Patent ID: 7862284

Claim:
A pallet transfer system for use with a pallet conveying device comprising a crane device capable of moving on a rail, provided on a frontward side of a pallet stand-by position, in right and left directions, and which is advanced and retreated in backward and frontward directions to transfer a pallet, and which is raised and lowered, the pallet transfer system comprising: a conveying plate provided at the pallet stand-by position, which is a position before the pallet is transferred to a machining position in a machine tool, and having a predetermined position on which the pallet is placed at the pallet stand-by position; and a transfer device for horizontally transferring the conveying plate having the pallet thereon from the pallet stand-by position to a pallet temporary placing position, between a frontward position and the pallet stand-by position, at an intermediate station, wherein the intermediate station comprises a supporting part having an opening in an upward direction for supporting the conveying plate having the pallet thereon and through which the crane device enters, and a lifting device for raising and lowering a pair of lift arms which support and lift the pallet from the conveying plate supported on the supporting part, whereby the pallet is transferred from the lift arms at the intermediate station to the crane device by means of relative upward and downward movement of the crane device and the lift arms.