Clamping device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clamping device which includes a mounting plate, a left and a right holding element, two balls and a rear support. The mounting plate receives at least one set of the right and left holding elements at the front side thereof. The right and left holding elements fitted to the front side of the mounting plate includes two accommodations or one accommodation with a clamping plate to create a top wide while bottom narrow funnellike shape. A ball is disposed inside each of the accommodations. Only part of ball surface projects over an opening while the remaining part thereof is restricted within the inclined channel. The rear support is arranged at the front side of the mounting plate and interposed between the right and left holding elements so that the rear support and the right and left holding elements create a three-sided clamping unit. Accordingly, the present invention has advantages of simple structure, low cost, low malfunction rate and stable clamping. In addition, the clamped object can be directly taken off.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A clamping device comprising: 
 a mounting plate receiving at least one set of right and left holding elements at the front side thereof;    a right and a left holding element fitted to the front side of said mounting plate and formed in shape of an accommodation, respectively, an opening being arranged at the inner side thereof, an outward inclined channel being formed at the inner side thereof in such a way that both channels are symmetrically disposed at opposing sides, thereby creating a top wide while bottom narrow funnellike shape;    two balls being disposed inside said accommodations, respectively, part of the ball surface projecting over said opening while the remaining part thereof is restricted within said inclined channel; and    a rear support arranged at the front side of said mounting plate and interposed between said right and left holding elements so that said rear support and both balls create a three-sided clamping unit.    
     
     
         2 . The clamping device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said mounting plate is provided with a slide rail at top and bottom ends thereof, respectively, for receiving a back plate which is provided with a locating element and fitted to each of said accommodations, and wherein said rear support is also received in said slide rail so that the clearance between both accommodations and the rear support mounted on the mounting plate is adjustable.  
     
     
         3 . The clamping device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said channels of said accommodations of said right and left holding elements are outwardly inclined from the bottom to the top, thereby forming an outwardly inclined angle θ°.  
     
     
         4 . The clamping device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said locating element includes a slider, a spring and a lock pin, and wherein said lock pin in combination with a spring can be engaged in place into any of locating holes of said slide rail at the bottom of said mounting plate.  
     
     
         5 . A clamping device comprising: 
 a mounting plate receiving at least one set of right and left holding elements at the front side thereof;    a right and a left holding element fitted to the front side of said mounting plate and having an accommodation and a clamping plate, an opening being arranged at the inner side of said accommodation, an outward inclined channel being formed at the inner side thereof while said clamping plate is disposed at the opposing side of said accommodation, thereby creating a top wide while bottom narrow funnellike shape;    a ball being disposed inside said accommodation, part of the ball surface projecting over said opening while the remaining part thereof is restricted within said inclined channel; and    a rear support arranged at the front side of said mounting plate and interposed between said right and left holding elements so that said rear support, said ball and said clamping plate create a three-sided clamping unit.    
     
     
         6 . The clamping device as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said clamping plate is fixed on said rear plate of said accommodation.