Abstract: An automatic tool exchanging apparatus of a machine tool in which a new tool having heavy weight such as 60-100 kg are conveyed with its shank downwardly directed and readily and safely exchanged with a used tool. The apparatus comprises a tool storing magazine, a first tool exchanging mechanism located in front of the magazine, a horizontal tool conveying mechanism connected to the first tool exchanging mechanism, a vertical tool conveying mechanism, a second tool exchanging mechanism located on one side of the vertical tool conveying mechanism, and an intermediate tool pot mechanism for transferring the tool from the second tool exchanging mechanism to the spindle shaft of the machine tool after horizontally rotating the tool.

Abstract: There are provided a pair of concentric inner and outer annular magazines each provided with a plurality of tool pots and a blind pot which are arranged along a circle, and magazine driving device for independently rotating the outer and inner magazines to bring a tool pot containing a designated or the blind pot to predetermined tool pot indexing positions, and a tool holding pot disposed on the outside of the outer annular magazine for temporarily holding a tool taken out from one of the tool pots of the inner or outer magazine or a tool returned from a machine tool. The center of the holding pot lies on a line interconnecting the center of the inner and outer magazines and the tool pot indexing positions thereof. A saddle including a tool transfer arm with a tool gripper is moved along the line for inserting and taking out a tool into and out of a designated tool pot, and a tool exchanging mechanism is used to exchange a tool between the tool holding pot and the machine tool.