Tool with single sensor to detect attachment of side grip and cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12194596-B2
Application number	US-202117914949-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2021
Priority date	Apr 10, 2020
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

A tool includes a first accessory, a second accessory, a first attachment portion configured to allow the first accessory to be detachably attached thereto, a second attachment portion configured to allow the second accessory to be detachably attached thereto, a first intermediate member configured to be displaced from a first non-attachment position to a first attachment position by the attachment of the first accessory to the first attachment portion, a second intermediate member configured to be displaced from a second non-attachment position to a second attachment position by the attachment of the second accessory to the second attachment portion, and a single sensor configured to detect a specific state in which the first intermediate member is located at the first attachment position and the second intermediate member is located at the second attachment position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tool comprising:
a first accessory;
a second accessory;
a first attachment portion configured to allow the first accessory to be detachably attached thereto;
a second attachment portion configured to allow the second accessory to be detachably attached thereto;
a first intermediate member configured to be displaced from a first non-attachment position to a first attachment position by the attachment of the first accessory to the first attachment portion;
a second intermediate member configured to be displaced from a second non-attachment position to a second attachment position by the attachment of the second accessory to the second attachment portion; and
a single sensor configured to detect a specific state in which the first intermediate member is located at the first attachment position and the second intermediate member is located at the second attachment position.

2. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the single sensor is a photoelectric sensor including a light emitter and a light receiver, or an ultrasonic sensor,
the first intermediate member is configured to be displaced between a position of blocking light emitted from the light emitter or an ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic sensor and a position of not blocking the light or the ultrasonic wave due to the attachment or no attachment of the first accessory to the first attachment portion, and
the second intermediate member is configured to be displaced between a position of blocking the light or the ultrasonic wave and a position of not blocking the light or the ultrasonic wave due to the attachment or no attachment of the second accessory to the second attachment portion.

3. The tool according to claim 2 , wherein the single sensor is a reflection-type photosensor.

4. The tool according to claim 2 , wherein the single sensor is a transmission-type photosensor.

5. The tool according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an electric motor; and
a controller configured to control driving of the electric motor,
wherein the controller permits the electric motor to be driven when the single sensor detects the specific state and prohibits the electric motor from being driven when the single sensor does not detect the specific state.

6. The tool according to claim 5 , wherein the tool is a grinder including a tool accessory configured to be rotated by the electric motor,
the first accessory is a side grip, and
the second accessory is a cover that partially covers the tool accessory.

7. The tool according to claim 6 , wherein the first attachment portion includes at least two side grip attachment portions for selectively attaching the side grip,
the first intermediate member is a single member provided in common for the at least two side grip attachment portions and configured to be rotatable about a rotational axis of the electric motor,
the at least two side grip attachment portions are located at positions spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction around the rotational axis, respectively, and
the first intermediate member includes at least one pressed portion configured to, when the side grip is attached to one side grip attachment portion arbitrarily selected from the at least two side grip attachment portions, be directly or indirectly pressed by the side grip, and the first intermediate member is rotated about the rotational axis when the at least one pressed portion is pressed.

8. The tool according to claim 7 , wherein the first intermediate member includes a first intermediate member main body having an annular shape or a partially annular shape centered at the rotational axis.

9. The tool according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one pressed portion protrudes radially outward from the first intermediate member main body, and
the at least one pressed portion is provided at at least two positions respectively corresponding to positions of the at least two side grip attachment portions, respectively.

10. The tool according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one pressed portion includes a pressed surface angled with respect to a longitudinal direction of the side grip in such a manner that the first intermediate member is displaced in a direction different from the longitudinal direction of the side grip, the longitudinal direction of the side grip being a longitudinal direction of the side grip when the side grip is attached to the one side grip attachment portion.

11. The tool according to claim 7 , wherein the first intermediate member main body includes a first through-hole having a circular-arc shape centered at the rotational axis, and
the first intermediate member main body is attached rotatably along the circular-arc shape using a screw via the first through-hole.

12. The tool according to claim 7 , wherein the single sensor is a photoelectric sensor including a light emitter and a light receiver, or an ultrasonic sensor,
the first intermediate member is configured to be displaced between a position of blocking light emitted from the light emitter or an ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic sensor and a position of not blocking the light or the ultrasonic wave due to the attachment or no attachment of the first accessory of the first attachment portion,
the second intermediate member is configured to be displayed between a position of blocking the light or the ultrasonic wave and a position of not blocking the light or the ultrasonic wave due to the attachment or no attachment of the second accessory to the second attachment portion,
the first intermediate member includes a through-hole, and the light or the ultrasonic wave passes through the through-hole when the first intermediate member is located at the position of not blocking the light or the ultrasonic wave.

13. The tool according to claim 6 , wherein the second intermediate member is configured to be linearly moved by being directly or indirectly pressed by the cover when the cover is attached to the second attachment portion.

14. The tool according to claim 13 , wherein the second intermediate member includes a through-hole in the form of an elongated hole having a longitudinal direction extending along a direction in which the second intermediate member is linearly moved, and the second intermediate member is attached linearly movably along the elongated hole using a screw via the through-hole.

15. The tool according to claim 1 , further comprising a single holding member that holds the first intermediate member and the second intermediate member.

16. The tool according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one pressed portion includes a pressed surface angled with respect to a longitudinal direction of the side grip in such a manner that the first intermediate member is displaced in a direction different from the longitudinal direction of the side grip, the longitudinal direction of the side grip being a longitudinal direction of the side grip when the side grip is attached to the one side grip attachment portion.

17. The tool according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one pressed portion includes a pressed surface angled with respect to a longitudinal direction of the side grip in such a manner that the first intermediate member is displaced in a direction different from the longitudinal direction of the side grip, the longitudinal direction of the side grip being a longitudinal direction of the side grip when the side grip is attached to the one side grip attachment portion.

18. The tool according to claim 8 , wherein the first intermediate me

Assignees

• Makita Corp

Inventors

• Mizutani Akira
• Ishikawa Junya
• Imaida Daiki

Classifications

• B24B23/028

  Angle tools · CPC title

• B24B23/005

  Auxiliary devices used in connection with portable grinding machines, e.g. holders · CPC title

• B24B55/052

  with rotating tools · CPC title

• B25F5/02

  Construction of casings, bodies or handles {(B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B24B49/12 Primary

  involving optical means · CPC title