Machine tool having a machine magazine and a background magazine

Abstract

In a machine tool having at least one tool spindle which is displaceable in relation to a device for holding workpieces in at least one of three spatial directions and in which the tools (W 1 -W 7 ) for processing the workpieces can be chucked, there are provided a machine magazine ( 36 ) in which tools (W 1 -W 7 ) provided for exchange in the tool spindle ( 23 ) are kept in store and a background magazine ( 31 ) in which tools (W 1 -W 7 ) provided for exchange in the machine magazine ( 36 ) are kept in store. In the machine magazine ( 36 ), not more than four storage places ( 42, 43, 44, 45 ) for accommodating tools (W 1 -W 7 ) are provided (FIG. 2 ).

Therefore, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A machine tool comprising at least one tool spindle, a device for holding at least one workpiece, a machine magazine, and a background magazine,
 said at least one tool spindle being displaceable in at least one of three spatial directions in relation to said device for holding said at least one workpiece,   said at least one tool spindle being adapted for exchangeably chucking tools for processing a workpiece, wherein   in said machine magazine tools are provided for exchange into said at least one tool spindle,   in said background magazine tools are provided for exchange into the machine magazine,   for the or each tool spindle three storage places for accommodating tools being provided in the machine magazine,   wherein the machine magazine is configured as a chain magazine having a chain on which the storage places are arranged.   
     
     
         37 . A machine tool comprising at least one tool spindle, a device for holding at least one workpiece, a machine magazine, and a background magazine,
 said at least one tool spindle being displaceable in at least one of three spatial directions in relation to said device for holding said at least one workpiece,   said at least one tool spindle being adapted for exchangeably chucking tools for processing a workpiece, wherein   in said machine magazine tools are provided for exchange into said at least one tool spindle,   in said background magazine tools are provided for exchange into the machine magazine,   for the or each tool spindle four storage places for accommodating tools being provided in the machine magazine,   wherein the machine magazine is configured as a chain magazine having a chain on which the storage places are arranged.   
     
     
         38 . The machine tool of  claim 37 , wherein the machine magazine comprises for the or each tool spindle two pairs of two storage places, which storage places in a pair thereof are each spaced apart from one another at a first distance, wherein two adjacent storage places belonging to different pairs of storage places are spaced apart from one another at a second distance which is larger than the first distance. 
     
     
         39 . The machine tool according to  claim 36 , wherein said machine tool comprises a slide which is displaceable in a first spatial direction and on which a column which is displaceable in a second spatial direction is mounted, and on which column a spindle head which is displaceable in a third spatial direction is mounted, the or each tool spindle being rotatably mounted in said spindle head, the machine magazine being mounted on the slide. 
     
     
         40 . The machine tool according to  claim 37 , wherein said machine tool comprises a slide which is displaceable in a first spatial direction and on which a column which is displaceable in a second spatial direction is mounted, and on which column a spindle head which is displaceable in a third spatial direction is mounted, the or each tool spindle being rotatably mounted in said spindle head, the machine magazine being mounted on the slide. 
     
     
         41 . The machine tool according to  claim 39 , wherein the machine magazine is mounted at said slide in such a manner that it is displaceable between a tool-change position, in which tools are exchanged between the machine magazine and the tool spindle, and a tool-interchange position, in which tools are exchanged between the background magazine and the machine magazine. 
     
     
         42 . The machine tool according to  claim 40 , wherein the machine magazine is mounted at said slide in such a manner that it is displaceable between a tool-change position, in which tools are exchanged between the machine magazine and the tool spindle, and a tool-interchange position, in which tools are exchanged between the background magazine and the machine magazine. 
     
     
         43 . A method for changing tools at a machine tool comprising at least one tool spindle, a device for holding at least one workpiece, a machine magazine, and a background magazine, said at least one tool spindle being displaceable in at least one of three spatial directions in relation to said device for holding said at least one workpiece, said at least one tool spindle being adapted for exchangeably chucking tools for processing a workpiece, wherein in said machine magazine tools are provided for exchange into said at least one tool spindle, in said background magazine tools are provided for exchange into the machine magazine, for the or each tool spindle three storage places for accommodating tools being provided in the machine magazine, the machine magazine being configured as a chain magazine having a chain on which the storage places are arranged,
 in which method   the at least one tool spindle is moved into a tool-change position in which tools are exchanged between the machine magazine and the at least one tool spindle, and   and wherein a tool-interchange position is provided at which tools are exchanged between the background magazine and the machine magazine.   
     
     
         44 . A method for changing tools at a machine tool comprising at least one tool spindle, a device for holding at least one workpiece, a machine magazine, and a background magazine, said at least one tool spindle being displaceable in at least one of three spatial directions in relation to said device for holding said at least one workpiece, said at least one tool spindle being adapted for exchangeably chucking tools for processing a workpiece, wherein in said machine magazine tools are provided for exchange into said at least one tool spindle, in said background magazine tools are provided for exchange into the machine magazine, for the or each tool spindle four storage places for accommodating tools being provided in the machine magazine, the machine magazine being configured as a chain magazine having a chain on which the storage places are arranged,
 in which method   the at least one tool spindle is moved into a tool-change position in which tools are exchanged between the machine magazine and the at least one tool spindle, and   and wherein a tool-interchange position is provided at which tools are exchanged between the background magazine and the machine magazine.   
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein, during the period of time in which the tool spindle carrying a current tool approaches a workpiece from the tool-change position, processes said workpiece with said current tool, and thereafter returns to the tool-change position, a previously used tool which has previously been deposited into the machine magazine by the tool spindle, is removed at the tool-interchange position from the machine magazine and stored into said background magazine. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 43 , wherein, during the period of time in which the tool spindle carrying a current tool approaches a workpiece from the tool-change position, processes said workpiece with said current tool, and thereafter returns to the tool-change position, a previously used tool which has previously been deposited into the machine magazine by the tool spindle, is removed at the tool-interchange position from the machine magazine and stored into said background magazine, and a new tool (W 4 , W 5 ) is deposited from the background magazine into a vacant storage place in the machine magazine. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 43 , wherein, during the period of time in which the tool spindle carrying a current tool approaches a workpiece from the tool-change position, processes said workpiece with said current tool, and thereafter returns to the tool-change position, a new tool is provided by the background magazine at the tool-interchange position. 
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 46 , wherein, during the period of time in which the tool spindle carrying a current tool approaches a workpiece from the tool-change position, processes said workpiece with said current tool, and thereafter returns to the tool-change position, a new tool is provided by the background magazine at the tool-interchange position. 
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 43 , wherein the tool change between the tool spindle and the machine magazine takes place simultaneously with the tool interchange between the machine magazine and the background magazine. 
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein, during the period of time in which the tool spindle carrying a current tool approaches a workpiece from the tool-change position, processes said workpiece with said current tool, and thereafter returns to the tool-change position, a previously used tool which has previously been deposited into the machine magazine by the tool spindle, is removed at the tool-interchange position from the machine magazine and stored into said background magazine. 
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein, during the period of time in which the tool spindle carrying a current tool approaches a workpiece from the tool-change position, processes said workpiece with said current tool, and thereafter returns to the tool-change position, a previously used tool which has previously been deposited into the machine magazine by the tool spindle, is removed at the tool-interchange position from the machine magazine and stored into said background magazine, and a new tool is deposited from the background magazine into a vacant storage place in the machine magazine. 
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein, during the period of time in which the tool spindle carrying a current tool approaches a workpiece from the tool-change position, processes said workpiece with said current tool, and thereafter returns to the tool-change position, a new tool is provided by the background magazine at the tool-interchange position. 
     
     
         53 . The method according to  claim 51 , wherein, during the period of time in which the tool spindle carrying a current tool approaches a workpiece from the tool-change position, processes said workpiece with said current tool, and thereafter returns to the tool-change position, a new tool is provided by the background magazine at the tool-interchange position. 
     
     
         54 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein the tool change between the tool spindle and the machine magazine takes place simultaneously with the tool interchange between the machine magazine and the background magazine. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the used tool is the tool which has been deposited by the tool spindle into said machine magazine last. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the used tool is the tool which has been deposited by the tool spindle into said machine magazine next to last. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the used tool is the tool which has been deposited by the tool spindle into said machine magazine last. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the used tool is the tool which has been deposited by the tool spindle into said machine magazine next to last. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the new tool is the tool which is to be used next by the tool spindle. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the new tool is the tool which is to be used next but one by the tool spindle. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the new tool is the tool which is to be used next by the tool spindle. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the new tool is the tool which is to be used next but one by the tool spindle. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the machine magazine comprises for the or each tool spindle two pairs of two storage places, which storage places in a pair thereof are each spaced apart from one another at a first distance, wherein two adjacent storage places belonging to different pairs of storage places are spaced apart from one another at a second distance which is larger than the first distance, and wherein a tool change is effected by the machine magazine moving across the first distance, and, a tool interchange is effected by the machine magazine moving across the second distance. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the machine magazine comprises for the or each tool spindle two pairs of two storage places, which storage places in a pair thereof are each spaced apart from one another at a first distance, wherein two adjacent storage places belonging to different pairs of storage places are spaced apart from one another at a second distance which is larger than the first distance, and wherein a tool change is effected by the machine magazine moving across the first distance, and, a tool interchange is effected by the machine magazine moving across the second distance.