Machine Tool Facility Equipped with a Pallet Exchanger

Abstract

A pallet P is moved in a vertically held state from a pallet-mounting surface vertically formed on a table 115 of a machine tool 101 onto a pallet-mounting surface of a pallet support member 17 that is vertically formed on a pallet exchanger 11 . After a turning plate 15 is turned and indexed by 180° about the vertical axis, a pallet F′ is moved from the pallet support member 17 onto the table 115.

1 . A machine tool, comprising:
 a spindle, supported so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis, for mounting a tool at the forward end thereof;   a table facing the front of said spindle and defining a vertical surface perpendicular to the axis of said spindle for fixing a workpiece, said table being horizontally movable in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said spindle; and   a pallet changer, disposed at one side of said table, for changing a pallet;   said pallet changer comprising, a pallet support member disposed at one side of said table, said pallet support member defining two vertical pallet mounting surfaces on each of which a distinct pallet is removably mounted, said pallet support member being adapted to be rotatably indexed about a vertical axis to position one of said two vertical pallet mounting surfaces into a vertical plane substantially the same as the vertical surface of said table; and   a pallet moving means for moving and transferring said pallet in a vertical position between said table and said pallet support member.