DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is directed to a machine tool in which the time elapsed between the working operations due to a sequential use of tools is reduced to an absolute minimum and, if possible, to zero.
To this end, and in accordance with the invention, a machine tool is provided which has a plurality of interconnectable tool drives and tool support.
In such a machine tool, the second or even further tools can be inserted or exchanged for new ones while the first tool is still working.
As the work of the first tool is terminated, the workpiece is positioned correctly relative to the second tool which can start its work instantly.
The time required for displacing the workpiece from its present position to the next position is, in any case, shorter than the time needed for the tool exchange operation in machines of the prior art.
Taking also into account that the workpiece will be machined by the next tool, as a rule, at another location than during the preceding operation, there is a 50:50 chance that during the displacement of the workpiece from the first tool to the second tool, and from the second tool to the third tool, etc.
, due to the lateral spacing of the two tools, a shorter distance will be covered than with a conventional machine tool which does not require such a lateral compensation.
The tool support means may comprise a plate, a frame, or the like, supporting a plurality of tools which, in the case of a punch press, as mentioned, each comprise at least two parts.
In this latter case, the tool supporting means may also be designed in two parts, one part supporting the punches and the other part supporting the dies.
It is possible, however, in a particular design, to also use in such instance an integral tool supporting means on which the tools are arranged in the same manner, and the tool parts may be spaced from each other exactly by the same distance as in a two-part tool supporting means.
In this connection, it is irrelevant how the tool supporting means moves during the changing of tools
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