Machine Tool for Processing a Workpiece and Method for Operating such a Machine Tool

A machine tool for processing a workpiece, the machine tool comprising:

• a processing station which has a tool receiving member in which a processing tool for processing the workpiece can be introduced and replaced,
• a tool store which has at least one storage space for a processing tool,
• a tool handling device which can be moved by a controlled drive into a tool-transfer position,
• a movement unit which can move the workpiece and the tool store and which can be moved by a controlled drive into any of a setup position, a processing position, and a tool changing position,
• a control device for the drive of the tool handling device which can define the tool-transfer position of the tool handling device, and
• a control device for the drive of the movement unit which can define the setup position, the processing position, and the tool changing position of the movement unit,
• wherein when the movement unit is in the setup position and the tool handling device is in the tool-transfer position, a processing tool can be supplied to or removed from the storage space of the tool store by the tool handling device,
• when the movement unit is in the processing position, the workpiece can be processed by a processing tool introduced into the tool receiving member of the processing station, and
• when the movement unit is in the tool changing position, a processing tool can be transferred from the storage space of the tool store to the tool receiving member of the processing station or a processing tool can be transferred from the tool receiving member of the processing station to the storage space of the tool store,
• and wherein the control device of the drive of the movement unit is configured to define the setup position of the movement unit, and the control device of the drive of the tool handling device is configured to define the tool-transfer position of the tool handling device in a variable manner by the control device of the drive of the movement unit defining the setup position of the movement unit in accordance with the processing position or in accordance with the tool changing position of the movement unit before the setup position of the movement unit and/or in accordance with the processing position or in accordance with the tool changing position of the movement unit after the setup position of the movement unit, and by the control device of the drive of the tool handling device defining the tool-transfer position of the tool handling device in accordance with the setup position of the movement unit defined by the control device of the drive of the movement unit.

A method for operating a machine tool for processing a workpiece wherein the machine tool comprises a processing station including a tool receiving member in which a processing tool for processing the workpiece can be introduced and replaced, a tool store including at least one storage space for a processing tool, a tool handling device including a drive which is controlled by a first control device, and a movement unit which is movingly connected to the workpiece and to the tool store and which includes a drive which is controlled by a second control device, wherein the method comprises:

• setting up the tool store by moving the movement unit into a setup position which is defined by the second control device and moving the tool handling device into a tool-transfer position defined by the first control device, wherein, with the movement unit in the setup position and with the tool handling device in the tool-transfer position, a processing tool can be supplied to the storage space of the tool store and/or can be removed from the storage space of the tool store by the tool handling device, and
• moving the movement unit and thereby the workpiece into a processing position defined by the second control device, in which the workpiece can be processed by the processing tool introduced into the tool receiving member of the processing station, and/or
• moving the movement unit and the tool store into a tool changing position defined by the second control device, in which at the processing station a processing tool can be transferred from the storage space of the tool store to the tool receiving member of the processing station or a processing tool can be transferred from the tool receiving member of the processing station to the storage space of the tool store,
• wherein the second control device defines the setup position of the movement unit in a variable manner, and the first control device defines the tool-transfer position of the tool handling device in a variable manner, by the second control device defining the setup position of the movement unit in accordance with the processing position or in accordance with the tool changing position of the movement unit before the setup position of the movement unit and/or in accordance with the processing position or in accordance with the tool changing position of the movement unit after the setup position of the movement unit, and by the tool-transfer position of the tool handling device being de-fined by the first control device in accordance with the setup position of the movement unit defined by the second control device.

A machine tool for processing a workpiece, the machine tool comprising,

• a processing station which has a tool receiving member for holding a processing tool for processing the workpiece,
• a tool store which has at least one storage space for the processing tool,
• a tool handling device which can be moved by a first controlled drive into a tool-transfer position,
• a movement unit which can move the workpiece and the tool store and which can be moved by a second controlled drive into any of a setup position, a processing position, and a tool-changing position,
• a first control device for the drive of the tool handling device which can define the tool-transfer position, and
• a second control device for the drive of the movement unit which can define the setup position, the processing position, and the tool-changing position of the movement unit,
• wherein when the movement unit is in the setup position and the tool handling device is in the tool-transfer position, a processing tool can be supplied to or removed from the storage space of the tool store by the tool handling device,
• when the movement unit is in the processing position, the workpiece can be processed by the processing tool introduced into the tool receiving member of the processing station,
• when the movement unit is in the tool-changing position, a processing tool can be transferred between the storage space of the tool store and the tool receiving member of the processing station,
• and wherein the second control device defines the setup position of the movement unit in accordance with the processing position or in accordance with the tool-changing position of the movement unit before the setup position of the movement unit and/or in accordance with the processing position or in accordance with the tool-changing position of the movement unit after the setup position of the movement unit, and the first control device defines the tool-transfer position in accordance with the setup position of the movement unit defined by the second control device.