Tool fixture for multiple process steps

Abstract

The present invention discloses a tool holding device for shank type tools, comprising at least one tool holder, a base part and a top part, whereby at least the top part comprises uptake holes for the at least one tool holder characterized in that, the tool holding device can be used for more than one process step among transfer, cleaning, pretreatment, coating, posttreatment, and each of the at least one tool holders can optionally take up a sleeve holding the shank type tool in a distinct, preferably upright position and comprises one or more openings, which allow fluid and/or solid treatment agents to exit the tool holder and/or sleeve and the at least one tool holder and/or sleeve enables three-fold rotation of the shank type tool. Further a method using the inventive tool holding device is disclosed.

Claims

1. A tool holding device for shank type tools, comprising: at least one tool holder for holding a shank type tool in a distinct upright position and in rotatable manner, the tool holder being equipped with a topside tool or adapter insertion opening a base part and a top part, whereby at least the top part comprises uptake holes for the at least one tool holder, and whereas the base part forms a support and/or uptake and/or guide for the at least one tool holder, and whereas the base part and the top part are interconnected to each other by means of at least one spacer, wherein the at least one tool holder comprises one or more escape openings which are positioned in vertical direction below the tool or adapter insertion opening and which allow fluid and/or solid treatment agents to exit the tool holder such that the tool holding device can be used for more than one process step among transfer, cleaning, pretreatment, coating, posttreatment, wherein the tool holding device comprises at least one adapter, wherein the adapter is intended to hold the shank type tool to adopt for different tool diameters of the tool holder and the shank type tool, wherein the adapter can be optionally inserted in the tool holder, wherein the adapter has the form of sleeve or tube with a defined outside diameter as required by the tool holder for pairing and a defined internal diameter as required by the shank of the tool for pairing.

2. The tool holding device of claim 1, wherein the adapter is designed to be stuck through the tool or adapter insertion opening of the at least one tool holder into the at least one tool holder and to be held by the tool holder in a defined position, whereas the adapter comprises one or more escape openings, which are positioned in vertical direction below a tool insertion opening of the adapter and which allow fluid and/or solid treatment agents to exit the adapter.

3. The tool holding device of claim 1, wherein the one or more escape openings of the tool holder or the tool holder and the adapter are lateral openings related to the longitudinal axis of the tool holder or of the adapter, which longitudinal axis extends through the topside insertion opening and an underside of the tool holder or adapter.

4. The tool holding device of claim 1, wherein the tool holder and/or the adapter comprises a form fit operable drive means designed to contribute making the tool holder and/or the adapter rotate around its longitudinal axis.

5. The tool holding device of claim 1, wherein a lock washer part is provided between the base part and the top part.

6. The tool holding device of claim 5, wherein the base part, the top part and the lock washer part have the shape of an arc of a circle confined by two radii and two arcs.

7. A tool holding plate unit for shank type tools, comprising: at least one tool holding device according to claim 1 and a plate taking up the at least one tool holding device in a defined position, whereas the plate possesses a central hub for fixing the tool holding plate unit to a stem of a tool holding tree and a circumferential jacket.

8. The tool holding plate unit of claim 7, wherein the hub comprises form fit means nesting with complementary form fit means of the tool holding device, so that the tool holding device is locked in a predetermined position on the tool holding plate unit, in the interspace between the hub and the circumferential jacket, whereas said locking is designed such that it prevents the tool holding device from rotating relative to the tool holding plate unit.

9. The tool holding plate unit of claim 8, wherein said locking can be established and released without the need of using a tool, by straight lifting of the tool holding device or characterized in that a quick-lock device is used.

10. The tool holding plate unit of claim 7, wherein the at least one tool holding device is equipped with at least one coupler protrusion extending in radial outward direction and/or extending outside above the base plate and being formed as an integral part of the spacer, whereas the coupler protrusion is formed such that it can be coupled to a lifting tool in the shape of a lifting pincer.

11. The tool holding plate unit of claim 7, wherein the plate and/or the hub carries driver means designed to interact with drive means of the tool holder or adapter to make the tool holder and/or the adapter rotate around its longitudinal axis relative to the tool plate holding unit.

12. A tool holding carousel for layer deposition within a deposition chamber rotating under operation around a primary axis of rotation relative to the deposition chamber and comprising at least one tree comprising itself a number of tool holding plate units according to claim 7, whereas the tool holding plate units are carried one above the other by a secondary axis of rotation rotating itself relative to the carousel, whereas the tool holders being part of the tool holding devices carried by the tool holding plate units are rotating under operation around their longitudinal axes within the tool holding devices and relative to the tool holding plate units, their longitudinal axes forming a tertiary axis of rotation.

13. Multiple purpose use of a tool holding device according to claim 1 for layer deposition and at least one of the following process steps: transfer, cleaning, pretreatment and/or posttreatment.

14. Multiple purpose use of a system comprising tool holding devices according to claim 1 and different tool holding plate units, characterized in that the tool holding devices are taken up by at least one first “deposition type” tool holding plate unit for layer deposition, while the same tool holding devices are taken up by a different “other purpose type” tool holding plate unit for transfer, cleaning, pretreatment and/or posttreatment.

15. A method for using a tool holding device for shank type tools, comprising at least one tool holder, a base part and a top part and at least one adapter, wherein the adapter is intended to hold the shank type tool to adopt for different tool diameters of the tool holder and the shank type tool, wherein the adapter can be optionally inserted in the tool holder, wherein the adapter has the form of sleeve or tube with a defined outside diameter as required by the tool holder for pairing and a defined internal diameter as required by the shank of the tool for pairing, whereby at least the top part comprises uptake holes for the at least one tool holder and/or sleeve, wherein: the tool holding device can be used for more than one process step among transfer, cleaning, pretreatment, coating, posttreatment, the at least one tool holder and/or sleeve holds the shank type tool in a distinct, upright position, the at least one tool holder and/or sleeve comprises one or more openings, which allow fluid and/or solid treatment agents to exit the tool holder and/or sleeve, the at least one tool holder and/or sleeve enables three-fold rotation of the shank type tool.

Description

FIGURE CAPTION

(1) FIG. 1: A schematic drawing of a tool holder device as known in the field.

(2) FIG. 2: A schematic drawing of an inventive tool holding device 30.

(3) FIG. 3: A schematic drawing of inventive tool holding devices 30, in the shape of continuous structural elements in disc shape (left illustration) and a segmented structural element (right illustration).

(4) FIG. 4: A schematic illustration of several examples of inventive tool holders and/or sleeves.

(5) FIG. 5: An inventive tool holding plate unit equipped with four of the inventive tool holding devices.

(6) FIG. 6: One of the inventive tool holding devices shown by FIG. 5 in a state lifted out of the tool holding plate unit, seen from its radial inward side.

(7) FIG. 7: One of the inventive tool holding devices shown by FIG. 5 in a state lifted out of the tool holding plate unit, seen from its radial outward side.

(8) FIG. 8: A tool holding carousel equipped with tool holding trees formed out of a number of inventive tool holding plate units each.

(9) FIG. 9: One single tool holding tree formed out of a number of inventive tool holding plate units one above the other.

(10) FIG. 10: A basic, rough sketch of the inventive tool holding plate units.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(11) FIG. 8 illustrates a tool holding carousel 400 which is so designed that it can rotate about a primary axis 401. The carousel 400 is designed to be operated in the deposition chamber of an according deposition machine.

(12) FIG. 8 illustrates a tool holding carousel 400 which is so designed that it can rotate about a primary (own) axis 401. The carousel 400 is designed to be operated in the interior of the deposition chamber.

(13) The carousel 400 normally comprises a carousel base plate 402. As shown by FIG. 8 the carousel normally carries a number of tool holding trees 403. The trees are placed in rotatable manner in the carrousel, so that each single tree can rotate about a respective secondary (own) axis 404.

(14) One of this tool holding trees 403 is shown in greater detail by FIG. 9. Each of these tool holding trees 403 is designed to rotate relatively to the base plate 402 of the carousel 400 around the secondary axis 404.

(15) As shown in greater detail by FIG. 10 each of the trees 403 comprises a number of tool holding plate units 405.

(16) As explained in greater detail later, the tool holding plate units 405 of one single tree 403 are positioned one above the other along the secondary axis of rotation 404. As only very roughly shown by FIG. 10 each of the tool holding plate units 405 carries a number of tool holders 10. What is not shown by FIG. 10 is that the tool holders 10 are borne or hold by a base part and a top part. However, what is clear is that each of the tool holders is preferably hold rotatably in the said top part 32 and by means of base part 35. For that reason, it is a very preferred design that each of the tool holders is able to rotate around a tertiary axis 406 and relatively to the tool holding plate unit 405. Said tertiary axis 406 is the longitudinal axis of the tool holder 10 itself.

(17) In consequence the tool holders 10 are subjected under operation to threefold rotational movement. That way the layer deposition will be very uniform since it is prevented that one side of the tool holder with the tool being hold thereon is for a longer time closer to the deposition sources than the rest of the tool.

(18) Primary axis 401 of the tool holding carousel 400 is equipped with means that generate rotation of the tool holding trees 403. For the same purpose every secondary axis 404 of the tool holding tree 403 is equipped with one or more means that generates rotation of the tool holders 10.

(19) In the next step one of the inventive tool holding plate units 405 will be explained in greater detail.

(20) An embodiment of such a tool holding plate unit 405 is shown by FIG. 5. A tool holding plate unit 405 is provided for forming the above mention tool holding tree and serves therefore for coating. The tool holding plate unit is formed by a plate 410. The plate 410 a fully or essentially closed plate.

(21) For sake of completeness it has to be mentioned that the holders which can be used in order to accommodate the tool holding device or devices for pre- or post-processing preferably have a structure very similar to that one of the tool holding plate units, while they are not bound for becoming a part of the said tool holding carousel. Rather often their plate corresponding to plate 410 is equipped with a number of windows making removal of residual treatment agent easier. Sometimes these holders have no jackets for the same reason. Beyond that these holders can be identical to that ones used for coating.

(22) Back to the tool holding plate units 405 provided for the coating process: In every case it is of advantage, if the tool holding plate unit 405 is equipped with a circumferential jacket 411. The circumferential jacket 411 prevents coating material from unimpeded coming into contact with the tool holders and the shaft portions of the tools to be treated.

(23) Moreover each tool holding plate unit 405 is preferably equipped with a hub 412 that normally extends above the plate 410 in upward direction. The hub 412 serves for bearing the tool holding plate unit 405 one above the other on the secondary axis 404.

(24) In the preferred embodiment, as shown by FIG. 5, the interspace between the circumferential jacket 411 and the hub 412 forms a groove for accommodation of the tool holding devices 30 with its tool holders inserted. Said groove is in its circumferential direction divided by means of partition plates 413 into a number of compartments, preferably four ideally identical compartments 414.

(25) The hub 412 processes at its uppermost side preferably a flange in the shape of a disc plate with a hollow centre. This disc plate ist forming a collar extending in radial outward direction beyond the tubular body of hub 412.

(26) As it can be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6 each of the tool holding plate units 405 accommodates one or preferably more tool holding devices 30.

(27) How such a tool holding device is preferably constructed can be seen rather from FIGS. 6 and 7. A said tool holding device 30 comprises at least a carrier plate 31 and a base plate 35. Said two plates are hold together by two or preferably more spacers 34. In this particular case figured out here every spacer 34 forks above its basis into two arms, one arm supporting the outside portion of the carrier plate 31 (see FIG. 7) and the other arm supporting the inside portion of the carrier plate 31 (see FIG. 6).

(28) In case that the tool holding plate unit 405 accommodates only one tool holding device 30 the said carrier plates 31 and base plates 35 have preferably a fully circular shape, a detail that will be explained later on. In case of the embodiment depicted by FIGS. 6 and 7 the tool holding devices 30 have each the shape of an arc of a circle (or an arc of a hollow cylinder wall) which is confined by two radii and two arcs. That means that each of the carrier plates 31 and the base plates 35 and, if existent, of the centre parts 33 has such a shape of an arc of a circle confined by two radii and two arcs.

(29) As can be seen very when considering FIGS. 5 up to 7 the carrier plate 31 forms a number of uptake holes 37 for the tool holders 10. It goes without saying that tool holders 10 for tools with shaft of a bigger diameter, have themselves a bigger diameter or need at least more space. For that reason different types of tool holding devices 30 exist, each predetermined for tools with a certain diameter.

(30) The advantage in such a division of a fully circular tool holding device 30 into a number of according tool holding devices 30, that are only partially of circular shape, is that the available space can be fully used more easily. This is because it doesn't cause a problem if for example only a 5 tools with one type shaft diameter (for example 16.5 mm) need to be coated this time while all 15 tools have a different type shaft diameter (for example 17.0 mm). In this case the tool holding plate unit 405 can individually be equipped with different tool holding devices 30 as being required this time.

(31) In order to need not too much different tool holding devices adapters can belong to the system. Such an adapter has typically the form of sleeve or tube with a defined outside diameter as required by the tool holder for pairing and a defined internal diameter as required by the shank of the tool for pairing.

(32) Moreover the division of fully circular tool holding devices 30 into a number of according tool holding devices makes the handling easier. That means for example that the smaller, only partially circular tool holding devices 30 can be removed from the tool holding plate unit 405 more easily, in order to clean it together with the tools sticking therein for example, or to mount it to another tool holding plate unit, for example of such a type that is used for post- or pre-treatment.

(33) As can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7 each of the tool holders 10 is equipped, preferably at its lowermost end, with a constructive means 39 for enabling the 3-fold rotation, or, more precisely spoken, with a constructive means 39 for enabling the rotation around the tertiary axis 406.

(34) Said constructive means 39 are preferably designed as a kind of teeth. These teeth mostly cooperate with a leaf spring (mostly not shown here, very roughly sketched in FIG. 6 as part 418) that moves the tool holder 10 an amount referenced as “Rot 2” around the tertiary axis 406 as soon as the tool holder 10 comes on its rotational path referenced as “Rot 1” so close to the leaf spring that its tip engages into one of said kind of teeth.

(35) It is clear that this kind of movement can produce a torque that tends to move each tool holding device 30 relatively to the tool holding plate unit 405 in circumferential direction.

(36) For that reason it is important that the single tool holding device 30 or, if a plurality, each of the tool holding devices 30 is locked in a predetermined position in regard to the tool holding plate unit 405. For accomplishing this the tool holding plate unit 405 or, more precisely spoken, preferably its hub 412, is equipped with a number of form fit means. The said form fit means are embodied preferably in the shape of pins 415, ideally extending parallel to the secondary rotational axis. The pins 415 will in mounted stage protrude through according holes 416 embodied preferably in the carrier plate 31. The said holes 416 serve as complementary form fit means. That way a rotational movement of the tool holding device 30 relatively to the tool holding plate unit 405 is prevented.

(37) At the same time the said form fit means of the of the tool holding plate unit 405 and the complementarity form fit means of the tool holding device 30 guarantee always a correct pairing/positioning of the tool holding plate unit 405 and the tool holding device(s) 30. At this point one has to know that each tool holding plate unit 405 can only accommodate tool holding devices 30 for tools with a certain range of shaft diameter. So it is for example possible for the tool holding plate unit 405 to accommodate tool holding devices 30 with shaft diameters between 12 mm and 16 mm. This is because the above-mentioned leaf spring has a length that can operate within this is diameter range, only. For accommodating and properly operating tool holding devices 30 with shaft diameters between 16.5 mm and 20 mm, for example, tool holding plate units 405 with shorter leaf springs are required and provided.

(38) As one can see from FIG. 5 for each tool holding device 30 at least two, preferably three pins 415 are provided. The pins do not have all an equidistant position in circumferential direction but an individual position. The pins are positioned so, that only those tool holding devices 30 match with these pins 415 that are allowed to be operated in the according tool holding plate unit 405.

(39) A detail that can be seen by means of FIG. 7 is the fact that the tool holder device 30 is preferably equipped with at least on coupler protrusion 34. The coupler protrusion 34 is positioned that way that it can be gripped with a tool from above the base plate 32, in order to lift the complete tool holding device out of the tool holding plate device. An appropriate tool has preferably the shape of a pincer.

(40) The coupler protrusion is preferably an integral portion of a spacer 34.

(41) FIG. 3 presents a very schematic illustration of the inventive tool holding device 30, being either composed of continuous structural elements, e.g. disc shaped base part 35, top part 31, and optional lock washer part 33, or of segmented structural elements, e.g. segmented base parts 351, segmented top parts 311 and optional segmented lock washer parts 331. The segmented structural elements have to be manufactured in a way that they can be inserted into a tool holding plate unit with a closed circle as outer diameter. A tool holding plate unit can thus be equipped by at least two, preferably less than 12 segments, each comprising one segmented base part 351, one segmented top part 311 and optionally one segmented lock washer part 331. The lock washer part is intended to stabilize the tool holder and/or sleeve during three-fold rotation, for this purpose the base part 35 and the lock washer part 33 form a support directly above and below 39 constructive means for enabling 3-fold rotation, see FIG. 3.

(42) It is further a preferred embodiment of the present invention that the individual segments can exhibit a different number and size of uptake holes 37. This allows that a combination of tools with different tool diameter and/or size being treated simultaneously if the tool holding device is assembled of two or more different segments, wherein different tool holders and/or sleeves with proper diameter and/or size for the individual tools are mounted. The distance between the top, center and bottom parts of the individual segments or also of the continuous disc-shaped parts can be fixed by e.g. distance pieces or spacers (not shown here), which also enhances structural stability of the tool holding device.

(43) One or more inventive tool holding devices can be—preferably as an insert to a tool holding plate unit—mounted on a shaft (e.g. one above each other) to enable a sufficiently high loading density by forming a tool holding tree. The distance between the individual tool holding devices or tool holding plate units, respectively, can be achieved by e.g. distance pieces or spacers on the shaft (not shown here). It is also possible that the tool holding device can be manufactured in a way that the tool holders and/or sleeves are inclined in an angle of 10 to 45° from the main axis of the shaft, whereon the tool holding device is mounted.

(44) An additional embodiment of the present invention is that the inventive tool holding plate unit, further comprises a protective ring, which can be attached at the outer diameter of the tool holding plate unit. During e.g. cleaning the protective ring can be omitted to enable for optimum liquid cleaning media flow around the tools. If this protective ring is however attached, it prevents from e.g. excessive erosion of the tool holders during pretreatment or deposition of coating material at the shank of the tools during deposition. The protective ring should have at maximum the same height as the tool holding device. In case where the means for enabling three-fold rotation of the tool holder and/or sleeve are located in a manner that the tool holder and/or sleeve is brought into rotation from outside, the protective ring should not cover the region where e.g. the trigger grabs into the tool holder and/or sleeve.

(45) Alternatively, it is also possible that the tool holding device comprises a combination of inventive sleeves (i.e. comprising one or more openings), being assembled in a continuous or segmented top part and optionally a lock washer part, with a continuous or segmented bottom part, whereon closed tool holders (i.e. without openings in the mantle part) are located. This assembly also allows treatment of the tools in the area needed, whereas easy handling of the whole top part, including the tools in the sleeves, avoids the need for touching the individual tools.

(46) FIG. 4 shows some examples of inventive tool holders and/or sleeves, which all have in common at least one opening in the mantle 13 and/or base region 15 of the respective sleeve, which allow fluid and/or solid treatment agents and react with the tool surface and afterwards exit the sleeve before a subsequent process step is applied. The openings can be holes 211 and/or slits 212. Optionally the tool holders and/or sleeves can exhibit one or more recesses or lugs 213 in the top region 11. This or these may form a kind of collar, which ensures that e.g. a sleeve can be easily installed in a tool holder or that e.g. a tool holder can be easily installed in uptake holes 37 of the tool holding device. Further, the tool holder and/or sleeve can comprise protruding noses (as already known from FIG. 1) or intruding notches 214, central bore holes 215, as well as central pins 216. The central pins may be designed as height adjustable stops that define how deep an individual shank can be stuck into the tool holder. In the easiest fashion, the tool holder and/or adapter can be made from a spring-shaped element 21, which can exhibit a recess 213 (e.g. a kind of collar by an additional winding of the spring) in order to make sure that e.g. the adapter 20 can be mounted in a tool holder or that the tool holder 10 can be mounted in a tool holding device. The open mantle area of such a tool holder 10 and/or such a sleeve 20 can be regarded as one continuous opening in the context of the present invention. See what is shown by FIG. 4 first line left hand. Another example shows a tool holder or sleeve with more than one slit 212 in the mantle region 13 and a central hole 215 in the bottom of the base region 15. See what is shown by FIG. 4 first line middle. Another example exhibits a recess 213 in the top region 15 and several slits 212 along the mantle region 13, which are continued down to the base region 15 of the tool holder or sleeve, where a central hole 215 is located. See what is shown by FIG. 4 first line right hand. Another example exhibits at least one slit 212 in the mantle region 13, being realized in a distinct angle at the lower end of the slit to ensure that any dry or fluid media can exit the tool holder. The base region 15 further comprises notches 214, enabling for transfer of motion for three-fold rotation, and a center bore hole 215 being not bored through the base region 15, which is intended as an uptake for centering pins on a base part. See what is shown by FIG. 4 second line left hand. Another example shows an alternative to the previous example with at least one slit 212 in the mantle region 13 and additional holes 211 at the bottom of the mantle region. Central bore hole 215 and notches 214 are executed similar to the previous example 24. See what is shown by FIG. 4 second line middle. Another example shows at least one slit 212 in the mantle region 13, additional holes 211 at the bottom of the mantle region and a central bore hole 215, wherein a central pin 216 can be inserted and fixed (e.g. by pressing), which allows only point contact of the tool at its base. See what is shown by FIG. 4 second line right hand.

(47) The above mentioned examples of tool holders and/or sleeves given above are intended to show some possible, particular advantageous shapes of the present invention but not to limit the scope of it unless being part of claim wording. The bottom part can thereby exhibit uptake holes for the tools holders or pins to ensure stable rotation during operation.

(48) It has been found by the inventors that shank type tools being once inserted in an inventive tool holding device can firstly be easily handled during and between the individual process steps, and secondly the surface quality of the produced parts can be enhanced. An improved coating adhesion, lower surface defects and improved coating property and thickness homogeneity can be achieved by using the inventive tool holding device.

(49) It has been found to be beneficial if the shank type tools are fixed inside the tool holder and/or sleeve only by being inserted and due to their own weight. The tool holder and/or sleeve should in best practice only exhibit “point-contact” with one or more parts of the tool. This enhances the removal of the e.g. cleaning or pre-/posttreatment agents. One has however to ensure that enough contact area between the tool and the tool holder and/or sleeve is present so that the three-fold rotation of the tool holder and/or sleeve also catches the tool.

(50) As explained above, the three-fold rotation of the tool holder and/or sleeve can e.g. be triggered by springs or other constructive means, which in the easiest case grab into the notches of a tool holder. It is an embodiment of the present invention that the constructive means for transfer of motion, enabling three-fold rotation of the tool holder and/or sleeve, can be placed outside the tool holding device or at the inner side of the tool holding device. This can be e.g. achieved that the trigger finger (or spring) is mounted on a disc, which is rotating in double rotation such as the shaft and thus the tool holding device. Thereby the trigger can be e.g. mounted outside the tool holding device or in some cases also inside the tool holding device.

(51) It is thus a preferred embodiment of the present invention that the constructive means for triggering three-fold rotation of the tool holder and/or sleeve are located inside the tool holding device. This is especially beneficial if a protective ring is attached at the outside of the tool holding device, because it does not collide with the trigger. It should be mentioned that the notches 214 can also be positioned along the mantle 13 or top region 11 of a tool holder and/or sleeve.

(52) Also the utilization of one or more pins to prevent the tool from too large contact area at the bottom of the tool holder and/or sleeve is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Such an arrangement further allows that the tool holder can be mounted in the base plate of the tool holding device, as exemplarily depicted by what is shown by FIG. 3 second line left hand and middle.

(53) It can be considered that the tool holding device could be made of any electrically conductive, corrosion resistant, and temperature resistant material in the region of −50 to +700° C. This is necessary in order to withstand the exposure to e.g. blasting with carbondioxide at temperatures of ˜−35° C., as well as coating material at high deposition temperatures of up to −650° C. It is however a preferred embodiment of the present invention that the tool holding device is built from steels, hereby especially corrosion and temperature resistant steels such as e. g. DIN 1.4301, 1.4307 1.4541, 1.4404 or 1.4571, which have a low thermal expansion coefficient, and sufficient electrical conductivity to ensure that the tools have electrical contact during the e.g. the deposition process where a bias potential is applied.

(54) The inventors found that the present invention can be used for shank type tools of almost any arbitrary diameter and length. This is possible because the tool holding device exhibits a high versatility for combination of sleeves for tools with small diameter and tool holders with an inner diameter that can uptake the sleeve. In an example a drill of 6 mm diameter can be positioned in a sleeve, which is further mounted in a tool holder, which would be usually used for 10 mm drills.

(55) The inventors further found that the reduction of the total handling costs, using the inventive tool holding device, can be considerable. It is intended in the future that the inventive tool holding device is provided to the original tool manufacturer and/or regrinder, who loads the shank type tools only once in the tool holders and/or sleeves, before starting the process chain. The inventive tool holding device is used throughout the whole process chain, which involves the delivery or transport of the tools to the surface treatment facility, which can be e.g. a job coater or surface treatment specialist. After assembly of the one or more inventive tool holding devices on a shaft, the tools are usually cleaned in ultrasonic liquid cleaning bathes, before being dried and transferred to an optional pretreatment facility. As mentioned above, an optional protective ring can be attached around the tool holding device, depending to the used pretreatment media. After every pretreatment step, which can be more than one, the dust and/or remaining treatment media is blow away with e.g. dry air or an inert gas. The next step is usually performed in a deposition plant, wherein heating, plasma etching, optionally nitriding, carborizing, or the like, of the tools and finally the deposition of the coating material take place. After the coating step, the tools can optionally be posttreated and cleaned before the tool holding device is disassembled from the shaft and being sent back to the customer. Though other process steps are also possible in between the above mention process chain, it can be clearly seen that the inventive tool holding devices allows for efficient reduction of handling effort and damage risk.

(56) According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention the inventive tool holder can be placed in an arrangement comprising: a rotatable carrousel for conducting a first rotation (1-fold rotation) when the carrousel rotates about the own rotation axis, a holding tree comprising at least one holding device circumferentially mounted on the carrousel, the holding device comprising a rotatable carrier plate disposed movable in relation to the carrousel for conducting a second rotation (2-fold rotation) when the carrier plate rotates about the own rotation axis one inventive rotatable tool holder or more circumferentially mounted on the carrier plate, the tool holder being disposed movable in relation to the carrier plate for conducting a third rotation (3-fold rotation) when the tool holder rotates about the own rotation axis

(57) The present invention discloses also a tool holding device (30) for holding one or more shank type tools (90), comprising one or more tool holders (10) arranged on a first plate (31), at an equidistant position regarding a central vertical rotation axis of the first plate, said tool holder (10) comprising one receptor opening for receiving a tool with a tip area to be hold, the receptor opening being designed for allowing the tip area of the tool being uncovered, the tool holder (10) arranged being movable in relation to the first plate (31), in such a manner that the tool holder (10) can rotate regarding its own central vertical axis, wherein the tool holder (10) comprises at least one further opening for allowing liquid and/or solid substances passing through and leaving the tool holder (10), in such a manner that, when a tool is held by the tool holder (10), at least a portion of the tool surface placed inside the tool holder (10) can be put in contact with the substances and can also afterward be set free from the substances, if the substances are not strong adhered to said portion of the tool surface, and the holding device (30) comprises one or more covering parts that cover lateral surfaces of the tool that are placed inside the tool holder (10).

(58) The above mentioned tool holding device (30) can have one or more of the covering parts being removable.

(59) The tool holder of a tool holding device (30) according to the present invention can comprise a sleeve (20) or is a sleeve (20).

(60) Generally one can say that it is given thought to claim—even independently from already drafted claims—protection for a tool holding device that is designed that way that it exhibits the features of one or more of the following paragraphs, alone or in combination with other features disclosed by the claims, the drawings and the specification of this invention disclosure.

(61) A tool holding device (30) for shank type tools (90), comprising at least one tool holder (10), a base part (35) and a top part (31), whereby at least the top part (31) comprises uptake holes (37) for the at least one tool holder (10) characterized in that—the tool holding device (30) can be used for more than one process step among transfer, cleaning, pretreatment, coating, posttreatment, —each of the at least one tool holder (10) can optionally take up a sleeve (20) holding the shank type tool (90) in a distinct, preferably upright position, —the at least one tool holder (10) and/or sleeve (20) comprise one or more openings, which allow fluid and/or solid treatment agents to exit the tool holder (10) and/or sleeve (20), —the at least one tool holder (10) and/or sleeve (20) enables three-fold rotation of the shank type tool (90).

(62) A tool holding device (30) that exhibits a lock washer part (33) is placed between the top part (31) and the base part (35).

(63) A tool holding device (30) hat comprises one or more distance pieces, which keep a distinct distance between the top part (31), the base part (35) and the optional lock washer part (33).

(64) A tool holding device (30) whereas the tool holding device (30) is composed of continuous structural elements, comprising at least a disc shaped base part (35), a top part (31), and optionally a lock washer part (33).

(65) A tool holding device (30) which is composed of segmented structural elements, being each built up from the group of a segmented base part (351), a segmented top part (311), and optionally a segmented lock washer part (331).

(66) A tool holding device (30) being designed that way, that two or more of the segmented structural elements can be combined to a tool holding device (30) with a continuous outer diameter.

(67) A tool holding device (30) with segmented structural elements whereas the segmented structural elements can exhibit a different number and size of uptake holes 37, which can thus carry tool holders and/or sleeves of different number and size.

(68) A tool holding device (30) with constructive means (39) for enabling three-fold rotation that are located outside the tool holding device (30).

(69) A tool holding device (30) with constructive means (39) for enabling three-fold rotation that are located inside the tool holding device (30).

(70) A tool holding device (30) being special in that way that a protective ring, covering at least a portion of the total height of the tool holding device, can be attached for at least one process step around the outer diameter of the tool holding device (30).

(71) A tool holding device (30) being special that way that the openings of the tool holder (10) and/or sleeve (20) are either one or more holes (211), slits (212), center holes (215) or a combination therefrom.

(72) A tool holding device (30) according to any of the preceding paragraphs being particular in that a central pin (216) is installed in the center of a tool holder (10).

(73) A method for using a tool holding device (30) for shank type tools (90), comprising at least one tool holder (10), a base part (35) and a top part (31), whereby at least the top part (31) comprises uptake holes (37) for the at least one tool holder 10 and/or sleeve (20) characterized in that the tool holding device (30) can be used for more than one process step among transfer, cleaning, pretreatment, coating, posttreatment, the at least one tool holder (10) and/or sleeve (20) holds the shank type tool (90) in a distinct, preferably upright position, the at least one tool holder (10) and/or sleeve (20) comprise one or more openings, which allow fluid and/or solid treatment agents to exit the tool holder (10) and/or sleeve (20), the at least one tool holder (10) and/or sleeve (20) enables three-fold rotation of the shank type tool (90).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(74) 10 tool holder 11 top region 13 centre region 15 base region 20 sleeve 21 spring shaped element 30 tool holding device 31 carrier plate 33 centre part or lock washer part 34 spacer 35 base part 37 uptake whole 39 constructive means for enabling 3-fold rotation (rotation around the tertiary axis) 90 shank type tool 151 notches 152 round protrusion 211 hole 212 slit 213 lug 214 intruding notch 215 central bore hole 216 central pin 311 segmented top part 351 segmented base part 331 segmented lock washer parts 400 carousel 401 primary axis 402 carousel base plate 403 tool holding tree 404 secondary axis 405 tool holding plate unit 406 tertiary axis 410 plate 411 circumferential jacket 412 hub 413 partition plate 414 compartment 415 pin 416 hole for pin reception 417 disc plate of the hub 418 leaf spring Rot 1 rotational movement path 1 Rot 2 rotational movement of the individual tool holder around the tertiary axis 406