A cylinder vice includes a vice jaw, a chain retainer, and a hydraulic assembly. The vice jaw is positioned between side braces and include outer and inner plates. The outer plates include a top edge having a V-shape geometry. The outer plates include a female slide configured to interface with a male slide of the side braces. The inner plates include a top edge having another V-shape geometry. The inner plates include a bottom edge that is configured to interface with a piston. The chain retainer configured to retain a chain end positioned in a slot configuration of the chain retainer and fastened via a dowel. The chain retainer includes a handle on each side of the slot configuration such that each handle is positioned in the notches of the side braces. The hydraulic assembly is configured to actuate the piston against the bottom edge of the inner plates.

A cylinder vice includes a vice jaw, a chain retainer, and a hydraulic assembly. The vice jaw is positioned between side braces and include outer and inner plates. The outer plates include a top edge having a V-shape geometry. The outer plates include a female slide configured to interface with a male slide of the side braces. The inner plates include a top edge having another V-shape geometry. The inner plates include a bottom edge that is configured to interface with a piston. The chain retainer configured to retain a chain end positioned in a slot configuration of the chain retainer and fastened via a dowel. The chain retainer includes a handle on each side of the slot configuration such that each handle is positioned in the notches of the side braces. The hydraulic assembly is configured to actuate the piston against the bottom edge of the inner plates.

A guide rail is provided on an outer surface of a chuck body. A pair of fingers is disposed on the guide rail. At least one of the pair of fingers is a movable finger that is movable along the guide rail. One or two cylinder apparatuses, each of which has a rod that advances and retracts in the direction of its axial line by the action of air pressure, are provided in the chuck body. The top end of the rod extends from an end of the chuck body to the outside. An end block is attached to the top end of the rod. The end block is linked to the movable finger.

A guide rail is provided on an outer surface of a chuck body. A pair of fingers is disposed on the guide rail. At least one of the pair of fingers is a movable finger that is movable along the guide rail. One or two cylinder apparatuses, each of which has a rod that advances and retracts in the direction of its axial line by the action of air pressure, are provided in the chuck body. The top end of the rod extends from an end of the chuck body to the outside. An end block is attached to the top end of the rod. The end block is linked to the movable finger.

The disclosure relates to methods and tools for handling a component, the tools (10) comprising a first clamp seat (12) for receiving a first surface of the component and a second clamp seat (14, 16) for receiving a second surface of the component, the second surface being opposite to the first surface. The tool further comprises an actuator (45) for moving the first clamp seat to clamp the component between the first clamp seat and the second clamp seat with a predetermined clamping force, and an electric motor (40) for driving the actuator (45). The tool (10) further comprises a control configured to determine currents in the electric motor and to control the electric motor to provide the predetermined clamping force based on the determined currents. Also methods for determining a desired current level in an electric motor driving an actuator for clamping a component and methods for controlling a clamping force in a tool are provided.

The disclosure relates to methods and tools for handling a component, the tools (10) comprising a first clamp seat (12) for receiving a first surface of the component and a second clamp seat (14, 16) for receiving a second surface of the component, the second surface being opposite to the first surface. The tool further comprises an actuator (45) for moving the first clamp seat to clamp the component between the first clamp seat and the second clamp seat with a predetermined clamping force, and an electric motor (40) for driving the actuator (45). The tool (10) further comprises a control configured to determine currents in the electric motor and to control the electric motor to provide the predetermined clamping force based on the determined currents. Also methods for determining a desired current level in an electric motor driving an actuator for clamping a component and methods for controlling a clamping force in a tool are provided.

With electrically operated clamping or gripping devices such as vices, it is necessary to switch them off after clamping the workpiece in order to prevent overheating. Machining by means of a machining robot, for example, is able to commence only once a safe torque off signal is present. However, the workpiece can become loose due to vibrations during such machining, since the de-energized electric motor can no longer perform retightening. This can lead to damage to the workpiece and, in the worst case, injuries to operating personnel. It is therefore the object of the invention to propose a solution for enabling retightening to be performed from an energy accumulator.

This is achieved in that the drive shaft of the motor can be extended via a threaded spindle, thereby preloading the energy accumulator. This makes effective retightening of the clamping or gripping device possible, particularly when using a steep-threaded spindle.

With electrically operated clamping or gripping devices such as vices, it is necessary to switch them off after clamping the workpiece in order to prevent overheating. Machining by means of a machining robot, for example, is able to commence only once a safe torque off signal is present. However, the workpiece can become loose due to vibrations during such machining, since the de-energized electric motor can no longer perform retightening. This can lead to damage to the workpiece and, in the worst case, injuries to operating personnel. It is therefore the object of the invention to propose a solution for enabling retightening to be performed from an energy accumulator.

This is achieved in that the drive shaft of the motor can be extended via a threaded spindle, thereby preloading the energy accumulator. This makes effective retightening of the clamping or gripping device possible, particularly when using a steep-threaded spindle.

A pneumatic gripper is provided which has a shell in which a pneumatic actuation group and an electronic command and control board are housed. The pneumatic actuation group has an internal body in which two pneumatic chambers are formed, a jaw actuation piston being slidably housed in each pneumatic chamber. The internal body houses cartridge solenoid valves suitable to control passage of air from an inlet port to the pneumatic chambers. A transducer shaft is operatively connected to the jaw actuation pistons so as to be actuated to rotate by a translation of the jaw actuation pistons.

An air chuck includes: a finger support part including a pair of fingers and a pair of lock shafts; a chuck main body part including an operation mechanism operable to open and close the fingers; and linking mechanisms that detachably link the finger support part to the chuck main body part. Each of the linking mechanisms causes the corresponding lock shaft to shift to a non-lock position so as to render the pair of fingers capable of being opened and closed when the finger support part is linked to the chuck main body part. Each of the linking mechanisms causes the corresponding lock shaft to shift to a lock position and locks the pair of fingers so as to render the pair of fingers incapable of being opened and closed when the finger support part is detached from the chuck main body part.