US 12,440,946 B2
Clamp assemblies and methods
Robert Schlenker, Troy, MI (US)
Assigned to Knight Industries & Associates, Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by Knight Industries & Associates, Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on Feb. 6, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/106,440.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/391,435, filed on Jul. 22, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/330,928, filed on Apr. 14, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0330816 A1, Oct. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. B25B 5/06 (2006.01); B23Q 3/06 (2006.01)
CPC B25B 5/068 (2013.01) [B23Q 3/06 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A clamp assembly for a work carrier, comprising:
a base for mounting to the work carrier and including a rotatable spur gear;
a slider including a main housing, a rack with a plurality of teeth along an upper surface of the rack for engaging the spur gear for linear movement of the slider relative to the base, and a clamp extension extending from the main housing to engage an edge of a work object supported by the work carrier, and
a one-way roller clutch bearing is provided at a rotational axis of the spur gear to, when the spur gear is engaged with the plurality of teeth of the rack, permit movement of the slider in a first linear direction but prevent movement of the slider in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction.