A machine tool including a first and a second tool magazine, wherein a tool for machining a workpiece can be received from the first tool magazine and a tool from the second tool magazine can be transferred into the first tool magazine, and wherein one of the tools includes a multiple tool that can be fitted with a plurality of tools prior to the machining. A method for controlling a machine tool includes the steps of detecting workpieces to be machined, determining the tools required for machining the detected workpieces and determining the tools, with which the multiple tool is to be fitted.

A progressive cold forming machine and a robot for automatically changing a cutoff cassette, tooling cassettes, a transfer slide and transfer cam. A loading area adjacent the machine and robot has provisions for supporting a tooling cassette pallet and a transfer slide and camshaft pallet and a holding area for temporarily receiving some of the componentry being exchanged.

A rotatable buffer turret apparatus on which plural pairs of punches and dies to be set on a turret of a turret punch press are set, includes an upper buffer turret on which punch attachment holes in which the punches can be set are arranged circularly, and a lower buffer turret on which die attachment holes that is associated with the punch attachment holes and in which the dies can be set are arranged circularly. The upper and lower buffer turrets are rotatably attached to a single rotary shaft. A diameter of the lower buffer turret is made larger than a diameter of the upper buffer turret. The die attachment holes are formed in a circular die attachment area having a diameter larger than the diameter of the upper buffer turret. According to the apparatus, a tool exchange manually operated by an operator can be done easily and efficiently.

A tool changer includes a slider provided behind (or in front of) a table of a press brake, and configured to slide in a right-left direction along a tool installation part of the table, a finger provided in the slider, and configured to be inserted into an engagement hole extending through a tool and to move in a front-rear direction, and an engagement member configured to be protruded and retracted relative to an outer peripheral surface of the finger on a tip side, and to be engaged with a peripheral edge portion of the engagement hole of the tool (or an inner stepped portion formed at an intermediate position of the engagement hole).

An automatic tool changer includes first and second tool change units that is driven respectively by a pair of servo motors and move along an arrangement direction of a plurality of tools installed on a tool installation unit, a torque detection unit that detects a torque of each of the pair of servo motors, and a control device that controls operations of the first and second tool change units. The control device fixes the first tool change unit at a reference position, and moves the second tool change unit toward the first tool change unit. The control device determines, based on a torque change of each servo motor, that a plurality of upper tools are brought together at the first tool change unit as a result of a movement of the second tool change unit.

A machine tool for processing a workpiece comprises a processing station which has a tool receiving member in which a processing tool for processing the workpiece can be introduced and replaced, a tool store which has at least one storage space for a processing tool, a tool handling device which can be moved by a controlled drive into a tool-transfer position, a movement unit which can move the workpiece and the tool store and which can be moved by a controlled drive into any of a setup position, a processing position, and a tool changing position, a control device for the drive of the tool handling device which can define the tool-transfer position of the tool handling device, and a control device for the drive of the movement unit which can define the setup position, the processing position, and the tool changing position of the movement unit.

An upper tool stocker for detachably supporting a plurality of divided upper tools in a press brake includes a stocker main body extending in a left-right direction, and provided with a left-right directional installing groove, attachment portions provided in upper portions of the divided upper tools being detachably installed in the installing groove, wherein the stocker main body includes a front-back directional cutout communicated with the installing groove to remove the divided upper tools downward or in the front-back direction from the installing groove.

A machine tool for processing plate-like workpieces, in particular metal sheets, has a machine frame with a lower frame arm, an upper frame arm and a frame compartment or throat defined between the upper and lower arms. A first tool magazine, close to the station, has storage places for processing tools is arranged at least partially within the frame compartment. The processing tools, such as punch/die sets, can be interchanged at a processing station of the machine tool. By means of a tool transfer device, processing tools can be transferred between the first tool and a second tool magazine, remote from the station. The second tool magazine has a magazine platform that protrudes laterally in a horizontal direction with respect to the machine frame and is accessible from above, on which magazine platform storage places for processing tools interchangeable at the processing station are provided, and above which a tool holder of the tool transfer device is mounted on the relevant longitudinal side of the machine frame.

System for handling dies with a rectangular and/or arched transverse cross-section that comprises a support for placing in a removable manner dies having a rectangular transverse cross-section, the support being designed to be coupled in a sliding manner to a fixed structure, in which at least said support has fastening means for holding at least one die with a rectangular transverse cross-section vertically in the air; and a handler provided with hooking means designed to be coupled to the support to place and/or remove the support with respect to the fixed structure, the handler having coupling means to be coupled to a transelevator or similar. This system is designed to facilitate the operations of placing and removing the dies during their storage.

The invention relates to a tool changing device (1) for a forming press (2), in particular a press brake, comprising at least one tool magazine (3, 4) and at least one transfer device (5, 6) for the transfer of the forming tools (7, 8) of the at least one tool magazine (3, 4), which are storable in the at least one tool magazine (3, 4), from the at least one tool magazine (3, 4) to the forming press (2) and in the reverse direction, wherein the at least one transfer device (5, 6) has a drivable thrust chain (9, 10) for the transmission of compressive and tensile forces.