Method for Changing a Gear Cutting Tool with Double-Sided Bearing in a Gear Cutting Machine and Device Therefor

A tool changer for changing a gear cutting tool with a double-sided bearing between a tool magazine and a machining head by way of a tool changer while maintaining a vertical alignment of the gear cutting tool along a vertical Z-axis, by exchanging the gear cutting tool between the tool changer and one of the tool magazine and the machining head while maintaining the vertical alignment of the gear cutting tool, moving the tool changer and the gear cutting tool between the machining head and the tool magazine or between the tool magazine and the machining head while maintaining the vertical alignment of the gear cutting tool, and exchanging the gear cutting tool between the tool changer and the other of the tool magazine and the machining head while maintaining the vertical alignment of the tool, the tool changer comprising:

• a gripper, and
• a carriage unit with an upper carriage, a middle carriage, and a lower carriage,
• wherein the gripper is arranged at the upper carriage,
• wherein the upper carriage is movable by the middle carriage, and
• wherein the upper carriage and the middle carriage are movable along a guide rail by the lower carriage.

A tool changer for changing a gear cutting tool with a double-sided bearing between a tool magazine and a machining head by way of a tool changer while maintaining a vertical alignment of the gear cutting tool along a vertical Z-axis, by exchanging the gear cutting tool between the tool changer and one of the tool magazine and the machining head while maintaining the vertical alignment of the gear cutting tool, moving the tool changer and the gear cutting tool between the machining head and the tool magazine or between the tool magazine and the machining head while maintaining the vertical alignment of the gear cutting tool, and exchanging the gear cutting tool between the tool changer and the other of the tool magazine and the machining head while maintaining the vertical alignment of the tool, the tool changer comprising:

• a gripper, and
• a carriage unit with an upper carriage and a lower carriage,
• wherein the gripper is arranged at the upper carriage,
• wherein the upper carriage is movable by the lower carriage, and
• wherein the upper carriage and the lower carriage are movable along a guide rail.