A clamping device includes a clamping chuck and a clamping element, which can be clamped thereto. The clamping chuck has a receiving opening for the clamping element and clamping members for clamping the clamping element in the receiving opening. The clamping element is elongated, while the clamping chuck is provided with an elongated receiving opening for the clamping element. A resiliently flexible centering element, which aligns the clamping element in response to the insertion into the receiving opening at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the receiving opening, is arranged on the clamping chuck in the insertion area of the receiving opening. Such a clamping device is suitable in clamping systems by means of which large to very large workpiece carriers can be clamped in the work area of a machine tool in a repeatably accurate manner.

An improved tooling, including: a base housing having an interior and tooling holes, the tooling holes being configured to receive alignment studs attached to a tooling fixture; a first clamping fixture and a second clamping fixture fit inside hollowed regions within the base housing; a shaft having a length and an axis along the length of the shaft, the shaft situated inside the base housing and the shaft having a first threaded region and a second threaded region to connect the first clamping fixture and the second clamping fixture, whereby rotation of the shaft causes the first clamping fixture and the second clamping fixture to move towards and away from each other along the axis of the shaft; each of the first clamping fixture and the second clamping fixture comprising one or more securing mechanisms configured to: engage and disengage the alignment studs based upon rotation of the shaft.

A clamping device and a method for handling a workpiece or a unit comprising a workpiece and a workpiece holder. An automatic workpiece exchange is enabled by using a tool spindle. For this a spindle adapter is present that can be releasably connected with the workpiece holder. By means of the spindle adapter, the unit comprising the workpiece and the workpiece holder can be transported. The clamping device can be switched between a release condition and a clamping condition by means of a movement of an operating element. This movement can be carried out by means of the tool spindle, in that the tool spindle engages the operating element directly or indirectly by means of the spindle adapter or an operating tool.

A holding apparatus/workpiece adapter apparatus arrangement includes a holding apparatus and a workpiece adapter apparatus. The workpiece adapter apparatus is positioned and fixed, with a workpiece fastened thereto, by the holding apparatus. The holding apparatus has partially cylindrical positioning elements, which engage in an associated cylindrical positioning recess and a positioning slot and position the workpiece adapter apparatus in an x and a y direction. The workpiece adapter apparatus bears by mating contact surfaces against contact surfaces of the holding apparatus and is clamped by linearly displaceable clamping elements and pressed against the contact surfaces, and thus positioned in a z direction. For clamping, clamping surfaces of the clamping elements bear against mating clamping surfaces of the workpiece adapter apparatus.

A mounting system having a dual plunger arrangement wherein the side of each plunger has a pull down cam to provide a desired pull down action in relation to at least two studs, the cams moving relative to one another and axially aligning relative to one another relative to the two axially spaced pull down studs to allow the plungers to provide a maximum hold down force for the two pull down studs, balance the hold down forces thereby maximizing performance and reducing unlocking forces.

A base plate (21) is attached to a side wall surface of a pallet (P). A connecting rod (22) provided so as to protrude from the base plate (21) is configured to be movable on a surface (21a) of the base plate (21). An insertion hole (18) is provided in a housing (1) attached to a robot arm (R), and the connecting rod (22) is inserted in the insertion hole (18). Two pins (23 and 24) extending in parallel to an axial direction of the connecting rod (22) are provided so as to protrude from the base plate (21). The pins (23 and 24) are respectively inserted in support holes (19 and 20) of the housing (1).

A mounting system having a dual plunger arrangement wherein the side of each plunger has a pull down cam to provide a desired pull down action in relation to at least two studs, the cams moving relative to one another and axially aligning relative to one another relative to the two axially spaced pull down studs to allow the plungers to provide a maximum hold down force for the two pull down studs, balance the hold down forces thereby maximizing performance and reducing unlocking forces.

A support extending about an axis has an axial cavity, adapted to receive a pin fixed to the workpiece, and has retention means for retaining the pin axially.

Interposed between the pin and the workpiece is a centering ring which is accommodated in the axial cavity in such a way that it can slide on a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of the pin with respect to the support.

An interchangeable carrier system, in particular for workstations for producing components for exhaust systems of internal combustion engines, includes a base unit and a carrier unit, which is to be releasably fixed to the base unit in a working position, wherein a coupling/fixing arrangement is provided on the base unit and a counterpart coupling/fixing arrangement, which can be brought into positive coupling engagement with the coupling/fixing arrangement during a sliding movement of the carrier unit in a sliding movement direction into the working position, is provided on the carrier unit, and wherein, when the carrier unit is positioned in the working position, the carrier unit can be fixed with respect to the base unit by the coupling/fixing arrangement.

A clamping plate for receiving at least one workpiece clamping device or a workpiece, the clamping plate including: a support surface for the at least one workpiece clamping device or the workpiece, the support surface is penetrated by a plurality of openings for receiving clamping bolts of the at least one workpiece clamping device, clamping slides being arranged in the clamping plate, the clamping slides each project with one end into one of the plurality of openings in a clamping position and are located outside the one of the plurality of openings in a release position, a clamping wedge, which is movably arranged in the clamping plate and is operatively connected to the clamping slides via at least one spring means.