Abstract: A tool feeding head is provided, which is adapted for rapid attachment to and detachment from a machine spindlehead. The head includes a shaft which is joinable to a machine spindle of the spindlehead for coupling rotary driving motion from the spindle to either a cross-feed or feed-out cutting tool, the shaft being provided with a bore. An actuating rod is mounted in the bore for engaging the tool, the actuating rod feeding the tool when the actuating rod is reciprocated within the bore by a rod reciprocating mechanism. A system or device for controllably driving the rod reciprocating mechanism is immovably fixed to the machine spindlehead, the driving system operating the rod reciprocating mechanism to cause the actuating rod to feed the selected tool at a prespecified rate. Structure supporting the shaft and the reciprocating mechanism enables an automatic tool changer to selectively join the shaft to the spindle, and place the rod reciprocating mechanism in operative relationship with the driving system.

Abstract: An improved multiple spindle toolhead for a machine tool includes a body having at least one tool-carrying spindle journaled into one side thereof and having an input shaft coupled to the spindle and extending from the body side opposite to the spindle for seating in the machine tool spindle. A plurality of threaded studs extends rearwardly from the body for mating engagement with a plurality of threaded elements seated in the machine tool adjacent to the spindle. Means are provided in the machine tool for rotatably driving the threaded elements relative to the threaded studs on the toolhead body to secure the toolhead against the machine tool.

Abstract: An automatic tool changer for transferring single tools and/or multiple spindle toolheads between a tool storage magazine and a horizontal spindle of a machine tool. A plurality of single tools and/or toolheads are stored in the tool storage magazine with their shanks in a vertical position. A first tool change arm transfers a selected tool or toolhead from the storage magazine to a tilt unit which tilts the shank of the tool or toolhead by 90.degree. from a vertical to a horizontal position parallel with the axis of the spindle. A second tool change arm removes the tools or toolheads from the tilt unit and spindle simultaneously, interchanges them, and inserts the interchanged tools or toolheads into the spindle and tilt unit. The tilt unit then tilts by 90.degree. back to the vertical position, and the first tool change arm returns the tool or toolhead in the tilt unit back to the tool storage magazine.