Patent ID: 8813372

Claim:
A cutting tool clamp mechanism for a power tool including a spindle having a longitudinal axis and a slot configured to receive a cutting tool, the spindle configured to drive the cutting tool along the longitudinal axis, the cutting tool clamp mechanism comprising: a housing supported by the spindle; a clamping system supported by the housing, the clamping system including an engaging portion movable relative to the spindle, an actuator portion surrounding a portion of the spindle and coupled to the engaging portion, the actuator portion movable along a first axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to move the engaging portion along the first axis, the actuator portion movable between an engaged condition, in which the engaging portion is configured to engage with the cutting tool to secure the cutting tool in the spindle, and a released condition, in which the engaging portion is configured to disengage with the cutting tool, and a first biasing member positioned between the spindle and the clamping system, and operable to bias the actuator portion along the first axis to bias the clamping system to the engaged condition, a locking member movable to selectively hold the engaging portion in the released condition, wherein when the cutting tool is removed from the housing, the locking member extends into the slot to contact the engaging portion to inhibit the engaging portion from moving toward the engaged condition such that the clamping system is held in the released, and upon insertion of the cutting tool into the housing, the locking member moves out of contact with the engaging portion and the clamping system automatically moves from the released condition to the engaged condition, wherein the locking member is moveable along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spindle.