Patent ID: 6538544
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: B25B,B66C

Abstract:
A pneumatically actuated magnetic workpiece holder, comprising:a housing having a contact surface for contacting a workpiece to be held, said housing being adapted for fluid communication with a pneumatic supply; a single chamber within said housing; a magnet assembly translationally disposed in said chamber, said magnet assembly comprising a plurality of permanent magnets arranged so that adjacent magnets are of opposite polarities; a single pneumatic supply inlet communicating with said chamber; a single source of varying pneumatic pressure communicating with said chamber via said inlet; and wherein said magnet assembly is biased towards an operative position, according to which said magnet assembly is sufficiently near said contact surface to exert on a workpiece to be held an attractive force sufficient for holding the workpiece in contact with the workpiece holder, and is further translationally positionable by pneumatic pressure towards an inoperative position, according to which said magnet assembly is sufficiently distant from said contact surface so as to be unable to exert on the workpiece to be held an attractive force sufficient for holding the workpiece in contact with the workpiece holder.