US 11,794,309 B2
Automated smart vise system
Paul J. Gray, Zionsville, IN (US); Matthew H. Tinkle, Indianapolis, IN (US); David G. Coffman, Frankfort, IN (US); and Donald J. Hammer, Avon, IN (US)
Assigned to Hurco Companies, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed by Hurco Companies, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed on Dec. 23, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/132,826.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/983,199, filed on Feb. 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0268628 A1, Sep. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. B25B 1/10 (2006.01); B25B 1/02 (2006.01); B25B 1/24 (2006.01)
CPC B25B 1/10 (2013.01) [B25B 1/02 (2013.01); B25B 1/24 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vise for holding a workpiece in a forming machine, comprising:
a moveable jaw moveable between an open position and a clamp position, whereby the moveable jaw allows a workpiece to be positioned in the vise in the open position and the moveable jaw clamps the workpiece in the vise in the clamp position;
a gross moveable jaw drive connected to the moveable jaw and operable to actuate the moveable jaw between the open position and the clamp position, the gross moveable jaw drive comprising a lock selectively restricting a movement of the moveable jaw toward the open position; and
a fine moveable jaw drive connected to the moveable jaw and operable to actuate the moveable jaw between the open position and the clamp position, whereby the gross moveable jaw drive is operable to actuate the moveable jaw to a near clamp position and the fine moveable jaw drive is operable to actuate the moveable jaw from the near clamp position to the clamp position to hold the workpiece during a forming operation;
wherein the lock is moveable between an unlock position allowing the gross moveable jaw drive to actuate the moveable jaw between the open position and the clamp position, and a lock position restricting a movement of the moveable jaw toward the open position within one of a plurality of gross increments, and wherein the fine moveable jaw drive is operable to actuate the moveable jaw within one of the plurality of gross increments.