Flexible machining system

Claim 1

A flexible machining system, comprising first adjustable receiving means for interchangeably and rotatably receiving workpieces or tools, whereby a tool received in said first receiving means can be removed therefrom and replaced with a workpiece or vice versa, first rotating means for rotating said first receiving means, first mounting means for mounting said first receiving means such that said first receiving means is movable bidirectionally along a first axis, second adjustable receiving means for interchangeably and rotatably receiving workpieces or tools, whereby a tool received in said second receiving means can be removed thereform and replaced with a workpiece or vice versa, second rotating means for rotating said second receiving means, second mounting means for mounting said second receiving means such that said second receiving means is movable bidirectionally along said first axis and such that said second receiving means is arranged coaxially relative to said first receiving means, third receiving means for releaseably receiving a workpiece or a tool, third mounting means for mounting said third receiving means such that said third receiving means is movable bidirectionally along said first axis between said first and second receiving means and such that said third receiving means is movable bidirectionally along a second axis which is arranged perpendicular to said first axis, said third mounting means including attaching means for removably attaching a jig milling slide to said third mounting means such that said jig milling slide functions as said third receiving means, whereby said jig milling slide is conjointly movable with said third mounting means along said first and second axes, and such that said jig milling slide is also movable bidirectionally along a third axis arranged normal to a plane containing said first and second axes, supporting means for supporting said first, second and third mounting means such that said first, second and third mounting means are movable bidirectionally and independently of each other along said supporting means, said supporting means including a single way system common to said first, second and third mounting means such that each of said first, second and third mounting means is supported by said way system, first moving means for bidirectionally moving said first mounting means along said way system between a first position in which said first mounting means is remote from said third mounting means and a second position in which said first mounting means is adjacent one side of said third mounting means, second movigng means for bidirectionally moving said second mounting means along said way system between a third position in which said second mounting means is remote from said third mounting means and a fourth position in which said second mounting means is adjacent an opposite side of said third mounting means, whereby when said first mounting means is in said second position and said second mounting means is in said fourth position, the first and second receiving means are close enough to each other such that workpieces can be transferred from said first receiving means to said second receiving means or vice versa, and third moving means for bidirectionally moving said third mounting means along said way system between said first and second mounting means.