Single guide rod actuating unit

Abstract

The actuating unit mounts a workpiece gripping and transporting jaw assembly and has an elongated hanger rod supporting a first mount boss. A pneumatic cylinder is arranged below the rod and secured to the boss and has a conventional piston and piston rod projecting from the cylinder. The improvement which comprises an elongated guide rod between the cylinder and hanger rod slidably positioned through the mount boss projecting forwardly thereof and at one end supporting a jaw mount assembly having a longitudinal bore. A stroke adjuster collar is secured upon the other end of the guide rod and adapted to limit forward movement of the jaw mount assembly. A rod adapter is movably positioned through the bore of the jaw mount assembly which includes a first mount flange on the forward end thereof. A jaw assembly includes a body having an annular mounting flange at one end mounted upon the first mount flange and adjustably secured thereto. A pair of opposed workpiece gripping jaws are pivotally mounted within and project forwardly of the body. A reciprocal plunger is nested within the body axial to and operatively connected to the piston rod and rod adapter. A control mechanism is mounted upon the plunger and operatively engages the jaws for successively closing and opening the jaws corresponding to reciprocal movements of the plunger.

We claim: 
     
       1. In an actuating unit for a workpiece gripping and transporting jaw assembly having an elongated hanger rod, a first mount boss depending from said rod, a pneumatic cylinder below and parallel to said rod and secured to said boss having a piston and a piston rod projecting from said cylinder; the improvement comprising an elongated guide rod spaced between and parallel to said cylinder and hanger rod and slidably positioned through said mount boss and projecting forwardly thereof;   a jaw mount assembly including a second mount boss positioned forwardly of said cylinder and having a longitudinal bore;   one end of said guide rod extending through said second mount boss and secured thereto;   a stroke adjuster collar adjustably secured upon the other end of said guide rod adapted on a predetermined forward movement of said jaw mount assembly to operably engage said first mount boss;   a rod adapter movably positioned through said bore axially of and at one end secured to said piston rod;   a first mount flange upon the forward end of said second boss having a bore communicating with said longitudinal bore and a counter bore defining an annular stop shoulder;   a jaw assembly including a body having a longitudinal bore and an annular mounting flange at one end;   said mounting flange being nested within said counter bore of said jaw mount assembly first mount flange and bearing against said shoulder and adjustably secured thereto;   a pair of opposed workpiece gripping jaws pivotally mounted within and projecting forwardly of said body;   a reciprocal plunger nested within the bore of said body axial to and at one end operably connected to the other end of said rod adapter;   and a control means on said plunger operably engaging said jaws for successively closing and opening said jaws upon corresponding reciprocal movements of said plunger;   the securing of said mounting flange including a collar receiving and retainingly engaging said mounting flange and secured to said first mount flange;   the securing of said mounting flange retaining collar including a plurality of fasteners interconnecting said first mount flange and collar, said mounting flange being rotatably adjustable throughout 360° relative to said mount flange on loosening of said fasteners.   
     
     
       2. In an actuating unit for a workpiece gripping and transporting jaw assembly having an elongated hanger rod, a first mount boss depending from said rod, a pneumatic cylinder below and parallel to said rod and secured to said boss having a piston and a piston rod projecting from said cylinder; the improvement comprising an elongated guide rod spaced between and parallel to said cylinder and hanger rod and slidably positioned through said mount boss and projecting forwardly thereof;   a jaw mount assembly including a second mount boss positioned forwardly of said cylinder and having a longitudinal bore;   one end of said guide rod extending through said second mount boss and secured thereto;   a stroke adjuster collar adjustably secured upon the other end of said guide rod adapted on a predetermined forward movement of said jaw mount assembly to operably engage said first mount boss;   a rod adapter movably positioned through said bore axially of and at one end secured to said piston rod;   a first mount flange upon the forward end of said second boss having a bore communicating with said longitudinal bore defining an annular stop shoulder;   and a jaw assembly including a body having a longitudinal bore and an annular mounting flange at one end;   said mounting flange being nested within said counter bore of said jaw mount assembly first mount flange and bearing against said shoulder and adjustably secured thereto;   a pair of opposed workpiece gripping jaws pivotally mounted within and projecting forwardly of said body;   a reciprocal plunger nested within the bore of said body axial to and at one end operably connected to the other end of said rod adapter;   and a control means on said plunger operably engaging said jaws for successively closing and opening said jaws upon corresponding reciprocal movement of said plunger;   said control means on said plunger including a roller shaft extending through said plunger;   a first roller and a second roller mounted on said roller shaft;   there being first and second acute angular slots formed through said jaws respectively, within said body;   said first roller movably nested within said first angular slot and said second roller movably nested within said second angular slot, whereby forward movement of said plunger cams said jaws to a closed position and retraction of said plunger cams said jaws to an open position;   one jaw including a pair of parallel outside jaw arms, with said first angular slots therein;   the other jaw including a pair of parallel inner jaw arms with said second angular slots therein;   there being additional rollers upon said roller shaft, with one roller in each of said angular slots;   each angular slot having a first arcuate portion at one end and a second arcuate portion at its other end, said arcuate portions on one side of each slot having an interconnecting stop shoulder retainingly engaging said rollers respectively.   
     
     
       3. In the actuating unit of claim 2, opposed lock pins on said jaw body extending into said outer jaw arms holding them in a closed stationary position; the corresponding rollers for said outer jaw arms being removable. .Iadd.   
     
     
       4.  Apparatus for gripping a workpiece, comprising: a body;   a plunger reciprocably mounted on said body and adapted to be coupled with a source of power for reciprocating said plunger;   at least one workpiece gripping member pivotally mounted on said body for movement between an open position and a closed position; and   a cam arrangement for controlling the movement of said gripping member, said cam arrangement including (1) a slot defined in said one gripping member, said slot including adjacent arcuate portions defining a cam track,   (2) a shoulder between said arcuate portions and extending into said slot, and   (3) a cam member connected with said plunger for reciprocation therewith, said cam member extending into said slot and being engagable with said shoulder to lock said gripping member in said closed position thereof upon loss power from said power source. .Iaddend. .Iadd.5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said slot extends at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of said plunger. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said cam member includes a roller captured within said slot and engaging said cam track. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. The apparatus of claim 4, including another workpiece gripping member mounted on said body and cooperating with said one workpiece gripping member to grip said workpiece. .Iaddend.     
     
     
        .Iadd.8.  The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said another workpiece gripping member is stationarily mounted on said body relative to said one workpiece gripping member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: said another workpiece gripping member is pivotally mounted on said body for movement between an open position and a closed position,   said cam arrangement being operative to control the movement of said another workpiece gripping member and further including (1) a slot defined in said another workpiece gripping member, said slot including adjacent arcuate portions defining a cam track,   (2) a shoulder between said arcuate portions and extending into said slot, and   (3) a cam member connected with said plunger for reciprocation therewith, said cam member extending into said slot in said another gripping member and being engagable with said shoulder to lock said another workpiece gripping member in said closed position thereof upon loss of power from said power source. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said slot in said another gripping member extends at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of said plunger and diverges away from said slot in said one gripping member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. In a unit for gripping and transporting a workpiece and of the type including the combination of an actuating unit and a jaw assembly controlled by said actuating unit, said actuating unit including a fluid operated piston and cylinder assembly having a piston rod coupled with said jaw assembly, said jaw assembly and reciprocable between a first position in which said jaw assembly is open and a second position in which said jaw assembly is closed including a pair of jaws for gripping said workpiece therebetween, the improvement comprising:     a cam mechanism drivingly connected with said piston rod for controlling the operation of said jaws, said cam mechanism including (1) first and second cam slots respectively associated with said jaws, each of said slots including first and second adjacent portions,   (2) a pair of shoulders respectively associated with said first and second cam slots and between said adjacent portions, said shoulders extending into the corresponding slots, and     
     
     
       (3) a pair of cam members respectively associated with said slots and extending into said slots, said cam members being connected to and driven by said piston rod, said cam members being engagable with the corresponding shoulders to lock said jaws in a closed gripping position when said rod is in said second position thereof and fluid pressure is lost in cylinder, said shoulders being shiftable away from said cam members when said rod is reciprocated from said second position to said first position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The improved unit of claim 11, wherein said slots diverge away from each other and extend at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said piston rod. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The improved unit of claim 11, wherein said pair of slots are disposed in 
     
     
        side-by-side registration with each other. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14.  The improved unit of claim 11, wherein said pair of slots are respectively defined in said jaws and said first and second portions are each arcuate in shape. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. In a device for gripping or clamping a workpiece, said device including the combination of a body, at least one gripping member pivotally mounted on said body for pivotal movement between an open, released position and a closed-gripping position, a plunger reciprocably mounted on said body and means for drivingly connecting said gripping member with said plunger, the improvement in said connecting means comprising: a cam mechanism including (1) a cam slot in said gripping member, said cam slot including first and second arcuate portions,   (2) a stop shoulder on one side of said cam slot and between arcuate portions, and   (3) a cam member connected with said plunger and disposed within said cam slot, said stop shoulder retainingly engaging said cam member to lock said gripping member in said closed gripping position thereof in response to force applied to said gripping member by said workpiece but allowing passage of said cam member to release said gripping member when force is applied to said gripping member by said plunger to pivot said gripping member to said open position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The improvement of claim 15, wherein said slot includes a substantially continuous arcuate section on another side of said slot opposite said one side. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The improvement of claim 16, wherein said stop shoulder extends into said     
     
     
        slot and toward said another side of said slot. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18.  The improvement of claim 15, wherein said cam member includes a roller engaging the sides of said slot. .Iaddend.