Abstract: A drive system for a workpiece table of a machine tool, especially a gear cutting machine, which includes two worm wheel drives of different transmission ratio, each worm wheel drive including a worm and a worm wheel. The worms of the worm wheel drives being adapted alternately to be drivingly connected to a drive shaft. The worms of the worm wheel drives are drivingly connected to each other while the transmission ratio of this transmission connection of the two worms equals the reciprocal transmission ratio of the worm wheel drives with regard to each other. The worm wheels of both worm wheel drives which are rotated in the same direction and at equal speed which latter depends on the respective coupled worm wheel drive, are coupled to each other as well as to the workpiece table.

Abstract: A workpiece handling device including a rotatable ring-like member having a series of workpiece holders spaced thereabout. Upon one partial rotation of the ring one workpiece is transferred from a receiving location to a work station while simultaneously a second workpiece is transferred from the work station to a discharge location.