Flexible manufacturing apparatus having several parallel, spaced-apart processing machines

A flexible manufacturing apparatus having several parallel, spaced-apart yet side-by-side processing machines, several shelf-like magazines disposed at the rear of said processing machines and extending transverse thereto, and transport means for conveying tools from said magazines to said processing machines or to magazines thereof;

• said apparatus further comprises:
• two magazine rows, each of which is comprised of lower and upper magazine sections having superimposed bottoms, including a lower shelf bottom and an upper shelf bottom, for holding tools;
• an upper transport rail;
• a lower transport rail;
• transport means in the form of a first upper transport mechanism, which, above the height of a person, is disposed on said upper transport rail, and a second lower transport mechanism, which, below said upper transport mechanism and at approximately half the height thereof, is disposed on said lower transport rail;
• at least one means for conveying tools suspended vertically for horizontal transporting and transferable in a vertical plane from said lower to said upper magazine sections, and vice versa, said tools being adapted to be suspended vertically in said shelf bottoms and in said transport mechanisms;
• and
• streets formed between said magazine rows, and in particular between said shelf bottoms thereof, with said transport mechanisms being movable in said streets;
• said upper transport rail being provided above said upper shelf bottom, and said lower transport rail being provided above said lower shelf bottom;
• and in which said transport mechanisms are provided with gripper means that are pivotable, linearly movable, and are guided on said upper and lower transport rails.