Tool magazines of mechanical arrangements and methods for administering tools

Abstract

A tool magazine for tools of a machine tool for processing workpieces includes a first magazine unit that is close to a processing station of the machine tool and a second magazine unit that is remote from the processing station of the machine tool. The second magazine unit includes a permanent tool carrier and a temporary tool carrier. The permanent tool carrier is permanently accessible to a tool handling device. The temporary tool carrier is temporarily accessible to the tool handling device.

Claims

1. A tool magazine for tools of a machine tool for processing workpieces, the tool magazine comprising: a first magazine unit that comprises storage locations for tools that are transferred from the first magazine unit to a processing station of the machine tool and/or that are transferred from the processing station of the machine tool to the first magazine unit; a second magazine unit; and a tool handler; wherein the first magazine unit is arranged closer than the second magazine unit is to the processing station of the machine tool; wherein the second magazine unit comprises a permanent tool carrier being permanently accessible for the tool handler for removing the tools from and/or for transferring the tools to the permanent tool carrier, and the second magazine unit further comprises a rotating magazine, the rotating magazine including a carrier structure, a conveying means and a plurality of temporary tool carriers connected to the conveying means and guided on the carrier structure, each of the permanent tool carrier and each temporary tool carrier of the plurality of temporary tool carriers comprising plural storage locations, each storage location for storing a respective one of the tools that are transferred from the second magazine unit to the first magazine unit for subsequent transfer to the processing station of the machine tool and/or the tools that are transferred from the first magazine unit to the second magazine unit after being removed from the processing station; wherein the conveying means of the rotating magazine is driven in a movement direction and the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the rotating magazine thereby moved into an operating position and a non-operating position, a temporary tool carrier of the plurality of temporary tool carriers in the operating position being, in addition to the permanent tool carrier of the second magazine unit, accessible for the tool handler for removing the tools from and/or for transferring the tools to the temporary tool carrier in the operating position and the temporary tool carrier of the plurality of temporary tool carriers in the non-operating position not being accessible for the tool handler for removing the tools from and/or for transferring the tools to the temporary tool carrier in the non-operating position; and wherein the tool handler is configured as a tool transfer device by which the tools that are provided for subsequent transfer to the processing station of the machine tool can be transferred from the permanent tool carrier of the second magazine unit to the first magazine unit or from the temporary tool carrier of the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the second magazine unit in the operating position to the first magazine unit and/or by which the tools removed from the processing station can be transferred from the first magazine unit to the permanent tool carrier of the second magazine unit or from the first magazine unit to the temporary tool carrier of the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the second magazine unit in the operating position; wherein the rotating magazine of the second magazine unit is designed as a paternoster comprising the carrier structure of the rotating magazine and a continuously rotating conveying means as the conveying means of the rotating magazine; wherein the plurality of temporary tool carriers are connected to the continuously rotating conveying means with the continuously rotating conveying means on the paternoster being driven and the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the rotating magazine thereby moved on the paternoster in a vertical movement direction from the non-operating position into the operating position and/or from the operating position into the non-operating position; wherein two continuously rotating conveyor chains or two continuously rotating conveyor belts are provided as the continuously rotating conveying means and guided on the carrier structure with the continuously rotating conveyor chains or the continuously rotating conveyor belts being redirected twice through a 180° turn and linearly guided between the 180° turns; and wherein the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the rotating magazine in the operating position are arranged on the paternoster where the two continuously rotating conveyor chains or the two continuously rotating conveyor belts are linearly guided on the carrier structure.

2. The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the paternoster in the operating position are arranged in a position that is defined with respect to the permanent tool carrier of the second magazine unit and/or with respect to the tool handler.

3. The tool magazine according to claim 2, wherein there is provided an activatable and deactivatable positioner, by which the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the paternoster in the operating position are arranged in the position that is defined with respect to the permanent tool carrier of the second magazine unit and/or with respect to the tool handler.

4. The tool magazine according to claim 3, wherein the activatable and deactivatable positioner comprises a switchable magnet connection between the permanent tool carrier of the second magazine unit and the temporary tool carrier of the plurality of temporary tool carriers in the operating position, and/or wherein the activatable and deactivatable positioner comprises respective guide members on the permanent tool carrier of the second magazine unit and on each of the plurality of temporary tool carriers, and when the temporary tool carrier of the plurality of temporary tool carriers moves into the operating position, the respective guide members on the permanent tool carrier and the respective guide members of the temporary tool carrier of the plurality of temporary tool carriers moved into the operating position form a specific guide which becomes effective.

5. The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of temporary tool carriers are guided on the carrier structure of the paternoster by the continuously rotating conveying means that is guided on the carrier structure of the paternoster in the vertical movement direction.

6. The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the paternoster are in the form of gondolas that are suspended on the conveying means.

7. The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein the plural storage locations for the tools provided on each of the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the paternoster are distributed in a uniform manner over each of the plurality of temporary tool carriers.

8. A mechanical arrangement for processing workpieces, the mechanical arrangement comprising: a machine tool that has a processing station to and from which tools can be transferred for a workpiece processing operation and the mechanical arrangement further comprising a tool magazine, the tool magazine comprising: a first magazine unit that comprises storage locations for tools that are transferred from the first magazine unit to the processing station of the machine tool and/or for tools that are transferred from the processing station of the machine tool to the first magazine unit; a second magazine unit; and a tool handler; wherein the first magazine unit is arranged closer than the second magazine unit is to the processing station of the machine tool; wherein the second magazine unit comprises a permanent tool carrier being permanently accessible for the tool handler for removing the tools from and/or for transferring the tools to the permanent tool carrier, and the second magazine unit further comprises a rotating magazine, the rotating magazine including a carrier structure, a conveying means, and a plurality of temporary tool carriers connected to the conveying means and guided on the carrier structure, each of the permanent tool carrier and each temporary tool carrier of the plurality of temporary tool carriers comprising plural storage locations, each storage location for storing a respective one of the tools that are transferred from the second magazine unit to the first magazine unit for subsequent transfer to the processing station of the machine tool and/or the tools that are transferred from the first magazine unit to the second magazine unit after being removed from the processing station; wherein the conveying means of the rotating magazine is driven and the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the rotating magazine are thereby moved in a movement direction into an operating position and a non-operating position, a temporary tool carrier of the plurality of temporary tool carriers in the operating position being, in addition to the permanent tool carrier of the second magazine unit, accessible for the tool handler for removing the tools from and/or for transferring the tools to the temporary tool carrier in the operating position and the temporary tool carrier of the plurality of temporary tool carriers in the non-operating position not being accessible for the tool handler for removing the tools from and/or for transferring the tools to the temporary tool carrier in the non-operating position; wherein the tool handler is configured as a tool transfer device by which the tools that are provided for subsequent transfer to the processing station of the machine tool can be transferred from the permanent tool carrier of the second magazine unit to the first magazine unit or from the temporary tool carrier of the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the second magazine unit in the operating position to the first magazine unit and/or by which the tools removed from the processing station can be transferred from the first magazine unit to the permanent tool carrier of the second magazine unit or from the first magazine unit to the temporary tool carrier of the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the second magazine unit in the operating position; wherein the rotating magazine of the second magazine unit is designed as a paternoster comprising the carrier structure of the rotating magazine and a continuously rotating conveying means as the conveying means of the rotating magazine; wherein the plurality of temporary tool carriers are connected to the continuously rotating conveying means with the continuously rotating conveying means on the paternoster being driven and the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the rotating magazine thereby moved on the paternoster in a vertical movement direction from the non-operating position into the operating position and/or from the operating position into the non-operating position; wherein two continuously rotating conveyor chains or two continuously rotating conveyor belts are provided as the continuously rotating conveying means and guided on the carrier structure with the continuously rotating conveyor chains or the continuously rotating conveyor belts being redirected twice through a 180° turn and linearly guided between the 180° turns; and wherein the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the rotating magazine in the operating position are arranged on the paternoster where the two continuously rotating conveyor chains or the two continuously rotating conveyor belts are linearly guided on the carrier structure.

9. The mechanical arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the processing station is provided on a machine frame of the machine tool which has an upper frame leg, a lower frame leg and an intermediate leg space which is formed between the upper frame leg and the lower frame leg, wherein the first magazine unit is arranged at least partially in the intermediate leg space of the machine frame, wherein the second magazine unit is spaced from the first magazine unit outside the intermediate leg space of the machine frame; and wherein the second magazine unit has as the permanent tool carrier a magazine platform relative to which the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the second magazine unit can be moved into the operating position and into the non-operating position.

10. The mechanical arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the tool handler, for which the permanent tool carrier of the second magazine unit is permanently accessible and the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the second magazine unit are temporarily accessible, is configured as the tool transfer device by which the tools which are provided for subsequent transfer to the processing station of the machine tool can be transferred from the temporary tool carrier of the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the second magazine unit in the operating position to the permanent tool carrier of the second magazine unit and/or by which the tools removed from the processing station can be transferred from the permanent tool carrier of the second magazine unit to the temporary tool carrier of the plurality of temporary tool carriers of the second magazine unit in the operating position.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a mechanical arrangement for punch processing sheet metal that includes a punching machine and a tool magazine that has a first embodiment of a magazine unit that is remote from the punching station.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a portion of the mechanical arrangement according to FIG. 1, when viewed in the direction of the arrow II in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a mechanical arrangement for punch processing sheet metal that includes a punching machine and a tool magazine that has a second embodiment of a magazine unit that is remote from the punching station.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a side view of a temporary tool carrier of the tool magazine unit according to FIG. 3.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the temporary tool carrier according to FIG. 4.

(6) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a mechanical arrangement for punch processing sheet metal that includes a punching machine and a tool magazine that has a third embodiment of a magazine unit that is remote from the punching station.

(7) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a mechanical arrangement for punch processing sheet metal that includes a punching machine and a tool magazine that has a fourth embodiment of a magazine unit that is remote from the punching station.

(8) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a mechanical arrangement for punch processing sheet metal that includes a punching machine and a tool magazine that has a fifth embodiment of a magazine unit that is remote from the punching station.

(9) FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a mechanical arrangement for punch processing sheet metal that includes a punching machine and a tool magazine that has a sixth embodiment of a magazine unit that is remote from the punching station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) According to FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5 to 8, a mechanical arrangement 1 for punch processing metal sheets 2 includes as a machine tool a punching machine 3. The punching machine 3 has a C-shaped machine frame 4 having an upper frame leg 5, a lower frame leg 6, and an intermediate leg space 7 which is formed between the upper frame leg 5 and the lower frame leg 6. At the free ends of the upper frame leg 5 and the lower frame leg 6, there is located as a processing station of the punching machine 3 a punching station 8 having an upper tool receiving member on the upper frame leg 5 and a lower tool receiving member on the lower frame leg 6.

(11) A coordinate guide 9 for positioning metal sheets 2 is accommodated in the intermediate leg space 7 of the machine frame 4. The coordinate guide 9 includes a transverse guide 10, which is movably guided on the lower frame leg 6 in the longitudinal direction of the machine frame 4 and which can move in the direction of a double-headed arrow 11 in a motor-driven manner.

(12) The transverse guide 10 itself guides a transverse rail 12 which is provided at the side of the transverse guide 10 remote from the observer of FIGS. 1, 3, and 6 to 9, and which can be seen in FIG. 2. The transverse rail 12 is partially arranged in the intermediate leg space 7 of the machine frame 4 and can be moved along the transverse guide 10 in a motor-driven manner in the direction of a double-headed arrow 13. The transverse rail 12 is provided with clamping claws 14 for fixing metal sheets 2 and, furthermore, with storage locations for punching tools 15 which are provided as tools for metal sheet processing.

(13) According to FIGS. 4 and 5, the punching tools 15 which are illustrated schematically in the remaining drawings include as an upper tool a punching stamp 16, as a lower tool a punching die 17, and furthermore a stripper 18. The individual components of each of the punching tools 15 are accommodated in a tool cartridge 19. The tool cartridge 19 is manipulated in order to access a respective punching tool 15.

(14) Only two of the clamping claws 14 of the coordinate guide 9 are indicated in FIG. 2. Using the clamping claws 14, a metal sheet 2 to be processed is fixed to the coordinate guide 9. Owing to the movability of the transverse guide 10 in the direction of the double-headed arrow 11 and the movability of the transverse rail 12 in the direction of the double-headed arrow 13, the metal sheet 2 retained by the clamping claws 14 can be moved by the coordinate guide 9 in a horizontal movement plane defined by the double-headed arrows 11, 13. Such movements of a metal sheet 2 are carried out in order to position the metal sheet 2 with respect to the punching station 8 of the punching machine 3 for processing operations or to move the metal sheet 2 relative to the punching station 8 during a punch processing operation. During its movement, the metal sheet 2 is supported on a stationary workpiece table 20 of the punching machine 3.

(15) With the storage locations for punching tools 15, the transverse rail 12 of the coordinate guide 9 forms a magazine unit of a tool magazine 21 of the mechanical arrangement 1, which magazine unit is arranged close to the punching station 8. In addition to the transverse rail 12), the tool magazine 21 of the mechanical arrangement 1 includes a magazine unit 22 remote from the punching station 8. The magazine unit 22 is spaced from the punching station 8 and located at the rear end of the machine frame 4.

(16) FIGS. 1, 3, and 6 to 9 show the magazine unit 22 remote from the punching station 8 in various embodiments. The various embodiments have in common a permanent tool carrier which is constructed as a magazine platform 23 and which has storage locations for punching tools 15. In the examples illustrated, the magazine platform 23 is securely connected to the machine frame 4 at a longitudinal side thereof. A magazine platform 23 which is structurally separate from the machine frame 4 would also be conceivable as an alternative. A decisive aspect for the permanent character of the magazine platform 23 which is provided as a tool carrier is the condition that the magazine platform 23 is permanently accessible to a tool handling device 24, specifically for a tool gripper 25, and/or for a tool gripper 26 of the tool handling device 24, for removing and/or transferring punching tools 15.

(17) In addition to the magazine platform 23 which is permanently accessible to the tool handling device 24, each of the illustrated magazine units 22 remote from the punching station 8 includes a temporary tool carrier 27. The temporary tool carrier 27 also has storage locations for punching tools 15. In contrast to the magazine platform 23, the temporary tool carrier 27 is not permanently, but instead temporarily accessible to the tool handling device 24 in order to remove and/or transfer punching tools 15.

(18) In the case of an embodiment 22-1 of the magazine unit 22 remote from the punching station 8 (as illustrated in FIG. 1), the temporary accessibility of the temporary tool carrier 27 to the tool handling device 24 is achieved in that the temporary tool carrier 27 is provided on a mobile tool carriage 28. Running rollers (not shown) which are provided on the tool carriage 28 are arranged in a concealed manner.

(19) If necessary, the tool carriage 28 is moved with the temporary tool carrier 27 into the position which can be seen in FIG. 1 and in which the temporary tool carrier 27 assumes the operating position thereof and the magazine platform 23 is directly adjacent. If the temporary tool carrier 27 assumes the operating position thereof, the tool handling device 24 can access the storage locations of the temporary tool carrier 27 or punching tools 15 which are arranged thereon. The tool carriage 28 is moved in a position remote from the magazine platform 23 in particular in order to retrofit or refit the temporary tool carrier 27 which is then located in the non-operating position.

(20) In the case of the embodiments 22-2 (FIG. 3), 22-3 (FIG. 6), 22-4 (FIG. 7), 22-5 (FIG. 8), and 22-6 (FIG. 9) of the magazine unit 22 remote from the punching station 8, multiple temporary tool carriers 27 are provided. The temporary tool carriers 27 are in each of these instances a component of a rotating magazine 29 which is constructed in the manner of a paternoster. The various embodiments of the rotating magazine 29 differ in particular owing to their capacity for storing punching tools 15. Differences in the storage capacity of the tool carrier 27 according to FIG. 1 or the rotating magazine 29 according to FIGS. 3 and 6 to 9 result in different storage capacities for the various embodiments 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, 22-4, 22-5, and 22-6 of the magazine unit 22 remote from the punching station 8.

(21) Each of the paternoster-like rotating magazines 29 has a carrier structure 30 on which two continuously rotating conveyor chains 31, 32 are guided as conveying system. Depending on the embodiment of the rotating magazine 29, the conveyor chains 31, 32 are directed with varying frequencies. In the case of the embodiment 22-2 of the magazine unit 22 remote from the punching station 8 as illustrated in FIG. 3, there may also be provided in place of the conveyor chains 31, 32 carrier plates. The carrier plates are rotatably supported on the carrier structure 30 about horizontal rotation axes and provide structures to which the temporary tool carriers 27 are journalled with respect to the rotation axes of the carrier plates in an eccentric manner so as to be able to be pivoted about horizontal pivot axes.

(22) The temporary tool carriers 27 which are constructed as gondolas are supported on the conveyor chains 31, 32 in a suspended manner and so as to be able to be pivoted in a limited manner about a horizontal axis. The punching tools 15 are distributed over the gondolas in a uniform manner in order to prevent occurrences of imbalance during the circulation of the gondolas.

(23) Via a drive motor which is not illustrated in detail, the conveyor chains 31, 32 are driven in the rotation direction thereof. A temporary tool carrier 27 is thereby positioned in each case in an operating position in which it is directly adjacent to the magazine platform 23 which acts as a permanent tool carrier. The remaining temporary tool carriers 27 of the rotating magazine 29 at the same time assume a non-operating position in which they are not accessible to the tool handling device 24.

(24) In the operating position, the respective temporary tool carrier 27 is arranged in a defined manner with respect to the magazine platform 23 and also with respect to the tool handling device 24. This applies accordingly to the storage locations of the temporary tool carrier 27 which has been moved into the operating position and the punching tools 15 which are arranged at the storage locations. As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the punching tools 15 are adapted to the storage locations of the temporary tool carrier 27 in a substantially play-free manner.

(25) A defined mutual spatial association of the temporary tool carrier 27 which has been moved into the operation position, on the one hand, and the magazine platform 23, on the other hand, is achieved in the examples illustrated by a positioning device 33 which is provided for this purpose.

(26) In the example according to FIGS. 4 and 5, the positioning device 33 includes positioning receiving members 34 on the temporary tool carriers 27 and, furthermore, positioning projections (which are not illustrated) on the magazine platform 23. If the temporary tool carrier 27 moves into the operating position, an electromagnet of the positioning device 33 further provided on the magazine platform 23 is activated. Via the electromagnet, the temporary tool carrier 27 which can be pivotably moved in a limited manner is attracted to the magazine platform 23. The positioning receiving members 34 on the temporary tool carrier 27 and the positioning projections on the magazine platform 23 which are associated with the positioning receiving members 34 produce a positive-locking connection between the temporary tool carrier 27 and the magazine platform 23 and in this manner ensure positioning of the temporary tool carrier 27 with the desired arrangement with respect to the magazine platform 23. Consequently, the temporary tool carrier 27 and the storage locations thereof or the punching tools 15 which are stored on the temporary tool carrier 27 are positioned in a defined manner with respect to the entire machine frame 4 and in particular also with respect to the tool handling device 24 provided on the machine frame 4. Also in the coordinate system of a numerical control unit, which controls all the significant functions of the mechanical arrangement 1, the storage locations or punching tools 15 consequently assume a defined position on the temporary tool carrier 27.

(27) The tool handling device 24 includes in addition to the tool grippers 25, 26 a transfer carriage 35 which can move via a motor drive (not illustrated) on guide rails 36, 37 which are secured to the machine frame 4 along the upper frame member 5 of the machine frame 4 (FIG. 1). The tool grippers 25, 26 can be moved on the transfer carriage 35 in the transverse direction of the upper frame leg 5. Furthermore, the tool grippers 25, 26 can be raised and lowered with respect to the transfer carriage 35 in a vertical direction.

(28) In order to process a metal sheet 2, on the upper tool receiving member and on the lower tool receiving member of the punching station 8, the punching tools 15 are introduced and removed using the coordinate guide 9. The movability of the transverse guide 10 in the direction of the double-headed arrow 11 and the movability of the transverse rail 12 in the direction of the double-headed arrow 13 are also used for this purpose. For the tool changing operation, the coordinate guide 9 first approaches the punching station 8 with an empty storage location of the transverse rail 12. The punching tool 15 which is introduced at the punching station 8 is subsequently transferred from the upper tool receiving member and the lower tool receiving member of the punching station 8 to the previously empty storage location of the transverse rail 12. Afterwards, the punching tool 15 which is required for the next processing step and which is stored on the transverse rail 12 is introduced into the upper tool receiving member and into the lower tool receiving member of the punching station 8 via appropriate movement of the coordinate guide 9.

(29) The metal sheet 2 to be processed is secured to the coordinate guide 9 also during the tool change at the punching station 8 and is moved over the workpiece table 20. The punching tools 15 stored at the storage locations of the transverse rail 12 originate from the magazine unit 22 remote from the station. A punching tool set required for the processing task to be carried out is assembled on the transverse rail 12 by the tool handling device 24.

(30) To this end, the transverse guide 10 moves together with the transverse rail 12 into the end position thereof which is located towards the rear end of the machine frame 4. The punching tools 15 required for the imminent metal sheet processing operation are received one after the other on the magazine unit 22 remote from the punching station 8 by the tool handling device 24 and transferred to the transverse rail 12. With each individual tool transfer, the tool handling device 24 moves along the guide rails 36, 37 which are secured to the machine frame 4 first into a tool receiving position above the magazine unit 22 remote from the punching station 8. The tool gripper 25, 26 of the tool handling device 24 used for the tool transfer is subsequently lowered in a vertical direction to such an extent that it can grip the punching tool 15 to be transferred. If necessary, the tool gripper 25, 26 also carries out beforehand a movement in the transverse direction of the upper frame member 5. It is also possible to use both tool grippers 25, 26 at the same time for the transfer of two punching tools 15.

(31) When a single punching tool 15 is transferred, the tool gripper 25, 26 is raised together with the punching tool 15 which is retained thereon and, by moving the tool handling device 24 along the guide rails 36, 37, is moved into a tool transfer position above the storage location provided for the punching tool 15 on the transverse rail 12. By lowering the tool gripper 25, 26 again, the punching tool 15 retained thereon is transferred to the associated storage location of the transverse rail 12. Accordingly, the punching tools 15 of the completed processing operation which are no longer required are transferred from the transverse rail 12 to the magazine unit 22 remote from the punching station 8.

(32) During the displacement movement of the tool handling device 24 along the upper frame leg 5, the tool gripper 25, 26 with the punching tool 15 to be transferred is located in the end position thereof close to the frame. In this manner, mass-related forces (e.g., mass-distance-related forces, such as torques) which would occur if the tool gripper 25, 26 were further away from the machine frame 4 during its movement along the machine frame 4 are prevented.

(33) In order to minimize the path length or the duration of the tool transfer between the portion of the magazine unit 22 remote from the punching station 8 and the portion of the magazine unit 22 close to the punching station 8 (that is to say, the transverse rail 12), the tool handling device 24 may travel to the magazine platform 23 of the magazine unit 22 remote from the punching station 8. The magazine platform 23 should therefore, if possible, be provided with those punching tools 15 by which the punching tool set is to be composed for the next metal sheet processing operation or should have a sufficient number of free storage locations in order to be able to receive the punching tools 15 which were used during the previous metal sheet processing operation and which are no longer required. Such a configuration of the magazine platform 23 can be achieved in parallel with primary processing time, that is to say, during a metal sheet processing operation.

(34) The punching tools 15 which are required for the subsequent metal sheet processing operation and which are not yet located on the magazine platform 23 are provided in this instance by the temporary tool carrier 27. To this end, the temporary tool carrier 27 is provided with the relevant punching tools 15 in a non-operating position located remote from the operating position and subsequently moved into the operating position close to the magazine platform 23. Whilst a metal sheet 2 is still being processed on the punching station 8, the tool handling device 24 can remove the punching tools 15 which are required for the next metal sheet processing operation and which are not yet available at the magazine platform 23 from the temporary tool carrier 27 which is arranged in the operating position and transfer them to the magazine platform 23.

(35) If storage locations on the magazine platform 23 are intended to be emptied for subsequently receiving punching tools 15 which are used in the current metal sheet processing operation and which are intended to be transferred from the transverse rail 12 to the magazine unit 22 remote from the punching station 8 after the current metal sheet processing operation has been completed, punching tools 15 which are not required for the subsequent metal sheet processing operation are transferred by the tool handling device 24 from the magazine platform 23 to the temporary tool carrier 27 which is located in the operating position and on which the storage locations required to receive the relevant punching tools 15 have previously been emptied.

(36) In the manner described, it is ensured that, when a metal sheet processing operation is complete, the punching tools 15 required for the subsequent metal sheet processing operation are already available on the magazine platform 23 and the punching tool set stored on the transverse rail 12 for the completed metal sheet processing operation can be exchanged immediately for the punching tool set required for the subsequent metal sheet processing operation.

(37) In a variation of the procedure described, it is also possible for the tool handling device 24, during the tool transfer between the transverse rail 12 and the magazine unit 22 remote from the punching station 8, to directly access the temporary tool carrier 27 of the magazine unit 22 remote from the punching station 8, which tool carrier 27 has been moved into the operating position. Punching tools 15 can be received via the tool handling device 24 on the temporary tool carrier 27 and transferred directly to the transverse rail 12. It is also conceivable for punching tools 15 which are no longer required on the transverse rail 12 to be received by the tool handling device 24 and to be transferred directly onto the temporary tool carrier 27 which is located in the operating position without being deposited temporarily on the magazine platform 23.

(38) Punching tools 15 which are intended to be discharged from the tool stock of the tool magazine 21 of the punching machine 3, for example, owing to wear, can, after they have been transferred from the transverse rail 12 to the magazine platform 23, be transferred from the magazine platform 23 to a temporary tool carrier 27 during the primary processing time. In this instance, it is possible to provide one or more temporary tool carriers 27 specifically to collect punching tools 15 which are intended to be discharged. After the punching tools 15 to be discharged have been transferred to the relevant temporary tool carrier 27, the temporary tool carrier 27 can be moved from the operating position into the non-operating position, in which it is accessible for an operator in order to remove the punching tools 15 which are intended to be discharged.