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Blaimschein, Gottfried; |
Machine tool, particularly cutting machine

A machine tool for processing flat stock comprises a work table having a processing surface, which can preferably be subjected to a vacuum, and a tool carriage, which is movable along the processing surface. A feeder is associated with the work table at one end thereof. In order to provide such a machine tool which involves a relatively small structural expenditure and distinguishes by an economical mode of operation, the work table is supplemented toward the feeder by a receiving table having a receiving surface of the work table, and the machine table composed of the work table and the receiving table supports two pallets, which are reciprocable between positions on the work table and the receiving table and in alternation constitute the processing surface of the work table and the receiving surface of the receiving table.


I claim:
1. In a machine tool for processing flat stock, comprising
a work table having a receiving end and a processing surface for supporting flat stock,
a tool carriage mounted to be movable relative to said work table in a predetermined direction and comprising tool means for processing said flat stock supported on said processing surface, and
a feeder for delivering flat stock adjacent to said receiving end of said work table,
the improvement comprising
a receiving table arranged adjacent to said receiving end of said work table and having a receiving surface of substantially the same size as said processing surface,
said work table and said receiving table constituting a machine table,
two pallets mounted on said machine table for supporting said flat stock, each pallet being reciprocable between a first end position, in which said pallet constitutes said receiving surface, and a second end position, in which said pallet constitutes said processing surface,
actuating means for reciprocating each pallet on said machine table in opposition to the other pallet between said first and second end positions, and
said feeder being operable to deposit the flat stock on each pallet when it is in said first end position.
2. The improvement set forth in claim 1 in which said tool means comprises cutting means.
3. The improvement set forth in claim 1 further comprising means for applying a vacuum for holding down said flat stock on said processing surface.
4. The improvement set forth in claim 1, wherein said machine table is provided with upper and lower pallet tracks, which are vertically spaced apart and extend in said predetermined direction along said receiving and work tables,
each of said pallet tracks is adapted to support each of said pallets and to guide each pallet between said first and second end positions, and
first and second lifting means are provided adjacent to said laying table and work table, respectively to said laying table and work table, respectively, and are operable to move each of said pallets from one of said pallet tracks to the other when said pallet is in one of said first and second end positions.
5. The improvement set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said lifting means comprises hydraulic cylinders provided with rollers for engaging and supporting each of said pallets when the pallet is in one of said first and second end positions.
6. The improvement set forth in claim 4, wherein
each of said pallets is provided with laterally protruding rollers supported by said pallet tracks and
said upper pallet track is formed adjacent to said pallets in said first and second end positions with inwardly open recesses, through which said rollers are adapted to move as each of said pallets is moved between said pallet tracks from one of said pallet tracks to the other.
7. The improvement set forth in claim 6, wherein said lower pallet track is also formed with such recesses.
8. The improvement set forth in claim 1, wherein
each of said pallets is provided with first coupling means facing said tool carriage and
said tool carriage is provided with second coupling means adapted to be selectively coupled to said first coupling means of each of said pallets.
9. The improvement set forth in claim 8, wherein
each of said pallets is provided with third coupling means and
a laying carriage is mounted on said machine table to be reciprocable in said predetermined direction to and from said tool carriage and is provided with fourth coupling means adapted to be selectively coupled to said third coupling means of each of said pallets.
10. The improvement set forth in claim 9, wherein each of said pallets has a first side edge facing said tool slide and provided with said first coupling means and has a second side face facing said feeder and provided with sid third coupling means.
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