Tool holder for a machine tool or the like

Claim 2

A tool holder comprising a body having a passage therein adapted to receive a shank of a tool, means mounted on said body for movement from an inactive position to an active position and vice versa, for gripping the tool shank when in said active position, cam means movably mounted on said body for rotary movement about the lengthwise axis of said passage and with respect to said gripping means and operative when rotated to one position to move said gripping means to said active position, eject means movably mounted on said body and operative to be moved by said cam means to an active position to initiate ejection of the tool shank from said passage, said rotary movement of said cam means from said one position to a second position, causing said eject means to be moved to said active position, and permitting movement of said gripping means to said inactive position, and spring means coacting between said cam means and said body operative to urge said cam means to said one position and resiliently resist movement of said cam means to said second position.

Claim 3

A tool holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said spring means comprises a compression spring disposed in a recess formed in said tool holder, abutment means on said body engaging one end of said spring, other abutment means on said cam means engaging the other end of said spring, said spring being compressed between said abutment means upon rotary movement of said cam means from said one position to said second position, said abutment means when said cam means is in said one position being disposed generally adjacent to one another.

Claim 4

A tool holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gripping means comprises a plurality of balls spaced circumferentially substantially evenly about said passage and communicating therewith, the tool shank having shoulder means thereon, said balls when in said active position being adapted to engage the shoulder means on the tool shank for holding the tool on said body.

Claim 5

A tool holder in accordance with claim 3 wherein said eject means comprises a plurality of balls spaced circumferentially about said passage and communicating therewith, the lasT mentioned balls when moved to said active position being adapted to engage another shoulder on the tool shank and pushingly urge the tool axially out of said passage, said last mentioned balls being substantially equally spaced with respect to one another circumferentially of said passage and being staggered with respect to the first mentioned balls.

Claim 6

A tool holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said body comprises a head portion and a base portion, a tubular-like stem portion connecting said head portion with said base portion, said stem portion partially defining said passage, said head and base portions being substantially wider than said stem portion, said gripping means and said eject means comprising circumferentially spaced vertically disposed sets of ball-like members mounted in openings in said stem portion with one set of the ball-like members being adapted to extend into said passage when in said active position for gripping coaction with the shank of the tool to form said gripping means, and said cam means being rotatable on said base portion about said stem portion and adapted for coaction with said one set of said ball-like members for moving the latter to said active position, said cam means being rotatable toward said second position for coaction with the other set of ball-like members for ejecting the tool shank from the passage, said cam means comprising a sectional ring-like member having cam surfaces on the interior thereof adapted for engaging coaction with said ball-like members, and means detachably connecting the sections of said ring-like member together.

Claim 7

A tool holder in accordance with claim 1 including handle means projecting laterally from said cam means and being secured thereto for actuating said cam means from said one position to said second position.

Claim 8

A tool holder in accordance with claim 5 including passageway means formed in said head portion communicating with said passage for supplying fluid to said passage.

Claim 9

A tool holder comprising a body having a passage therein adapted to receive a shank of a tool, means mounted on said body for movement from an inactive position to an active position and vice versa, for gripping the tool shank when in said active position, cam means movably mounted with respect to said gripping means and operative when moved to one position to move said gripping means to said active position, and eject means movably mounted on said body and operative to be moved by said cam means to an active position to initiate ejection of the tool shank from said passage, said movement of said cam means from said one position to a second position causing said eject means to be moved to said active position, and permitting movement of said gripping means to said inactive position, and the combination therewith of said tool, said body comprising a head portion and a base portion with a stem portion connecting said head portion with said base portion, said passage extending from exteriorly of said base portion into said stem portion, said base portion having spaced accurately dimensioned slots therein, said tool having accurately dimensioned lugs thereon formed accurately complementary to said slots in said base portion, for precisely locating the tool with respect to the holder, the tool shank having a sliding fit in said passage, for ready entry of said shank into said passage, and whereby said lugs coacting in said slots operate to accurately align the tool with the holder and with respect to said passage in the holder.

Claim 10

A tool holder comprising a body having a passage therein adapted to receive a shank of a tool, means mounted on said body for movement from an inactive position to an active position and vice versa, for gripping the tool shank when in said active position, cam means movably mounted with respect to said gripping means and operative when moved to one position to move said gripping means to said active position, and eject means movably mounted on said body and operative to be moved by said cam means to an active position to initiate ejection of the tool shank from said passage, said movement of said cam means from said one position to a second position causing said eject means to be moved to said active position, and permitting movement of said gripping means to said inactive position, and the combination therewith of said tool, said body comprising a head portion and a base portion with a stem portion connecting said head portion with said base portion, said passage extending from exteriorly of said base portion into said stem portion, said base portion having spaced accurately dimensioned slots therein, said tool having accurately dimensioned lugs thereon formed accurately complementary to said slots in said base portion, for precisely locating the tool with respect to the holder, the tool shank having a sliding fit in said passage, for ready entry of said shank into said passage, and whereby said lugs coacting in said slots operate to accurately align the tool with the holder and with respect to said passage in the holder.

Claim 11

The combination in accordance with claim 8 wherein said tool comprises an electrode, said shank being secured to said electrode and projecting upwardly therefrom, said tool shank having a lengthwise extending duct extending completely therethrough and continuing through said electrode for communicating said passage with the exterior of the tool, for applying fluid through said passage and said duct to a work part.

Claim 12

The combination in accordance with claim 8 including index means oN said base portion adapted for coaction with index means on said tool for predetermining an indexed position of the tool with respect to the holder.

Claim 13

The combination in accordance with claim 10 wherein said index means comprises complementary projection and recess means on said base portion and said tool, adapted for mating non-interfering coaction when said tool is in predetermined indexed position with respect to the holder, and wherein said projection means is adapted for non-mating interfering coaction when said tool is in non-properly indexed position with respect to the holder, whereby said gripping means is prevented from moving to said active position by said tool shank.

Claim 14

A tool holder in accordance with claim 5 wherein said openings in said stem are constricted at the inner defining surface of said passage for preventing said ball-like members from passing completely through said openings and into said passage.

Claim 15

The combination in accordance with claim 8 wherein said shank is of generally cylindrical configuration in horizontal section, the distal end of said shank being of a smaller diameter as compared to the proximate end of said shank, said shank having obliquely disposed axially spaced shoulder means thereon intermediate said ends, said shoulder means adjacent said distal end being adapted for holding engagement with said gripping means in said active position of the latter, said shoulder means furtherest from said distal end being adapted for engagement with said eject means upon movement of said cam means to said second position, and a neck section disposed intermediate said spaced shoulder means and connecting the latter, said neck section being of a smaller diameter than said distal end.

Claim 16

The combination in accordance with claim 13 wherein said passage at the entry end portion thereof is wider than at its opposite end portion whereby entry of said tool shank is facilitated, said opposite end portion having a sliding fit with said distal end of said shank and said entry end portion having a sliding fit with said proximate end of said shank, in the mounted and gripped position of said tool in said holder.