Abstract: An unmanned transfer system for transferring necessary materials such as works or tools between the racks of an automatic warehouse and machining tools. The unmanned transfer system includes a plurality of machining tools which are arranged along the racks stored with the works to be supplied to the machining tools. Further included is a stacker crane which is adapted to run between the racks and the machining tools. A plurality of auto-pallet changers are interposed between the stacker crane and the machining tools for automatically transferring the works between the stacker crane and the machining tools.

Abstract: An automatic work exchanging apparatus for transferring works between a transport truck running in front of plural machine tools and the plural machine tools. The automatic work exchanging apparatus is made to run along the row of the machine tools, and a working face of the apparatus is made vertically movable so that the working face is adjustable according to the height of the table of each machine tool.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an automatic tool exchanging system for an NC machining tool, in which a tool column stored with tools to be fed to the spindle head of the NC machining tool is adapted to move in accordance with the movement of the spindle head. The tools are transferred between a tool magazine and the tool column while the spindle head continues its machining operation.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for automatically transporting works between an automated warehouse and a machine tool, and for maintaining the works in a precise position with respect to the machine tool. The system includes an automated warehouse, a pallet for precisely holding works, a truck for carrying the pallet, the truck moving along rails between the warehouse and a work exchanging apparatus adjacent to a machine tool table, and a device for positioning the pallet on the machine tool table precisely with respect to the machine tool. The work exchanging apparatus operates to transfer a pallet which holds unmachined works from the truck to the machine tool table and to transfer a pallet holding machined works from the machine tool table to the truck. The pallet, machine tool table, truck and work exchanging apparatus include means to position the pallet so that after a work is initially positioned on the pallet, the work will be precisely positioned with respect to the machine tool.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a materials flow system for an automatic warehouse, which is intended to eliminate any loss in the standby time of a worker during a machining process and to unman the machining process itself. The materials flow system includes a first stacker crane which is interposed between two automatic warehouses arranged in parallel for transferring materials to either of the warehouses. Further inclusive is a second stacker crane which is disposed in front of either of the automatic warehouses and which are equipped with two sets of slide forks for simultaneously transferring two materials between the warehouses.