Method and device for reducing the energy demand of a machine tool and machine tool system

A method of reducing an energy demand of a machine tool (2, 3, 4) of a machine tool system (1) having at least a first machine tool (3), with a first machine cycle time, and a second machine tool (4), with a second cycle time, the method comprising:

• processing (101, 107) identical workpieces (9) sequentially in time first with the first machine tool (3) and then with the second machine tool (4), with the second machine cycle time being shorter than the first machine cycle time, and
• collecting (105, 106) the workpieces (9) after processing by the first machine tool (3) and before being transported (107) to the second machine tool (4).

A device (10) for reducing an energy demand of a machine tool (2, 3, 4) of a machine tool system (1) having at least a first machine tool (3), with a first machine cycle time, and a second machine tool (4), with a second machine cycle time, the machine tool system (1) having a conveyor (8) designed to transport identical workpieces (9) sequentially in time for processing, first to the first machine tool (3) and then to the second machine tool (4), and the second machine cycle time being shorter than the first machine cycle time, the device comprising:

• a counter (11) for counting a specified number of workpieces (9) processed by the first machine tool (3);
• and
• a collector (12) for collecting the specified number of workpieces (9) processed by the first machine tool (3) before the workpieces are conveyed to the second machine tool (4).