Clamping apparatus with positioning function

Abstract

An exemplary clamping apparatus includes a first elongated guide member, a first clamping member, a second clamping member, and a first drive assembly. The first and the second clamping member each moveably attached to the guide member. The first drive assembly includes a motor, a first gear, a second gear meshed to the first gear, a first drive member and a second drive member. The first drive member transmits power from the motor to the first clamping member. The second drive member transmits power from the motor to the second clamping member through the first and second gears. The first and the second drive members are configured for moving the corresponding first clamping member and the corresponding second clamping member towards or away from one another along the guide member.

1 . A clamping apparatus, comprising:
 a first elongated guide member;   a first clamping member moveably attached to the guide member;   a second clamping member moveably attached to the guide member; and   a first drive assembly comprising:
 a motor having a first drive shaft attached to the first guide member, 
 a first gear coupled to the first drive shaft of the motor; 
 a second gear meshed with the first gear, the second gear having a second drive shaft attached to the first guide member; 
 a first drive member coupled to the first drive shaft and the first clamping member to transmitting power from the motor to the first clamping member, and 
 a second drive member coupled to the second drive shaft and the second clamping member to transmitting power from the motor to the second clamping member through the first and second gears, and the first and the second drive member configured for moving the corresponding first clamping member and the corresponding second clamping member towards or away from one another along the guide member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first passive shaft attached to a first end of the first guide member distal from the second drive shaft;   a second passive shaft attached to an opposite second end of the first guide member distal from the first drive shaft; wherein the first drive member comprises a first belt extending around the first drive shaft and the first passive shaft along the first guide member, with the first clamping member being fixedly attached to the first belt, and the second drive member comprises a second belt extending around the second drive shaft and the second passive shaft along the first guide member, with the second clamping member being fixedly attached to the second belt.   
     
     
         3 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second drive members each comprises a belt. 
     
     
         4 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each belt comprises a timing belt. 
     
     
         5 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motor comprises a servo motor. 
     
     
         6 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first locking screw coupled to the first passive shaft for adjusting a tension of the first belt.   a second locking screw coupled to the second passive shaft for adjusting a tension of the second belt.   
     
     
         7 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first elongated guide member comprises an elongated rail, the first and the second clamping members each comprises:
 a bracket with a groove receiving the rail, the bracket being slidably attached to the guide member; and   at least one clamping pin attached to the bracket.   
     
     
         8 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first block attached to a first end of the guide member adjacent to the first drive member for preventing the first clamping member from moving out of the first guide member; and   a second block attached to an opposite second end of the guide member adjacent to the second drive member for preventing the second clamping member from moving out of the first guide member.   
     
     
         9 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second elongated guide member arranged above and perpendicular to the first elongated guide member;   a third clamping member moveably attached to the second guide member;   a fourth clamping member moveably attached to the second guide member; and   a second drive assembly comprising:
 a motor having a first drive shaft attached to the second guide member, 
 a third gear coupled to the first drive shaft of the motor; 
 a fourth gear meshed with the third gear, the fourth gear having a second drive shaft attached to the second guide member; 
 a first drive member coupled to the first drive shaft of the second drive assembly and the third clamping member to transmitting power from the motor of the second drive assembly to the third clamping member, and 
 a second drive member coupled to the second drive shaft of the second drive assembly; 
 a third drive member coupled to the second drive member and the fourth clamping member to transmitting power from the motor and the third and fourth the gears of the second drive assembly through the second drive member of the second drive assembly to the fourth clamping member, the first and the third drive member configured for moving the corresponding third clamping member and the corresponding fourth clamping member towards or away from one another along the second guide member. 
   
     
     
         10 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a passive shaft attached to the second guide member, and the third drive member being coupled to the second drive member through the passive shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first passive shaft attached to a first end of the second guide member distal from the second drive shaft of the second drive assembly;   a second passive shaft attached to an opposite second end of the second guide member distal from the first drive shaft of the second drive assembly; wherein the first drive member of the second drive assembly comprises a first belt extending around the first drive shaft of the second drive assembly and the first passive shaft along the second guide member, with the third clamping member being fixedly attached to the first belt, and the second drive member of the second drive assembly comprises a second belt extending around the second drive shaft and the passive shaft along the second guide member, and the third drive member comprises a third belt extending around the passive shaft and the second passive shaft along the second guide member, with the fourth clamping member being fixedly attached to the third belt.   
     
     
         12 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first, the second and the second drive members each comprises a belt. 
     
     
         13 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein each belt comprises a timing belt. 
     
     
         14 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second elongated guide member comprises an elongated rail, the third and the fourth clamping members each comprises:
 a bracket with a groove receiving the rail, the bracket being slidably attached to the second guide member; and   at least one clamping pin attached to the bracket.   
     
     
         15 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the third and the fourth clamping members each comprises an actuator arranged on the bracket for raising or lowering at least one clamping pin. 
     
     
         16 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the actuator comprises a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         17 . A clamping apparatus, comprising:
 a first elongated guide member;   a first clamping member moveably attached to the guide member;   a second clamping member moveably attached to the guide member; and   a first drive assembly comprising:
 a motor having a first drive shaft attached to the first guide member, 
 a pair of gears engaged with one another with one of the gears coupled to the first drive shaft of the motor and the other of the gears having a second drive shaft attached to the guide member adjacent to the first drive shaft; 
 a first drive member coupled to the first drive shaft and the first clamping member to transmitting power from the motor to the first clamping member, and 
 a second drive member coupled to the second drive shaft and the second clamping member to transmitting power from the motor to the second clamping member through the pair of the gears, and the first and the second drive member configured for moving the corresponding first clamping member and the corresponding second clamping member towards or away from one another along the guide member; and 
   a second elongated guide member arranged above and perpendicular to the first elongated guide member;   a third clamping member moveably attached to the second guide member;   a fourth clamping member moveably attached to the second guide member; and   a second drive assembly comprising:
 a motor having a first drive shaft attached to the second guide member, 
 a pair of gears engaged with one another with one of the gears coupled to the first drive shaft of the motor and the other of the gears having a second drive shaft attached to the second guide member; 
 a first drive member coupled to the first drive shaft of the second drive assembly and the third clamping member to transmitting power from the motor of the second drive assembly to the third clamping member, and 
 a second drive member coupled to the second drive shaft of the second drive assembly; 
 a third drive member coupled to the second drive member and the fourth clamping member to transmitting power from the motor and the pair of the gears of the second drive assembly through the second drive member of the second drive assembly to the fourth clamping member, and the first and the third drive member configured for moving the corresponding third clamping member and the corresponding fourth clamping member towards or away from one another along the second guide member. 
   
     
     
         18 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first, the second and the second drive members each comprises a belt. 
     
     
         19 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the second elongated guide member comprises an elongated rail, the third and the fourth clamping members each comprises:
 a bracket with a groove receiving the rail, the bracket being slidably attached to the second guide member; and   at least one clamping pin attached to the bracket.   
     
     
         20 . The clamping apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the third and the fourth clamping members each comprises an actuator arranged on the bracket for raising or lowering at least one clamping pin.