In a machining center provided with a mechanized tool magazine and with at least one movable tool-holding spindle capable of accessing the tool magazine, the tool is picked up from the tool-holding spindle and transferred to a tool replacement area by means of a dedicated, automatic transfer device that is independent of the tool magazine. After the replacement of the tool with a new tool in the transfer device, the new tool is returned to the tool-holding spindle by means of the transfer device.

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 tool change unit includes a base and two tool arms rotatably mounted on the base and respectively located on two sides of the base. Each arm body includes a position-returning element, a gripping element, and an actuation element. The position-returning element enables the tool arm to rotate for upward and downward moving between a first position and a second position. The gripping element functions to grip a main-axle tool or a magazine tool. The tool change unit is combinable with a power unit to form a tool change device. The power unit drives the tool change unit to do rotation or rotation and upward and downward movement.

A pair of grippers movable with respect to each other and each of which comprising a body presenting an annular ring oriented perpendicular with respect to a longitudinal length of the end effector. The annular ring of each gripper of the pair of grippers is oriented facing each other so that a space between the annular ring of each gripper of the pair of grippers increases and decreases as the pair of mounting blocks move laterally towards and away from each other.

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 present invention relates to a handling apparatus 1 for use at a machine tool, comprising: a base body 2 which can be set up on a floor space, a storage body 3 which can be set up on the top side of the base body 2 and serves to store a plurality of workpieces or tools, and a handling robot 5, which is arranged on the base body 2 and has a gripper device 6 for receiving a workpiece and/or tool from the storage body 3 and for inserting the workpiece and/or tool taken from the storage body 3 by the gripper device 6 into a corresponding workpiece and/or tool support of the machine tool. A plurality of first set-up elements 18 are arranged on the bottom side of the storage body 3 and a plurality of first centering elements 19 are arranged on the top side of the base body 2, wherein, when the storage body 3 is set up on the top side of the base body 2, the first set-up elements 18 interact in each case in pairs and in self-centering manner with the first centering elements 19 in such a way that the storage body 3 adopts a predetermined reference position in relation to the base body 2.

Disclosed is a gripping system for receiving a processing tool, and to a storage system. These processing tools are used in processing machines or centres in the woodworking industry. Also disclosed is a processing machine with the above-mentioned storage system. This processing machine is used for processing elongate pieces of wood.

A method and a machine for automatically changing a disc tool to a tool holder of an automated machine working with the disc tools is disclosed. The method includes in the disc tool replacement machine: determining that the tool holder is in a replacement area in the disc tool replacement machine; unfastening a fixing member of the tool holder by applying an unfastening force to the fixing member, wherein the fixing member fixes a disc tool to a backing plate of the tool holder through a through hole at a centre of the disc tool; removing the disc tool from the tool holder after said unfastening; inserting a new disc tool to the tool holder; and fastening the fixing member of the tool holder by applying a fastening force to the fixing member, thus fixing the disc tool to the backing plate of the tool holder through the through hole.

A gear manufacturing machine for which a machining tool detachably attached to a tool spindle is exchanged by means of an automatic tool changer, wherein the automatic tool changer is provided with: tool holding means for detachably holding a machining tool to be exchanged; moving means for moving the tool holding means in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the tool spindle; and rotating means for rotating the tool holding means.

A tool unit includes a tool head, a motor and a switching drive for the head. The head has a first section with first blades and a second section with second blades. The second section is movable to and fro between a passive and an active position relative to the first section, the second blades being retracted in the passive position, and the second blades projecting axially beyond the first blades in the active position. The drive includes an electromagnet and an actuating armature made from magnetically attractable material and is arranged in the region of action of the electromagnet. The electromagnet is positioned between the head and the motor and is fastened to a housing part of the motor such that it cannot be rotated. The armature is connected fixedly to the second section. A gap remains between the electromagnet and the armature in the passive and active position.