Abstract: A machine tool includes a tool spindle, a tool intermediate device, and a tool storage which includes first tool magazines, a first tool magazine support mechanism, an additional first tool magazine support mechanism, and a tool carrier. The first tool magazine support mechanism includes a first shaft to support at least one of the first tool magazines to be rotatable about a first rotation axis. The additional first tool magazine support mechanism includes an additional first shaft to support at least one of the first tool magazines to be rotatable about an additional first rotation axis. The tool carrier includes a first guide extending along the first and additional first rotation axes, a second guide extending along a line connecting the first and additional first rotation axes, and a lift configured to move along the first guide. The first guide is movable along the second guide.

Abstract: A machine tool includes a tool spindle, a tool intermediate device, and a tool storage which includes first tool magazines, a first tool magazine support mechanism, an additional first tool magazine support mechanism, and a tool carrier. The first tool magazine support mechanism includes a first shaft to support at least one of the first tool magazines to be rotatable about a first rotation axis. The additional first tool magazine support mechanism includes an additional first shaft to support at least one of the first tool magazines to be rotatable about an additional first rotation axis. The tool carrier includes a first guide extending along the first and additional first rotation axes, a second guide extending along a line connecting the first and additional first rotation axes, and a lift configured to move along the first guide. The first guide is movable along the second guide.

Abstract: A vertical machining center includes a base; a tilting rotary table, a tool spindle, a tilting shaft, a recessed area, a slide door, and an inner cover. The tilting rotary table is disposed on the base and configured to turn and tilt a table face of a rotary table. The tool spindle is rotatable about a vertical axis line and movable in an X axis direction, a Y axis direction, and a Z axis direction. The tilting shaft is disposed in the tilting rotary table and oriented in the Y axis direction. The recessed area is disposed on a front surface of the vertical machining center. The recessed area is adjacent to a support supporting the tilting shaft. The slide door is configured to cover the front surface. The inner cover is integral with the slide door. The inner cover is configured to cover the recessed area.

Abstract: A table clamp device includes a reference rail, a slider section, and a movement mechanism. The reference rail is provided on a mounting surface of a base on which a rotary table is rotatably supported. The rotary table has a first engagement part. The slider section is provided to slide along the reference rail and has a second engagement part. The movement mechanism moves the slider section along the reference rail so that the second engagement part engages with the first engagement part such that the rotary table is positioned and clamped to the base.

Abstract: A machine tool includes a main machine, a pallet change unit, a main body cover, a machine entry door, an internal machine cover, and an internal entrance area. The main machine is configured to machine a workpiece. The pallet change unit is adjacent to the main machine. The main body cover is provided on the pallet change unit. The machine entry door is provided in the main body cover. The internal machine cover is connected to the machine entry door. The internal entrance area is defined by the machine entry door and the internal machine cover. The machine entry door and the internal machine cover are constructed to sweep the internal entrance area.

Abstract: A table clamp device includes a reference rail, a slider section, and a movement mechanism. The reference rail is provided on a mounting surface of a base on which a rotary table is rotatably supported. The rotary table has a first engagement part. The slider section is provided to slide along the reference rail and has a second engagement part. The movement mechanism moves the slider section along the reference rail so that the second engagement part engages with the first engagement part such that the rotary table is positioned and clamped to the base.

Abstract: A vertical machining center includes a table, a tool spindle, an angle tool holder, a tool unclamping operation device, and a tool changer. The angle tool holder includes a shank, a spindle, a housing, a collet, a draw bar, and a spring mechanism. The shank has a shank axis and is rotatable around the shank axis. The spindle has a spindle axis perpendicular to the shank axis and is rotatable around the spindle axis. The tool unclamping operation device includes an angle tool holder rest, a hydraulic piston, and a restrictor. The angle tool holder is to be placed on the angle tool holder rest. The restrictor is disposed on the angle tool holder rest to restrict a portion of the angle tool holder and to receive force in a direction of the spindle axis which is generated in a case where the hydraulic piston presses the draw bar.

Abstract: A vertical machining center includes a base; a tilting rotary table, a tool spindle, a tilting shaft, a recessed area, a slide door, and an inner cover. The tilting rotary table is disposed on the base and configured to turn and tilt a table face of a rotary table. The tool spindle is rotatable about a vertical axis line and movable in an X axis direction, a Y axis direction, and a Z axis direction. The tilting shaft is disposed in the tilting rotary table and oriented in the Y axis direction. The recessed area is disposed on a front surface of the vertical machining center. The recessed area is adjacent to a support supporting the tilting shaft. The slide door is configured to cover the front surface. The inner cover is integral with the slide door. The inner cover is configured to cover the recessed area.

Abstract: A machine tool includes a main machine, a pallet change unit, a main body cover, a machine entry door, an internal machine cover, and an internal entrance area. The main machine is configured to machine a workpiece. The pallet change unit is adjacent to the main machine. The main body cover is provided on the pallet change unit. The machine entry door is provided in the main body cover. The internal machine cover is connected to the machine entry door. The internal entrance area is defined by the machine entry door and the internal machine cover. The machine entry door and the internal machine cover are constructed to sweep the internal entrance area.

Abstract: A vertical machining center includes a table, a tool spindle, an angle tool holder, a tool unclamping operation device, and a tool changer. The angle tool holder includes a shank, a spindle, a housing, a collet, a draw bar, and a spring mechanism. The shank has a shank axis and is rotatable around the shank axis. The spindle has a spindle axis perpendicular to the shank axis and is rotatable around the spindle axis. The tool unclamping operation device includes an angle tool holder rest, a hydraulic piston, and a restrictor. The angle tool holder is to be placed on the angle tool holder rest. The restrictor is disposed on the angle tool holder rest to restrict a portion of the angle tool holder and to receive force in a direction of the spindle axis which is generated in a case where the hydraulic piston presses the draw bar.

Abstract: A vertical machining center includes a machining table on which a first pallet is placed and which moves in an X axis direction. A spindle head includes a spindle and moves in a Z axis direction. A rotary pallet exchanger exchanges the first pallet with a second pallet in a setup area. In a pallet rotational movement area, the first and second pallets are rotated. An oil pan is below the second pallet in the setup area, accommodates a part of the pallet rotational movement area, and includes a cutout portion. Space exposed to the cutout portion forms a cutout area. A door partitions a machining area from the setup area. An amount of offset in the X axis direction from the axial center of the spindle to the rotational center of the pallet exchanger is equal to or less than a width of the first pallet.

Abstract: A vertical machining center includes a machining table on which a first pallet is placed and which moves in an X axis direction. A spindle head includes a spindle and moves in a Z axis direction. A rotary pallet exchanger exchanges the first pallet with a second pallet in a setup area. In a pallet rotational movement area, the first and second pallets are rotated. An oil pan is below the second pallet in the setup area, accommodates a part of the pallet rotational movement area, and includes a cutout portion. Space exposed to the cutout portion forms a cutout area. A door partitions a machining area from the setup area. An amount of offset in the X axis direction from the axial center of the spindle to the rotational center of the pallet exchanger is equal to or less than a width of the first pallet.

Abstract: A cam-type automatic tool-exchanging apparatus comprises: a housing; an input rotary shaft within the housing; a rotational-motion converting cam within the housing and rotationally driven by the input rotary shaft and outputting a rotational motion; a lifting/lowering-motion producing cam provided the housing and rotationally driven by the input rotary shaft and outputting a lifting/lowering motion; a tool-exchanging arm provided outside the housing and driven by the rotational motion and the lifting/lowering motion outputted for performing a tool-exchanging operation; a shutter provided outside the housing and to be opened/closed in accordance with the tool-exchanging operation; an opening/closing-motion producing cam within the housing and rotationally driven by the input rotary shaft and outputting a shutter-opening/closing pivotal motion for opening/closing the shutter; and a shutter-driving rotary shaft within the housing and outputting the shutter-opening/closing pivotal motion of the opening/closing-m

Abstract: A cam-type automatic tool-exchanging apparatus comprises: a housing; an input rotary shaft within the housing; a rotational-motion converting cam within the housing and rotationally driven by the input rotary shaft and outputting a rotational motion; a lifting/lowering-motion producing cam provided the housing and rotationally driven by the input rotary shaft and outputting a lifting/lowering motion; a tool-exchanging arm provided outside the housing and driven by the rotational motion and the lifting/lowering motion outputted for performing a tool-exchanging operation; a shutter provided outside the housing and to be opened/closed in accordance with the tool-exchanging operation; an opening/closing-motion producing cam within the housing and rotationally driven by the input rotary shaft and outputting a shutter-opening/closing pivotal motion for opening/closing the shutter; and a shutter-driving rotary shaft within the housing and outputting the shutter-opening/closing pivotal motion of the opening/closing-m

Abstract: A solar generation system includes a standard solar cell string and a substandard solar cell string. A DC voltage output from the substandard solar cell string is boosted by a booster unit to the level of the DC voltage output from the standard solar cell string, and the DC voltage from the standard solar cell string and the boosted DC voltage are applied to a DC/AC inverter, whereby an AC power is obtained, which is supplied to a utility power supply.

Abstract: A solar generation system includes a standard solar cell string and a substandard solar cell string. A DC voltage output from the substandard solar cell string is boosted by a booster unit to the level of the DC voltage output from the standard solar cell string, and the DC voltage from the standard solar cell string and the boosted DC voltage are applied to a DC/AC inverter, whereby an AC power is obtained, which is supplied to a utility power supply.

Abstract: A powder coating is provided, comprising a particulate material having a particle distribution satisfying the following requirements:(a) the volume 50% diameter is from 7 .mu.m to 20 .mu.m;(b) the proportion by volume of particles having a particle diameter of not less than 30 .mu.m is not more than 20%; and(c) the proportion by population of particles having a particle diameter of not more than 5 .mu.m in the particulate material is not more than 65%, the particulate material also has an external additive attached to the surface thereof, the percent coverage by the external additive (determined by an equation described in the specification) being from 30 to 200%. The powder coating can provide a film having a reduced thickness with an improved leveling, thus improving working efficiency. In addition, the fractions of the powder coating from the coating process can be recycled and re-used, thereby reducing the total cost.

Abstract: A powder coating is provided, comprising a particulate material having a particle diameter satisfying the following requirements:(a) the volume 50% diameter be from 7 to 15 .mu.m;(b) the proportion by volume of the particles having a particle diameter of not less than 20 .mu.m and those having a particle diameter of not less than 30 .mu.m in the particulate material be not more than 10% and 0%, respectively; and(c) the proportion by population of the particles having a particle diameter of not more than 5 .mu.m in the particulate material be not more than 50%, the particulate material having an external additive attached to the surface thereof, the percent coverage by the external additive determined by the following equation described in the specification being from 30 to 100%.