Machining system for machining workpieces, having a transport module which includes a transporter for transporting workpiece carriers along a transport path and a plurality of coupling areas, and having at least one process module, which includes a processing system for processing workpieces, a transport system for transporting workpiece carriers between the transport path and a processing position assigned to the processing system, and a coupling system for coupling to the transport module, the transport module including at least one manipulator from the group: stop device for temporarily stopping a workpiece carrier, deflection device for deflecting the direction of a workpiece carrier, and wherein the process module provides a control signal to the at least one manipulator of the transport module.

The present invention includes a pallet storage device (30) having holding units (31, 32, 33) holding pallets (P) and a frame (40) supporting the holding units (31, 32, 33), a conveyance device (10) having a traveling base (11) having a traveling path (11a) extending along the pallet storage device (30) and a conveyance unit (15) loading and unloading the pallets (P) into and from the holding units (31, 32, 33) and conveying the pallets (P) to and from a predetermined place, and a controller (60) controlling operation of the conveyance device (10). The frame (40) has a space capable of receiving the controller (60) therein and has a plate-shaped cover (43, 48, 51) arranged to be located above the controller (60) and inclined downward toward the traveling base (11) side. The cover (43, 48, 51) is supported by the frame (40) such that a lower end of the cover (43, 48, 51) can be flipped up, and the cover (40) is configured such that the controller (60) can pass under the cover (43, 48, 51) when the lower end of the cover (43, 48, 51) is in a flipped-up state.

An apparatus and a method for delivering a workpiece to and from a machine table. The apparatus includes a rotatable plate and a pallet. The workpiece is detachably mountable to the pallet. The rotatable plate is movable with respect to the pallet. The pallet is movable along a pallet carriage. A screw is movably mounted within the screw housing and the screw housing is connected to the pallet. A driver is attached to the screw and moves the screw within the screw housing and the driver operates to engage the screw and move the pallet in a linear direction to and from the machine table.

A changeover apparatus for changing between workpiece supports for a machining machine. The changeover apparatus has a base frame with a carrier apparatus for the workpiece supports, which are vertically movable by the carrier apparatus, with the result that one of the workpiece supports can be transferred into a working plane in which the workpiece support is moved from the carrier apparatus into the machining machine and guided out therefrom. A lifting apparatus acts between the base frame and the carrier apparatus and by way of which the carrier apparatus can be vertically moved relative to the base frame for one workpiece support to take up a first lifting position or a further lifting position in the working plane. The lifting apparatus contains a slotted guide, which movably actuates the carrier apparatus with the workpiece supports together between the first lifting position and the further lifting position.

A reclamping device for reclamping a workpiece between two vices has a handling device for positioning and actuating the two vices and a reclamping station which contains a carrier for holding a first vice in an accurate position. The reclamping station contains a pressure device with a pressure plunger movable relative to the carrier by an actuator for pressing the workpiece against the first vice positioned on the carrier.

A dampening system combined between a mounting bracket and a block oriented along an x-axis. An electrical connector of a pair of electrical connectors combined to the block for relative movement about a y-axis and a z-axis to combine with the other electrical connector on the magnetic chuck of a pallet changing system.

In a cell with linked horizontal processing machining centers, each with two swivel arms for manipulating and changing pallets, which can be conveyed to and from a support in a conveying direction, each horizontal machining center is assigned at least one multi-storey pallet rack which is offset in the conveying direction relative to the front side and in which a pallet through-path is provided, and at least one rack storage and retrieval device with a lifting function transverse to the conveying direction is moveable at least between the pallet racks.

Provided is an automated pallet changer in machine tool which enable miniaturization and cost reduction. A drive unit in the automatic pallet changer includes a planetary reduction gear. The planetary reduction gear has a first output shaft and a second output shaft in which, by fixing one of the first and second output shaft, the other functions as an output shaft for driving. The first output shaft is used to pivot the pivoting frame, and the second output shaft is used to move the carry-in/out arm back and forth.

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.