Patent ID: 8695189

Claim:
A cutting tool key ( 100 ) for mounting and extracting a cutting insert ( 22 ) into and from a cutting tool holder blade ( 24 ), the cutting insert having an insert lower surface ( 30 ) and two opposing lateral surfaces ( 36 ), the holder blade ( 24 ) having two side surfaces ( 60 ) and an insert receiving slot ( 42 ), the insert receiving slot ( 42 ) having a holder longitudinal axis (B) extending in a forward to rearward direction (D F , D R ), and a clamping jaw upper surface ( 80 ) facing towards a base jaw lower surface ( 64 ), for resiliently clamping the cutting insert ( 22 ) therebetween, the cutting tool key ( 100 ) comprising: a protrusion ( 40 ) having a first and a second engagement portion ( 82 , 84 ); and a single pivot axis (A P ); wherein the base jaw lower surface ( 64 ) has a holder passage ( 66 ) opening out to the base jaw lower surface ( 64 ) and to at least one of the two side surfaces ( 60 ), the cutting insert ( 22 ) has an insert passage ( 38 ) opening out to the insert lower surface ( 30 ) and to at least one of the opposing lateral surfaces ( 36 ), and when the cutting insert ( 22 ) is located within the insert receiving slot ( 42 ), the insert passage ( 38 ) is adjacent to the holder passage ( 66 ), wherein the cutting tool key ( 100 ) is positioned such that the first and second engagement portions ( 82 , 84 ) simultaneously engage the holder passage ( 66 ) and the insert passage ( 38 ), respectively, and the pivot axis (A P ) is located in the holder passage ( 66 ), wherein rotation of the cutting tool key ( 100 ) in an extraction direction (D E ) about the pivot axis (A P ) applies an extraction force (F E ) on the cutting insert ( 22 ), moving the cutting insert ( 22 ) in the forward direction (D F ), and wherein rotation of the cutting tool key ( 100 ) about the pivot axis (A P ) in a mounting direction (D M ) opposite the extraction direction (D E ), applies a mounting force (F M ) on the cutting insert ( 22 ), moving the cutting insert ( 22 ) in the rearward direction (D R ).