Patent ID: 7543394

Claim:
A holding device for exchangeably holding a work element on a machine or a machine part, the holding device comprising: a take-up holder including a first bearing part; a counter piece releasably mountable on said take-up holder and including a second bearing part corresponding to said first bearing part to permit mounting said counter piece on said take-up holder; a clamping device for generating a releasable clamping force between said first bearing part and said second bearing part when said counter piece is accommodated on said take-up holder; a locking device including a first locking element mounted on said take-up holder and a second locking element mounted on said counter piece; said first locking element and said second locking element being configured to mechanically couple said counter piece to said take-up holder while said counter piece is accommodated on said take-up holder; said first locking element and said take-up holder conjointly defining a separation interface whereat said first locking element can separate from said take-up holder; and, said locking device further including a securing mechanism for limiting a separation of said first locking element from said take-up holder at said separation interface to a pregiven distance whereby said counter piece remains connected to said take-up holder should said counter piece tend to separate from said take-up holder notwithstanding said clamping force.