive body, characterized in that the drive body is a hose and the drive body lies against the clamping members, wherein at least a number of the clamping members (10) comprises a lever (12B) lying against the drive body.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive body (2) is an air-inflatable drive body.

3. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising biasing means (14) for biasing at least a number of the clamping members (10) in the non-clamping position.

4. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the device comprises a series of first and second clamping members (10, 20) which co-act in pairs and are movable relative to each other for the purpose of clamping the objects (100), wherein the drive body (2) lies at least against one of the two clamping members (10) of each pair.

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung (1) zum klemmenden Aufnehmen einer Anzahl von Gegenständen (100), umfassend eine Anzahl von Klemmgliedern (10, 20) und einem Antrieb (2) zum Bewegen der Klemmglieder, wobei der Antrieb einen Antriebskörper umfasst, der ausgebildet ist, sein Volumen zu erhöhen, wenn er eine Flüssigkeit aufnimmt, welcher Antriebskörper mit Mitteln (3) zum Zuführen der Flüssigkeit in den Antriebskörper verbindbar ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Antriebskörper ein Schlauch ist und der Antriebskörper an den Klemmgliedern anliegt, wobei mindestens eine Anzahl der Klemmglieder (10) einen Hebel (12B) umfasst, der an dem Antriebskörper anliegt.

2. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der Antriebskörper (2) ein mit Luft aufblasbarer Antriebskörper ist.

3. Vorrichtung gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, umfassend Vorspannmittel (14) zum Vorspannen mindestens einer Anzahl von Klemmgliedern (10) in der Nichtklemmstellung.

4. Vorrichtung gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Vorrichtung eine Reihe von ersten und zweiten Klemmgliedern (10, 20) umfasst, welche paarweise zusammenwirken und relativ zueinander beweglich sind, um die Gegenstände (100) zu klemmen, wobei der Klemmkörper (2) an mindestens einem der zwei Klemmglieder (10) eines jeden Paars anliegt.

Revendications

1. Dispositif (1) pour saisir par serrage une pluralité d'objets (100), lequel dispositif comprend une pluralité d'éléments de serrage (10, 20) et un mécanisme d'entraînement (2) pour déplacer les éléments de serrage, le mécanisme d'entraînement comprenant un corps d'entraînement (2) conçu de manière à augmenter de volume lorsqu'il reçoit un fluide et qui peut être connecté à des moyens (3) pour alimenter en fluide le corps d'entraînement, caractérisé en ce que le corps d'entraînement est un tuyau, et le corps d'entraînement repose contre les éléments de serrage, au moins une pluralité des éléments de serrage (10) comprenant un levier (12b) reposant contre le corps d'entraînement.

2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le corps d'entraînement (2) est un corps d'entraînement gonflable à l'air.

3. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant des moyens de précontrainte (14) pour précontraindre au moins une pluralité des éléments de serrage (10) en position non serrée.

4. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le dispositif comprend une série de premiers et de seconds éléments de serrage (10, 20) qui coopèrent par paire et qui sont mobiles les uns par rapport aux autres dans le but de serrer les objets (100), le corps d'entraînement (2) reposant au moins contre l'un des deux éléments de serrage (10) de chaque paire.

Drawing