Patent ID: 7396005

Claim:
A clamping device, comprising: a first clamp jaw fixed relative to a clamping direction, a second clamp jaw moveable in the clamping direction, the moveable clamp jaw curved so that the moveable clamp jaw forms a tapered inlet with the fixed clamp jaw, and a force transducer configured to apply a force to the moveable clamp jaw so that in a non-clamping condition of the clamping device the force transducer exerts a first force on the moveable clamp jaw and thereby urges the moveable clamp jaw against either the fixed clamp jaw or an object to be clamped and that in a clamping condition the force transducer exerts a second force on the moveable clamp jaw that is stronger than the first force, wherein the force transducer comprises a coil and an iron core driven by the coil and wherein in the non-clamping condition of the clamping device the moveable clamp jaw is loaded with the weight of the iron core.