Machine tool with slide cover apparatus

A machine tool comprising:

• a gantry-shaped base having a pair of parallel column portions;
• a first slider guided along a pair of first guide portions which are formed on a top of said column portions;
• a second slider guided along a pair of second guide portions which are formed on a top of said first slider to extend in a direction perpendicular to said first guide portions;
• a pair of third guide portions which are formed at a front surface of said second slider to extend in a vertical direction perpendicular to both of said first and second guide portions;
• a spindle head guided along said third guide portions in said vertical direction and rotatably carrying a tool spindle;
• a workpiece support base located at a front side of said gantry-shaped base;
• a jig device mounted on said workpiece support base;
• right and left side covers located parallel to said first guide portions so as to surround right and left sides of said jig device;
• front and rear side covers located parallel to said second guide portions so as to surround front and rear sides of said jig device;
• a top cover assembly for covering a top portion of a machining area defined by said right, left, front and rear side covers;
• and
• a hole formed on said top cover assembly for permitting a nose portion of said spindle head to enter said machining area, said hole following movements of said spindle head in a horizontal plane;
• wherein:
• a first shutter is provided for closing a window which is formed at one of said right and left side covers for loading said workpiece into said machining area therethrough;
• and
• a second shutter is provided for closing a window which is formed at the other of said right and left side covers for unloading the workpiece from said machining area therethrough.