Patent ID: 6945147

Claim:
A clamping device for a machine tool, comprising: a fixed bed having a mounting surface; a movable carriage movably mounted on the mounting surface; a stationary fitting member fixed to the fixed bed and having a wedge surface extending in a direction of movement of the movable carriage; a movable fitting member provided on the movable carriage, the movable fitting member being movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface, the movable fitting member further having a wedge surface which is substantially parallel to the wedge surface of the stationary fitting member; and a driving mechanism for moving the movable fitting member between an extended position where the movable fitting member engages the stationary fitting member to clamp the movable carriage to the fixed bed and a retracted position where the movable fitting member is disengaged from the stationary fitting member to release the movable carriage.