A machining center includes a machine bed, a work table unit, a sliding unit, a first driving unit, a conveying member, a second driving unit and a loading seat. The machine bed has a machining zone and a transferring zone. The first driving unit is operable for driving the conveying member to move along a conveying axis which extends in a first direction, thereby driving the loading seat to move along first adjusting axes which extend in the first direction between the transferring and machining zones. The second driving unit is operable for driving the loading seat to move along second adjusting axes which extend in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction and which is substantially vertical.

A pallet changing apparatus adopting a table 4 capable of moving back from and forth for a side of a turning shaft 1 and having an oscillating portion 41 for placing workpieces W, W by means of pallets P, P so as to oscillate freely by a rising portion 42 at the leading end of the table 4, wherein the turning shaft 1 covers a turning supporting portion 11 at its lower end side and turns together with a pallet changing arm 3 and moves freely in a vertical direction, and an insertion and removal hole 20 is provided, at the covering region, and allows the rising portion 42 to be inserted into the insertion and removal hole 20 and removed from the insertion and removal hole 20.

A removal tool including a frame having a first side and a second side defining a longitudinal direction therebetween and a first end and a second end defining a transverse direction therebetween, a pivotable separating mechanism and a stopping mechanism is disclosed. The removal tool may be adapted to remove a portion of a pallet. The pivotable separating mechanism may include a first position and a second position. When the pivotable separating mechanism is moved from the first position to the second position the pivotable separating mechanism is adjusted from a first angle relative to the ground to a second angle relative to the ground. The second angle may be greater than the first angle.

The invention relates to pallet changers and methods for processing sheet-like materials with at least two movably arranged pallets movably positioned in a main frame and having a support surface for receiving a sheet-like material. The pallets are moved in alternation with a drive from the main frame into a material processing machine and back to the main frame. The drive comprises a motor, which drives a drive element, which moves the pallets. A processing device is provided on the main frame to process sheet-like material positioned on the pallets in the main frame.

A workpiece positioning device for a processing center, and a processing center and a method for positioning a workpiece mounted on a workpiece palette in a processing center is disclosed. The workpiece positioning device comprises a deposit place comprising a horizontal deposit surface for a workpiece palette with a workpiece mounted thereon and a pivot bearing that receives the workpiece palette on a first edge of said workpiece palette in a rotatable manner. Furthermore, the workpiece positioning device comprises a pivoting device for transferring the workpiece palette from a horizontal position into a vertical position, and vice versa. The pivoting device comprises a horizontal and a vertical linear axle and a gripping device and is disposed to grip a workpiece palette on another, second edge and to pivot, by simultaneously moving the horizontal and the vertical linear axles, the workpiece palette around the pivot bearing on a circular path.

A pallet changing apparatus which adopts a table 4 that is able to move back and forth in relation to a turning shaft 1 and has a oscillating portion 41 for placing workpieces W, W by way of pallets P, P so as to oscillate freely by a rising portion 42 at the leading end of the table, and a bridging extending portion 31 which bridges a supporting portion of pallet P or P in a pallet changing arm 3 with both sides of the turning shaft 1 forming a shape of covering across the upper side of the rising portion 42 at a stage of the table 4 transferring pallet P.

A pallet changing apparatus adopting a table 4 capable of moving back from and forth for a side of a turning shaft 1 and having an oscillating portion 41 for placing workpieces W, W by means of pallets P, P so as to oscillate freely by a rising portion 42 at the leading end of the table 4, wherein the turning shaft 1 covers a turning supporting portion 11 at its lower end side and turns together with a pallet changing arm 3 and moves freely in a vertical direction, and an insertion and removal hole 20 is provided, at the covering region, and allows the rising portion 42 to be inserted into the insertion and removal hole 20 and removed from the insertion and removal hole 20.

An automatic pallet changer includes a first arm member and a second arm member that are turnable about a first axis extending in an up-down direction and move reversely to each other to a first side and a second side across a predetermined plane including first axis in association with turning about the first axis. Each arm member of first arm member and second arm member is pivotable about a second axis extending in a horizontal direction and included in predetermined plane.

A transmission arrangement for energy and/or signal transmission between a control unit of a machine tool and at least one electronic component, in particular for use in a machining center or a turning and/or milling center. The transmission arrangement is configured to transmit energy and/or signals between electronic components arranged on a pallet and a control unit of a machine tool. The method shows a procedure for automated machining of a workpiece by means of a machine tool, in particular when electronic components are arranged on a pallet on which the workpiece is clamped.

A method and apparatus for changing pallets delivered to a machining center. Different workpieces are connected or attached to different pallets. A first workpiece corresponding to a first pallet is delivered to or near an indexer or indexer assembly and the indexer is moved into an engaged position and performs a work operation on the first workpiece. The indexer is then moved to a disengaged position and the first pallet and the first workpiece are exchanged or switched out with a second pallet having a second workpiece. The indexer is then moved to an engaged position and works the second workpiece and when completed, the indexer moves to the disengaged position and the second workpiece is exchanged or switched out with a third pallet having a third workpiece. The indexer system of this invention can quickly and cost-effectively cycle through different pallets and thus different workpieces.