Machine tool having a chip collecting apparatus

A chip collecting apparatus, comprising:

• a frame;
• a fixed guide plate for receiving chips thereon provided on said frame, said fixed guide plate extending obliquely downward, and a chip falling space being defined below said fixed guide plate;
• a washing means disposed at an upper portion of said fixed guide plate for supplying washing liquid to the surface of said fixed guide plate for washing chips on said fixed guide plate into said chip falling space;
• two selectively drivable chip conveyors disposed parallel to each other at a lower portion of said chip falling space;
• a change-over plate having a pivot connected at a midpoint thereof pivotably disposed in said chip falling space for pivoting movement in opposite directions between a first position directing chips onto one said chip conveyor and a second position directing chips onto the other said chip conveyor;
• and
• a means for pivotably driving said change-over plate between said first and second position, said means for pivotably driving said change-over plate comprising a piston and cylinder connected to said change-over plate.