Tool holder for a grinding machine

Abstract

A tool assembly for a grinding machine that supports a tool and is separately and easily removed from the grinding machine to change tools. The grinding machine includes one or more grinding heads that support a plurality of the tool assemblies. The grinding heads include ring members and the tool assemblies include a tapered tool holder. The tool holder is held in the ring member in a friction fit. In one embodiment, a pad holder is mounted to the tool holder by a bolt. The pad holder includes a Velcro layer for securing the tool to the pad holder. In another embodiment, the tool, such as a turbo cup, is bolted directly to the tool holder.

1 . A grinding machine comprising: 
 at least one grinding head including at least one ring member; and    at least one tool assembly mounted to the at least one ring element, said at least one tool assembly including a tool holder, a tool support and a bolt, said tool support including a tool, said tool support being secured to the tool holder by the bolt, said tool assembly being secured to the grinding head by inserting the tool holder into the ring member in a friction fit so that the tool assembly is readily removed from the grinding head.    
   
   
       2 . The grinding machine according to  claim 1  wherein the tool support is a pad holder including a Velcro layer and the tool is secured to the pad holder by the Velcro layer.  
   
   
       3 . The grinding machine according to  claim 1  wherein the tool support and the tool are a single piece structure.  
   
   
       4 . The grinding machine according to  claim 1  wherein the tool holder includes a tapered body.  
   
   
       5 . The grinding machine according to  claim 1  wherein the tool holder includes an internal bore through which the bolt extends and the tool support includes an extended member that is positioned within the bore of the tool holder.  
   
   
       6 . The grinding machine according to  claim 5  wherein the extended member includes a flat surface and the tool holder includes a pin member, said pin member extending into the bore and being positioned against the flat surface so that the tool holder is prevented from significantly rotating relative to the tool support.  
   
   
       7 . The grinding machine according to  claim 6  wherein the pin member is a set-screw that is threaded through a threaded opening in a body of the tool holder.  
   
   
       8 . The grinding machine according to  claim 1  wherein the tool holder includes a hole for accepting a wrench that prevents the tool holder from rotating when the bolt is being threaded into the tool support to secure the tool holder to the tool support.  
   
   
       9 . The grinding machine according to  claim 1  wherein the tool holder is a steel member.  
   
   
       10 . The grinding machine according to  claim 1  wherein the tool is selected from the group consisting of a turbo cup, a metal bonded tool, a segmented diamond tool and a resin bonded tool.  
   
   
       11 . A tool assembly comprising a tool holder having a tapered body and an internal bore extending therethrough, said tool assembly further comprising a tool support and a bolt, said tool holder being secured to the tool support by the bolt where the bolt extends through the bore.  
   
   
       12 . The tool assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the tool support is a pad holder including a Velcro layer and wherein a tool is secured to the pad holder by the Velcro layer.  
   
   
       13 . The tool assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the tool support and an associated tool are a single piece structure.  
   
   
       14 . The tool assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the tool support includes an extended member that is positioned within the bore of the tool holder, and wherein the extended member includes a flat surface and the tool holder includes a pin member, said pin member extending into the bore and being positioned against the flat surface so that the tool holder is prevented from rotating relative to the tool support.  
   
   
       15 . The tool assembly according to  claim 14  wherein the pin member is a set-screw that is threaded through a threaded opening in the body of the tool holder.  
   
   
       16 . The grinding machine according to  claim 11  wherein the tool holder includes a hole for accepting a wrench that prevents the tool holder from rotating when the bolt is being threaded into the tool support to secure the tool holder to the tool support.  
   
   
       17 . A tool assembly for a grinding machine, said tool assembly comprising: 
 a tool holder having a tapered body and an internal bore extending therethrough, said internal bore including an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said tool holder further including a threadable pin member extending through the body so that an end of the pin member extends into the lower chamber;    a tool support including a threaded bore extending therethrough, said tool support further including an extended member having a flat surface, where the extended member is positioned within the lower chamber of the tool holder body so that the end of the pin is positioned against the flat surface; and    a bolt including a bolt head, said bolt extending through the body and being threaded into the threaded bore of the tool support so that the head of the bolt is positioned within the upper chamber of the internal bore.    
   
   
       18 . The tool assembly according to  claim 17  wherein the tool support is a pad holder that includes a Velcro pad to which a tool is mounted.  
   
   
       19 . The tool assembly according to  claim 17  wherein the tool support is a single piece member including a grinding tool.  
   
   
       20 . The tool assembly according to  claim 17  wherein the tool holder includes a hole for accepting a wrench that prevents the tool holder from rotating when the bolt is being threaded into the tool support to secure the tool holder to the tool support.