An automatic load table and related method are provided. The automatic load table utilizes a movable loading arm and a riser assembly with a stepped configuration. The movable loading arm is operable to move billets in a loading direction along the stepped configuration of the riser assembly. The movable loading arm is capable of lifting and separating adjacent billets in a single lifting motion.

An autonomous processing station, in particular for machining a plate-shaped workpiece, for example, including a roller conveyor and a suction table disposed beneath the roller conveyor for clamping the workpiece. The roller conveyor includes movable rollers, in a longitudinal center region of the roller conveyor, so as to be movable to the side beneath stationary rollers at ends of the roller conveyor, so that the workpiece can be lowered through the resulting opening onto the suction table.

Embodiments of lift pin holders are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a lift pin holder includes a housing member having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion includes an annular wall defining a central space; a support member disposed at least partially within the central space and having a base and an upwardly protruding portion configured to support a lift pin; a first gripper disposed atop the support member and having a first plurality of prongs protruding upward from a body of the first gripper and configured to grip the lift pin; and a second gripper disposed atop the base of the support member and having a second plurality of prongs protruding upward from a body of the second gripper and are configured to grip the lift pin, wherein the first gripper is disposed within the third central opening.

A workpiece is conveyed from a first fixed point to a second fixed point by a conveyor in a chucked state. A phase of the workpiece that is being conveyed by the conveyor is detected by a detector. The workpiece conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor is seated on a seating part. A workpiece seating phase of the seating part is adjusted by an adjustor to the phase of the workpiece detected by the detector.

A pallet transport device (10) includes: pallet rails (21, 31, 36); moving mechanisms (41, 51, 56) that move a pallet (11) along the pallet rails (21, 31, 36); a transfer mechanism (61) that transfers the pallet (11) guided by one of the pallet rails (21, 31, 36) to another pallet rail (21, 31, 36) using a pivoting member (62) and a retaining rail (63); a moving assistance mechanism (81) that moves the pallet (11) from the pallet rails (21, 31, 36) to the retaining rail (63), or from the retaining rail (63) to the pallet rails (21, 31, 36); and an elevator mechanism (95) configured to cause the moving assistance mechanism (81) to ascend and descend. When the elevator mechanism (95) has caused the moving assistance mechanism (81) to descend, the transfer mechanism (61) is in a state where it is capable of causing the pivoting member (62) to pivot.

A pallet transport device (10) includes: pallet rails (21, 31, 36); moving mechanisms (41, 51, 56) that move a pallet (11) along the pallet rails (21, 31, 36); a transfer mechanism (61) that transfers the pallet (11) guided by one of the pallet rails (21, 31, 36) to another pallet rail (21, 31, 36) using a pivoting member (62) and a retaining rail (63); a moving assistance mechanism (81) that moves the pallet (11) from the pallet rails (21, 31, 36) to the retaining rail (63), or from the retaining rail (63) to the pallet rails (21, 31, 36); and an elevator mechanism (95) configured to cause the moving assistance mechanism (81) to ascend and descend. When the elevator mechanism (95) has caused the moving assistance mechanism (81) to descend, the transfer mechanism (61) is in a state where it is capable of causing the pivoting member (62) to pivot.

A machine tool with work transferring mechanism 1 provided with a work transferring mechanism 8 which transfers a work 10 and receives/delivers the work 10 from/to a main spindle 3, wherein in the front-rear direction, the space inside the machine tool 1 is divided via a shutter 11 into a machining space 12 in which the main spindle 3 is arranged and a transferring space 13 in which the work transferring mechanism 8 transfers the work 10; the work transferring mechanism 8 is equipped with a work retainer 9 retaining the work 10, and a moving mechanism moving the work retainer 9; and while the work 10 attached to the main spindle 3 is being machined, the work retainer 9 is preliminarily moved by the moving mechanism to a vicinity of the main spindle 3 via the shutter 11.

A machine tool with work transferring mechanism 1 provided with a work transferring mechanism 8 which transfers a work 10 and receives/delivers the work 10 from/to a main spindle 3, wherein in the front-rear direction, the space inside the machine tool 1 is divided via a shutter 11 into a machining space 12 in which the main spindle 3 is arranged and a transferring space 13 in which the work transferring mechanism 8 transfers the work 10; the work transferring mechanism 8 is equipped with a work retainer 9 retaining the work 10, and a moving mechanism moving the work retainer 9; and while the work 10 attached to the main spindle 3 is being machined, the work retainer 9 is preliminarily moved by the moving mechanism to a vicinity of the main spindle 3 via the shutter 11.

A rail processing device (1) comprising at least a first (3A) and a second work station (3B) provided on a common frame (30), and configured to alternately lock a rail (2) when the latter is being processed, each work station (3A, 3B) comprising at least a first magnetic anchorage plane (4) configured to cooperate with a web (2A) of the rail (2) when the latter is being processed in the respective station, and a transport system (50A, 50B) to move the rail (2) from the first work station (3A) to the second work station (3B) and vice versa.

A sheet material machining system includes a sheet material machining machine which is configured to machine a workpiece to produce a machined workpiece that includes a plurality of products and a residual material. The machined workpiece is configured to be placed on a sorting table. The plurality of products are configured to be placed on a temporary placement table. At least one product among the plurality of products are configured to be placed on a discharge table. A carrier includes an attracting actuator and a mobile actuator. The order management processor is configured to control the carrier and includes a storage configured to memorize a layout of the plurality of products in the workpiece. The plurality of products are associated with an attracting order.