Tool holding system for automatic tool changing

Tool holding system for automatic tool changing comprising:

• a spindle which has a longitudinal axis and which has a free end and which has in its free end sleeve means for gripping a tool holder which can be inserted and removed by a tool holder changing system, a draw rod coupled to the sleeve means and actuating the sleeve means by axial displacement, the sleeve means having a conical inside surface, a tool holder having a spindle end, a tool holding head having a spindle end and a tool end with said tool end of said tool head having a means receiving and securing said spindle end of said tool holder and said spindle end of said tool head having an inverted centering frustum cone which, to clamp the tool head against the spindle, is held by the sleeve means in a gripping position with the conical inside surface of the sleeve means, the sleeve means having a T-shaped slot open at at least one end, the spindle free end having at least one side having a through slot sized for lateral passage of said frustum cone, means for transferring torque from said spindle to said tool head, and the slots of the sleeve means and the end of the spindle being positioned in alignment with one another permitting the insertion and removal of said frustum cone of the tool holding head into and from said at least one side of said spindle end.