Two component tool holder, especially for a machine tool or robot

Claim 1

A two component tool holder for a robot, said tool holder having a central longitudinal axis, comprising a first component (1) including a sleeve (3) with a conical bore (2) in the sleeve, and a second component (25) with flange means (27, 28) for holding a tool and with a conical shaft (26) fitting into said conical bore (2), said conical shaft having substantially adjacent its free end a circumferential shallow locking groove (29) having a first conical ring surface (30) slanting toward a plane defined by said free end, a second conical ring surface (31) slanting away from said plane defined by said free end, and a cylindrical groove bottom forming together with said first and second slanting ring surfaces said shallow locking groove (29), said holder further comprising shaft locking means including at least two locking bolts (12) arranged for moving perpendicularly to said central longitudinal axis through said sleeve (3) into said locking groove (29) when the conical shaft is in said conical bore, each of said locking bolts (12) having a conical tip (12c) with a slant for contacting only said first conical ring surface (30), whereby a movement of said conical tip (12c) along said ring surface (30) causes a form locking of the locking bolts (12) with the conical shaft (26) for pressing the latter firmly into said conical bore (2), said locking means comprising for each locking bolt (12) a piston (12a) including a piston rod directly forming said locking bolt (12) and cylinder means constructed in said sleeve (3) so that said tip (12c) of said piston rod forming said locking bolt extends through said sleeve (3) for automatically engaging and disengaging said first conical ring surface (30) of said shallow locking groove (29) in said conical shaft, said locking means further comprising spring means (14) arranged to cooperate with said piston (12a) opposite said piston rod (12) forming said locking bolt for normally pushing said locking bolt into contact with said first conical ring surface, except when a pressure medium is applied to said piston in said cylinder means opposite said spring means, whereby the engagement of said first conical ring surface by said locking bolt is effective even when a supply of said pressure medium fails, said tool holder further comprising corresponding connector means (18, 33; 7, 32) including at least one connector element located on each of the first and second tool holder components, said connector elements cooperating with each other for automatically providing a power and control supply for a tool held by said tool holder when the first and second tool holder components are brought into cooperation with each other.