Patent ID: 7152489

Claim:
A constraining device for constraining an object, comprising: a support member, a plurality of jaws adapted to be arranged around said object of constraint and having at the front ends thereof respective engaging portions to be engaged with the sides of the object of constraint; support shafts rotatably supporting the respective jaws at middle portions of the latter so as to allow the front end engaging portions of the jaws to spread and become closed; first biasing means for biasing the respective jaws to rotate around the respective support shafts operating as fulcrums so as to bring the front end engaging portions of said jaws into an open state; a jaw opening/closing drive member arranged internally relative to said plurality of jaws and adapted to move so as to make the jaws contact or release said object of constraint and rotate the jaws so as to press the base end portions of the jaws and close the front end engaging portions of the jaws when moved in a direction of causing the jaws to contact the object of constraint or in a direction of causing the jaws to release the object of constraint; and a spring as a second biasing means for biasing said jaw opening/closing drive member in a first direction to move the jaw opening/closing drive member in a direction for the front end engaging portions of the plurality of jaws to be closed, so that the jaw is rotated around the respective support shafts as fulcrum.