A positioning apparatus including a base structure; a first workpiece support; a second workpiece support; a support member supporting the first workpiece support and the second workpiece support; and a drive arrangement arranged to drive the support member relative to the base structure from a first position, where the first workpiece support is positioned on a processing side of the base structure and the second workpiece support is positioned on an opposite loading side of the base structure, to a second position, where the first workpiece support is positioned on the loading side and the second workpiece support is positioned on the processing side; wherein the drive arrangement is arranged to drive the first workpiece support along a first path and the second workpiece support along a second path when driving the support member from the first position to the second position, the first and second paths being non-circular.

A positioning apparatus including a base structure; a first workpiece support; a second workpiece support; a support member supporting the first workpiece support and the second workpiece support; and a drive arrangement arranged to drive the support member relative to the base structure from a first position, where the first workpiece support is positioned on a processing side of the base structure and the second workpiece support is positioned on an opposite loading side of the base structure, to a second position, where the first workpiece support is positioned on the loading side and the second workpiece support is positioned on the processing side; wherein the drive arrangement is arranged to drive the first workpiece support along a first path and the second workpiece support along a second path when driving the support member from the first position to the second position, the first and second paths being non-circular.

According to the present invention, the operating rate of a machine tool can be increased. Solution is made by a machine tool including a processing chamber surrounded by cover walls to perform processing of a workpiece to be processed, an equerre a part of which is arranged inside the processing chamber, the equerre fixing the workpiece, an opening arranged at a part of the cover walls for access to an inside of the processing chamber, and shutter doors movable between open positions where opening of the opening is performed so that the inside of the processing chamber communicates with an outside of the processing chamber, and closed positions where closing of the opening is performed so that the inside of the processing chamber is isolated from the outside of the processing chamber.

A machine for the milling or grinding of toothed racks, having a workspace, in which a machining head carrying milling and/or grinding tools is movably arranged is provided. The machine further has a first preparation area arranged on a first side of the workspace, which has a first workpiece table reversibly movable from the first preparation area into the workspace, and which for its part has first positioning means for workpieces. The machine has a second preparation area, which is arranged on a second side of the workspace, and has a second workpiece table which can be reversibly moved from the second preparation area into the workspace, and which for its part has second positioning means for workpieces. A corresponding method is also provided.

In a device for swivelling, turning and changing pallets on a horizontal machining center, with swivel arms that can be synchronously swiveled about a swivel axis, each of them having a pallet carrier turnable around a turning axis, for docking and undocking of at least one pallet, which can be connected to a power supply that also provides a vacuum for fixing the workpiece; on the pallet carrier, a power supply interface connected with the power supply via the swivel arm is provided which can be moved along.

In a device for swivelling, turning and changing pallets on a horizontal machining center, with swivel arms that can be synchronously swiveled about a swivel axis, each of them having a pallet carrier turnable around a turning axis, for docking and undocking of at least one pallet, which can be connected to a power supply that also provides a vacuum for fixing the workpiece; on the pallet carrier, a power supply interface connected with the power supply via the swivel arm is provided which can be moved along.

In a device for manipulating workpiece pallets, with two parallel pivot arms, each of which can each be fitted with a pallet carrier, each of which is swivelled by a motor and a swivel gear about a substantially horizontal swivel axis, with each pallet carrier on the swivel arm being able to be turned parallel to the other pallet carrier by a motor and a gear about a swivel axis in parallel to the turning axis. In said device, the motors are electric motors, the gear is a combined beveled planetary gear and the swivel arms via a line shaft are mutually coupled for torsional strength.

In a device for manipulating workpiece pallets, with two parallel pivot arms, each of which can each be fitted with a pallet carrier, each of which is swivelled by a motor and a swivel gear about a substantially horizontal swivel axis, with each pallet carrier on the swivel arm being able to be turned parallel to the other pallet carrier by a motor and a gear about a swivel axis in parallel to the turning axis. In said device, the motors are electric motors, the gear is a combined beveled planetary gear and the swivel arms via a line shaft are mutually coupled for torsional strength.

A system for loading and unloading piece-carrying containers (C) in an industrial plant, comprising: a station (2) for loading and unloading said containers; a workstation (3) to which the loaded containers are brought and at which the pieces are taken from said containers; and a turret (6), which can turn about a vertical axis and is designed to exchange with one another a first container in said workstation and a second container in said loading and unloading station, through a predetermined movement of rotation of said turret, said system being characterized in that, in order to carry out said exchange of said first and second containers, said turret is configured for lifting said first and second containers so as to release them and pick them up from said stations.

A system for loading and unloading piece-carrying containers (C) in an industrial plant, comprising: a station (2) for loading and unloading said containers; a workstation (3) to which the loaded containers are brought and at which the pieces are taken from said containers; and a turret (6), which can turn about a vertical axis and is designed to exchange with one another a first container in said workstation and a second container in said loading and unloading station, through a predetermined movement of rotation of said turret, said system being characterized in that, in order to carry out said exchange of said first and second containers, said turret is configured for lifting said first and second containers so as to release them and pick them up from said stations.