Multiple spindle dividing head

A multiple spindle dividing head comprising a housing, a plurality of spindles rotatably mounted in said housing, a common drive shaft in said housing, gear means operatively connecting said spindles to said drive shaft, actuator means operatively connected to said drive shaft for rotating said spindles, split ring collets having work-piece receiving openings therein operatively connected to said spindles for rotation therewith, means mounting said collets for axial movement relative to said spindles, said collets having tapered heads at their forward ends projecting through openings in said housing, bearing collars mounted on said housing and surrounding the heads of said collets, said bearing collars having tapered surfaces engaging the tapered heads of said collets, face plates surrounding said collets, said face plates being operatively connected to said collets to displace them axially rearwardly, pairs of fluid cylinders on opposite sides of each of said collets extending in parallel relation thereto, said cylinders containing rearwardly projecting piston rods positioned to contact said face plates upon movement from a retracted to an extended position, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinders to displace said piston rods rearwardly, whereby the tapered heads of the collets are radially contracted by the tapered surfaces of said bearing collars as said collets are displaced from a forward work-piece receiving position to a rearward work-piece clamping position by the piston rods as they bear against said face places, said face plates permitting said collets to rotate while maintained in their work-piece engaging position.