Patent ID: 6178860
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: B23D,B26D,B26F,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A system for clamping sheet material against an underlying support surface, comprising:a base having a substantially planar support surface with a marginal portion;a plurality of clamp units, each including a separate clamping member having an axial stem portion and a head portion disposed on one end of said stem portion, said stem portions of said clamping members providing abutment elements against which a sheet material lying on said support surface can be abutted laterally for proper positioning on said support surface, each of said head portions having a substantially flat top surface and a peripheral element extending laterally beyond said abutment element and constructed to engage thereunder an edge portion of a sheet material lying on said support surface and abutted against said abutment element of said stem portion, said clamp units being arranged with said stem portions of said clamping members extending through said marginal portion of said support surface, with said head portions of said clamping members spaced from one another along said marginal portion, and with said peripheral elements of said head portions in overlying relationship to said support surface, said clamping members being movable axially in said clamp units between release and clamp positions with said head portions spaced relatively away from and proximate to said support surface, respectively, said top surfaces of said head portions lying substantially parallel to the plane of said support surface, and said peripheral elements being relatively thin, in the axial direction, to enable said top surfaces to be disposed substantially flush with the surface of a sheet material clamped thereby; andactuating means for effecting movement of said clamping members between said release and clamp positions and for causing each of said clamp units to apply, independently of the other said clamp units and in effective coaction against said support surface, a portion of the total clamping force applied to the sheet material in said clamp positions.