Patent ID: 7217073

Claim:
A broach tool holding system comprising: a tool holder plate having a mounting surface for providing support thereof on a broaching machine and having a tool surface for mounting a broach tool for performing broaching; a pair of locator pins mounted on the tool holder plate for rotation about spaced axes that are parallel to each other, each locator pin having a locator end that projects from the tool holder plate and has round locating surfaces spaced circumferentially about the associated axis from each other, and the locator end of each locator pin having clearance surfaces circumferentially alternating with the round locating surfaces and extending therebetween at locations radially inward from the round locating surfaces, the round locating surfaces of the locator ends of the locator pins being rotational aligned with circumferentially spaced clearance surfaces in locating holes in the broach tool to facilitate initial positioning of the broach tool on the tool holder plate, and the locator pins being rotatable on the tool holder plate to rotate the locating surfaces thereof from alignment with the clearance surfaces in the locating holes of the broach tool into locating contact with circumferentially spaced locating surfaces in the locating holes in the broach tool to position the broach tool on the tool holder plate in a predetermined location; and clamps for securing the located broach tool on the tool holder plate for use and for selectively releasing the broach tool for detachment which is performed after rotation of the locator pins to rotate the locating surfaces thereof out of contact with the circumferentially spaced locating surfaces in the locating holes of the broach tool and into alignment with the clearance surfaces thereof to facilitate the detachment.