Patent ID: 6116845
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: B23Q

Abstract:
Substantially universally adjustable apparatus for use in supporting and transferring a workpiece from one position to another, said apparatus comprising a pair of housings each of which has a substantially circular opening extending therethrough; a substantially cylindrical, elongate arm accommodated in each of said openings for sliding movement along and for rotation about a first axis; first adjustable clamp means carried by each of said housings for varying the size of the associated opening therein to enable and disable relative movement between each housing and its associated arm; mounting means carried by one of said arms for mounting such arm on a support; support means carried by the other of said arms for engaging and supporting a workpiece; a circular flange carried by each of said housings and projecting laterally therefrom in a direction normal to the first axis, each said flange having a peripheral edge, the flanges of said housings having confronting faces and seating surfaces, said seating surfaces engaging one another and forming a joint between said flanges, each of said housings being rotatable about a second axis normal to the first axis; and second adjustable clamp means spanning the joint between said flanges and being operable to enable and disable relative movement between said housings about said second axis, each said seating surface being radially spaced from said second axis and being adjacent the peripheral edge of the associated flange, the confronting faces of said flanges being dished except for said seating surfaces.