# US 9,004,831 B2 · Machine tool comprising a machine spindle, a tool holder and a contact point for electric current or data transmission > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,004,831 B2 - Document ID: US9004831B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/138,450 - Filed: 2010-03-25 - Published: 2011-12-08 - Granted: 2015-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2009-05-08 - Assignees: Komet Group GmbH - Applicants: Wolfgang Bierl; Juergen Fronius; Heiko Graf; Ewald Hasselkuss; Roland Hoerl - Inventors: Wolfgang Bierl; Juergen Fronius; Heiko Graf; Ewald Hasselkuss; Roland Hoerl - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9004831B2 ## CPC - B23Q 1/0009: {Energy-transferring means or control lines for movable machine parts; Control panels or boxes; Control parts (control handles for driving or feeding mechanisms B23Q5/54)} - B23Q 3/12: for securing to a spindle in general (B23Q3/152 takes precedence; chucks B23B31/02) - Y10T 409/307224: with infeed control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor - Y10T 409/309352: Cutter spindle or spindle support - Y10T 409/309408: with cutter holder - B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A machine tool having a motor-driven machine spindle which can be rotated about a spindle axis. The machine spindle has a tool holder arranged at the face. A tool is exchangeably arranged on the machine spindle. The tool has a coupling element which is compatible with the tool holder of the machine spindle. The coupling element has a rear surface pointing toward the machine spindle. The machine tool has at least one galvanic contact point for the electric current or data transmission, the point being arranged between the machine spindle and the tool and rotating together with the machine spindle. The galvanic contact point has a contact element which is arranged at the face of the tool holder on the spindle side, and a contact element which is arranged on the rear surface of the coupling element on the tool side. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A machine tool having a motor-driven machine spindle which can be rotated about a spindle axis and has an end-side tool holder, and having an inserted tool which is arranged exchangeably on the machine spindle and has a coupling element which is compatible with the tool holder of the machine spindle and has a rear face which points to the machine spindle, having an end face which comprises the tool holder and lies opposite the rear face of the coupling element, and having at least one co-rotating galvanic contact point for electric current or data transmission, which contact point is arranged between the machine spindle and the inserted tool and has a spindle-side contact element which is arranged on the end face of the tool holder and a tool-side contact element which is arranged on the rear face of the coupling element, characterized in that the spindle-side contact element and the tool-side contact element can be moved relative to one another, under the action of a centrifugal force component which occurs during the rotation of the machine spindle about the spindle axis, and can be pressed against one another with the production of contact. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the spindle-side contact element or the tool side contact element can be moved in a direction under the action of the centrifugal force component away from the spindle axis and towards the tool-side or the spindle-side contact element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the spindle-side contact element is arranged in an inclined holder which forms an acute angle with the spindle axis and opens toward the planar face of the machine spindle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The machine tool as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the acute angle is from 5° to 45°. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The machine tool as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that, starting from the end face of the machine spindle, the inclined holder extends in a direction which points away from the spindle axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The machine tool as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the inclined holder is sealed with respect to the end face of the machine spindle against the penetration of liquid and dirt. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the spindle-side contact element is arranged rigidly in the machine spindle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the spindle-side contact element has a planar contact face with a spherical cap as convex depression. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the spindle-side contact element is arranged set back in relation to the end face of the machine spindle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tool-side contact element is arranged in an inclined guide which is open toward the rear face of the coupling element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The machine tool as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the inclined guide is oriented in relation to the spindle axis at an angle between 5° and 45°. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The machine tool as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that, starting from the rear face of the inserted tool, the inclined guide extends in relation to the spindle axis with a direction component which points toward the spindle axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the rear face of the coupling element is a planar annular face which surrounds the coupling element, and the end face of the tool holder is configured as a planar face, against which the planar annular face can be pressed during the coupling operation with the formation of a planar contact. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tool-side contact element can be moved relative to the inclined guide. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The machine tool as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the tool-side contact element is configured as a ball. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The machine tool as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the ball is guided in a conical cage. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The machine tool as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that a spring element which acts against the ball in the direction of the spindle-side contact element is arranged in the inclined guide. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The machine tool as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the spring element is an elastic body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The machine tool as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the spring element is an elastic ball. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The machine tool as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the spring element is an elastomer body which surrounds the ball partially. ### Claim 21 (depends on 10) The machine tool as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the inclined guide in the coupling element is sealed in the region of the rear face against the penetration of liquid and dirt. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tool-side contact element is configured as a double contact. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tool-side contact element is arranged set back in relation to the rear side of the coupling element. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a co-rotating connecting point is provided for the data transmission between the machine spindle and the inserted tool, which connecting point has a spindle-side and a tool-side data transmission element. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The machine tool as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the connecting point is designed for contactless data transmission. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The machine tool as claimed in claim 25, characterized in that the connecting point forms an inductive, capacitive, electromagnetic or optical transmission path. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The machine tool as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the spindle-side data transmission element is arranged in a holder in the region of the planar face of the tool holder of the machine spindle. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The machine tool as claimed in claim 27, characterized in that the spindle-side data transmission element is arranged set back in relation to the end face of the tool holder. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The machine tool as claimed in claim 27, characterized in that the holder is a hole which extends parallel to the spindle axis. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The machine tool as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the tool-side data transmission element is arranged in a holder in the region of the planar annular face of the coupling element of the inserted tool. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The machine tool as claimed in claim 30, characterized in that the tool-side data transmission element is arranged set back in relation to the rear face. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The machine tool as claimed in claim 30, characterized in that the holder is a hole which extends parallel to the spindle axis. ### Claim 33 (depends on 24) The machine tool as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the co-rotating connecting point for the data transmission is assigned an outlet for blown air. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized by at least two co-rotating galvanic contact points which are arranged between the machine spindle and the inserted tool for electric current or data transmission. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the spindle-side contact element is received in an exchangeable rail on the machine spindle. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tool-side contact element is received in an exchangeable rail on the coupling element of the inserted tool. ### Claim 37 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the co-rotating galvanic contact point is assigned an outlet for blown air. ### Claim 38 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the spindle-side contact element is connected to a spiral cable which is laid on or in the machine spindle and/or the tool-side contact element is connected to a cable, which is laid on or in the coupling element of the inserted tool. ### Claim 39 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a bearing device which is composed at least partially of polytetrafluoroethylene and/or silicone and/or rubber is provided for the spindle-side contact element and/or the tool side contact element. ### Claim 40 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tool-side contact element is received in an exchangeable holding device in the region of the rear face of the coupling element. ### Claim 41 (depends on 1) The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an interface for transmitting electric energy and/or data into the machine spindle is provided in a rear section of the machine spindle. ### Claim 42 (depends on 1) A machine spindle for a machine tool as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 43 (depends on 1) An inserted tool having a coupling element for a machine tool as claimed in claim 1.