Patent ID: 7013544

Claim:
A pallet changer, for changing pallets, provided on a machine tool being a five-axis controlling machine tool, said machine tool comprising: a spindle head being movable in three mutually transverse axes directions relative to a workpiece supported by a pallet mounted on a table; and said table disposed below a level of said spindle head, said table is driven by a table drive unit so that said table is swingable and positioned while being directed in an upward direction and also making at least an index motion, wherein said table as driven by said table drive unit is also capable of making rotational motion as well as the index motion, said pallet changer comprising: a pallet setup base, provided outside a machining area of said machine tool, for placing the pallet on said pallet setup base; and a pallet change arm, which is provided with at least one pallet grip portion for gripping and releasing the pallet, for making a swivel motion substantially in a horizontal plane and for moving up and down, wherein said pallet change arm makes the swivel motion and moves up and down so that the pallet is transferred between said table and said pallet setup base and is received and discharged to said table and said pallet setup base, respectively.