DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pneumatic pressure cylinder of magnetic type, having sealing strips and bands. More particularly the invention relates to the fixing arrangement of the sealing strip disposed to seal the longitudinal slit of the rodless cylinder.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
In recent trends, Rodless cylinders has been widely used as an alternative to the cylinders of rod type, as it does not require piston rods, in order to save space, to prevent rod buckling during high loads; no damage to the surface of the piston rod may occur during extension stroke and to meet other major specific requirements. And also due to absence of piston rod, there will be no bending of piston rod which may cause misalignment resulting in wear & tear or fitment issue with the other mating components etc., The other main advantage is as the stroke length being compacted in less space, it delivers equal output force in both directions with respect to centre of mass. Due to these above mentioned reasons, Rodless Cylinders are the most widely used pneumatic products in various small and large scale industries for applications like material handling, loading, lifting etc.,
The Rodless cylinder basically comprises of an extrusion cylinder body known as barrel along with the carriage/yoke, where the mounting portion is projected on the upper surface of the barrel.

The rodless cylinder comprises of an internal piston, which moves inside the cylinder barrel when air supply by is provided at an input set pressure. Depending upon the set air pressure at both ends of the port, the piston moves in either direction depending upon the length of the cylinder barrel. And also, the speed is dependent on the applied input pressure, with respect to time taken for stroke completion.

The carriage/yoke is capable of making a sliding contact, in a longitudinal direction of the cylinder barrel. The movement of piston inside the cylinder barrel, moves the carriage/yoke as they are completely integrated as a sub assembly, carrying the load which is mounted on the top of the yoke where the mounting holes is provided. The cylinder barrel is fixed with end covers, which are installed at both ends of the cylinder barrel along with end plates.

The force applied to the piston due to inlet pressurized air is directly transferred to the piston of the yoke assembly. The carriage/yoke is guided in a longitudinal barrel gap of the cylinder through which the seal band & strip must be sealed. In general a Stainless Steel (SS) Strip also known as sheet, is used in Rodless cylinders. The Stainless Steel (SS) Strip allows the carriage/yoke to move back and forth, creating a reliable sealing within the cylinder slot width & ensures protection from dust. The SS Strip is allowed with a minimal slack, in order to move the yoke assembly with jerk-free because, it provides smoother & efficient function during stroke operation. The Stainless Steel (SS) Strip also protects the internal seals from leakage, when used in an open atmosphere.

A translational motion occurs in rodless cylinder, when the air is supplied at an optimum set pressure. The pressurized air moves the carriage/yoke from one end to another. The carriage/yoke carries the load (if mounted) from one end to another with respect to piston speed. The operation of the Rodless cylinder is controlled by the control system, comprising electro pneumatic valves and sensors that are well known in the art.

The carriage/yoke is driven in contact with SS Strip, along with wipers, which serves as an additional support for holding the SS Strip & doesn’t allow bearing strip from being separated from the yoke because, bearing strip purpose is to avoid metal to metal contact, thereby minimizing barrel surface wear and improves abrasion resistance during dynamic motion. If the SS Strip not firmly held with an appreciable tightening torque or with a product that fails to withstand the load due to translational motion or a heavy vibration, the SS Strip results in pulling out from the cylinder due to dynamic forces acting on it.
In the Rodless cylinders, Stainless Steel Strip is fixed to the end plates, in which the end plate is mounted on the ends of the cylinder barrel i.e., on the end cover, using socket head cap screws. A drawback is that the Stainless Steel Strip shall be slipped out from the end plate, as the set screw is held in tightening torque by a pair of set screws at a tangential point of contact. This results in dust to be entered through the barrel gap thereby contaminating the seals and offers high risk during function like act being unsafe.

Accordingly it will be advantages to provide a rodless cylinder constructed with means that will avoid the prior art problem of Stainless Steel Strip slippage.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
One or more of the problems of the conventional prior art may be overcome by various embodiments of the present invention.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a rodless cylinder having a set of adjustable end plates provided with arrangement for clamping the SS strips.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a rodless cylinder wherein each of the adjustable end plates provided with clamping pin and set screw for clamping the SS Strip.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a rodless cylinder wherein the end plates are provided with adjustment slot within which the clamp is placed in order to adjust the SS Strip with respect to barrel length.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a rodless cylinder wherein the travel clearance of the adjustment slots is greater than that of the specified dimension tolerance of the basic size of cylinder barrel to facilitate required adjustment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a rodless cylinder wherein the clamp comprises aligning guide portion.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a rodless cylinder wherein holes are punched at both the ends of SS Strip having predetermined diameter such that it fits with the size of the aligning guide.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a rodless cylinder wherein adjusting set screw is provided at the adjusting slot side of the end plate to adjust the position of the clamp in order to retain the SS strip at the required position.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Thus according to the embodiment of the present invention there is provided a rodless cylinder comprising, a cylinder Barrel, a front end cover assembly, a rear end cover assembly, a yoke assembly, a SS Strip and end plates.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the cylinder barrel is having a longitudinal adjusting slot.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the front end cover assembly and the rear end cover assembly are fitted at the ends of the cylinder barrel.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the yoke assembly slides in the longitudinal adjusting slot of the cylinder barrel.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the SS Strip is provided to seal the longitudinal adjusting slot of the cylinder barrel.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the end plates are mounted on the front end cover assembly and rear end cover assembly.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the rodless cylinder further comprising, clamps and set screws.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the end plate is provide with adjusting slot at its bottom side and threaded hole at the adjusting slot sides.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the clamp provided with an aligning guide is slide ably fitted inside the adjustment adjusting slot of the end plates.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein holes of suitable diameter are disposed at both the ends of SS Strip in order to accommodate aligning guide portions of the clamps.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the ends of the SS Strip fitted to the aligning guide portion of the clamp is placed beneath the adjusting slot.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the set screws are mounted to the threaded holes of the end plate to adjust the SS Strip fitted to the clamp with respect to barrel length and to retain the clamp fitted with SS Strip at the required position.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the threaded hole on the end plate is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the adjusting slot.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein axial length travel clearance of adjustable adjusting slot of the end plate is arranged greater than that of the specified dimension tolerance of the basic size of cylinder barrel.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 - schematically illustrates perceptive view of the rodless cylinder.
Figure 2 - schematically illustrates cross sectional front view of the rodless cylinder according to the present invention.
Figure 3 - schematically illustrates perceptive view of the end plate of the rodless cylinder according to the present invention.
Figure 3A - schematically illustrates front cross sectional view of the end plate of the rodless cylinder according to the present invention.
Figure 4 - schematically illustrates the perceptive view of clamp of the rodless cylinder according to the present invention.
Figure 4A - schematically illustrates front cross sectional view of the clamp of the rodless cylinder according to the present invention.
Figure 5 - schematically illustrates top view of the SS strip of the rodless cylinder according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

As shown in figure 1 and 2, the rodless cylinder (100) according to the present invention is provided a cylinder barrel (1) in which the front end cover assembly (2) and the rear end cover assembly (3) are fitted at the ends of the cylinder barrel (1). Further, adjustable end plates consisting of an end plate (8) and a clamp (9) mounted on the top portion of the rodless cylinder (100). The end plates (8) are mounted on the front end cover assembly (2) and rear end cover assembly (3) of the rodless cylinder (100). As shown in figure 4 and 4A, the clamp (9) is provided with an aligning guide (9a), which is assembled at both the ends of a SS Strip (6) provided to seal the longitudinal adjusting slot of the cylinder barrel (1) which is disposed to accommodate a yoke assembly (4). The yoke assembly (4) slides in the longitudinal adjusting slot of the cylinder barrel (1). As shown in figure 5, holes (6a) of suitable diameter are disposed at both the ends of SS Strip (6) in order to accommodate aligning guide (9a) such that aligning guide (9a) fits with the hole (6a) of SS Strip (6) freely.

As shown in figure 3 and 3A, the end plates (8) are provided with adjusting slot (8a), where the clamp (9) along with the SS Strip (6) is placed inside the adjusting slot (8a) in order to adjust the SS Strip (6) with respect to barrel length, the ends of the SS Strip (6) fitted to the aligning guide (9a) portion of the clamp (9) is placed beneath the adjusting slot (8a). The end plates (8) are further provided with threaded holes (8b) arranged at its sides in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the adjusting slot to accommodate the set screw (100). The axial length (travel clearance) of adjustable adjusting slot (8a) of the end plate (8) is arranged greater than that of the specified dimension tolerance of the basic size of cylinder barrel.

For adjusting the clamp (9) after placing it inside adjusting slot (8a) of the end plate along with SS Strip (6) assembled to it, a set screw (10) is provided at the adjusting slot side of the end plate (8) which fits in the threaded hole (8b). The set screws (100) are mounted to the threaded holes (8b) of the end plate (8) to adjust the SS Strip (6) fitted to the clamp (9) with respect to barrel length and to retain the clamp (9) fitted with SS Strip (6) at the required position. This retains the clamp (9) and the SS Strip (6) fitted to it as per the attained dimensional tolerance of cylinder barrel. The end plates (8) are fitted to the ends of the cylinder barrel (1) by means of end plate fasteners. The wipers (7) are mounted at the sides of the Yoke assembly (4) for additional grip. This arrangement rigidly holds both the ends of SS Strip (6) at a proper position enables withstanding of translational loads and vibration produced during operation of the rodless cylinder (100).

Advantages of the invention:
The Stainless Steel Strip with punched holes and with a set of adjustable end plates provides:
1. Adjustment of the SS Strip with respect to barrel length, which serves as a compensator if the dimension of the barrel varies from its basic size, within the specified tolerable limit.
2. To provide strength to withstand the vibration due to translational motion occurring in product concerning lateral force avoids the SS Strip pulling out from the cylinder.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, these descriptions are not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. It is therefore, contemplated that the claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments that fall within the true scope of the invention. ,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A rodless cylinder (100) comprising:
a cylinder Barrel (1);
a front end cover assembly (2);
a rear end cover assembly (3);
a yoke assembly (4);
a SS Strip (6) and
end plates (8),
wherein the cylinder barrel (1) is having a longitudinal adjusting slot,
wherein the front end cover assembly (2) and the rear end cover assembly (3) are fitted at the ends of the cylinder barrel (1),
wherein the yoke assembly (4) slides in the longitudinal adjusting slot of the cylinder barrel (1),
wherein the SS Strip (6) is provided to seal the longitudinal adjusting slot of the cylinder barrel (1),
wherein the end plates (8) are mounted on the front end cover assembly (2) and rear end cover assembly (3),
characterized in that the rodless cylinder (100) further comprising,
clamps (9) and
set screws (10),
wherein the end plate (8) is provide with adjusting slot (8a) at its bottom side and threaded hole (8b) at the adjusting slot sides,
wherein the clamp (9) provided with an aligning guide (9a) is slide ably fitted inside the adjustment adjusting slot (8a) of the end plates (8a),
wherein holes (6a) of suitable diameter are disposed at both the ends of SS Strip (6) in order to accommodate aligning guide (9a) portions of the clamps (9),
wherein the ends of the SS Strip (6) fitted to the aligning guide (9a) portion of the clamp (9) is placed beneath the adjusting slot (8a), and
wherein the set screws (100) are mounted to the threaded holes (8b) of the end plate (8) to adjust the SS Strip (6) fitted to the clamp (9) with respect to barrel length and to retain the clamp (9) fitted with SS Strip (6) at the required position.

2. The rodless cylinder (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the threaded hole (8b) on the end plate (8) is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the adjusting slot (8a).

3. The rodless cylinder (100) as claimed in claim 1, axial length (travel clearance) of adjustable adjusting slot (8a) of the end plate (8) is arranged greater than that of the specified dimension tolerance of the basic size of cylinder barrel.