Patent ID: 8176616

Claim:
A method for error-proofing clamping operation performed with a reconfigurable clamp selectively operated for holding and releasing an object having a contour between the clamp and a clamping device, the method comprising: providing the clamp having a body that defines a plurality of elongated bores, a locking member, a plurality of pins, each pin contained at least partially within the respective one of the plurality of bores and selectively moveable with respect to the respective one of the plurality of bores for contacting the object, and a plunger selectively moveable with respect to the pins, with respect to the locking member, and with respect to the body between a fully-extended position and a fully-depressed position for urging the locking member against at least one of the pins; applying a force to the plunger and sensing whether the plunger achieves the fully-depressed position; releasing the force applied to the plunger and sensing whether the plunger achieves the fully-extended position; and communicating the sensed positions to an interface device.