Clamping device for a machine tool

Abstract

A clamping device for a machine tool includes at least three pivoting members and a drive member drivingly connected to the pivoting members. The clamping device works in such a way that the pivoting members clamp the workpiece to be processed, then the drive member rotates the pivoting members, and the workpiece is also rotated while being clamped between the pivoting members. The clamping device employs at least three pivoting members to clamp the workpiece, and the three pivoting members clamp the workpiece while rotating the same, which can reduce vibration and balance the workpiece. Therefore, the clamping device is capable of reducing vibration, reducing machining errors and improving processing quality.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A clamping device for a machine tool, comprising:
 a base including a stationary seat and a slide seat located toward and spaced a distance apart from the stationary seat, a direction extending from the stationary seat to the slide seat is defined as a radial direction, wherein the stationary seat is fixed, and the slide seat is movable along the radial direction;   at least three pivoting members being cylindrical members pivotally mounted on the base and used to clamp a workpiece to be processed, each of the pivoting members being provided with a shaft, so that the pivoting members are sleeved onto the shafts, the shafts being pivotally mounted on the base, at least one of the pivoting members being disposed on the slide seat and arranged in the perpendicular direction, and at least one of the pivoting members being disposed on the stationary seat; and   a drive member being drivingly connected to and rotating at least one of the pivoting members.   
     
     
         2 . The clamping device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there three said pivoting members, one of the three shafts is disposed on the slide seat, and the rest two shafts are disposed on the stationary seat. 
     
     
         3 . The clamping device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the stationary seat includes a first end and a second end, a direction extending from the first end to the second end is defined as a perpendicular direction, and the two shafts on the stationary seat are arranged in the perpendicular direction. 
     
     
         4 . The clamping device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the workpiece has a center point, and the shaft on the slide seat is aligned in the radial direction with the center point of the workpiece. 
     
     
         5 . The clamping device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there are four said pivoting members, two of the four pivoting members are disposed on the slide seat and arranged in the perpendicular direction, and another two of the four pivoting members are disposed on the stationary seat. 
     
     
         6 . The clamping device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the stationary seat includes a first end and a second end, a direction extending from the first end to the second end is defined as a perpendicular direction, the two shafts on the stationary seat are arranged in the perpendicular direction, and the two shafts on the stationary seat are also arranged in the perpendicular direction. 
     
     
         7 . The clamping device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the drive member is drivingly connected to and rotates the pivoting member disposed on the slide seat.