Clamp mechanism

Abstract

A clamp mechanism for selectively locking and unlocking a first member in a first position relative to a second member comprises a linkage system connecting the first and second members and drive means for articulating the linkage system for moving the first member relative to the second member. A fluid link is provided for locking the first member in position relative to the second member wherein the fluid link is actuated upon sensing the first member approaching the first position.

What is claimed is: .[.1. A transmission assembly for moving a first member relative to a second member and selectively locking and unlocking said first member in a first position at a predetermined distance from said second member comprising a linkage system connecting said first member and said second member, drive means for articulating said linkage system for moving said first member relative to said second member, connecting means for transferring motion from said drive means to said linkage system and locking means associated with said linkage system for locking said first member in place relative to said second member at said predetermined distance, said locking means comprising a fluid link..]. .[.2. A transmission assembly according to claim 1 wherein said fluid link adjusts the length of said connecting means for locking said first member in place..]. .[.3. A transmission assembly according to claim 1 wherein said fluid link adjusts the position of said drive means relative to said first element and said second element for locking said first member in place..]. .[.4. A transmission assembly according to claim 2 wherein said fluid link forms said connecting means and comprises a cylinder having a piston reciprocally mounted therein for dividing said cylinder into first and second chambers wherein one of said piston and cylinder is connected to said linkage system and the other of said piston and cylinder is connected to said drive means..]. .[.5. A transmission assembly according to claim 4 wherein valve means are provided for selectively feeding fluid under pressure from a source to and from said first and second chambers..]. .[.6. A transmission assembly according to claim 5 including means for sensing when said first member is proximate to said first position at a predetermined distance from said second member for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to said fluid link for locking said first member in place..]. .[.7. A transmission assembly according to claim 4 wherein said linkage system comprises a first link having one end rotatably mounted to said first member and its other end rotatably mounted to a link pin and a second link having one end rotatably mounted to said second member and its other end rotatably mounted to said link pin such that said first link and said second link are joined by said link pin..]. .[.8. A transmission assembly according to claim 7 wherein said piston is provided with a piston rod rotatably connected to said link pin and said cylinder is rotatably connected to said drive means..]. .[.9. A transmission assembly according to claim 8 wherein aid drive means is a rotating disk and said cylinder is eccentrically mounted on said disk..]. .[.10. A transmission assembly according to claim 9 wherein a hydraulic motor drives said disk..]. .[.11. A transmission assembly according to claim 3 wherein said fluid link comprises a cylinder having a piston reciprocally mounted therein for dividing said cylinder into first and second chambers wherein one of said piston and cylinder is connected to a base on which said drive means is mounted and the other of said piston and cylinder is connected to 
     
        a support..]. .[.12.  A transmission assembly according to claim 11 wherein valve means are provided for selectively feeding fluid under pressure from a source to and from said first and second chambers for moving said base relative to said support..]. .[.13. A transmission assembly according to claim 12 wherein said base is pivotably mounted..]. .[.14. A transmission assembly according to claim 1 including means for sensing when said first member is proximate to said first position at a predetermined distance from said second member for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to said fluid link for locking said first member in place..]. .[.15. A reciprocating press comprising a support, a fixed platen and an abutment, said fixed platen and said abutment being connected on said support such that said fixed platen is spaced from said abutment, a moving platen mounted on said support between said fixed platen and said abutment, said movable platen being movable between a first position wherein said movable platen abuts said fixed platen and a second position wherein said movable platen and fixed platen are apart, a transmission assembly for moving said movable platen between said first position and said second position, said transmission assembly comprising a linkage system connecting said movable platen and said abutment, drive means for articulating said linkage system for moving said movable platen relative to said abutment and said fixed platen, connecting means for transferring motion from said drive means to said linkage system and locking means associated with said linkage system for locking said movable platen in place when said movable platen is in said first position, said locking means comprising a fluid link..]. .[.16. A reciprocating press according to claim 15 including means for sensing when said movable platen is proximate to said first position for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to said fluid link for locking said movable platen in said 
     
     
        first position..]. 17. A reciprocating press according to claim .[.15.]. .Iadd.33 .Iaddend.wherein said fluid link adjusts the length of said connecting means for locking said movable platen in said first position. 
     
     
          . A reciprocating press according to claim .[.15.]. .Iadd.33 .Iaddend.wherein said fluid link adjusts the position of said drive means relative to said fixed platen and said abutment for locking said movable 
     
     
        platen in said first position. 19. A reciprocating press according to claim 17 wherein said fluid link .[.forms said connecting means and.]. comprises a cylinder having a piston reciprocally mounted therein for dividing said cylinder into first and second chambers wherein one of said piston and cylinder is connected to said linkage system and the other of 
     
     
        said piston and cylinder is connected to said drive means. 20. A reciprocating press according to claim 18 wherein said fluid link comprises a cylinder having a piston reciprocally mounted therein for dividing said cylinder into first and second chambers wherein one of said piston and cylinder is connected to a base on which said drive means is mounted and the other of said piston and cylinder is connected to a 
     
     
        support. 21. A reciprocating press according to claim 19 wherein valve means are provided for selectively feeding fluid under pressure from a 
     
     
        source to and from said first and second chambers. 22. A reciprocating press according to claim 19 wherein said linkage system comprises a first link having one end rotatably mounted to said abutment and its other end mounted to a link pin and a second link having one end rotatably mounted to said movable platen and its other end rotatably mounted to said link pin such that said first link and said second link are joined by said link 
     
     
        pin. 23. A reciprocating press according to claim 22 wherein said piston is provided with a piston rod rotatably connected to said link pin and 
     
     
        said cylinder is rotatably connected to said drive means. 24. A reciprocating press according to claim 20 wherein said base is pivotably mounted. .[.25. A reciprocating press according to claim 15 including means for sensing an obstruction between said fixed platen and said movable platen for inactivating said locking means..]. .[.26. A reciprocating press according to claim 17 including means for sensing an obstruction between said fixed platen and said movable platen for 
     
     
        inactivating said locking means..]. 27. A reciprocating press according to claim .[.26.]. .Iadd.17 .Iaddend.wherein said means for sensing an obstruction comprises a linear transducer which senses the change in 
     
     
        length of said connecting means. .[.28.  A reciprocating press according to claim 19 including means for sensing an obstruction between said fixed platen and said movable platen for inactivating said locking means..]. 
     
     
            A reciprocating press according to claim .[.28.]. .Iadd.20 .Iaddend.wherein said means for sensing an obstruction comprises a pressure transducer for sensing the change in pressure in one of said first and second chambers. .[.30. A reciprocating press according to claim 20 including means for sensing an obstruction between said fixed platen and said movable platen for inactivating said locking means..]. .[.31. A reciprocating press according to claim 28 wherein said means for sensing an obstruction comprises a pressure transducer for sensing the change in pressure in one of said first and second chambers..]. .[.32. A reciprocating press according to claim 16 further including means for sensing an obstruction between said fixed platen and said movable platen 
     
     
        for inactivating said locking means..]. .Iadd.33.  A reciprocating press comprising a support, a fixed platen and an abutment, said fixed platen and said abutment being connected on said support such that said fixed platen is spaced from said abutment, a movable platen mounted on said support between said fixed platen and said abutment, said movable platen being movable between a first position wherein said movable platen abuts said fixed platen and a second position wherein said movable platen and fixed platen are apart, a transmission assembly for moving said movable platen between said first position and said second position, said transmission assembly comprising a linkage system connecting said movable platen and said abutment, drive means for articulating said linkage system for moving said movable platen relative to said abutment and said fixed platen, connecting means for transferring motion from said drive means to said linkage system, said connecting means including locking means associated with said linkage system for locking said movable platen in place when said movable platen is in said first position, said locking means comprises a fluid link and first means associated with said drive means for sensing when said movable platen is proximate to said first position for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to said fluid link for locking said movable platen in said first position and second means associated with said fluid link for sensing an obstruction between said fixed platen and said movable platen for inactivating said locking means prior to said first sensing means sensing when said movable platen is proximate to said first position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. A reciprocating press according to claim 33 including third means associated with said fixed platen for sensing when said movable platen is proximate to said fixed platen for inactivating said second means for sensing an obstruction. .Iaddend.