An automatic pallet changer 2 includes: a pallet housing unit 11 having a plurality of pallet placement portions; and a pallet transfer unit 12 configured to transfer a pallet P that is at a required pallet placement portion and has an un-machined workpiece W attached thereto to a standby station S2 and configured to transfer a pallet P that is at the standby station S2 and has a machined workpiece W attached thereto to a required pallet placement portion. The pallet housing unit 11 includes: main housing portions 13a to 13f that have a plurality of rows of pallet placement portions, each having a plurality of stages, and are disposed to face the machine tool body 1; and three rows of secondary housing portions 14 that have one stage of pallet placement portions and are disposed above the machine tool body 1.

An automatic pallet changer 2 includes: a pallet housing unit 11 having a plurality of pallet placement portions; and a pallet transfer unit 12 configured to transfer a pallet P that is at a required pallet placement portion and has an un-machined workpiece W attached thereto to a standby station S2 and configured to transfer a pallet P that is at the standby station S2 and has a machined workpiece W attached thereto to a required pallet placement portion. The pallet housing unit 11 includes: main housing portions 13a to 13f that have a plurality of rows of pallet placement portions, each having a plurality of stages, and are disposed to face the machine tool body 1; and three rows of secondary housing portions 14 that have one stage of pallet placement portions and are disposed above the machine tool body 1.

An unloading method for unloading a machining product of a workpiece machining operation from a product support is provided. The method includes moving the machining product with a transfer movement along a transfer axis into an unloading region including a spatial unloading region limit located along the transfer axis and an unloading region length along the transfer axis which is larger than an actual product length of the machining product along the transfer axis; and continuing the unloading operation after the machining product has been provided for unloading. A reference length extends along the transfer axis and is at least the actual product length. After completion of the transfer movement, a distance along the transfer axis is compared with the limit distance from the reference point, and the unloading operation is continued only under a condition that the distance is less than the limit distance.