Abstract: A manipulator for material removing tools and their adapters, particularly in machine tools and matching centers, has a horizontal rail for a reciprocable carrier which supports an elongated vertical holder which is movable up and down and the lower end of which carries one end of a horizontal link. The link is turnable relative to the holder about a vertical axis and its other end supports an arm which is turnable about a vertical axis and supports two tongs. The tongs are angularly offset relative to each other by 180.degree. about the horizontal axis and at least one jaw of each tongs is movable relative to the other arm in the direction of the horizontal axis. The movements of the carrier, holder, link, arm and movable jaws are regulated by numerical controls.

Abstract: A machining center with two or more cooperating machines has a magazine for tools and a magazine for adapters in each machine. The tools and adapters are shuttled between the respective magazines and the material removing stations of the respective machines by discrete automated manipulators. In addition, the machining center has a transporting system which delivers workpieces from a further station to and thereupon from the material removing stations of the machines and which also serves to shuttle sections of magazines for tools and adapters between the respective magazines and an additional station where the sections are relieved of some or all of their contents preparatory to receiving other types of tools and/or adapters. The machining center can be utilized with advantage for the treatment of five sides of large or medium-large workpieces, such as frames of machine tools.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for changing tools of a numerically controlled machining center having a tool chain magazine which has a straight chain strand. Previously the tools were only changed individually. In order to acclerate the tool change, a cassette (6) having a plurality of tool receptacles (7) is proposed which can assume a normal position and a further position, in which arrangement, in the further position, one tool or a plurality of tools can be transferred directly from the cassette (6) to the strand (1) or vice versa and, in the normal position, the cassette (6) can be loaded and unloaded with regard to the tools or can be exchanged for another.