Tool magazine and method for changing tools

3:

• The tool magazine according to claim 2, wherein the transfer device (18) exhibits as a third end position an intermediate position which is located between the spindle position and the tool change position and in which the magazine wheels (10, 11, 12) rotate free of interaction with the transfer device (18).

4:

• The tool magazine according to claim 2, wherein the magazine wheels (10, 11, 12) exhibit a transfer position for the tool holders in which the tool holder (14) located in the transfer position is arranged immediately adjacent to the tool change position of the transfer device (18) such that a tool (15) arranged on this tool holder (14) can be set down in the tool change position on the transfer device (18) or a tool arranged on the transfer device can be set down on this tool holder, if this is free, and that the magazine wheels (10, 11, 12) are displaceable along the guide rail (5) and together with the magazine shaft (9) are rotatable around the shaft axis of rotation (13) such that each of the tool holders (14) of the magazine wheels (10, 11, 12) can be moved into the transfer position.

5:

• The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein the tool magazine exhibits a number n of magazine wheels (10, 11, 12) and a number “m” of tool holders (14) at all “n” magazine wheels, and wherein the tool magazine (1) receives a total number of tools (15, 25) of m−n+1.

6:

• The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein on each of the magazine wheels (10, 11, 12) a tool holder (14) is always free of a tool when a tool is arranged on the transfer device or on the tool spindle.

7:

• The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein the tool magazine is equipped with a linear drive which moves the magazine carriage (7) along the guide rail (5).

8:

• The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein the magazine wheels (10, 11, 12) are arranged parallel to one another on the magazine shaft (9).

9:

• The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein the tool magazine is equipped with at least three magazine wheels (10, 11, 12) and wherein a distance between each two adjacent magazine wheels (10, 11, 12) is the same.

10:

• The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein the magazine shaft (9) is received in at least one pivot bearing (24) and is supported on the magazine carriage (7).

11:

• The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein the tool holders (14) of the magazine wheels (10, 11, 12) receive the tools (15) together with a tool module (17), whereby in each tool module (17) is arranged a tool (15) together with a coolant distributor (16).

12:

• The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein the magazine shaft (9) is oriented essentially parallel to the guide rail (5).

13:

• The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein each tool holder (14) picks up exactly one tool (15) such that the tool (15) is oriented with its tool axis parallel to the magazine shaft (9).

14:

• The tool magazine according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device (18) is arranged on the machine base (6) so as to be linearly displaceable along the transfer axis (19) essentially perpendicular to the guide rail (5).

15:

• The tool magazine according to that claim 1, wherein the magazine shaft (9) is oriented essentially parallel to the tool spindle.

17:

• The method according to claim 16, wherein between the setting down of the first tool (25) and the picking up of the second tool (15) the transfer device (18) is moved along the transfer axis (19) away from the magazine shaft into an intermediate position, then the magazine shaft (9) is rotated until the second tool (15) is located in the transfer position and the transfer device (18) is subsequently moved back into the tool change position in order to pick up the second tool (15) from the tool holder.

18:

• The method according to claim 16, wherein the setting down of the first tool (25) from the tool spindle (3) onto the transfer device (18) and the movement of the transfer device (18) away from the tool spindle (3) in the direction of the magazine shaft (9) take place simultaneously with the movement of the magazine wheel (10) containing the second tool (15) and the arrangement of the free tool holder (14) of this magazine wheel (10) in the transfer position.

19:

• The method according to claim 16, wherein after the second tool (15) has been set down on the tool spindle (3) the transfer device (18) is moved along the transfer axis (19) and is arranged in an idle position which is removed from the tool spindle (3).