An auto-sorting storage/retrieval system includes an identification mechanism, a first pick and place device, a second pick and place device, and a feed and storage equipment including a feed unit and a storage unit respectively disposed at two opposite sides relative to the identification mechanism and respectively movable up and down for enabling the identification mechanism to recognize and sort drill bits. As the auto-sorting storage/retrieval system can run independently without any additional arrangement, it can be freely installed anywhere without particular space limitation.

A container treatment system (1, 13) that has at least two working areas (AP). Each of the working areas (AP) respectively comprises at least one exchangeable working tool (2) and/or one adaptable format part. Furthermore, the container treatment system (1, 13) comprises at least one automatic exchange machine (10) which is movable, in particular drivable, to the at least two working areas (AP), which automatic exchange machine (10) can be connected selectively to any of the respective working areas (AP), in particular using centering means (22, 32), and which automatic exchange machine (10) comprises tools for exchanging the working tools (2) and/or for adapting the format parts of the respective working area (AP). The invention further relates to an automatic exchange machine (10) for exchanging working tools (2) and/or for adapting the format parts of at least two different working areas (AP) of a container treatment system (1, 13).

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.

A punching system adapted to punch a sheet metal includes a platform, a punching portion, a base portion and a turret device. The punching portion is disposed on the platform, and a first upper die is detachably installed in the punching portion. The base portion is disposed between the punching portion and the platform, and a first lower die is detachably installed in the base portion. The punching portion is adapted to move back and forth along a first direction relative to the platform. The turret device is adapted to move along a second direction relative to the platform, and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. A plurality of second upper dies and second lower dies are correspondingly installed on the turret device.

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 tool transport device (10) transporting a tool (T) between a machine tool (M) including a tool magazine (TM) holding a plurality of tools (T) and a tool storage device storing a plurality of tools includes a moving device (11) having a moving table (15) and moving on a path (14) or with no path to move the moving table (15) to a working position set for the tool magazine (TM) and a working position set for the tool storage device, a tool attachment/detachment robot (25) and an air blow device (30) arranged on the moving table (15), and a controller (50) controlling operations of the moving device (11), tool attachment/detachment robot (25), and air blow device (30). The air blow device (30) includes an air blow box (31) having an opening (32) for loading and unloading of the tool (T) and has therein a space able to receive the tool (T), and a pressurized air ejection unit ejecting pressurized air into the air blow box (31).

A two-layer disk type tool magazine device matched with a numerical control machine tool, comprises a tool magazine base, a tool magazine support, tool sleeve chucks, a tool disk base, tool sleeves and a tool alignment instrument. The tool magazine base is connected to and installed on the machine tool. The tool magazine support is connected to one end of the tool magazine base. The tool disk base is connected to the support by means of a bolt. The tool alignment instrument is installed at the other end of the tool magazine base. The two tool sleeve chucks are installed on the tool disk base and partitioned by a tool disk partition sleeve. The two layers of tool sleeve chucks clamp a tool sleeve base and are fixed by means of bolts. A tool disk pressing ring presses against the tool sleeve chuck on the upper layer.

In a machine tool having at least one tool spindle which is displaceable in relation to a device for holding workpieces in at least one of three spatial directions and in which the tools (W1-W7) for processing the workpieces can be chucked, there are provided a machine magazine (36) in which tools (W1-W7) provided for exchange in the tool spindle (23) are kept in store and a background magazine (31) in which tools (W1-W7) provided for exchange in the machine magazine (36) are kept in store. In the machine magazine (36), not more than four storage places (42, 43, 44, 45) for accommodating tools (W1-W7) are provided (FIG. 2).

A punching system adapted to punch a sheet metal includes a platform, a punching portion, a base portion and a turret device. The punching portion is disposed on the platform, and a first upper die is detachably installed in the punching portion. The base portion is disposed between the punching portion and the platform, and a first lower die is detachably installed in the base portion. The punching portion is adapted to move back and forth along a first direction relative to the platform. The turret device is adapted to move along a second direction relative to the platform, and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. A plurality of second upper dies and second lower dies are correspondingly installed on the turret device.

An auto-sorting storage/retrieval system includes an identification mechanism, a first pick and place device, a second pick and place device, and a feed and storage equipment including a feed unit and a storage unit respectively disposed at two opposite sides relative to the identification mechanism and respectively movable up and down for enabling the identification mechanism to recognize and sort drill bits. As the auto-sorting storage/retrieval system can run independently without any additional arrangement, it can be freely installed anywhere without particular space limitation.