Patent ID: 8591389
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: B23B,B23Q,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A tool transfer system comprising (a) a first tool holding device and (b) a second tool holding device, and configured to transfer a tool between said first and second tool holding devices by causing said first and second tool holding devices to be moved relative to each other; wherein said first tool holding device includes: (a-1) a first-receiving-hole defining member defining a first receiving hole that is to receive therein a first-tool-holding-device-side portion of the tool; and (a-2) a clamping device including (a-2-i) an axially movable member movable relative to said first-receiving-hole defining member in first opposite directions that are parallel to an axis of said first receiving hole, so as to be positioned in a clamping position as a result of movement of said axially movable member in a forward direction as one of said first opposite directions that corresponds to a direction toward a front side of said first tool holding device, and so as to be positioned in an unclamping position as a result of movement of said axially movable member in a backward direction as the other of said first opposite directions, and (a-2-ii) a movable-member forcing device forcing said axially movable member in said forward direction, such that said clamping device is configured to establish a clamping state for clamping the tool that is received in said first receiving hole while said axially movable member is being positioned in said clamping position, and to establish an unclamping state for unclamping the tool that is received in said first receiving hole while said axially movable member is being positioned in said unclamping position, wherein said second tool holding device includes: (b-1) a main body; (b-2) a second-receiving-hole defining member defining a second receiving hole which is to receive therein a second-tool-holding-device-side portion of the tool, said second-receiving-hole defining member being movable relative to said main body in second opposite directions that are parallel to an axis of said second receiving hole, said second opposite directions being parallel to said first opposite directions at least in a coaxial state in which said second tool holding device is positioned on said front side of said first tool holding device with said axis of said second receiving hole being coaxial with said axis of said first receiving hole; and (b-3) a hole-defining-member forcing device forcing said second-receiving-hole defining member in a forcing direction as one of said second opposite directions, said forcing direction corresponding to said backward direction as said other of said first opposite directions at least in said coaxial state, said tool transfer system further comprising: (c) a clamping-device controlling device which is configured to cause said axially movable member to be moved against force of said movable-member forcing device and in said backward direction so as to be positioned in said unclamping position, during relative movement of said first and second tool holding devices toward each other in said coaxial state, in absence of opposite movement of said second-receiving-hole defining member against force of said hole-defining-member forcing device in an opposite direction opposite to said forcing direction relative to said main body, and which is configured to allow said axially movable member to be moved in the forward direction owing to the force of said movable-member forcing device in said forward direction so as to be positioned in said clamping position, in presence of said opposite movement of said second-receiving-hole defining member.