Tool pot for use in an automatic tool changer

An automatic tool changer comprising:

• (a) a tool magazine provided with a rotatable pot carrier carrying a plurality of tool pots, each of said tool pots adapted to hold a cutting tool with a tail end portion and swingable between a rest position and an operative position, said tool pot including,
• (i) a body swingably attached to said pot carrier and having an axial tapering bore, an axial end bore for reception of the tail end portion of the cutting tool and a plurality of radial holes each open into the axial end bore at their inner ends,
• (ii) means provided in the radial holes of said body for releasably gripping the tail end portion of the cutting tool, and
• (iii) locking means built to said body, said locking means comprising a slider fitted to one of the radial holes for sliding movement with respect to the tail end portion of the cutting tool, means pivoted to said body for pivotal movement between a locking position wherein said pivotal movement means pushes the slider radially inwards to lock the cutting tool and an unlocking position wherein said slider is allowed to move radially outwards to unlock the cutting tool, and means for normally urging said pivotal movement means into the locking position;
• (b) means for causing said tool pot to swing from the rest position to the operative position and vice versa;
• (c) means for allowing the locking means of said tool pot to unlock the cutting tool at the time said tool pot remains in the operative position;
• and
• (d) a changer arm for selectively removing the cutting tool out of said tool pot and inserting the cutting tool into said tool pot.