Patent ID: 6290210
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: B23Q,B25B,B25J

Abstract:
A clamp for clampingly engaging a portion of a workpiece and for lifting the workpiece from a work surface, said clamp comprising:a frame assembly defining a longitudinal axis;an actuating assembly supported by said frame assembly and including a movable member movable between a retracted position and an extended position; anda clamp arm supported by said frame assembly for pivotal movement about a pivot axis and for axial movement relative to said frame assembly along said longitudinal axis, said clamp arm being connected to said movable member so that said clamp arm is movable between an unclamped position, in which the workpiece is not clampingly engaged by said clamp arm, and a clamped and lifted position, in which the workpiece is clampingly engaged by said clamp arm and is lifted from the work surface by said clamp arm;wherein, when said clamp arm is in the unclamped position, movement of said movable member from the extended position to an intermediate position causes pivotal movement of said clamp arm to a clamped position, in which the workpiece is clampingly engaged by said clamp arm;wherein further movement of said movable member from the intermediate position to the retracted position causes axial movement of said clamp arm to the clamped and lifted position; andwherein said clamp further comprises structure to pivotally restrain said clamp arm as said movable member moves between the intermediate position and the clamped and lifted position.