Patent Publication Number: US-8978894-B1

Title: Clamp

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a clamp, and more specifically to a clamp that has usefulness in securing an object of interest on a vibratory conveyor. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The prior art is replete with numerous examples of various clamping arrangements which are useful to forcibly engage an object of interest during a manufacturing process, so as to retain the object of interest in a desirable location during a processing step. Examples of prior art clamps useful for holding or otherwise securing objects of interest are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,595,507 and 7,648,131, the teachings of which are incorporated by reference herein. While clamps of the type described in the previous prior art patents operate with varying degrees of success, such clamps are typically employed in an arrangement whereby the clamp itself is not subjected to significant amounts of vibration while it is in use. 
     For example, and in connection with the use of various vibratory conveyors, various objects of interest such as sorting screens, foraminous containers, and other objects of interest need to be periodically, and appropriately positioned in a given, secured location along the conveyor bed of a vibratory conveyor so as to process a stream of products in an appropriate manner. Such objects of interest have typically included screens which have been produced in a wide variety of styles, and which have been employed to align, singulate, dewater, length-grade, width-grade, scalp, or even move a given product up an incline. Screens may also be used for several of these functions in a single operation. These screens have come in various customized and/or other standard sizes. The screens may include wire mesh screens, punch plate screens or round or triangular rod screens. The functions of the respective screens, as described, above, such as dewatering, is used to separate a given product from a stream of water after the product has been transported by the water from a pumping or flume system, or are further used for the removal of small amounts of processed water (final dewatering) prior to a final series of processing steps. Additionally, product sizing screens are employed to do length grading, width grading, and scalping of various produce. Still further, other screens are used to remove debris, and smaller unsuitable products such as fines, and which may be mixed with a produce stream being processed. Alignment screens have also been used, heretofore, to align, and singulate products for a downstream process. Finally, converging and diverging screens are employed to take a stream of produce and direct it into either narrow or wider width equipment. 
     It should be understood, that clamps of various designs are often employed with objects of interest, such as screens and the like, so as to allow the quick removal of these objects of interest for cleaning, repair, and/or replacement as necessary. However, the prior art clamps which have been utilized, heretofore, and other arrangements which have been employed to temporarily secure such objects of interest on a vibratory conveyor, for example, have not achieved the desired success because the clamp arrangements often provide a less than satisfactory securing force such that the objects of interest often are not retained in an appropriate fixed, position, or on the other hand, personnel employing such clamps have used them in an improper way. Still further, and from time-to-time, screens or other objects of interest may be moved between adjacent machines, and such screens may have varying length dimensions which cause difficulty when appropriately positioning them, and then securing them in a given location on a different machine. Additionally, and when the aforementioned prior art clamps are released from an object of interest, the vibratory energy of the associated vibratory conveyor often imparts adverse motion to the clamp. This motion may occasionally cause damage to the clamp, injury to an employee, or interfere with the operation of the associated vibratory conveyor on which it is deployed. 
     A clamp which can be utilized to firmly secure an object of interest, and be further utilized in an environment where the clamp is repeatedly exposed to continuous vibratory motion is the subject matter of the present application. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first aspect of the present invention relates to a clamp, and which includes a base portion having individual support members which are located in predetermined, spaced, substantially parallel relation, one relative to the other; a handle which has opposite ends, and which are individually, pivotally affixed to each of the support members; a moveable clamp portion having opposite ends, and which are individually pivotally attached to the respective support members; a pair of force transmitting couplings each having a first end which is pivotally attached to the handle, and an opposite, second end which is pivotally attached to the moveable clamp portion; and an elongated resilient biasing member having a proximal and a distal end, and which is borne by the moveable clamp portion, and wherein the distal end of the elongated resilient biasing member resiliently deforms when the elongated, resilient biasing member forcibly engages an adjacent object as force is applied to move the handle along a course of travel. 
     Still another aspect of the present invention relates to a clamp, and which includes a base portion which is affixed to a wall of a vibratory conveyor having a product transporting bed upon which a source of a product is transported, and wherein the base portion has individual support members which are affixed to the wall of the vibratory conveyor, and which further extend perpendicularly, outwardly therefrom, and wherein the individual support members are located a given distance apart; a handle having opposite ends, and a given length dimension which is greater than the length dimension as measured between the respective support members, and wherein the handle further has individual arm members which are mounted on the opposite ends of the of the handle, and which further each have a distal end which is pivotally mounted to one of the support members of the base portion, and which further renders the handle moveable along an arcuately shaped path of travel between a first and a second position; a rotatable clamping portion which is borne by the respective support members, and wherein the rotatable clamping portion has a main body with opposite ends, and wherein each end of the rotatable clamping portion is rotatably mounted on each of the respective support members, and wherein forcible movement of the handle along the path of travel has the effect of causing the selective rotation of the rotatable clamping portion; a pair of force transmitting couplings each having a first end which are individually, rotatably affixed on the handle, and an opposite second end, which is rotatably mounted on the rotatable clamping portion; and a pair of elongated resilient biasing members which are individually mounted on the opposite ends of the rotatable clamping portion, and wherein each of the elongated resilient biasing members has a main body which has a similar length dimension, and wherein a threadably adjustable engagement post is mounted on each of the of the elongated resilient biasing members, and which further causes the elongated resilient biasing members to deform when the respective elongated resilient biasing members forcibly engage an object which cooperates with the vibratory conveyor, and wherein the handle when located in the second clamping position securely positions the object in a given orientation on the vibratory conveyor. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  shows a greatly simplified, fragmentary, perspective view of a prior art vibratory conveyor having an object of interest positioned thereon, and which employs the clamp of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial, perspective, side elevation view of the clamp of the present invention and which is shown in a closed, clamping position. 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary, partial, perspective, side elevation view of the present clamp shown in a closed, clamping position. 
         FIG. 4  is a greatly simplified, fragmentary, top plan view of the clamp of the present invention, and which is shown in a closed, clamping position. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective, side elevation view of the clamp of the present invention, and which is shown in a closed, clamping position. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial, transverse, vertical sectional view taken from a position along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is an end view of the clamp of the present invention, and showing the motion of the handle, and associated clamping portion in phantom lines. 
         FIG. 8  is yet another perspective, side elevation view of the clamp of the present invention and which is shown in a closed, clamping position. 
         FIG. 9  is still another, side elevation view of the clamp of the present invention, and which is illustrated in a closed, clamping position. 
         FIG. 10  is a fragmentary, greatly simplified perspective view of a vibratory conveyor employing the clamp of the present invention, and an object (here illustrated as a screen) cooperating with the vibratory conveyor, and engaged by the clamp. 
         FIG. 11  is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view taken from a position along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 , and showing one form of the screen which may be utilized with the vibratory conveyor as depicted in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view taken from a position along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 , and which shows a second form of the screen which may be utilized with the vibratory conveyor as depicted in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view taken from a position along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 , and which shows a third form of the screen which may be utilized with the vibratory conveyor as depicted in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 14  is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view taken from a position along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 , and which shows a fourth form of the screen which may be utilized with the vibratory conveyor as depicted in  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8). 
     The present invention is directed to a clamp which is generally indicated by the numeral  10  in  FIG. 1 , and following. In this regard, the invention  10  is illustrated, herein, as deployed and utilized to releasably engage a vibratory conveyor  11  of conventional design. The vibratory conveyor  11  is defined, at least in part, by a wall  12 . Still further, an object of interest for processing a product (not shown), and which is generally indicated by the numeral  13 , is partially illustrated, and which is supported in a given orientation relative to the vibratory conveyor  11 . The object of interest  13  may include variously sized screens; scalpers; singulators; spreaders; and other food processing devices. The object of interest is shown, in part, by a wall  14  (see  FIGS. 10-14  respectively). The object of interest  13  is supported on a product transporting bed  15  which reciprocates along a given axis. The vibratory conveyor is an excited frame type which is well known in the art. Various forms of the object of interest  13  will be discussed later in this application. 
     With regard to the object of interest  13 , which is utilized for processing a product stream, and as earlier discussed, this object of interest could be involved in such things as dewatering a product stream, that is, separating a given product from a water stream after being transported to the vibratory conveyor; performing length grading; width grading or scalping; removing debris such as fines so that only good product remains; aligning food product or singulating food product for downstream processes, and/or converging or diverging a stream of product so that it may be provided to narrower or wider width downstream processing equipment. Other functions, of course, are possible. 
     As best illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and following, a pair of support brackets which are generally indicated by the numeral  20 , are affixed as by welding, or other similar fastening methods to the wall  12  of the vibratory conveyor  11 . As will be appreciated from the later discussion in this specification, the present invention  10  could be affixed to the wall  14  of the object of interest  13  and thereby rendered operable to engage the vibratory conveyor  11 . However, as depicted, the support brackets  20  are affixed, as by welding or the like, to the wall  12  of the vibratory conveyor  11 . The individual support brackets are located at a given distance apart so as to matingly cooperate with a base portion of the clamp  10 , as will be discussed in greater detail in the paragraphs which follow. As seen in  FIG. 1 , for example, it will be appreciated that the respective support brackets  20  have formed therein a pair of apertures  21 . The individual apertures receive fasteners  22  that are operable to releasably secure the clamp  10  of the present invention onto the wall  12  of the vibratory conveyor  11 . The respective support brackets  20  locate the clamp  10  at a predetermined location and angular orientation on the wall  12 . 
     The clamp  10  of the present invention further includes a base portion  30  having individual support members which are located in predetermined, spaced, substantially parallel relation one relative to the other. In this regard, the base portion  30  is defined by first and second support members  31  and  32 , respectively. The respective first and second support members have a main body  33  which is defined by an inward, or rearwardly facing peripheral edge  34 . The depicted rearwardly facing edge  34  has an angle which orients the clamp  10  so as to engage the object of interest  13 , and exert force which is directed inwardly and downwardly on the object  13 . By adjusting the angle of the rearwardly facing edge  34 , the clamp may be oriented so as to exert a force which is directed inwardly and upwardly onto the object of interest  13 . This feature of the invention will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter. As seen in  FIG. 8  for example, a pair of apertures  35  are formed in close proximity to the rearwardly facing peripheral edge  34 , and are each operable to receive individual fasteners  22 , therethrough, so as to releasably fasten the respective first and second support members  31  and  32  to the wall  12  of the vibratory conveyor  11 . As will be further seen by  FIG. 8 , the main body  33  has a forward or outwardly facing peripheral edge  40 . The main body further has a first, or upwardly disposed end  41 , and a second, or downwardly disposed end  42 . As illustrated in the drawings, and more specifically to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , respectively, first and second apertures  43  and  44  are formed in close proximity to the first and second ends  41  and  42 , respectively. These apertures further receive individual fasteners therethrough, and which will be discussed in greater detail in the paragraphs which follow. 
     The clamp  10  of the present invention further includes a movable handle which is generally indicated by the numeral  50 . The handle  50 , which has a given length dimension, is defined by an elongated main body  51  having a first end  52 , and an opposite, second end  53 . Still further, and extending generally perpendicularly outwardly relative to the first and second ends  52  and  53 , respectively, are first and second arm members  54  and  55 , respectively. The respective first and second arm members  54  and  55  each have a main body  60  which has a proximal end  61 , which is affixed to the respective first and second ends  52  and  53  of the elongated main body  51 , and further has a distal end  62  which has a width dimension which is significantly greater than the width dimension at the proximal end  61 , and which is fastened to the opposite ends  52  and  53  of the elongated main body  51 . In this regard, the main body  60  of each of the first and second arm members  54  and  55  have an angulated intermediate portion  63  which allows the distal ends  62  to be located inwardly relative to the proximal end  61 . Further, and as best seen in  FIG. 1 , and following, a pair of apertures  64  are formed in the distal ends  62  of each of the arm members  54  and  55 , respectively. The respective apertures are operable to receive a first fastener  65  which provides a pivot axis for the handle  50 , and the second fastener  66  which secures the handle to one end of a force transmitting coupling which will be discussed in greater detail below. The second fastener  66  defines a second pivot axis. These respective pivot axes will be discussed later in the specification. Once assembled, and as seen in the drawings, the handle  50  is movable along a path of travel  70  between a first, open clamping position  71 ; and a second, closed clamping position  72 . The operation of the clamp  10  of the present invention will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter. 
     The clamp  10  of the present invention further includes a rotatable clamping portion which is generally indicated by the numeral  80 . The rotatable clamping portion is rotatably borne by the respective support members  31  and  32 . The rotatable clamping portion  80  has a main body  81  which is defined, in part, by an outside facing surface  82 , and an opposite, inside facing surface  83 . The main body  81 , as illustrated, has a substantially L-shape. Additionally, it will be seen from the drawings that the main body  81  has a first end  84 , and an opposite second end  85 . The main body  81  is formed of first and second members  86  and  87 , respectively, and which are joined together to form a unitary main body  81  having the general L-shape. 
     The clamp  10  of the present invention further includes end plates  90  which are respectively secured to the opposite first and second ends  84  and  85  of the rotatable clamping portion  80 . The end plates for the clamping portion  90  include a first end plate  91  which is located at the first end  84  of the main body  81 , and a second end plate  92  which is located at the opposite second end  85 . The end plates are of substantially identical design and shape. The end plates each have a main body  93  which has an upper, or first end  94 , and a lower, or second end  95 . The second, or lower end  95  extends beyond the peripheral edge of the second member  87 , and which makes up a portion of the main body  81  of the rotatable clamping portion  80 . This is best seen by reference to  FIG. 6  where a sectional view taken through the clamping portion  80  is illustrated. As further illustrated in  FIG. 6 , individual apertures  96  are formed in each of the first and second ends  94  and  95  of the main body  93 . Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and following, a fastener  97  is provided and which is inserted through the aperture  96  which is formed in the respective end plates  90 . The fastener  97  is further received through the first aperture  43  which is formed in the respective support members  31  and  32 , respectively. This is seen, for example, in  FIG. 5 . The fastener  97  allows the clamping portion  80  to partially rotate when force is applied to the handle  50  to move the handle along a predetermined course of travel  70 , as earlier described. 
     The clamp  10  of the present invention further includes a pair of force transmitting couplings which are generally indicated by the numeral  100  in  FIG. 1  and following. In this regard, the pair of force transmitting couplings include a first and a second force transmitting coupling  101  and  102 , respectively, and which are mounted on the opposite ends  84  and  85  of the rotatable clamping portion  80 . The respective force transmitting couplings  100  each have a main body  103  which is C or curve shaped. Each force transmitting coupling has a first end  104  which is secured by the fastener  66  at the distal end  62  of each of the respective elongated arm members  54  and  55 , respectively. Additionally, the respective force transmitting couplings  100  have a second end  105  which is affixed to the second end  95  of each of the first and second end plates  91  and  92 . The first and second end plates  91  and  92 , again, are attached to the main body  81  of the rotatable clamping portion  80 . A fastener  106  secures the second end of the respective force transmitting couplings to the second end  95  of the respective end plates  91  and  92 , respectively. 
     The clamp  10  of the present invention further includes a pair of elongated resilient biasing members  110  which are mounted on the rotatable clamping portion  80  and more specifically the outside facing surface  82  thereof. Each of the elongated resilient biasing members has a main body  111  which has a proximal end  112 , and which is further affixed on the rotatable clamping portion  80 . Further, each of the resilient biasing members has a distal end  113  which extends downwardly relative to the clamping portion  80 . Each of the main bodies  111  is fabricated from a resilient synthetic fiber resin material such as fiberglass or the like, and which can bend or twist about its longitudinal axis when a given amount of pressure is applied to the distal end  113  thereof. As seen in the drawings, a pair of fasteners  114  are provided and which individually engage, and secure the proximal end  112 , and further pass through and are secured to the first member  86 , and which forms part of the main body  81  of the rotatable clamping portion  80 , Each of the elongated resilient biasing members  110  includes a threadably adjustable engagement post which is generally indicated by the numeral  115 . The threadably adjustable engagement post  115  is mounted on the distal end  113 , by means of a threaded post which can be adjusted to various lengths so that the threadably adjustable engagement post extends substantially perpendicularly outwardly relative to the distal end  113 . Further, the distal end  116  of the threadably adjustable engagement post  115  each mounts a resilient end cap  117 , and which is operable to matingly engage the wall  12  of the vibratory conveyor  11  which is located nearby. Movement of the handle  50  along the path of travel  70 , and between the first and second clamping positions  71  and  72  respectively, causes each of the respective threadably adjustable engagement posts  115  to engage the object of interest  13 . As the handle  50  is urged towards the second closed position  72  the main body  111  of each of the resilient biasing members deforms or deflects thereby allowing the handle  50  to be oriented such that the respective pivot axes of the handle and the first and second ends of the elongated force transmitting couplings  100  are substantially linearly aligned when the handle  50  is located in the second clamping position  72 . This aspect of the invention will be discussed in the paragraphs which follow. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , and following, several forms of the invention are depicted.  FIG. 10  shows a vibratory conveyor  11  with a product transporting bed  15 . A cavity  130  is formed in the product transporting bed, and is sized so as to receive an object of interest  13 , and which is herein depicted as a screen  140 . Further, an aperture  141  is formed in the wall  12  of the vibratory conveyor  11 , and which permits the screen  140  to be slideably received in the cavity  130 . The screen has a foraminous main body  142 , with opposite proximal and distal ends  143 , and  144 , respectively. A handle  145  is mounted on the proximal end  143 , and assists in the movement of the screen  140 . The proximal end  143  has an outwardly facing surface  146 . As depicted in  FIG. 10 , the clamp is shown in a position when the screen  140  is partially withdrawn from the cavity  130 . As should be understood, the clamp  10  forcibly engages the proximal end  143  of the screen  140  so as to secure the screen on the vibratory conveyor  11 . 
     As briefly discussed earlier in this application, the clamp  10  can be employed to exert a force on the object of interest  13  which can be either inwardly, and downwardly relative to the vibratory conveyor; or inwardly and upwardly relative thereto. To accomplish this aspect of the invention, the proximal end  143  of the screen  140  is somewhat changed or altered. As seen in the fragmentary view of  FIG. 11 , an inwardly and upwardly directed force can be exerted on the screen  140  by mounting an angulated surface or wedge  150  on the proximal end  143 . The wedge  150  has an engagement surface  151  which has a surface angle of about 22.5 degrees when this angular measurement is measured from a horizontal plane. Another similar effect can be achieved by the form of the invention as seen in  FIG. 14 . In this view, a screen  140  is provided where the proximal end  143  has an outwardly facing surface  160  which has a surface angle which is oriented at an angle of about 22.5 degrees when this is measured from a horizontal plane. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , to achieve the effect where a force is exerted by the clamp  10  to move the screen  140  downwardly and inwardly relative to the vibratory conveyor  11 , a wedge  170 , may be provided ( FIG. 12 ). The wedge as seen in this view has an outwardly facing surface  171  which has a surface angle which, when measured from a horizontal plane is about 22.5 degrees. As seen in  FIG. 13 , a screen  140  can be provided and wherein the proximal end  143  thereof has an outwardly facing surface  180  which has a surface angle which is about 22.5 degrees when measured from a horizontal plane. As should be understood, the clamp  10 , and more specifically the support brackets  20  would be modified to provide a wedge having an inclination of 22.5 degrees and which would be placed between the rearward peripheral edge  34  and the wall  11  so as to achieve the proper angular orientation of the clamp  10 , and exert a clamping force which urges the screen  140  inwardly and upwardly relative to the vibratory conveyor  11 . Of course, alternatively shaped support brackets can be easily fabricated to provide the additional 22.5 degrees of angular inclination which is necessary to achieve this same effect. 
     OPERATION 
     The operation of the described embodiment of the present invention is believed to be readily apparent, and is briefly summarized at this point. 
     In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to a clamp  10  which includes a base portion  30  having individual support members  31  and  32 , respectively, and which are located in predetermined, spaced, substantially parallel relation, one relative to the other. Still further, the clamp  10  includes a handle  50  which has opposite ends  52  and  53 , respectfully, and which are individually, pivotally affixed to each of the support members  31  and  32 , by individual arms  54  and  55 . Still further, the clamp  10  includes a moveable clamp portion  80  having opposite ends  84  and  85 , respectively, and which are individually pivotally attached to the respective support members  31  and  32 , respectively. The clamp  10  additionally includes a pair of force transmitting couplings  100 , each having a first end  104 , and which is pivotally attached to the handle  50 ; and an opposite, second end  105  which is pivotally attached to the moveable clamp portion  80 . Moreover, the clamp  10  of the present invention includes an elongated resilient biasing member  110  having a proximal and a distal end  112  and  113 , respectively, and which is borne by the moveable clamp portion  80 . The distal end  113  of the elongated resilient biasing member  110  resiliently deforms when the elongated resilient biasing member  110  forcibly engages an adjacent object such as the vibratory conveyor  11 , or the object of interest  13 , as force is applied to move the handle  50  along a given course of travel which is generally indicated by the numeral  70 . The clamp  10  further includes a threadably adjustable engagement post  115  which is mounted on the distal end  113  of each of the elongated resilient biasing members  110 . Each threadably adjustable engagement post  115  has a distal end  116  which engages the adjacent vibratory conveyor object  13 . The threadably adjustable engagement post  115  extends perpendicularly, outwardly, relative to the respective distal ends  116  of each of the elongated resilient biasing members. The resilient deformation of the respective elongated resilient biasing members is best seen in  FIG. 6 , and where the subsequent deformation is shown in phantom lines. In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, the clamp  10 , as described, includes a handle  50  which pivots about a given pivot axis  121 , and the first and second ends  104  and  105  of the respective elongated force transmitting couplings  100  each pivot about a given axis  122  and  123 , respectively, when the handle  50  moves from the first, non-clamping orientation  71 , to a second, clamping position  72 . In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, the respective pivot axes of the handle  50 , and the first and second end  104 , and  105 , of elongated force transmitting couplings  100  are substantially linearly aligned  124  when the handle  50  is located in the second, clamping position  72 . 
     More specifically, the clamp  10  of the present invention includes a base portion  30  which is affixed to a wall  12  of a vibratory conveyor  11 . In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, the object  13  further cooperates with a vibratory conveyor  11  having a product transporting bed  15  upon which a source of a product (not shown) is transported. The base portion  30  has individual support members  31  and  32 , respectively, and which are individually affixed to the wall  12  of the vibratory conveyor  11 , and which further extends perpendicularly, outwardly therefrom. The individual support members  31  and  32  are further located a given distance apart. The clamp  10  of the present invention also includes a handle  50  having opposite ends  51  and  52 , respectively, and which further has a given length dimension which is greater than the length dimension as measured between the respective support members  31  and  32 , and which is shown in a presently conceived form of the invention. The handle  50  further has individual arm members  54  and  55 , and which are further mounted on the opposite ends  52  and  53  of the of the handle  50 , and which further each have a distal end  62  which is pivotally mounted to one of the support members  31  and  32  of the base portion  30 . The handle  50  of the present invention is moveable along an arcuately shaped path of travel  70  between a first and a second position  71  and  72 , respectively. The clamp  10  of the present invention also includes a rotatable clamping portion  80  which is borne by the respective support members  31  and  32 , respectively. The rotatable clamping portion  80  has a main body  81 , with opposite ends  84  and  85 . Each end of the rotatable clamping portion  80  is rotatably mounted on each of the respective support members  31  and  32 . As should be understood, forcible movement of the handle  50 ; along the path of travel  70 , has the effect of causing the selective rotation of the rotatable clamping portion  80 . The clamp  10  includes a pair of force transmitting couplings each having a first end  104 , and which are individually, rotatably affixed on the handle  50 , and an opposite second end  105 , which is rotatably mounted on the rotatable clamping portion  80 . Additionally, the clamp  10  includes a pair of elongated resilient biasing members  110  which are individually mounted on the opposite ends of the rotatable clamping portion  80 . Each of the elongated resilient biasing members  110  has a main body which has a similar length dimension. A threadably adjustable engagement post  115  is mounted on each of the of the elongated resilient biasing members, and which further causes the elongated resilient biasing members  110  to deform when the respective elongated resilient biasing members  110  forcibly engage the adjacent vibratory conveyor  11 . As should be understood, when located in the second clamping position  72 , the handle  50  securely positions the object  13  in a given fixed, releasable orientation relative to the vibratory conveyor  11 , but further allows for the releasable decoupling of the object in a highly efficient manner, and without the use of any tools. 
     Therefore, it will be seen that the present invention provides a means for securing various objects of interest on a vibratory conveyor in a manner not possible heretofore. The present clamp is reliable, easy to operate, provides a significant amount of clamping force, and further allows objects of interest to be readily removed, replaced, cleaned and otherwise repaired and then placed back into service on a vibratory conveyor at a speed, and reliability not possible, heretofore. 
     In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the Doctrine of Equivalents.