Abstract: A device for the quick change of tool holder adapters, especially for use on CNC machine tools such as multi-spindle or single-spindle lathes, turning and milling centres, transfer machine tools, for orienting and clamping the different tool holder shanks in the appropriate seats of the rotating and non-rotating shafts present in the mechanical bodies such as motorised or non-motorised tool holders, multiple or single, comprising a tool holder shank of truncated-cone shape designed to fit, starting from its smaller diameter rear part, into a complementary housing made in the rotating shaft of a motorised module. On the smaller diameter rear face of the tool holder shank a milling cut is made configured to accommodate at least one removable insert which protrudes partly frontally in the direction of a recess made on the back wall of the tapered seat of the rotating shaft of the motorized module.

Abstract: The coupling device (1) comprises a clamping fixture (2) fixable to a manipulator and an adapter (40) securely clampable thereto. Both the clamping fixture (2) and the adapter (40) are configured substantially rectangular. The clamping fixture (2) comprises a locking mechanism (5) consisting of two laterally shiftable locking elements (6, 7) and an actuating member (8) disposed inbetween. For fixedly securing the adapter (40) to the clamping fixture (2) the locking elements (6, 7) are urged by means of the actuating member into the side widenings (45, 46) of the locking opening (44). In addition, the clamping fixture (2) is provided with a slotted recess (4) and the adapter (40) with an elongated base (41), the latter being insertable into the slotted recess (4).

Abstract: An apparatus for clamping a component on a rotating machine part, in particular a balancing machine, having a basic body, having a clamping mandrel, which is arranged in an axially displaceable manner within the basic body, and having a plurality of clamping devices, which can be moved between a release position and a clamping position by axial displacement of the clamping mandrel. In order to make it possible for components to be clamped centrally with repeated accuracy, the clamping devices are designed as clamping segments which can be displaced radially in relation to the centre axis of the basic body above the latter.

Abstract: In an embodiment, there is a turret pocket key that includes a first slider block, a second slider block, a third slider block and a fourth slider block. The slider blocks are retained such that the slider blocks are adapted to move relative to one another, the key is adapted to move the first slider block and/or the fourth slider block to draw the first slider block and the fourth slider block relatively towards each other, and when the first slider block and the fourth slider block are drawn relatively towards each other, the second slider block and the third slider block move outward in a direction normal to the relative direction of movement of the first slider block towards the fourth slider block.

Abstract: The invention relates to a chuck comprising a chuck casing (3) and jaws (1) moved radially outwardly and having an axially extending clamping face (17) for clamping a workpiece. The jaws (1) are guided in radial guides and are provided with two sloping guideways on an axially slidable clamping piece (4) is guided in such a manner that the jaws (1) are moved radially upon an axial sliding motion of the clamping piece (4). A jaw casing (2) accommodating the radial guides of the jaws (1) is carried for axial movement in the chuck casing (3) and is supported on the chuck casing (3) in the direction of the clamping movement of the clamping piece (4) via an axially resilient spring element (9).

Abstract: An actuator according to example embodiments may be relatively compact and may be driven with 2 degrees of freedom with less spatial constraints. The actuator may include a base member, a ball screw member including a ball screw coupled to the base member and a ball nut screwed onto the ball screw, a driving member coupled to the ball nut so as to move in conjunction with the ball nut, a first directional displacement member configured to move in a first direction in response to a first movement of the driving member, a wedge member coupled to the driving member so as to be moved in a second direction in response to a second movement of the driving member, a second directional displacement member configured to move in a second direction in conjunction with the wedge member, and a binding member configured to bind the first directional displacement member to at least one of the driving member, the wedge member, and the base member.

Abstract: A tool clamping device includes: a tool holder having a two-face restraint portion constituted by a tool taper portion and a tool end surface; a spindle having a spindle taper portion facing the tool taper portion and a spindle end surface facing the tool end surface, wherein the tool holder is clamped to the spindle by performing an operation to pull the tool holder in toward the spindle; and a clamping unit housed in the spindle, wherein, when the tool end surface is in contact with the spindle end surface and the tool taper portion is fitted into the spindle taper portion, a gap is formed between the tool taper portion and the spindle taper portion.

Abstract: A dual-contact tool holder is provided for a lathe/miller, including a tool seat having an inner circumferential surface in which a circumferential groove is defined and an operation barrel having a circumferential surface in which holes are defined for receiving therein steel balls. The operation barrel forms a central bore in which a connection bar is movably received. A lid is mounted to an upper end of the operation barrel. The connection bar is coupled to a draw bar of a ram, whereby the draw bar of the ram, when caused to move upward, drives the operation barrel upward via the connection bar, causing the steel balls to move upward and tightly engage the inner circumferential surface of the tool seat to generate a dual constraint force for enhancing the fixing of a tool rest.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for holding a workpiece (2) or tool having a tapered collar (1) or the like and having a pull-back rod (4) axially shiftable in a body (3) for actuating a chuck head (6) cooperating with jaws (5). The axial position of the pull-back rod (4) is maintained in a holding position without utilizing the force of a tension spring by a self-locking mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasably holding a tubular toolholder shank by axially reciprocating a lock rod between a locked and unlocked position. Compression balls following a helical path on a torque nut are used to retract a compression sleeve, which in turn compresses springs against the lock rod to move the lock rod into the locked position. As a result, a repeatable lock rod force is possible with a pre-determined and self limiting rotation of the torque nut. The same helical groove may be used to advance the compression sleeve against the lock rod to urge the toolholder from the base member.

Abstract: A hand tool having an elongated plunger assembly that is rotatably and movably disposed in a socket. The plunger assembly can be rotated between a first orientation and a second orientation as well as being moved between a first, withdrawn position and a second, extended position. The plunger assembly also has an upper notch and a lower notch on a front side and at least one generally flat lateral side. A fixed latch member extends across a portion of the socket and defines a narrow passage within the socket. The hand tool, preferably, includes a compression spring biasing the plunger assembly toward the extended position.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method is provided for precisely positioning a datum surface of a component. The apparatus has a housing defining a tooling datum surface. A collet is supported by the housing that is selectively operable between a retracted mode and an expanded mode. In the retracted mode a clearing disengagement is defined with the component. In the expanded mode a contacting engagement with the component is defined. The contacting engagement and a simultaneous longitudinal force transferred by the contacting engagement to the component pressingly engage the datum surfaces together. The apparatus further has a bias member exerting the longitudinal force and urging the collet to the retracted mode.

Abstract: In a robotic tool coupler, a rotating cam surface ring having a plurality of surfaces formed therein urges a plurality of ball members in one tool coupling unit radially to contact a coupling surface in the other tool coupling unit. Mechanical energy captured and stored upon decoupling the units is used by an actuation mechanism, upon manual initiation, to at least partially automatically couple the two units by partially rotating the rotating cam surface ring. Further manual rotation of the cam member exerts a radial force through the ball members onto the coupling surface. A component of that force is directed by the coupling surface toward the opposite tool coupling unit, locking the two units together.

Abstract: In the case of a machine tool which comprises at least one working spindle with a tool-holding fixture for tool holders carrying tools, and a tool changer with a gripper for the tool holders in order to transfer the tool holders between their magazine position, which is spaced apart from the tool-holding fixture, and their working position in the tool-holding fixture, a clamping system with a clamping apparatus by means of which a tool holder inserted into the tool-holding fixture is fixed is arranged in the working spindle, the clamping system additionally comprising a retaining apparatus for a tool holder situated in the tool-holding fixture. In the case of a method carried out on this machine tool, the clamping system carries out a retaining operation which temporally precedes the clamping operation in order to grasp the tool holder inserted into the tool-holding fixture before the clamping apparatus fixes the tool holder.

Abstract: A robotic tool changer comprises first and second units, operative to be separately attached to a robot and a robotic tool, and further operative to be selectively coupled together and decoupled. The first and second units are coupled and decoupled by an electric motor. Power from the electric motor may be applied to couple and decouple the first and second units in a variety of ways.

Abstract: In a robotic tool coupler, a rotating cam member having a plurality of surfaces formed therein urges a plurality of ball members in one tool coupling unit radially to contact an angled surface in the other tool coupling unit. Further rotation of the cam member exerts a radial force through the ball members onto the angled surface. A component of that force is directed by the angled surface toward the opposite tool coupling unit, locking the two units together. The cam member may include a failsafe surface and/or a failsafe lobe to maintain the two units locked together in the event of a loss of power to positively actuate the cam member.

Abstract: An expanding, inner diameter gripping collet assembly for a pick-off spindle. An arbor base is connected to the pick-off spindle and is moveably connected to a moveable arbor. The moveable arbor engages and is driven by the pick-off spindle nose. The moveable arbor has motion-translating cam surfaces on one end that engage corresponding surfaces on one end of an expanding collet. A drawplug having motion-translating cam surfaces that engage corresponding ones on the other end of an expanding collet is inserted through the moveable arbor and secured into the arbor base. The collet assembly also includes an ejector housing, in which an ejector is positioned for sliding movement. A compression spring biases the ejector forwardly.

Abstract: An arbor for temporarily securing a reel to the shaft of a machine such as an unwind machine. A plurality of blades are extendable and retractable from a cylindrical body by means of an axially shiftable cam assembly. The cam assembly shifts in response to an actuator which is mounted on the end of the support shaft which extends from one end of the arbor. In one embodiment the cam assembly carries annular cam members and in another embodiment the cam assembly defines cam grooves having ramps which receive bearing member in cooperation with aligned cam grooves in the blades.