Method and apparatus for machining workpieces

1. Machine tool comprising a plurality of stations arranged serially; at least one of said stations being an oriented machining station arranged for holding a workpiece in a fixed position; first and second tool turrets each including a gripping device; said first tool turret being positioned to one side of the oriented machining station; the second tool turret being positioned to another side of the oriented machining station; the gripping device of the first tool turret for taking hold of workpieces at a preceding station, transporting, and positioning workpieces at said oriented machining station; the gripping device of the second tool turret for taking hold of transporting, and removing workpieces from said oriented machining station to a next station; and wherein the first and second tool turrets are displaceable, at the same time, into a working range of a workpiece held in said oriented machining station.

2. Machine tool according to claim 1 said wherein machining station is oriented vertically; and said gripping devices are mounted in the first and second tool turrets for rotation about a horizontal axis.

3. Machine tool according to claim 2 said serially arranged plurality of stations include least two serially consecutive vertically oriented machining stations; and the first and second tool turrets with gripping devices are positioned to the left and right of said two serially consecutive vertically oriented machining stations; a third tool turret with a gripping device is positioned between the at least two serially consecutive vertically oriented machining stations; said third turret being displaceable into working ranges of workpieces held in said at least two serially consecutive vertically oriented machining stations.

4. Machine tool according to claim 4 wherein a fourth tool turret is positioned between the at least two serially consecutive vertically oriented machining stations displaceable into working ranges of workpieces held in said at least two serially consecutive vertically oriented machining stations.

5. Machine tool according to claim 1 wherein one of the serially arranged plurality of stations is a workpiece feed station; and the first tool turret is positioned between the workpiece feed station; and the oriented machining station, with the first tool turret being displaceable into a working range of the workpiece feed station.

6. Machine tool according to claim 1 wherein one of serially arranged plurality of stations is a delivery feed station; and the second tool turret is positioned between the delivery feed station and the preceding oriented machining station, with the second tool turret being displaceable into a working range of the delivery feed station.

7. Machine tool according to claim 1 , wherein the serially arranged plurality of stations includes at least three serially consecutive oriented machining stations; at least one third tool turret positioned between adjacent serially consecutive oriented machining stations, each third tool turret containing a gripping device and being displaceable into working ranges of workpieces held in said adjacent serially consecutive oriented machining stations; the first station of said serially arranged plurality of stations being a workpiece feed station; the last station of said serially arranged plurality of stations being a delivery feed station; a fourth tool turret including a gripping device positioned between the workpiece feed station and the serially first of the serially consecutive oriented machining stations, the fourth tool turret being displaceable into a working range of the workpiece feed station and a working range of a workpiece held in the serially first of the serially consecutive oriented machining stations; and a fifth tool turret including a gripping device positioned between the delivery feed station and the serially last of the serially consecutive oriented machining stations, the fifth tool turret being displaceable into a working range of the delivery feed station and a working range of a workpiece held in the serially last of the serially consecutive oriented machining stations.

8. Machine tool according to claim 7 wherein a sixth tool turret is positioned between at least one set of two serially consecutive vertically oriented machining stations, the sixth tool turret being displaceable into working ranges of workpieces held in said two serially consecutive vertically oriented machining stations.

9. Machine tool according to claim 7 wherein the at least three serially consecutive oriented machining stations are oriented vertically.

10. Machine tool according to claim 1 wherein the oriented machining station contains a stationary rest that lies within a working range of the first and second tool turrets.

11. Machine tool according to claim 10 , wherein a directly driven ball screw is mounted for moving the movable slide horizontally.

12. Machine tool according to claim 1 wherein the oriented machining station comprises a motor spindle for receiving one end of workpiece; a tailstock for receiving the opposite end of workpiece; and steady rest stabilizing the central section of a workpiece.

13. Machining tool according to claim 1 , wherein the serially arranged plurality of stations includes a plurality of serially consecutive oriented machining stations; and the gripping device of the second tool turret positioned at said another side of each of said oriented machining stations serves to grip a workpiece at said each said oriented machining station and transport the workpiece to the next station.

14. Machine tool according to claim 1 , wherein each tool turret is mounted on a movable slide.

15. Machine tool according to claim 14 , wherein the movable slide enables rectilinear movement of the tool turret.