The current invention relates to jig apparatus which is provided of a form to allow accurate positioning and repositioning of the same with respect to workpiece and the use of the jig apparatus to provide a guide for the provision of a drill bit through at least one guide passages therein to form a hole in the workpiece at a required location. In one embodiment the jig apparatus is provided in a form so as to provide a plurality of passages, each of which can be used as a guide for a drill bit to thereby allow a plurality of spaced apart drill holes to be formed in the workpiece without the need to move the jig apparatus with respect to the workpiece. In one embodiment guide means are provided which are selectively positionable by the user in order to allow the position of the jig apparatus with respect to the workpiece to be accurately defined and retained by the user.

A gripping system for securing a work piece includes a clamp device, a rotary actuator, and a control circuit. The clamp device includes a ball screw mechanism and a jaw portion that has multiple grip fingers. The ball screw mechanism includes a shaft and a holder assembly. The shaft extends through the holder assembly and is configured for displacement along a central axis of the jaw portion. A distal tip of the shaft engages the grip fingers. The control circuit controls the rotary actuator to drive rotation of the shaft relative to the holder assembly, causing displacement of the shaft along the central axis. The displacement of the shaft causes the distal tip of the shaft to force the grip fingers to move in a radial direction away from the central axis to provide a clamp force on the work piece.

An apparatus for applying pressure to at least a portion of an edge surface, which bridges opposing faces of a workpiece, comprises a frame, a first roller, a second roller, a rotation-control member, a first biasing member, and a second biasing member. The first roller and the second roller are coupled to the frame, are rotatable relative to the frame, and are translationally fixed relative to the frame. The rotation-control member is movable relative to the frame, controlling rotation of the first roller and the second roller relative to the frame. The first biasing member is configured to operate in compression along a second axis. The second biasing member is positioned, in compression, between the frame and the rotation-control member.

A method for clamping a workpiece that is first provided with depressions, wherein these depressions are, arranged in one row or a field having a grid distance of 3 mm. The grid distance is thereby the center distance of the depressions, the depth of which is preferably less than the length of the depressions measured in direction of the row of the depressions. The distances between the depressions preferably correspond approximately to the length of the depressions. The grid distance of 2.5 mm to 3 mm has proven to be an optimum for a wide range of usable workpieces and materials.

A swivel pad capable of automatically returning to a reference point, includes: a compression ball having top and bottom surfaces processed to be flat and having a first elastic body insertion hole; a support member configured to have one side in which an insertion groove for accommodating the compression ball is formed, and a first return space and a second elastic body insertion hole having a predetermined depth in a center of the first return space are formed below the insertion groove, and configured to have an opposite side formed with a connection portion connected to a clamp; and an elastic member having ends inserted into the first elastic body insertion hole and the second elastic body insertion hole, respectively, to support the compression ball, wherein the top surface of the compression ball compresses a workpiece to fix or move the workpiece.

This present invention utilizes a shape memory alloy (SMA) to improve on prior art in the design of clamps used for shut off, squeeze off, of plastic pipe which transmits gas or fluid under pressure. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention incorporates SMAs as actuators to simplify and improve clamp design for squeeze off of plastic pipe that is used in the transmission of pressurized gas and fluid. This invention may be deployed and operated remotely by the user. This present invention relates specifically to the application of trained SMA tubes, rods, bars, and beams as actuators for clamping and squeeze off of plastic pipe and tubing used to transmit gas or fluid.

An alignment system for a workpiece printing machine comprises a stencil support and a workpiece support, and a planarity control mechanism having at least two actuators arranged to effect relative rotation of the stencil support and workpiece support about both the horizontal axes.

A swiveling device includes a housing, an output shaft mounted in the housing and led out of the housing, a drive arranged in the housing for swiveling the output shaft, a swiveling element connected for conjoint rotation to the output shaft in the region thereof which is led out of the housing, and with a receptacle mounted in the swiveling element and connected thereto, wherein the receptacle can be arranged at different angular positions. The swiveling device provides that the swiveling element has a receiving profile for the receptacle, and the receptacle has a mating profile which corresponds to the receiving profile, wherein the receiving profile and the mating profile are configured so that the profiles can be arranged in different positions of receptacle and swiveling element with respect to each other.

A clamping assembly includes a body defining a retaining area and at least one coupling element. The body further includes a first leg having an adjustable engagement member and a second leg positioned at an angle less than 90° relative to a horizontal axis. The clamping assembly further includes a rod having a first end coupled to the at least one coupling element of the body. The rod is operative to drive the body in a direction toward the first leg in response to a force directed toward a second end of the rod.

A locking assembly for locking a portable electronic device to a work surface. The locking assembly comprises a clamp assembly including an elongated bar that extends between a first end and a second end. The clamp assembly further includes a first jaw and a second jaw movable along the elongated bar for clamping to a work surface between the first and second jaws. A connector extends from a first connector end that is pivotally connected to the locking assembly to a second end that can be connected to the portable electronic device. The connector securing the portable electronic device to the work surface while permitting it to pivot with respect to the locking assembly.