A machining spindle that includes a tool-holder shaft (2), a first actuator connected to a coupling member (11) slidably connected to a first section (21) of the shaft to rotate the shaft, a second actuator connected to a nut helically connected to a second section (22) of the shaft to move the shaft axially and a control rod (24) of a tool-holder attachment system connected to the second section by a full connection. The spindle includes locking means (40) mounted movable between the first and second sections by switchover means (50), between a first position in which the first and second sections are in full connection and a second position allowing axial movement of the second section relative to the first section, enabling the control rod to be moved axially under the action of the second actuator to control the attachment system in a released position of the tool holder.

The invention relates to a device and method for a tool change in a driven or stationary tool holder using at least one industrial robot. A drive device for clamping and releasing the tool in a tool holding fixture of the tool holder prevents incorrect operation and can be operated manually or by the handling robot and can be actively locked to the tool holder.

A machine tool comprises a tool carrier, e.g. in the form of a turret disc (7) that is provided with receptacles (8) for tool holders (9), wherein each tool holder and tool carrier comprise support surfaces associated to each other and devices for fixing the tool holder at the tool carrier. At least one clamping element is provided at the tool carrier (7) that is adjustably supported between a clamping position and a release position in a direction transverse to a tie rod of a tool holder arranged on a slider (22) receptacle of the tool carrier. The clamping element is provided with a first clamping surface (24) that can be brought into engagement with a second clamping surface (35) at the tie rod of the tool holder in a self-locking and releasable manner.

Provided is a spindle device which can inhibit the spreading of the exterior shape of a housing in the radial direction of a shaft. One embodiment relates to a spindle device having a tubular member which is fixed to a housing through which a shaft is inserted, and which extends to outside along the axial direction of the shaft from an end surface of the housing on the other end side of the shaft. The spindle device includes: a holding part which is provided to the end surface of the housing outside of the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member, and which holds a linear member that extends along the axial direction of the shaft and passes inside of the housing; and a cut-out section formed in the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member. At least a portion of the holding part is disposed on the inner side of the cut-out section.

The invention relates to a drive device for clamping and releasing a tool in the tool holding fixture of a tool holder. The drive device according to the invention prevents incorrect operation; said drive device can be operated manually or by a handling robot and can be actively locked to the tool holder.

A machine tool comprises a tool carrier, e.g. in the form of a turret disc (7) that is provided with receptacles (8) for tool holders (9), wherein each tool holder and tool carrier comprise support surfaces associated to each other and devices for fixing the tool holder at the tool carrier. At least one clamping element is provided at the tool carrier (7) that is adjustably supported between a clamping position and a release position in a direction transverse to a tie rod of a tool holder arranged on a slider (22) receptacle of the tool carrier. The clamping element is provided with a first clamping surface (24) that can be brought into engagement with a second clamping surface (35) at the tie rod of the tool holder in a self-locking and releasable manner.

A main spindle device includes: a main spindle; a rod accommodated in the main spindle, the rod being capable of moving to an unclamp position in a direction toward the first end, and when the main spindle is holding a tool, being capable of moving to a clamp position in a direction toward a second end; a biasing unit that biases the rod in the direction toward the second end with respect to the main spindle and that biases the rod to the clamp position when a collet is holding the tool; and a biasing force detector that detects a biasing force of the biasing unit which biases the rod in the direction toward the second end after the rod is moved in the direction toward the first end with respect to the main spindle to the unclamp position by force larger than the biasing force of the biasing unit.

A machine tool clamping device for releasably holding a tool holder having a tapered shank and a knob protruding from the tapered shank, the clamping device having: a spindle, rotatable about an axis, and having a tapered socket at a lower end thereof and an axial passage, the tapered socket being complementary in shape to the shank of a tool holder. Clamping members are pinned to the spindle and extend into the axial passage, the clamping members being pivotal between a clamped position in which the clamping members clamp the tool holder knob, and an unclamped position in which the clamping members release the tool holder knob. A drawbar is slidable within the spindle axial passage between the clamping members, the drawbar having a surface that acts to pivot the clamping members between the clamped and unclamped positions depending on the position of the drawbar within the axial passage. A spring is arranged between the drawbar and the spindle to bias the drawbar to the clamped position.

A spindle includes a housing, a bearing housed in the housing, a main shaft rotatably supported by the bearing, a collet chuck extending into a through hole of the main shaft to grip a machining tool and movable in an axial direction of the main shaft, a draw bar connected to the collet chuck, an air inlet above the bearing and through which air is introduced into the housing, an air passage defined in the housing such that the air introduced into the housing through the air inlet flows below the bearing, and an air outlet in the housing and below the bearing and through which the air flowing below the bearing is discharged out of the housing.

A clamping device for releasably holding a tool holder shank includes a spindle rotatably mounted inside a housing, a drawbar axially moveable in a bore in the housing, engagement members moveable under the effect of the drawbar into locking engagement with the tool holder shank, an actuating member slidably mounted to the spindle, a motion transferring mechanism for transferring an axial movement of the actuating member into a movement of the drawbar, and a hydraulic actuator with a piston unit for moving the actuating member. A valve assembly with two parallel and oppositely directed check valves provides a residual hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic chamber of the hydraulic actuator that will affect an automatic return movement of the piston unit after a movement of the drawbar to a retracted locking position.