Tool transfer system

A tool transfer system comprising (a) a first tool holding device and (b) a second tool holding device, and configured to transfer a tool between said first and second tool holding devices by causing said first and second tool holding devices to be moved relative to each other;

• wherein said first tool holding device includes:
• (a-1) a first-receiving-hole defining member defining a first receiving hole that is to receive therein a portion of the tool;
• and
• (a-2) a ball clamping device including a clamp sleeve which is axially movable relative to said first-receiving-hole defining member, and which is forced in a direction toward said second tool holding device so as to be positioned in a clamping position for clamping the tool that is received in said first receiving hole,
• wherein said second tool holding device includes:
• (b-1) a main body;
• (b-2) a second-receiving-hole defining member defining a second receiving hole which is to receive therein another portion of the tool, said second-receiving-hole defining member being axially movable relative to said main body;
• (b-3) a hole-defining-member forcing device forcing said second-receiving-hole defining member in a direction toward said first tool holding device;
• (b-4) a movable engaging member which is movable between a working position and a non-working position, said movable engaging member being positioned in said working position in absence of opposite movement of said second receiving-hole defining member against force of said hole-defining-member forcing device relative to said main body in an opposite direction opposite to said direction toward said first tool holding device, said movable engaging member being engageable with said clamp sleeve while being positioned in said working position, such that said clamp sleeve can be moved, by engagement of said movable engaging member with said clamp sleeve, so as to be positioned in an unclamping position, during relative axial movement of said first tool holding device and said second tool holding device toward each other;
• and
• (b-5) a movement converting device which is, in presence of said opposite movement of said second receiving-hole defining member, configured to covert said opposite movement of said second-receiving-hole defining member relative to said main body, into withdrawal movement of said movable engaging member from said working position to said non-working position against force of said engaging-member forcing device.

A clamp-controller-equipped tool holding device configured to receive a tool from a clamp-equipped tool holding device and hand over the tool to the clamp-equipped tool holding device, by relative movement of said clamp-controller-equipped tool holding device and the clamp-equipped tool holding device, the clamp-equipped tool holding device including (a-1) a first-receiving-hole defining member defining a first receiving hole that is to receive therein a portion of the tool;

• and (a-2) a ball clamping device including a clamp sleeve which is axially movable relative to the first-receiving-hole defining member, and which is forced in a direction toward said clamp-controller-equipped tool holding device so as to be positioned in a clamping position for clamping the tool that is received in the first receiving hole,
• said clamp-controller-equipped tool holding device comprising:
• (b-1) a main body;
• (b-2) a second-receiving-hole defining member defining a second receiving hole which is to receive therein another portion of the tool, said second-receiving-hole defining member being axially movable relative to said main body;
• (b-3) a hole-defining-member forcing device forcing said second-receiving-hole defining member in a direction toward the clamp-equipped tool holding device;
• (b-4) a movable engaging member which is movable between a working position and a non-working position, said movable engaging member being positioned in said working position in absence of opposite movement of said second receiving-hole defining member against force of said hole-defining-member forcing device relative to said main body in an opposite direction opposite to said direction toward the clamp-equipped tool holding device, said movable engaging member being engageable with the clamp sleeve while being positioned in said working position, such that the clamp sleeve can be moved, by engagement of said movable engaging member with said clamp sleeve, so as to be positioned in an unclamping position, during relative axial movement of said clamp-controller-equipped tool holding device and the clamp-equipped tool holding device toward each other;
• and
• (b-5) a movement converting device which is, in presence of said opposite movement of said second receiving-hole defining member, configured to covert said opposite movement of said second-receiving-hole defining member relative to said main body, into withdrawal movement of said movable engaging member from said working position to said non-working position against force of said engaging-member forcing device.