A method, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and tool changing system for changing tools on a machine. The tool changing system includes a tool magazine, a tool transporter, and an automatic tool changer (ATC). The ATC includes a tool holder and a tool changer. The tool magazine is configured to store at least one tool received at the tool loading station. The tool transporter is configured to transport a tool from the tool loading station or the tool magazine to a tool transfer position of the ATC, and to hold the tool at the tool transfer position during an automatic tool change process. The tool holder is configured to hold the tool at the tool transfer position during the automatic tool change process when the tool transporter is not positioned at the tool transfer position. The tool changer is configured to provide the tool at the tool transfer position to a tool change position of a machine during the automatic tool change process.

A tool changer includes a tool magazine, a support shaft disposed to have a center axis parallel to an axis of a tool spindle, a drive mechanism for rotating the support shaft about the center axis and moving the support shaft in the axial direction, three tool change arms fixed to the support shaft and each having a tool holding unit, a tool transfer mechanism for transferring a tool pot from the tool magazine to a standby position, and a provisional placing pot disposed at a provisional placing position. The tool changer starts a tool change operation in a state where a tool to be attached to the tool spindle, a tool to be used next, and a tool to be used after the next tool are held by the tool holding units of the tool change arms.

A method, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and tool changing system for changing tools on a machine. The tool changing system includes a tool magazine, a tool transporter, and an automatic tool changer (ATC). The ATC includes a tool holder and a tool changer. The tool magazine is configured to store at least one tool received at the tool loading station. The tool transporter is configured to transport a tool from the tool loading station or the tool magazine to a tool transfer position of the ATC, and to hold the tool at the tool transfer position during an automatic tool change process. The tool holder is configured to hold the tool at the tool transfer position during the automatic tool change process when the tool transporter is not positioned at the tool transfer position. The tool changer is configured to provide the tool at the tool transfer position to a tool change position of a machine during the automatic tool change process.

The present invention relates to a system, an apparatus and a method for providing tools on a machine tool. The system includes a first tool magazine for accommodating a plurality of tools; a first feeding device which is adapted to remove tools from the first tool magazine and feed them to the spindle; at least one second tool magazine for accommodating a plurality of tools; a second feeding device which is adapted to remove tools from the second tool magazine and provide them at a predetermined transfer position; and a transfer apparatus which is adapted to feed tools removed from the second tool magazine to the first tool magazine, with the result that the second tool magazine serves as a supply magazine for the first tool magazine.

To provide a tool transfer apparatus including gripping force measuring unit for tool holding unit of a tool accommodation apparatus and a machining system including the tool transfer apparatus, a handling robot can perform operation of detaching a tool from a grip positioned at a tool attachment/detachment position of a tool magazine in a machine tool and transferring the tool to a tool stocker, and operation of transferring a tool from the tool stocker and attaching the tool to a grip positioned at the tool attachment/detachment position of the tool magazine. A hand portion of the handling robot is provided with a force sensor, which can detect a load applied to the hand portion. Also, a control apparatus of the handling robot and a control apparatus of the machine tool are connected via a data cable capable of transmission and reception of information.

A machine tool includes: a spindle head; a spindle rotatably supported on the spindle head; a chuck unit configured to chuck a tool inserted in an axis direction of the spindle; a tool holder configured to hold the tool attached to the chuck unit; and a rotary arm configured to move the tool holder to a reachable position of the spindle. The tool holder is supported on the rotary arm by a support mechanism, and the support mechanism includes a displacement following mechanism configured to support the tool holder on the rotary arm in a manner to be capable of displacing the tool holder in a direction intersecting an axis of the tool.

A machine tool includes a bed, a column, a rotary main spindle, a tool magazine, a tool changer, and a controller. The tool changer includes a body provided on the bed so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to a movement direction of the column, a changing arm rotatably provided on the body, and a door provided on the body to open or close an opening formed in the body, and configured to partition an area on the column side from an area on the tool magazine side by closing the opening. The controller is configured to move the body in parallel with at least one of an operation of opening the door and an operation of closing the door.

A method is proposed for controlling tool change operations on a machine tool, wherein a machining procedure on a workpiece includes a sequence of machining operations having in each case a particular tool and in each case a particular duration, and for a tool change, tools of a tool spindle are provided by a second storage device in communication with a first storage device, and wherein there is associated with the machining procedure a sequence of tool provision operations in which a tool provision operation has in each case a particular duration, wherein the method includes a determination stage wherein the durations of the machining operations and the tool provision operations are determined, and a control stage wherein the tool provision operations are temporally grouped in relation to the machining operations such that the tool provision operations bring about a minimized idle time in the machining procedure.

A robot system including a plurality of robots that are arranged at intervals and that each perform machining on a work; and a tool storage unit that stores a tool used when each of the robots performs machining on the work and that is disposed at a position allowing at least one of the robot to take out the tool, wherein the respective robots are provided with hands with which the tool stored in the tool storage unit can be handled; and, when one of the robots needs to exchange the tool.

Provided is a vertical machining center including: a splash cover fixed to a base, the splash cover defining a machining chamber to enclose a machining zone; a column vertically standing on the base; a Z-axis guiding rail disposed on the column and being vertically directed toward the base, the Z-axis guiding rail partially exposed to the machining zone; a Z-axis driving device disposed in the column, the Z-axis driving device partially exposed to the machining zone; a spindle head to be driven vertically by the Z-axis driving device; a spindle head opening formed in the splash cover so that the spindle head can pass through the spindle head opening; and an extendable cover provided between an edge of the spindle head opening and the spindle head and configured to cover parts of the Z-axis guiding rail and the Z-axis driving device, the parts being exposed to the machining zone.