Patent ID: 7753351

Claim:
A clamp device for clamping different blank pieces, comprising: a mounting table on which the different blank pieces are to be placed such that mutually facing edges of the different blank pieces are kept in contact with each other; a clamp plate configured to clamp one blank piece of the different blank pieces on the mounting table, the clamp plate having a flat surface with side edges; a pivot mechanism configured to pivotally move the clamp plate from an inoperative position to an operative position where portions of the one blank piece near the mutually facing edges are pressed against the mounting table by the clamp plate, wherein said pivot mechanism comprises a pivoting arm and an actuator to move said pivoting arm; and a lock unit configured to lock the one blank piece by pressing a side edge of the clamp plate against the one blank piece, wherein the lock unit comprises: a pivotal locking pawl configured to lock the side edge of the clamp plate, the locking pawl including a first portion configured to have an upper projection and configured to receive thereon said side edge of the clamp plate such that a given clearance is left between the one blank piece and the clamp plate when the clamp plate is pivotally moved to the operative position by the pivot mechanism and a second portion configured to have a lower projection and configured to be pressed against said side edge of the clamp plate such that the clamp plate is locked against the mounting table when the one blank piece is pressed against the mounting table by the clamp plate; and a locking pawl actuating mechanism comprising an actuation mechanism and a linking mechanism connected to said locking pawl for forcing pivoting of the pivotal locking pawl between a first angular position wherein the first portion of the locking pawl receives thereon the side edge of the clamp plate leaving the given clearance between the one blank piece and the clamp plate and a second angular position wherein the second portion of the locking pawl is pressed against the side edge of the clamp plate.