The invention relates to a handling assembly (1) for handling tools and/or workpieces (16) of a machine tool (2), comprising a horizontal rail assembly (101), a vertical tower (3) which is arranged to be movable on the horizontal rail assembly (101) in the direction of a horizontal axis (21), a vertical rail assembly (102) which is arranged on the tower (3), a vertical carriage (12) which is arranged to be movable on the vertical rail assembly (102) in the vertical direction (B), exactly one one-piece rigid arm (15), which is arranged on the vertical carriage (12) and is swivel-mounted about a horizontal, first swivel axis (13) on the vertical carriage (12), and a manipulator (5) which is arranged on the arm (15) and is swivel-mounted about a horizontal, second swivel axis (14) on the arm (15), wherein the arm (15) is swivel-mounted about a vertical swivel axis (103; 104), wherein the first swivel axis (13) is parallel to the second swivel axis (14), and wherein the first swivel axis (13) is arranged on a first side of the vertical swivel axis (103; 104) in a first distance (A1) from the vertical swivel axis (103; 104).

A robotic tool changer includes a locking feature, and may be made washable by sealing against fluid incursion. The tool changer comprises a master unit and one or more tool units, and it transitions between decoupled and coupled states by rotation of one part relative to another. The rotation displaces rolling members in the master unit, such as balls, from a retaining surface to a locking surface which is sized and positioned to force the rolling members against a coupling surface of the tool unit. A deformable pin interposed between the retaining and locking surfaces resists movement of the rolling members therebetween, requiring the application of force. The pin remains deformed, and continues to exert a force on the rolling members, when the robotic tool changer is in the coupled state, providing a locking feature which automatically and positively resists any inadvertent decoupling of the tool changer.

A method is provided. The method includes axially aligning a carrier portion of a separable robotic interface with a probe portion, the carrier portion coupled to a free end of a robotic arm, sliding the carrier portion over the probe portion in response to radially orienting a first alignment feature between the probe portion and the carrier portion, and in response compressing a spring-loaded plug in the carrier portion to release one or more ball bearings to make contact with an outer surface of the probe portion, the plug radially coupled to the carrier portion through a second alignment feature, seating the one or more ball bearings into matching recesses in the outer surface in response to sliding the carrier portion over the probe portion a predetermined distance, and rotating a locking ring of the carrier portion to axially lock the carrier portion to the probe portion.

In order to configure a multi-spindle machine tool comprising a machine frame, a spindle drum arranged on the machine frame to be rotatable about a spindle drum axis and having a plurality of workpiece spindles, each of which is provided with a workpiece receptacle for a workpiece that is to be machined in a working area, a plurality of tool carriers arranged in the working area, in particular associated with individual spindle stations, and each having a tool holder receptacle into which a tool holder is insertable, as well as a machine control system for controlling the machine tool to be more efficient, it is proposed that a handling apparatus is arranged on the machine frame, that with the handling device, also controlled by the machine control system, at least one tool holder is insertable into at least one of the tool holder receptacles and/or removable therefrom.

The invention relates to a handling assembly for handling tools and/or workpieces of a machine tool, comprising a horizontal rail assembly, a vertical tower movable on the horizontal rail assembly in the direction of a horizontal axis, a vertical rail assembly arranged on the tower, a vertical carriage movable on the vertical rail assembly in the vertical direction, exactly one one-piece rigid arm, arranged on the vertical carriage and swivel-mounted about a horizontal, first swivel axis on the vertical carriage, and a manipulator arranged on the arm and swivel-mounted about a horizontal, second swivel axis on the arm, wherein the arm is swivel-mounted about a vertical swivel axis, wherein the first swivel axis is parallel to the second swivel axis, and wherein the first swivel axis is arranged on a first side of the vertical swivel axis in a first distance from the vertical swivel axis.