Chuck

Abstract

In the case of a clamping device (1) for holding a workpiece (3) to be machined by a machine tool (2), consisting of a housing (4), at least one clamping jaw (7) mounted in the housing (4) so that it is axially movable and a counter-stop (10) formed by the housing (4), between which the workpiece (3) is clamped or at least two clamping jaws (7, 8, 9) mounted in the housing (4) so they are axially movable, between which the workpiece (3) is clamped, and an electrically operated drive device (11), by means of which the movable clamping jaws (7, 8, 9) are movably controlled, and by means of which a holding force, transmitted by the clamping jaws (7, 8, 9) to the workpiece (3) or by a clamping bolt (3′) coupled with the workpiece (3), is generated during the clamping process, both an automated insertion as well as a clamping device (1) are supposed to be further developed, by means of which an automated position check of the inserted workpiece (3) can be carried out, and by means of which, when the test result is available, either the beginning of the machining process is automatically initiated or a check of the position of the workpiece (3) in the clamping device (1) is conducted. This is achieved in that an electromechanical and/or inductive interface (12, 13) is provided on the housing (4), which interface is connected inductively to the drive device (11) and/or an analysis device (11′) and/or by means of electric lines (16), that the interface (12, 13) for an external robotic arm (14) is accessible and communicates with said robotic arm in such a way, that electric data signals and/or electric energy between the interface (12, 13) of the housing (4) and an electromechanical and/or inductive interface (12′, 13′) of the robotic arm (14) can be transmitted alternately and bidirectionally.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.