Provided is a compact tool changer. The vertical machine tool includes a frame, a spindle, a moving device for moving the spindle, a magazine including a plurality of pots that move up and down installed in a pot holder, a pot lifter for moving up and down the pot at a pot tool changing position, and an intermediate arm assembly that moves among a magazine position, an intermediate position, and a spindle position. The intermediate arm assembly includes an arm having a first gripper and a second gripper, and an arm rotation device for positioning the first gripper or the second gripper to either a pot phase or a spindle phase.

A machine tool includes a turret including first and second stations, a tool storage unit capable of storing tools therein, a machining control unit for controlling a tool in accordance with a machining program, a tool changing unit for replacing the tool attached to the turret with a tool stored in the tool storage unit, and a tool pattern memory for memorizing, as a first tool pattern, a combination of tools at the first and second stations which is associated with a first part of the machining program and, as a second tool pattern, a combination of tools at the first and second stations which is associated with a second part of the machining program after the first part. When machining is stopped during execution of the second part, the tool changing unit changes tools in accordance with a past tool pattern saved in association with a part before stop on the machining program.

Tool magazine for the provision of tools for a machine tool, wherein the tool magazine has a multiplicity of receiving positions for tools. A first tool can be removed from or inserted into a first receiving position along a removal direction, and at least one further receiving position for receiving a further tool is provided.

Provided is a compact tool changer. The vertical machine tool includes a frame, a spindle, a moving device for moving the spindle, a magazine including a plurality of pots that move up and down installed in a pot holder, a pot lifter for moving up and down the pot at a pot tool changing position, and an intermediate arm assembly that moves among a magazine position, an intermediate position, and a spindle position. The intermediate arm assembly includes an arm having a first gripper and a second gripper, and an arm rotation device for positioning the first gripper or the second gripper to either a pot phase or a spindle phase.

A fast tool changing method with pre-unclamping step for controlling operations of the spindle, tool unclamping cylinder, and tool changing arm. The spindle has one end clamping the tool at the clamping position. The method includes following steps. In a tool pre-unclamping step, the clamp end of the spindle moves the used tool to a pre-unclamping position; the tool unclamping cylinder pushes the used tool to leave a taper of the spindle. In a tool changing step, the tool changing arm rotates to clamp the used tool and pulls the used tool away from the clamp end, and further aligns a target tool with the clamp end. In a tool inserting step, the tool changing arm inserts the target tool into the clamp end, to be clamped therein. Therefore, the tool unclamping and tool clamping operations are accelerated.

A fast tool changing method with pre-unclamping step for controlling operations of the spindle, tool unclamping cylinder, and tool changing arm. The spindle has one end clamping the tool at the clamping position. The method includes following steps. In a tool pre-unclamping step, the clamp end of the spindle moves the used tool to a pre-unclamping position; the tool unclamping cylinder pushes the used tool to leave a taper of the spindle. In a tool changing step, the tool changing arm rotates to clamp the used tool and pulls the used tool away from the clamp end, and further aligns a target tool with the clamp end. In a tool inserting step, the tool changing arm inserts the target tool into the clamp end, to be clamped therein. Therefore, the tool unclamping and tool clamping operations are accelerated.

A tool changer is used for changing tools in a machine tool. The tool changer has a support structure on which a lifting carriage is guided along a vertical lifting direction. A pivot arm is pivotably mounted to the lifting carriage about a vertical pivot axis. A plurality of tool holders arranged vertically one above the other form a tool magazine. A tool gripper is attached to the pivot arm. The tool gripper grips a tool. The tool is subsequently moved between one of the tool holders and the tool spindle of the machine tool by a combined lifting and pivoting movement of the pivot arm. Optionally, an auxiliary arm pivotably attached to the pivot arm can be used to change a workpiece clamping means of the machine tool.

The present invention relates to a machine tool 100 for machining a workpiece 12 by means of a tool 22, which comprises a clamping means 11 for clamping the workpiece 12 and a support means 21 for receiving the tool 22, wherein the clamping means 11 is mounted on a spindle head of a clamping means-carrying work spindle 10 and the support means 21 is mounted on a spindle head of a support means-carrying work spindle 20, and the machine tool 100 is designed to position the two work spindles 10, 20 by means of numerically controllable axes in relation to one another in such a way that the workpiece 12, which is clamped in the clamping means 11, can be processed by the tool 22, which is received in the support means 21.

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.

The present invention relates to a tool transport system for exchanging tools between a central tool magazine and one or more machine tools. A guided transport module P can be moved between different stops by means of a supporting guide. The transport module P has a transport platform PT with at least one tool transport strip E2 for holding a plurality of tools W. The transport platform PT is downwardly spaced apart, in the vertical direction, from the transport module P and from the supporting guide F.