Patent ID: 7367552
Filing Date: 2008-05-06
Classification: B23H,B23Q,H01L

Abstract:
1. A clamping apparatus comprising: a first coupling element having a central axis and provided with at least three centering pins having at least partially conical shape; a second coupling element having a central axis and adapted to be releasably attached to said first coupling element and provided with a number of grooves having two flanks opposite to each other and corresponding to the number of said centering pins provided on said first coupling element such that said centering pins provided on said first coupling element engage said grooves when said second coupling element is attached to said first coupling element; said first and said second coupling elements both being provided with Z reference stop surfaces adapted to cooperate such as to determine the position of said second coupling element with regard to said first coupling element in Z-direction when said second coupling element is attached to said first coupling element; the arrangement of said centering pins on said first coupling element being such that each centering pin rests only on one of said two flanks of the associated groove, whereby a gap remains between said centering pin and the opposite flank of said associated groove once said second coupling element is attached to said first coupling element; whereby at least in a first groove the centering pin rests on that flank that faces a second groove adjacent to said first groove, while in said adjacent second groove the centering pin rests on that flank that faces said adjacent first groove such that the position of said second coupling element with regard to said first coupling element is defined in X- and Y-direction as well as with regard to the angular position of said second coupling element relative to said first coupling element.