Utilities supplied through a first utility path of a turning tool holder via a docking device is supplied to a second utility path of an adjacent rotating tool holder through a communication arrangement, there is no need to provide a complex hydraulic line, a pneumatic line and a coupler for receiving the utilities from the docking device at a rearward side of the rotating tool holder. A rearward size of the rotating tool holder may be minimized, so that even when the rotating tool holder is mounted on the turret, no interference occurs with the docking device in the rearward direction when the turret rotates. As a result, it is possible to use the rotating tool holder, to which utilities supply is necessary, even in the turret which is provide with the docking device.

A hydraulic chuck assembly includes a tool support member having an axial bore. An expansion sleeve is received within the axial bore of the tool support member. The expansion sleeve comprises an inner surface, an outer surface and a front flange extending radially outward from the outer surface. A primary pressure chamber is formed between the axial bore of the tool support member and the outer surface of the expansion sleeve. A flexibility of the expansion sleeve is increased by removing material from the expansion sleeve in a vicinity of a front braze ring and a rear braze ring, thereby decreasing a maximum stress in the front braze ring and the rear braze ring. The material is removed by undercuts that form secondary pressure chambers in fluid communication with the primary pressure chamber.

A reducing sleeve for fastening a machining tool in a tool holder is described. The reducing sleeve includes a reducing sleeve body, which has a first tool-side end and a second tool holder-side end. In addition, at least one coolant supply channel is provided in the reducing sleeve body. In one embodiment, a safety unit with a pull-out safety geometry has a sealing element, such as an O-ring, to selectively direct coolant through coolant holes in the safety unit and the at least one coolant supply channel or alternatively through a central coolant channel. In this embodiment, a multifunctional interface, and additional O-ring and a sealing unit are not required. A modular reducing sleeve assembly includes a reducing sleeve and a safety unit as separate parts. In addition, a machining assembly including a tool holder, a reducing sleeve, and a machining tool is described.

A gripper device (100) for maintaining, centring, and/or clamping a micromechanical or horological component (200) in a clamping chamber defined by a clamp including at least one mobile jaw (2). At least a part of the mobile jaws (2) includes a reference surface (20) for frontal bearing of a component (200), and the gripper device (100) includes a vacuum generator (60) for creating the vacuum in the clamping chamber. Also, a method for fastening a micromechanical or horological component (200) in the clamping chamber of such a gripper device (100) according to which the component (200) is disposed on the reference surface (20), then a first maintaining by vacuum is carried out, then a second maintaining having a torque greater than that of the first maintaining by pivoting of the mobile jaws (2).

A processing machine for machining container blanks, with a machine base and a workpiece rotary table mounted rotatably about a rotational axis on the machine base, with a drive for providing a rotary step movement between machine base and workpiece rotary table, with pneumatically actuated collets and pneumatic valves assigned to the collets, which can be switched between a ventilation position and a venting position. The pneumatic valves are connected to a compressed air reservoir, with a fluid coupling for a supply of compressed air to the compressed air reservoir, which has a first coupling part mounted movably on the machine base and a second coupling part which is arranged opposite the first coupling part on the workpiece rotary table. The first coupling part rests sealingly against the second coupling part in a coupling position and is spaced apart from the second coupling part in a rest position.

A processing machine for machining container blanks, with a machine base and a workpiece rotary table mounted rotatably about a rotational axis on the machine base, with a drive for providing a rotary step movement between machine base and workpiece rotary table, with pneumatically actuated collets and pneumatic valves assigned to the collets, which can be switched between a ventilation position and a venting position. The pneumatic valves are connected to a compressed air reservoir, with a fluid coupling for a supply of compressed air to the compressed air reservoir, which has a first coupling part mounted movably on the machine base and a second coupling part which is arranged opposite the first coupling part on the workpiece rotary table. The first coupling part rests sealingly against the second coupling part in a coupling position and is spaced apart from the second coupling part in a rest position.

A gripping device (100) for holding, centring and/or clamping a micromechanical or horological component (200) in a chamber delimited by a collet including at least one movable jaw (2) and at least one stationary jaw (3), wherein some of the movable jaws (2) and/or stationary jaws (3) include a reference surface (20) to support a component (200) bearing frontally thereagainst, and the gripping device (100) includes both, on the one hand, stationary jaws (3) including the reference surface (20) to support the component (200) bearing thereagainst, and movable jaws (2) for centring and/or clamping the component (200), and on the other hand a vacuum generator (60) for creating the vacuum in the clamping chamber. Also a related method.

A hydro chuck includes a shank portion provided on one end side in a longitudinal direction and having, on a leading end side thereof, a cylindrical chuck portion for gripping a gripped object and an operational portion provided on the other end side in the longitudinal direction and disposed in continuation from the shank portion. The shank portion is fixable by being inserted to a tool mount included in a machine tool. The chuck portion includes a sleeve gripping the gripped object and a fluid pressure chamber formed on an outer circumference side of the sleeve and filled with fluid, the chuck portion being configured such that in association with a rise of a pressure of the fluid inside the fluid pressure chamber, the sleeve is reduced in its diameter to grip the gripped object. The operational portion includes a communication passage communicated to the fluid pressure chamber and a pressurizing piston disposed in the communication passage and adjusting the pressure of the fluid inside the fluid pressure chamber.

This invention relates to a hydraulic chuck that enables the molding of soft jaws without the need for separate forming rings. As an example, in a hydraulic chuck equipped with a master jaw that can move radially sliding relative to the chuck housing and a soft jaw coupled to the master jaw, a forming cover that can rotate is mounted in the central hole of the chuck housing. Around the forming cover, there is a receiving part that accommodates the master jaw when it is clamping, and a contact part with a larger diameter than the receiving part. The hydraulic chuck presented restricts the distance that the master jaw moves from the unclamping position to the clamping position as the master jaw physically contacts the contact part depending on the rotational angle of the forming cover.

This invention relates to a hydraulic chuck that enables the molding of soft jaws without the need for separate forming rings. As an example, in a hydraulic chuck equipped with a master jaw that can move radially sliding relative to the chuck housing and a soft jaw coupled to the master jaw, a forming cover that can rotate is mounted in the central hole of the chuck housing. Around the forming cover, there is a receiving part that accommodates the master jaw when it is clamping, and a contact part with a larger diameter than the receiving part. The hydraulic chuck presented restricts the distance that the master jaw moves from the unclamping position to the clamping position as the master jaw physically contacts the contact part depending on the rotational angle of the forming cover.