IP Library Granted Patent US 12667939
Granted Patent B2
US 12667939 · App. 18/289,401 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Workpiece-clamping element

Inventors: Martin Zimmer (Rheinau, DE); Günther Zimmer (Rheinau, DE)
B25B11/005B23Q1/035B23Q3/088
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12667939
App. No.
18/289,401
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A workpiece-clamping element has a cylinder and a lifting rod assembly guided in the cylinder with an annular piston and with an inner tube. The lifting rod assembly carries a suction plate having a workpiece support surface. A workpiece table has a plurality of workpiece-clamping elements of this type. A cylinder bottom of the cylinder penetrated by the lifting rod assembly, the lifting rod assembly and a cylinder jacket tube of the cylinder delimit a pressure chamber. In addition, the lifting rod assembly is mounted both in the cylinder bottom and in the cylinder head so that it can be displaced at least axially. The present disclosure allows a short changeover time and a shortened throughput time of workpieces.

Claims (31)

1 . A workpiece-clamping element ( 70 ; 71 ), comprising:

a cylinder ( 81 );

a lifting rod assembly ( 100 ), which is guided in the cylinder ( 81 ) and has

an annular piston ( 102 ) and

an inner tube ( 105 );

a suction plate ( 111 ) having a workpiece support surface ( 113 ), the suction plate ( 111 ) being carried by the lifting rod assembly ( 100 );

a displacement rod ( 131 ) loaded by at least one spring energy store ( 137 ) mounted in the suction plate ( 111 ); and

a pressure chamber ( 142 ) delimited by

a cylinder bottom ( 83 ) of the cylinder ( 81 ) penetrated by the lifting rod assembly ( 100 ),

the lifting rod assembly ( 100 ), and

a cylinder jacket tube ( 85 ) of the cylinder ( 81 ),

wherein the lifting rod assembly ( 100 ) is mounted at least axially displaceably both in the cylinder bottom ( 83 ) and in a cylinder head ( 84 ), and

wherein the displacement rod ( 131 ) protrudes beyond the workpiece support surface ( 113 ) when the at least one spring energy store ( 137 ) is relieved.

2 . The workpiece-clamping element ( 70 ; 71 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the cylinder head ( 84 ), the lifting rod assembly ( 100 ) and the cylinder jacket tube ( 85 ) delimit a displacement chamber ( 152 ).

3 . The workpiece-clamping element ( 70 ; 71 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the lifting rod assembly ( 100 ) is centered in the cylinder head ( 84 ) when the pressure chamber ( 142 ) has a maximum volume.

4 . The workpiece-clamping element ( 70 ; 71 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein a distance of the workpiece support surface ( 113 ) relative to the annular piston ( 102 ) is adjustable.

5 . The workpiece-clamping element ( 70 ; 71 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein a switching valve ( 144 ) arranged in a bottom distribution plate ( 94 ) of the cylinder bottom ( 83 ) is connected upstream of the pressure chamber ( 142 ).

6 . The workpiece-clamping element ( 70 ; 71 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the lifting rod assembly ( 100 ) is mounted in the cylinder ( 81 ) by slide bearings ( 171 , 172 ).

7 . The workpiece-clamping element ( 70 ; 71 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein when the lifting rod assembly ( 100 ) is in an extended end position ( 73 ) of the workpiece-clamping element ( 70 ; 71 ), a pneumatic connection between the suction plate ( 111 ) and a suction connection ( 161 ) is released, and

wherein the pneumatic connection is blocked by the lifting rod assembly ( 100 ) when the lifting rod assembly ( 100 ) is in a retracted end position ( 72 ) of the workpiece-clamping element ( 70 ; 71 ).

8 . A workpiece table ( 30 ), comprising a plurality of the workpiece-clamping elements ( 70 ; 71 ) according to claim 1 .

9 . The workpiece table ( 30 ) according to claim 8 ,

further comprising at least one carrier plate ( 55 ) with the plurality of workpiece-clamping elements ( 70 ; 71 ) fastened therein.

10 . The workpiece table ( 30 ) according to claim 8 ,

wherein each of the plurality of workpiece-clamping elements ( 70 ; 71 ) can be controlled individually.