EP4650112A1

EP4650112A1 - Electric tool

Info

Publication number: EP4650112A1
Application number: EP24741599.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Masatoshi Asai
Original assignee: Max Co Ltd
Current assignee: Max Co Ltd
Priority date: 2023-01-13
Filing date: 2024-01-12
Publication date: 2025-11-19
Also published as: JP2024100248A; WO2024150827A1

Abstract

This electric tool comprises: a motor; a drive unit operated by driving the motor; a grip; a first rotary shaft which is provided to the grip and extends in the extension direction of the grip; and a first trigger which is exposed on the front side of the grip and rotates in a direction perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the extension direction with respect to the first rotary shaft when a portion exposed on the front side is pressed down, wherein the motor operates on the basis of the rotation of the first trigger.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an electric tool.

BACKGROUND ART

The positional relationship and configuration of a grip and a switch of an electric tool are designed, taking into account a weight of the electric tool, an orientation of the electric tool during an operation, a user's posture, a pressing force of the user's finger, and the like. Normally, in each task using the electric tool, such as construction, civil engineering, packaging, home appliances, and assembly, an operation direction of the switch is generally constant. Accordingly, the user needs to press the switch every time the user operates the electric tool.
Patent Literature 1 describes an example of a switch provided in a grip of an electric tool. The user can drive the electric tool by operating the switch through linear pressing with the index finger.

CITATION LIST

PATENT LITERATURE

Patent Literature 1: JP2012-179689A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The switch of the electric tool described in Patent Literature 1 is moved in a front-rear direction when pressed by the user. The user drives the electric tool incorporating such a switch by pressing the switch while keeping the arm extended or the wrist fixed in various working directions. Accordingly, when performing a task, the pressing the switch, which causes the switch to move in the front-rear direction, becomes a burden to the user.
Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an electric tool having a switch that reduces a burden on a user.

SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

The present disclosure relates to an electric tool including a motor, a drive portion configured to be driven by operation of the motor, a grip, a first rotary shaft provided in the grip and extending in an extension direction of the grip, and a first trigger exposed toward a forward direction of the grip and configured to rotate, with respect to the first rotary shaft, in a direction orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the extension direction when a part exposed toward the forward direction is pressed, in which the motor is configured to operate based on rotation of the first trigger.
Here, the first trigger may be exposed toward a lateral side on one side of the grip, and may be configured to rotate, with respect to the first rotary shaft, in the direction orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the extension direction when a part exposed toward the lateral side is pressed.
In addition, the first rotary shaft may be provided at a position closer to an outer periphery of the grip than a center of the grip in a cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to the first rotary shaft.
In addition, the first trigger may be provided at an upper portion of the grip in the extension direction of the grip.
In addition, a part of the first trigger exposed from the forward direction of the grip may be formed to protrude in the forward direction from an outer peripheral surface of the grip.
In addition, the first trigger may be formed over a range of one quarter or more of an entire outer periphery of the grip in a cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to the first rotary shaft.
The electric tool may further include a second rotary shaft provided in the grip and parallel to the first rotary shaft, and a second trigger exposed toward the forward direction and at least a lateral side on another side of the grip and configured to rotate, with respect to the second rotary shaft, in a direction opposite to that of the first trigger, and the motor may be configured to operate based on rotation of the second trigger.
Here, the second trigger may be configured to rotate in conjunction with rotation of the first trigger.
In such an electric tool, the first trigger may have an acting portion, and the second trigger may have an acted portion.
The second trigger may be configured such that when the first trigger rotates, the acting portion comes into contact with the acted portion, causing the second trigger to rotate.
In such an electric tool, the first trigger may be exposed toward a lateral side on another side of the grip and configured to rotate, with respect to the first rotary shaft, in the direction orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the extension direction when a part exposed toward the lateral side on the other side is pressed.
In addition, the first trigger and the second trigger may each include a plurality of plate-shaped portions provided spaced apart in the extension direction, and the plate-shaped portions of the second trigger and the plate-shaped portions of the first trigger may be alternately arranged in the extension direction, respectively.
In such an electric tool, the part of the first trigger exposed toward the forward direction may be continuous with a part of the first trigger exposed toward the lateral side, and a connecting portion between the part exposed toward the forward direction and the part exposed toward the lateral side may be curved in the direction orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the extension direction.
In addition, a distance between the connecting portion and the first rotary shaft may be smaller than a distance between the part exposed toward the forward direction and the first rotary shaft.
A first pressing surface may include a curved surface.
A lateral side of the first pressing surface may be provided with an inclined surface including the first side surface.
The electric tool may be a binding machine for binding a plant.
In the present disclosure, "binding a first object and a second object" refers to restricting movement of the second object with respect to the first object. A staple used for binding herein does not necessarily need to be in contact with the first or second object. For example, even if the staple is not contact with the second object, it is possible to restrict the movement of the second object with respect to the first object as the staple engages with the first object while surrounding the second object, and therefore, the description "binding the first object and the second object" includes this state.
In the present disclosure, "bend" or "fold" refers to being locally bent. Accordingly, when bent, a portion other than the locally bent portion substantially maintains its original shape. For example, when a linearly extending member is bent, a portion other than the locally bent portion substantially maintains the linearly extending shape.
In the present disclosure, "curved" refers to being bent into an arch shape over a predetermined range. Accordingly, when curved, a curved member deforms smoothly over a predetermined range.
In the present disclosure, "bend" includes bending and curving.
In the present disclosure, a "first leg portion" refers to a portion including an end portion on one side of a staple, and a "second leg portion" refers to a portion including an end portion on the other side of the staple. The "first leg portion" of the present disclosure is not limited to the first leg portion shown in an embodiment, and the "second leg portion" of the present disclosure is not limited to the second leg portion shown in an embodiment. For example, the "first leg portion" of the present disclosure may have a shape shown in the second leg portion shown in the embodiment, for example, and the "second leg portion" of the present disclosure may have a shape shown in the first leg portion shown in the embodiment, for example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[FIG. 1A] FIG. 1A is a top view showing an example of a staple before binding.
[FIG. 1B] FIG. 1B is a top view showing an example of the staple after binding.
[FIG. 1C] FIG. 1C is a front view showing an example of the staple after binding.
[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a binding method using a binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 3A] FIG. 3A is a right-side cross-sectional view of a binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 3B] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the binding machine according to an embodiment, as seen from below.
[FIG. 4A] FIG. 4A is a top cross-sectional view of the binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 4B] FIG. 4B is a front cross-sectional view of the binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 4C] FIG. 4C is a partially enlarged bottom cross-sectional view of a portion in an upward direction of a binding machine grip, taken along cross-section B-B, according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view (perspective view) showing a front-end side of a binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 6A] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a driver according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 6B] FIG. 6B is a plan view in a top view of the driver according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 7A] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a slider in an embodiment.
[FIG. 7B] FIG. 7B is a plan view in a top view of the slider according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 8A] FIG. 8A is a partially enlarged side cross-sectional view of the binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 8B] FIG. 8B is a partially enlarged rear cross-sectional view of the binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view (perspective cross-sectional view) showing a nut component and the like of the binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a detachment portion and the like of the binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 11A] FIG. 11A is a partially enlarged front view showing an initial state of the binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 11B] FIG. 11B is a partially enlarged top view showing the initial state of the binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 12A] FIG. 12A is a partially enlarged top view showing start of plastic deformation of the binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 12B] FIG. 12B is a partially enlarged side view showing the start of plastic deformation of the binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 12C] FIG. 12C is a partially enlarged perspective view of a front-end portion of the binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a contact member 24 (claw member) according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 14] FIG. 14 is a front cross-sectional view during plastic deformation by the contact member 24 (claw member) according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 15] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a second arm according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 16A] FIG. 16A is a plan view of the second arm according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 16B] FIG. 16B is a rear view of the second arm according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 17A] FIG. 17A is a partially enlarged front view showing start of driver movement of the binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 17B] FIG. 17B is a partially enlarged top view showing the start of driver movement of the binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 18] FIG. 18 is a partially enlarged top view showing a state in which a staple separated by the binding machine according to an embodiment is advanced.
[FIG. 19] FIG. 19 is a partially enlarged top view showing a state after the staple has passed through a first outer wall portion by the binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 20] FIG. 20 is a partially enlarged top view showing a state when the staple has reached a displacement start position by the binding machine according to an embodiment.
[FIG. 21A] FIG. 21A is a partially enlarged front view showing a front-end portion of the binding machine when a user inserts a first object into a first insertion portion and a second object into a second insertion portion.
[FIG. 21B] FIG. 21B is a partially enlarged top view showing the front-end portion of the binding machine when the user inserts the first object into the first insertion portion and the second object into the second insertion portion.
[FIG. 22A] FIG. 22A is a partially enlarged front view showing the front-end portion of the binding machine when the slider resumes advancing after the first and second objects are inserted.
[FIG. 22B] FIG. 22B is a partially enlarged top view showing the front-end portion of the binding machine when the slider resumes advancing after the first and second objects are inserted.
[FIG. 23A] FIG. 23A is a partially enlarged front view showing the front-end portion of the binding machine when the slider advances and the second leg portion is deformed.
[FIG. 23B] FIG. 23B is a partially enlarged top view showing the front-end portion of the binding machine when the slider advances and the second leg portion is deformed.
[FIG. 24A] FIG. 24A is a partially enlarged front view showing the front-end portion of the binding machine just before the slider reaches its maximum forward position.
[FIG. 24B] FIG. 24B is a partially enlarged top view showing the front-end portion of the binding machine just before the slider reaches its maximum forward position.
[FIG. 25A] FIG. 25A is a partially enlarged view and an enlarged perspective view in a front view of the front-end portion of the binding machine after the slider starts to retract.
[FIG. 25B] FIG. 25B is a partially enlarged view and an enlarged perspective view in a top view of the front-end portion of the binding machine after the slider starts to retract.
[FIG. 25C] FIG. 25C is a partially enlarged perspective view of the front-end portion of the binding machine after the slider starts to retract.
[FIG. 26A] FIG. 26A is a partially enlarged view and an enlarged perspective view in a front view of the front-end portion of the binding machine when the slider retracts further.
[FIG. 26B] FIG. 26B is a partially enlarged view and an enlarged perspective view in a top view of the front-end portion of the binding machine when the slider retracts further.
[FIG. 26C] FIG. 26C is a partially enlarged perspective view of the front-end portion of the binding machine when the slider retracts further.
[FIG. 27] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a switch structure according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 28A] FIG. 28A is a diagram showing an example of the switch structure before pressing according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 28B] FIG. 28B is a diagram showing an example of the switch structure after pressing according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 29] FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a switch structure according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 30A] FIG. 30A is a diagram showing an example of the switch structure before pressing according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 30B] FIG. 30B is a diagram showing an example of the switch structure after pressing according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 31] FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a switch structure according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 32A] FIG. 32A is a diagram showing an example of the switch structure before pressing according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure.
[FIG. 32B] FIG. 32B is a diagram showing an example of the switch structure after pressing according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are examples for explaining the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure to only the embodiments.

[Configuration of Staple S]

First, a configuration of a staple S according to the present embodiment will be described. The staple S is composed of a wire material having plasticity that enables plastic deformation. The staple S may be referred to as a wire or clip. The staple S includes, for example, a wire material of metal or a metal wire (including one whose surface is plated or coated with resin or the like).
FIG. 1A shows a staple S before binding according to the present embodiment, and FIGS. 1B and 1C show a top view and a front view, respectively, of the staple S in a binding state after binding (however, for convenience of description, portions unnecessary for description, such as a first object G and a second object P, are omitted in FIG. 1C).
The staple S includes a first leg portion S1, a second leg portion S2, and a main body portion S3 connecting the first leg portion S1 and the second leg portion S2.
In a pre-binding state, the first leg portion S1 and the second leg portion S2 of the staple S are provided to be spaced apart from each other, so an opening is provided between the first leg portion S1 and the second leg portion S2. A direction from a closed portion of the main body portion S3 toward the opening (a leftward direction on the paper surface in FIG. 1A) is referred to as an opening direction D1. When set in a binding machine 10, the opening direction D1 of the staple S coincides with a forward direction X1 described below.
The first leg portion S1 is a portion including an end portion on one side of the staple S, and includes a first portion S1B extending in the opening direction D1 and a tip end portion S1A bent from the first portion S1B and extending toward an outer side. An angle formed between the first portion S1B and the tip end portion S1A is referred to as a bending angle α1, and a portion of the tip end portion S1A, which is bent to connect to the first portion S1B, is referred to as a bent portion. In the present embodiment, the bending angle α1 is 90 degrees or less.
The second leg portion S2 is a portion including an end portion on the other side of the staple S and includes a second portion extending in the opening direction D1. In a top view (FIG. 1B) showing a binding state, the second leg portion S2 is bent to intersect the first leg portion S1, thereby closing the opening. Therefore, the second leg portion S2 according to the present embodiment is formed longer than a width of the opening, that is, a gap between the first leg portion S1 and the second leg portion S2. Additionally, the second leg portion S2 is formed longer than the first leg portion S1.
The main body portion S3 is a portion connecting the first leg portion S1 and the second leg portion S2. The main body portion S3 according to the present embodiment includes a linearly extending side portion. However, the shape of the main body portion S3 is not limited thereto and may include, for example, a curved portion that is curved in the outward direction, or may be composed of one or more side portions and one or more curved portions.
In the binding state shown in FIG. 1B, the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 of the staple S is bent in an approximately clockwise direction in FIG. 1B (hereinafter, the approximately clockwise direction in a top view may be referred to as a "first rotation direction R1", and the approximately counterclockwise direction may be referred to as a "second rotation direction R2".) to intersect the first leg portion S1 in a top view. Therefore, it becomes possible to sandwich the first object G with the first leg portion S1. As shown in FIG. 1C, the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 is bent such that a tip end advances in a downward direction Z2 away from a plane PL passing through the first leg portion S1, the second leg portion S2, and the main body portion S3 before binding.
On the other hand, a part of the second leg portion S2 of the staple S closes the opening by being bent in the first rotation direction R1. Since the opening is closed, it becomes possible to suppress the staple S from being separated from the second object P surrounded by the staple S. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1C, a tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 is bent such that a tip end advances in an upward direction Z1 away from the plane PL passing through the first leg portion S1, the second leg portion S2, and the main body portion S3 before binding. In this way, the tip end of the first leg portion S1 is bent so as to advance in the downward direction Z2 and engages with the first object G, and the tip end of the second leg portion S2 is bent so as to advance in the upward direction Z1 and engages with the second object P, so that it becomes possible to easily generate tension in a region from an engagement position of the first object G with the first leg portion S1 to an engagement position with the second leg portion S2. Accordingly, it becomes possible to prevent occurrences such as the first object G bending and the staple S coming off.
In addition, the second leg portion S2 is bent in the first rotation direction R1 facing the inward direction of the staple S to a position where it intersects the first leg portion S1 so as to close the opening in a top view. At this time, the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 passes through a gap between the first object G and the second object P. Thereafter, the second leg portion S2 is displaced in the second rotation direction R2, which is opposite to the first rotation direction R1 in a top view, thereby causing the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2, which has passed through the gap between the first object G and the second object P, to engage with the first object G. As a result, it becomes possible to sandwich and engage the first object G by the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 and the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2. Even if the second object P grows, the first leg portion S1 and the second leg portion S2 are each bent in a direction in which force sandwiching the first object G is increased. Therefore, even if the second object P grows, it becomes possible to make it difficult for the staple S to be separated from the first object G.
Note that, when displacing the second leg portion S2 in the first rotation direction R1, it is preferable to bend the second leg portion S2 in the first rotation direction R1 while bending the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 in the second rotation direction R2 opposite to the first rotation direction R1. With such a configuration, by displacing the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 having passed through the gap between the first object G and the second object P in the second rotation direction R2, it becomes possible to easily engage the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 with the first object G.
As is clear from a comparison of FIG. 1A showing the state of the staple S before binding with FIGS. 1B and 1C showing the state of the staple S after binding, when a distance of the displaced portion of the first leg portion S1 from the tip end of the first leg portion S1 is set as a first distance DS1, and a distance of the displaced portion of the second leg portion S2 from the tip end of the second leg portion S2 is set as a second distance DS2, the second distance DS2 is larger than the first distance DS1, for example, the second distance DS2 is larger than twice the first distance DS1. By asymmetrically bending the staple S in this way, it becomes possible to suitably engage the second leg portion S2 with the first object G maintained in proximity to the first leg portion S1.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 1A, a boundary position between the displaced portion and the non-displaced portion of the first leg portion S1, which corresponds to a position at the first distance DS1 from the tip end of the first leg portion S1, corresponds to a position advanced in the opening direction D1 with respect to a boundary position between the displaced portion and the non-displaced portion of the second leg portion S2, which corresponds to a position at the second distance DS2 from the tip end of the second leg portion S2.
With such a configuration, when a slider 44 is advanced in the opening direction D1, it becomes possible to first initiate displacement of the second leg portion S2, and then initiate displacement of the first leg portion S1 after the second leg portion S2 initiates displacement. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress large loads from being applied to the binding machine 10 simultaneously.
Note that the shape of the staple S is not limited to that shown in FIG. 1A. For example, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that the first leg portion S1 and the second leg portion S2 do not necessarily need to be parallel, and for example, even if the opening width decreases or increases toward the tip end, the staple S can be bent in such a manner that at least some of the above-described technical effects are achieved. In addition, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that even if the first leg portion S1 and the second leg portion S2 have the same length, the staple S can be bent in such a manner that at least some of the aforementioned technical effects are achieved, although the tip end of the first leg portion S1 is redundant.
In addition, the bending method of the staple S is not limited to that shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C. For example, the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 may not need to be bent. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that even if the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 cannot be bent, at least some of the aforementioned technical effects are achieved because the second leg portion S2 can be engaged with the first object G.
Below, an example of the configuration of the binding machine 10 for bending the staple S shown in FIG. 1A into a shape as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C will be described.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram conceptually illustrating the configuration of the binding machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and a shape of the staple S bent by the binding machine 10. In FIG. 2, the main body portion S3 of the staple S remains stationary.
Note that, for convenience in describing the relative directional relationship, the left direction on the paper surface in FIG. 2 may be referred to as a forward direction X1, the right direction on the paper surface may be referred to as a rearward direction X2, a frontward direction perpendicular to the paper surface may be referred to as an upward direction Z1, a backward direction perpendicular to the paper surface may be referred to as a downward direction Z2, a downward direction on the paper surface may be referred to as a rightward direction Y1, and an upward direction on the paper surface may be referred to as a leftward direction Y2. The top view refers to a viewpoint when seeing the binding machine 10 or the like from a position in the upward direction Z1 toward the downward direction Z2, the front view refers to a viewpoint when seeing the binding machine 10 or the like from a position in the forward direction X1 toward the rearward direction X2, and a side view refers to a viewpoint when seeing the binding machine 10 or the like toward the rightward direction Y1 or the leftward direction Y2.
In addition, when the staple S described below is set in the binding machine 10, a direction from a region surrounded by the staple S (a region into which the second object P described below is inserted) toward an outer side of the staple S may be referred to as an outward direction, and a direction from the outer side of the staple S toward the region surrounded by the staple S may be referred to as an inward direction.
As shown in (A) of FIG. 2 and the like, the binding machine 10 includes a slider 44 as an example of a moving component that moves in the forward direction X1. In addition, the binding machine 10 includes a first displacement portion 20 for displacing the first leg portion S1 of the staple S. The first displacement portion 20 displaces the first leg portion S1 of the staple S so as to be engageable with the first object G by moving a different component in a different direction based on movement in the forward direction X1 by the slider 44.
Note that the slider 44 may be formed integrally or may be composed of multiple components that move in conjunction with each other.
In the present embodiment, the first displacement portion 20 includes a contact member 24 that moves in a direction inclined toward the inward direction (rightward direction Y1) and the rearward direction X2 of the staple S based on the movement in the forward direction X1 by the slider 44. The contact member 24 may be referred to as a handle portion because it comes into contact with a region of the tip end portion S1A of the staple S and bends the tip end portion S1A to plastically deform.
Note that the first displacement portion 20 may include a component that comes into contact with the tip end portion S1A of the staple S and bends the tip end portion S1A by moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the forward direction X1, which is the inward direction (rightward direction Y1) of the staple S, based on the movement in the forward direction X1 by the slider 44.
Instead of this, the first displacement portion 20 may include a component that comes into contact with the tip end portion S1A of the staple S and bends the tip end portion S1A by moving in the outward direction (leftward direction Y2) of the staple S based on the movement in the forward direction X1 by the slider 44.
Instead of this, the first displacement portion 20 may include a component that comes into contact with the tip end portion S1A of the staple S and bends the tip end portion S1A by moving the staple S in the first rotation direction R1 based on the movement in the forward direction X1 by the slider 44.
Instead of this, the first displacement portion 20 may include a component that comes into contact with the tip end portion S1A of the staple S and bends the tip end portion S1A by moving the staple S in the second rotation direction R2 based on the movement in the forward direction X1 by the slider 44.
As for a mechanism for moving a component, such as the contact member 24, in a different direction based on the movement in the forward direction X1 by a moving component such as the slider 44, the mechanism disclosed in the present embodiment or another mechanism can be used.
As for a mechanism for rotating a component, such as the contact member 24, in the first rotation direction R1 or the second rotation direction R2 based on the movement in the forward direction X1 by a moving component such as the slider 44, the mechanism disclosed in the present embodiment or another mechanism can be used.
In addition, the binding machine 10 includes a second displacement portion 30 for displacing the second leg portion S2 of the staple S. The second displacement portion 30 displaces the second leg portion S2 of the staple S so as to be engageable with the first object G by moving a different component in a different direction based on movement in the forward direction X1 by the slider 44.
In the present embodiment, the second displacement portion 30 includes an arm (which may be referred to as a second arm) that bends the second leg portion S2 to plastically deform by rotating in the first rotation direction R1 based on the movement in the forward direction X1 by the slider 44. In the present embodiment, the arm may be referred to as an obliquely bending portion because it comes into contact with the second leg portion S2 of the staple S and bends the second leg portion S2 in a direction inclined toward the upward direction Z1 while bending the second leg portion S2 in a direction approaching the first leg portion S.
In (A) of FIG. 2, the second displacement portion 30 is connected to the slider 44 and is configured to be rotatable with a front end portion of the slider 44 as a fulcrum. However, as described in the embodiment described below, the second displacement portion 30 may not be connected to the slider 44. For example, the second displacement portion 30 may include a second arm 32 that is not connected to the slider 44 and bends the second leg portion S2 to plastically deform by rotating in the first rotation direction R1 by a second front end portion 44A2 of the slider 44.
Note that the second displacement portion 30 may include a component that comes into contact with the second leg portion S2 of the staple S and bends the second leg portion S2 by moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the forward direction X1, which is the inward direction (leftward direction Y2) of the staple S, based on the movement in the forward direction X1 by the slider 44.
Instead of this, the second displacement portion 30 may include a component that comes into contact with the second leg portion S2 of the staple S and bends the second leg portion S2 by moving in the outward direction (rightward direction Y1) of the staple S based on the movement in the forward direction X1 by the slider 44.
Instead of this, the second displacement portion 30 may include a component that comes into contact with the second leg portion S2 of the staple S and bends the second leg portion S2 by moving the staple S in the second rotation direction R2 based on the movement in the forward direction X1 by the slider 44.
The second displacement portion 30 in the present embodiment further includes a support wall portion 68A that bends the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 in the opposite direction (outward direction) by causing the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 to pass therethrough while bringing the tip end portion S2A into contact therewith. The support wall portion 68A may be referred to as a tip end-bending portion because it bends the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2.
However, when using a staple having a tip end portion bent in the outward direction in advance, the binding machine may not include the support wall portion 68A.
Further, the binding machine 10 according to the present embodiment further includes a fulcrum 66A functioning as a bending fulcrum of the second leg portion S2. In the present embodiment, a front end of a second inner wall portion 66 functions as the fulcrum 66A. In addition, a distance from a portion of the second leg portion S2, which is in contact with the fulcrum 66A, to the tip end thereof corresponds to the second distance DS2.
(A) of FIG. 2 is a schematic top view showing a state immediately after start of bending of the staple S. As shown in (A) of FIG. 2, the second displacement portion 30 starts rotating in the first rotation direction R1 by the slider 44 moving in the forward direction. Therefore, the second leg portion S2 of the staple S in contact with the second displacement portion 30 starts to bend with the fulcrum 66A as a fulcrum. At the same time, the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 passes through the support wall portion 68A while coming into contact with the support wall portion 68A. Accordingly, it becomes possible to bend the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 in the second rotation direction R2 corresponding to the outward direction of the staple S while bending the second leg portion S2 in the first rotation direction R1 corresponding to the inward direction of the staple S.
(B) and (C) of FIG. 2 are schematic top views showing states after the start of the bending of the staple S. As shown in (B) and (C) of FIG. 2, the second displacement portion 30 further rotates in the first rotation direction R1 by the slider 44 further moving in the forward direction. Therefore, the second displacement portion 30 further bends the second leg portion S2 in the first rotation direction R1 with the fulcrum 66A as a fulcrum.
(D) of FIG. 2 is a schematic top view showing a state where the second leg portion S2 of the staple S is bent and intersects the first leg portion S1. Note that, in the present embodiment, since the second leg portion S2 is bent in the direction inclined toward the upward direction Z1 while being bent in the direction approaching the first leg portion S1, the second leg portion S2 does not interfere with the first leg portion S1. As shown in (D) of FIG. 2, since the second displacement portion 30 further rotates in the first rotation direction R1 by the slider 44 further moving in the forward direction and rotates by 90 degrees or more, the second displacement portion 30 is configured to bend the second leg portion S2 to a position where the second leg portion S2 intersects the first leg portion S1 in a top view.
(E) of FIG. 2 is a schematic top view showing a state where the first leg portion S1 of the staple S is bent. As shown in (E) of FIG. 2, the contact member 24 of the first displacement portion 20 moves in the direction inclined toward the inward direction (rightward direction Y1) and the rearward direction X2 by the slider 44 moving in the forward direction, and bends the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1. As shown in (E) of FIG. 2, the tip end portion S1A may be bent in the downward Z2 or the upward direction Z1 with respect to the first leg portion S1. By bending the tip end portion S1 of the first leg portion S1 in this way, it becomes possible to sandwich the first object G with the first leg portion S1.
In addition, in the present embodiment, by arranging the first displacement portion 20 and the second displacement portion 30 such that timings at which the first displacement portion 20 and the second displacement portion 30 come into contact with the slider 44 are different, a timing at which the bending of the first leg portion S1 of the staple S starts and a timing at which the bending of the second leg portion S2 of the staple S starts are deviated. With such a configuration, it becomes possible to suppress occurrences of a large load on the binding machine 10 at the same time. In addition, by first starting the bending of the second leg portion S2 having a large bending amount, it becomes possible to suppress a large deviation between a timing at which a bending of the first leg portion S1 ends and a timing at which the bending of the second leg portion S2 ends.

[First Embodiment]

Below, the detailed configuration of the binding machine 10 according to a first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 3A is a right-side cross-sectional view of the binding machine 10. FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the binding machine 10, as seen from below. FIG. 4A is a top cross-sectional view of the binding machine 10 (for convenience, the drawing is rotated by 90 degrees). Below, the drawing may be rotated for convenience. Portions not described in order to make the description easier to understand (for example, a housing of the binding machine 10) are omitted (below, some portions may be omitted in the drawings for the same reason).
FIG. 4B is a front cross-sectional view of the binding machine 10 taken along cross-section A-A in FIG. 4A. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a front-end portion of the binding machine 10.
FIG. 4C is a partially enlarged view of a portion in the upward direction Z1 of the grip 12 of the binding machine 10 shown in FIG. 3A, taken along cross-section B-B, in a bottom view of the binding machine 10 as seen from the downward direction Z2.

[Overview of Configuration of Binding Machine 10]

The binding machine 10 binds a first object G and a second object P using a staple S having an opening formed therein. Note that the configuration of the staple S (FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B) according to an embodiment has been described above.
The first object G is, for example, a wire, a beam, a string, a rod, a pipe, a tree branch, or the like. The first object G may be referred to as a guide element. The second object P is, for example, a stem, a vine, a branch, a fruit, or the like of a plant, a tree, or the like. The binding machine 10 displaces the first leg portion S1 of the staple S so as to engage with the first object G, and displaces the second leg portion S2 so as to engage with the first object G such that the staple S surrounds the second object P, thereby restricting movement of the second object P with respect to the first object G and binding the first object G and the second object P.
The binding machine 10 includes the first displacement portion 20 that displaces the first leg portion S1 of the staple S so as to be engageable with the first object G, and the second displacement portion 30 that displaces the second leg portion S2 of the staple S so as to be engageable with the first object G. The second displacement portion 30 is configured to be capable of binding the first object G and the second object P by engaging the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 with the first object G while surrounding the second object P with the first leg portion S1, the second leg portion S2, and the main body portion S3 of the staple S.
More specifically, the binding machine 10 includes a grip 12 extending in an up-down direction so as to be gripped by a user and provided with a switch structure 70 for driving the binding machine 10, a magazine 14 (FIGS. 3A and 3B) configured to be capable of accommodating a plurality of the staples S stacked in the up-down direction, a pusher 16 for urging the plurality of staples S accommodated in the magazine 14 toward the upward direction Z1, a driver 42 that separates the uppermost staple S from other staples S by pushing the uppermost staple S toward the forward direction X1 and moves the separated staple in the forward direction X1, a movement mechanism for moving the driver 42 and the slider 44, the first displacement portion 20 for displacing the first leg portion S1 of the staple S by the slider 44, the second displacement portion 30 for displacing the second leg portion S2 of the staple S by the slider 44, and a detachment portion 56 that provides a movement path when the staple S is detached from the other staples S.
The grip 12 is a portion that is gripped by the user in order to operate the binding machine 10. The grip 12 is provided with, for example, the switch structure 70 on its upper portion (a portion in the upward direction Z1). With such a configuration, the user can operate a switch provided in the switch structure 70 with the index finger while gripping the grip 12 with fingers other than the index finger.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the grip 12 extends from the upward direction Z1 toward the downward direction Z2. Note that the extension direction of the grip 12 may be referred to as an axial direction.
As shown in FIG. 4C, when a cross-section of the binding machine 10 provided with the grip 12 and the switch structure 70 is approximated as a circle, a first trigger 71 constituting the switch structure 70 is formed from an intersection point on one side where the circle intersects the switch structure 70 to an intersection point on the other side where the circle intersects the switch structure 70. Here, a central angle of an arc connecting the two intersection points is equal to or greater than 90 degrees. Therefore, the first trigger 71 is formed over a range of one quarter or more of an entire outer periphery in a cross-section perpendicular to the extension direction of the grip 12.
With such a configuration, the user can perform the switch operation not only from the forward direction X1 but also from an inclined direction from the forward direction X1 or from a lateral side by placing a finger. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and the like, the first trigger 71 has a surface exposed toward the forward direction X1, a surface exposed toward a lateral side (leftward direction Y2), and a surface exposed toward the other lateral side (rightward Y1), so that the user can perform switch operations by pressing the first trigger 71 from these directions. In addition, the first trigger 71 is formed to fit the user's finger by curving a connecting portion between the surface exposed toward the forward direction X1 and the surface exposed toward the lateral side (leftward direction Y2) in a direction orthogonal to the extension direction of the grip 12. Below, a virtual circle approximating an outer periphery composed of the grip 12 and the first trigger 71 may be described as being virtually divided into four equally angular band-shaped arcs, including a front arc portion 12a in the forward direction X1 of the grip 12, a rear arc portion 12b in the rearward direction X2 of the grip 12, and lateral side arc portions 12c1 and 12c2 in the leftward direction Y2 and the rightward direction Y1 of the grip 12.
The switch structure 70 includes the first trigger 71 that is pressed by the user so as to drive the binding machine 10, a first rotary shaft 71AX that serves as a rotary shaft for rotating the first trigger 71, and a switch 73 that is pressed by rotation of the first trigger 71. The first trigger 71 is provided on a portion in the upward direction Z1 of the grip 12 such that it can be pressed with, for example, the index finger of the user's right hand. In the binding machine 10 of the present embodiment, when the user presses the first trigger 71, the motor 54 is driven to bind an object P, such as a plant, to an object G, which is a guide element such as a string.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the motor 54 and a drive portion driven by the motor 54 to perform a predetermined binding operation are provided in the upward direction Z1 with respect to the grip 12. Instead of the binding machine 100, it is possible to apply the present disclosure to an electric tool such as a hammer drill, an impact wrench, a vibration drill, or a reinforcing bar binding machine, or in a pneumatic tool such as a pneumatic nailing machine or a pneumatic impact driver by adopting a similar configuration.
As shown in FIG. 4C, the first trigger 71 of the switch structure 70 is formed to protrude in the forward direction X1 and the lateral side direction (leftward direction Y2) from the outer periphery of the grip 12 and to extend across the front arc portion 12a and the lateral side arc portion 12c2. When the user presses the first trigger 71 configured in this manner in the rearward direction X2 using, for example, the index finger of the right hand, the first trigger 71 rotates, with respect to the first rotary shaft 71AX, in a first rotating direction M1. Along with the rotation of the first trigger 71, the switch 73 is pressed in the rearward direction X2, so the motor 54 is turned on and the binding machine 10 starts driving. When the user releases the pressing of the first trigger 71, the first trigger 71 and the switch 73 are returned to their positions before being pressed by a pushback spring pbs. The configuration of the switch structure 70 will be described in detail below.
Here, the first displacement portion 20 includes a first outer wall portion 62 and a first inner wall portion 64 for displacing the tip end portion S1A by causing the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 to pass therethrough while in contact therewith when the staple S is moved in the forward direction X1 by the driver 42.
In addition, the first displacement portion 20 includes a first arm 22 that rotates by being pushed by a first front end portion 41A1 of the slider 44 moving in the forward direction X1, and the contact member 24 that bends the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 by moving in the inward direction of the staple S while in contact with the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 as the first arm 22 rotates. The contact member 24 may be referred to as a claw member.
The second displacement portion 30 includes a second arm 32 that rotates by being pushed by a second front end portion 44A2 of the slider 44 moving in the forward direction X1. The second arm 32 is configured to bend the second leg portion S2 by rotating while in contact with the second leg portion S2 of the staple S. At this time, as described above, it becomes possible to bind the first object G and the second object P by engaging the second leg portion S2 with the first object G while surrounding the second object P with the first leg portion S1, the second leg portion S2, and the main body portion S3 of the staple S.
The binding machine 10 according to the present embodiment displaces the first leg portion S1 and the second leg portion S2 of the staple S, respectively, by translating the portions such as the slider 44 in the forward direction X1 and pushing the first arm 22 and the second arm 32 by the translated portions to convert the translational motion into a rotational motion. However, a means for displacing the first leg portion S1 or the second leg portion S2 is not limited thereto. For example, as the means for displacing the first leg portion S1, a means for displacing the tip end portion S1A in an arc shape when the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 advances by the driver 42 or the slider 44 may be mounted. In addition, another means for converting the translational motion into the rotational motion may be adopted as a configuration for converting the translational motion into the rotational motion. In addition, in the present embodiment, the first arm 22 and the second arm 32 are both rotated in the same direction in a top view to displace the first leg portion S1 and the second leg portion S2, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the second arm 32 may be rotated in the opposite direction to displace the second leg portion S2.
Below, the detailed configuration of the binding machine 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[Driver and Movement Mechanism of Slider (Feeding Mechanism)]

The driver 42 of the binding machine 10 has a function of moving in the forward direction X1 to move the staple S in the forward direction X1. The driver 42 is configured to move the uppermost staple S, which is connected to the other staples S, toward the forward direction X1 to separate the uppermost staple S from the other staples S, and is furthermore configured to displace the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 by moving the staple S in the forward direction X1 and causing the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 to pass through the first outer wall portion 62 included in the first displacement portion 20 while in contact therewith.
FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the driver 42 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 6B is a plan view of the driver 42 in a top view. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the driver 42 is formed in a plate shape, and includes a front end portion having a front end surface 42S, which comes into contact with the main body portion S3 of the staple S, and a rear end portion provided in the rearward direction X2 with respect to the front end portion and having a protruding portion 42C for driver protruding in the downward direction Z2.
The front end portion of the driver 42 includes the front end surface 42S that is provided to be inclined with respect to a front-rear direction in conformity with the shape of the main body portion S3 of the staple S.
In addition, a left end of the front end portion of the driver 42 has a protruding end portion 42B extending in the forward direction X1 so as to have a wall surface extending in the forward direction X1 in order to support the first leg portion S1 by coming into contact with the first portion S1B of the first leg portion S1 corresponding to a left end of the staple S and with a portion of the main body portion S3 connected to the first leg portion S1 from the leftward direction Y2 that is the outward direction.
As shown in FIGS. 4B and 8B, the driver 42 is guided to move in the front-rear direction by being fitted into a recessed portion provided in a base 46. Since an upper surface of the driver 42 is in contact with a bottom surface of the slider 44 fitted into the recessed portion provided in the base 46, the movement of the driver 42 in the upward direction Z1 is restricted. In addition, since left and right side surfaces of the driver 42 are respectively in contact with left and right wall surfaces of the base 46 provided to extend in the front-rear direction, the movement of the driver 42 in the left-right direction is restricted. In addition, the protruding portion 42C for driver formed at the rear end portion of the driver 42 and protruding in the downward direction Z2 is inserted into the recessed portion of the base 46. Left and right wall surfaces and a bottom surface of the protruding portion 42C for driver face the wall surfaces and an upper surface of the base 46, respectively. With such a configuration, the driver 42 is guided to move in the front-rear direction.
Three grooves are formed in a bottom portion of the protruding portion 42C for driver protruding toward the downward direction Z2. Specifically, a first groove 42G1 for moving toward the forward direction X1 by being pushed toward the forward direction X1 by a first claw portion 48C1 of a switching block 48 (an example of a "block") described below, a second groove 42G2 for moving toward the rearward direction X2 by being pushed toward the rearward direction X2 by a second claw portion 48C2, and a third groove 42G3 for moving toward the forward direction X1 by being pushed toward the forward direction X1 by a third claw portion 48C3 are formed. As shown in FIG. 6B, the first groove 42G1, the second groove 42G2, and the third groove 42G3 are provided to be parallel to one another and to extend in the front-rear direction, respectively. In addition, front ends of the first groove 42G1 and the third groove 42G3 (groove side surfaces of the first groove 42G1 and the third groove 42G3 facing the rearward direction X2) are provided at the same position in the front-rear direction. In addition, a rear end of the second groove 42G2 (a groove side surface of the second groove 42G2 facing the forward direction X1) is provided in the rearward direction X2 with respect to the front ends of the first groove 42G1 and the third groove 42G3 (the groove side surfaces of the first groove 42G1 and the third groove 42G3 facing the rearward direction X2). On the other hand, the first groove 42G1 and the third groove 42G3 are provided to extend in the rearward direction X2 with respect to the rear end of the second groove 42G2.
As described below, a configuration is adopted in which the driver 42 is advanced using two grooves, that is, the first groove 42G1 and the third groove 42G3 at the time of advance, the driver 42 is retracted using one groove, that is, the second groove 42G2 at the time of retraction, and thus the driver 42 can suitably move in the forward direction X1 at the time of advance involving a relatively high load. In addition, in a top view, the second groove 42G2 is provided to overlap a central axis of a ball screw 50, and the first groove 42G1 and the third groove 42G3 are provided to sandwich the second groove 42G2, and thus the driver 42 is configured to advance and retract in a well-balanced manner.
The driver 42 is placed on the base 46 of the binding machine 10 and is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction on the base 46. Therefore, a part of the upper surface of the base 46 is exposed in the upward direction Z1 by forming the first groove 42G1, the second groove 42G2, and the third groove 42G3.
The slider 44 of the binding machine 10 has a function of displacing the first leg portion S1 and the second leg portion S2 of the staple S by moving in the forward direction X1 and pushing the first displacement portion 20 and the second displacement portion 30 toward the forward direction X1. The slider 44 according to the present embodiment includes the first front end portion 41A1 that pushes the first arm 22 of the first displacement portion 20 toward the forward direction X1 to rotate the first arm 22, and the second front end portion 44A2 that pushes the second arm 32 of the second displacement portion 30 toward the forward direction X1 to rotate the second arm 32.
FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the slider 44 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 7B is a plan view of slider 44 in a top view. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the slider 44 is formed in a plate shape, and includes the first front end portion 41A1 extending in the forward direction X1 on a left side on which the first leg portion S1 of the staple S is arranged, and the second front end portion 44A2 separated from the first front end portion 44A1 and extending in the forward direction X1 on a side on which the second leg portion S2 of the staple S is arranged.
The slider 44 further includes a fixing portion 44B for being bolt-fixed to a nut component 52 to be described below.
As shown in FIG. 4B, the slider 44 is guided to move in the front-rear direction by being fitted into the recessed portion provided in the base 46. An upper surface of the slider 44 comes into contact with the base 46 or a guide fixed to the housing and is therefore restricted from moving in the upward direction Z1. In addition, left and right side surfaces of the slider 44 come in contact with the left and right wall surfaces of the base 46 provided to extend in the front-rear direction and is therefore restricted from moving in the left-right direction. Additionally, the bottom surface of the slider 44 is supported by the upper surface of the base 46 and the upper surface of the driver 42. With such a configuration, the slider 44 (and the driver 42 on which the slider 44 is stacked) is guided to move in the front-rear direction.
The configuration of the first front end portion 41A1 and the second front end portion 44A2 of the slider 44 will be described below.
The nut component 52 of the binding machine 10 (such as FIGS. 4A, 8A, and 8B) has a function of moving the driver 42 and the slider 44 in the forward direction X1 and the rearward direction X2. The nut component 52 according to the present embodiment is formed with a female screw that is screwed to a male screw of the ball screw 50 via a ball member (not shown). Therefore, the nut component 52 moves in the forward direction X1 when the ball screw 50 rotates in a forward direction, and the nut component 52 moves in the rearward direction X2 when the ball screw 50 rotates in a reverse direction. The nut component 52 is fixed to the slider 44. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8A, a front end surface of the nut component 52 is in contact with a rear end surface of the slider 44. Therefore, the nut component 52 and the slider 44 are configured to be integrally movable in the forward direction X1 and the rearward direction X2 in a state where a rotational moment is restrained.
Additionally, the nut component 52 includes an annular holding portion 52A protruding in the downward direction Z2 in order to hold the switching block 48 (FIG. 8B) provided with the first claw portion 48C1, the second claw portion 48C2, and the third claw portion 48C3. The nut component 52 and the switching block 48 held by the nut component 52 are configured to be integrally movable in the forward direction X1 and the rearward direction X2. The holding portion 52A holds the switching block 48 such that the first claw portion 48C1 can be inserted into the first groove 42G1, the second claw portion 48C2 can be inserted into the second groove 42G2, and the third claw portion 48C3 can be inserted into the third groove 42G3.
The nut component 52, the slider 44, and the driver 42 are configured to be movable in the forward direction X1 and the rearward direction X2 and thus may be referred to as movable portions.
FIG. 8A is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the binding machine 10, taken along a cross-section including a central axis 50AX of the ball screw 50, in a side view of the binding machine 10 as seen from a side. FIG. 8B is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the binding machine 10, taken along a cross-section perpendicular to the central axis 50AX of the ball screw 50, in a rear view of the binding machine 10 as seen from the rear. FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged perspective cross-sectional view of the binding machine 10, showing the nut component 52 and the like.
As shown in FIG. 8B, an elastic member 49 for generating elastic force for pressing a bottom surface of the switching block 48 against the surface of the base 46 is inserted between the nut component 52 and the switching block 48. Accordingly, the switching block 48 is configured to be movable in the up-down direction, and a distance in the up-down direction between the nut component 52 and the switching block 48 varies in accordance with a surface shape of the base 46 through which the switching block 48 passes.
In the present embodiment, the nut component 52 is configured to be movable in the forward direction X1 and the rearward direction X2 by the motor 54 and the ball screw 50.
The motor 54 (FIG. 4A) rotates the ball screw 50. The motor 54 is provided at a rear end portion of the binding machine 10. Note that the binding machine 10 may include a battery that is detachably provided, and the motor 54 may be configured to be rotationally driven by a power source of the battery. The binding machine 10 according to the present embodiment further includes a speed reducer 55, and the motor 54 increases a torque by the speed reducer 55 to rotate the ball screw 50. In addition, a printed wiring board on which a CPU corresponding to a control device for controlling the motor 54 is mounted is mounted on the rear end portion of the binding machine 10.
The ball screw 50 (FIGS. 4A, 8A, and 8B) is provided to extend in the front-rear direction at a substantially central portion of the binding machine 10. As described above, the ball screw 50 is formed with the male screw that is screwed to the female screw of the nut component 52 via the ball member (not shown).
The base 46 (FIGS. 4B, 8A, and 8B) supports the driver 42 and the slider 44. As shown in FIG. 4B, the base 46 includes a support surface that comes into contact with or faces the bottom surface of the driver 42 to support the driver 42 from the downward direction Z2, and a wall portion extending in the front-rear direction in order to come into contact with or face a left end side surface of the driver 42 to support the driver 42 from the leftward direction Y2. Additionally, the base 46 includes a wall portion extending in the front-rear direction in order to come into contact with or face a right end of the driver 42 to support the driver 42 from the rightward direction Y1. With such a configuration, the base 46 guides the driver 42 to move in the front-rear direction.
In addition, the base 46 includes a support surface that comes into contact with or faces the bottom surface of the slider 44 placed on the driver 42 to support the slider 44 from the downward direction Z2, and a wall portion extending in the front-rear direction in order to come into contact with or face a left end of the slider 44 to support the slider 44 from the leftward direction Y2. Additionally, the base 46 includes a wall portion extending in the front-rear direction in order to come into contact with or face a right end of the slider 44 to support the slider 44 from the rightward direction Y1. With such a configuration, the base 46 guides the slider 44 to move in the front-rear direction.
As shown in FIG. 9, the base 46 is formed with a first protrusion 46A1 provided with a taper that protrudes in the upward direction Z1 as advancing in the rearward direction X2, a second protrusion 46A2 provided with a taper that protrudes in the upward direction Z1 as advancing in the forward direction X1, and a third protrusion 46A3 provided with a taper that protrudes in the upward direction Z1 as advancing in the rearward direction X2.
The first protrusion 46A1 is provided on a path of the first claw portion 48C1 (inside the first groove 42G1) when the driver 42 moves in the rearward direction X2.
The second protrusion 46A2 is provided on a path of the second claw portion 48C2 (inside the second groove 42G2) when the driver 42 moves in the forward direction X1.
The third protrusion 46A3 is provided on a path of the third claw portion 48C3 (inside the third groove 42G3) when the driver 42 moves in the rearward direction X2.
Each of the first protrusion 46A1 to the third protrusion 46A3 is preferably formed to have the same height as the driver 42 (a plate thickness of the driver 42) or be higher than the driver 42.
The first protrusion 46A1 and the third protrusion 46A3 are provided at the same position in the front-rear direction. The second protrusion 46A2 is provided in the forward direction X1 with respect to the first protrusion 46A1 and the third protrusion 46A3.
According to the above configuration, when the motor 54 rotates the ball screw 50 in the forward direction, the nut component 52, the slider 44 fixed to the nut component 52, and the switching block 48 held by the nut component 52 all move in the forward direction X1. In addition, since the first claw portion 48C1, the second claw portion 48C2, and the third claw portion 48C3 of the switching block 48 are respectively inserted into the first groove 42G1, the second groove 42G2, and the third groove 42G3, a front surface of the first claw portion 48C1 and a front surface of the third claw portion 48C3 respectively come into contact with a side surface of the first groove 42G1 facing the rearward direction X2 and a side surface of the third groove 42G3 facing the rearward direction X2. Therefore, the switching block 48 pressed against the surface of the base 46 by the elastic member 49 moves the driver 42 in the forward direction X1 by the front surface of the first claw portion 48C1 and the front surface of the third claw portion 48C3 while pressing the surface of the base 46 in the downward direction Z2. As a result, both the driver 42 and the slider 44 move in the forward direction X1. A moving operation in which both the driver 42 and the slider 44 move in the forward direction X1 is referred to as a first moving operation.
Thereafter, when the switching block 48 advances to a position where the second protrusion 46A2 is provided, the second claw portion 48C2 moves in the upward direction Z1 along an inclined surface of the second protrusion 46A2. Therefore, the switching block 48 moves in the upward direction Z1 while moving in the forward direction X1. As a result, the front surface of the first claw portion 48C1 and the front surface of the third claw portion 48C3 move in the upward direction Z1 with respect to the side surface of the first groove 42G1 and the side surface of the third groove 42G3 that are in contact with the front surface of the first claw portion 48C1 and the front surface of the third claw portion 48C3, respectively. Therefore, the switching block 48 moves on the driver 42, and the driver 42 stops moving in the forward direction X1. At this time, the first moving operation ends.
After the first moving operation ends, when the motor 54 further rotates the ball screw in the forward direction, the switching block 48 moves on the driver 42 in the forward direction X1. At this time, of the slider 44 and the driver 42, only the slider 44 moves in the forward direction X1. A moving operation in which only the slider 44 of the driver 42 and the slider 44 moves in the forward direction X1 is referred to as a second moving operation. When the slider 44 advances by a predetermined amount with respect to the driver 42, the motor 54 stops the rotation in the forward direction of the ball screw 50. At this time, the second moving operation ends.
Note that during the second moving operation, there is a possibility that the driver 42 advances by friction with the switching block 48 and the driver 42. Therefore, the binding machine 10 may include a stopper for stopping the advance of the driver 42 during the second moving operation. For example, by adopting a configuration in which an opening hole is formed on the base 46, the stopper such as a ball urged in the upward direction Z1 from the opening hole is exposed, and on the other hand, a recessed portion into which the ball is inserted is provided on the bottom surface of the driver 42, and the stopper and the recessed portion are engaged with each other at a position where the first moving operation ends and the movement of the driver 42 toward the forward direction X1 is to be stopped, it is possible to suppress the advance and retraction of the driver 42 during the second moving operation.
As described below, in the first moving operation, by pushing the uppermost staple S in the forward direction X1 by using the driver 42 moving in the forward direction X1, it becomes possible to move the uppermost staple S in the forward direction X1 and separate the uppermost staple S from the other staples S. In addition, in the first moving motion, by bringing the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 into contact with the first outer wall portion 62 while moving the uppermost staple S in the forward direction X1 by using the driver 42 moving in the forward direction X1, it becomes possible to displace (plastically deform) the first leg portion S1 such that the bending angle α1 formed between the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 and the first portion S1B of the first leg portion S1 is further reduced.
Further, in the second moving operation, the driver 42 stops the movement in the forward direction X1, and thus the staple S pushed by the driver 42 also stops the movement in the forward direction X1. Accordingly, in a state where the staple S is stopped by causing the slider 44 to advance in the second moving operation, it becomes possible to push the second arm 32 of the second displacement portion 30 in the forward direction X1 by the second front end portion 44A2 of the slider 44 so as to rotate, and to displace the second leg portion S2 of the staple S so as to be engaged with the first object G while surrounding it by the first leg portion S1, the second leg portion S2, and the main body portion S3. Further, in the state where the staple S is stopped, by rotating the first arm 22 of the first displacement portion 20 by the first front end portion 44A1 of the slider 44, it becomes possible to displace the first leg portion S1 of the staple S so as to be engaged with the first object G.
Note that the binding machine 10 may further include a Hall sensor or other sensor for obtaining a rotation amount of the motor 54 in order to control movement amounts of the driver 42 and the slider 44. In addition, the binding machine 10 may further include a magnet attached to the nut component 52 in order to detect and control a position of the nut component 52 in the front-rear direction, and a Hall sensor or other sensor for obtaining a position of the magnet attached to the nut component 52.
After a binding operation ends, when the motor 54 rotates the ball screw 50 in the reverse direction, the nut component 52, the slider 44 fixed to the nut component 52, and the switching block 48 held by the nut component 52 all move in the rearward direction X2. At this time, the switching block 48 moves on the stopped driver 42 in the rearward direction X2.
Further, when the motor 54 rotates the ball screw 50 in the reverse direction, the second claw portion 48C2 of the switching block 48 moves in the downward direction Z2 while moving in the rearward direction X2 along the inclined surface of the second protrusion 46A2 provided on the base 46, and thus the first claw portion 48C1, the second claw portion 48C2. and the third claw portion 48C3 of the switching block 48 are respectively inserted into regions inside the first groove 42G1, the second groove 42G2, and the third groove 42G3. In addition, when the motor 54 rotates the ball screw 50 in the reverse direction, the switching block 48 moves in the rearward direction X2, and a rear surface of the second claw portion 48C2 of the switching block 48 comes into contact with a side surface of the second groove 42G2 facing the forward direction X1. Therefore, the switching block 48 moves the driver 42 in the rearward direction X2 by the rear surface of the second claw portion 48C2 while pressing the surface of the base 46 in the downward direction Z2 by the elastic member 49. At this time, the nut component 52, the slider 44, the switching block 48, and the driver 42 all move in the rearward direction X2.
In addition, when the motor 54 rotates the ball screw 50 in the reverse direction and the switching block 48 retracts to the position where the first protrusion 46A1 and the third protrusion 46A3 are provided, the first claw portion 48C1 and the third claw portion 48C3 of the switching block 48 respectively move in the upward direction Z1 along inclined surfaces of the first protrusion 46A1 and the third protrusion 46A3. Therefore, the switching block 48 moves in the upward direction Z1 while moving in the rearward direction X2. As a result, the rear surface of the second claw portion 48C2 moves in the upward direction Z1 with respect to the side surface of the second groove 42G2 that is in contact with the rear surface of the second claw portion 48C2. Therefore, the switching block 48 moves on the driver 42, and the driver 42 stops moving in the rearward direction X2. In order to restrict the movement of the driver 42 in the rearward direction X2, the binding machine 10 may include a stopper having the above configuration or other configurations.
Thereafter, when the motor 54 further rotates the ball screw 50 in the reverse direction, the switching block 48 moves on the driver 42 in the rearward direction X2. At this time, of the driver 42 and the slider 44, only the slider 44 moves in the rearward direction X2. When the slider 44 retracts by a predetermined amount with respect to the driver 42, the motor 54 stops the rotation in the reverse direction of the ball screw 50.
Thereafter, when the motor 54 rotates the ball screw 50 in the forward direction, the nut component 52, the slider 44 fixed to the nut component 52, and the switching block 48 held by the nut component 52 all move in the forward direction X1. Since the nut component 52, the slider 44, and the switching block 48 are all moved in the forward direction X1 to a position where the first claw portion 48C1 and the third claw portion 48C3 of the switching block 48 respectively come into contact with or come close to a side surface of a front end of the first groove 42G1 and a side surface of a front end of the third groove 42G3, and thereafter, it becomes possible to shift to the first moving operation.
With the above configuration, the binding machine 10 is configured to execute the first moving operation in which both the driver 42 and the slider 44 advance, and the second moving operation in which only the slider 44 of the driver 42 and the slider 44 further move in the forward direction X1.
Note that a position of the nut component 52 in an initial state is not limited. For example, the binding machine 10 may be configured such that only the slider 44 moves in the forward direction immediately after startup from the initial state, and then the first moving operation in which the driver 42 and the slider 44 start is executed.

[Feeding-Bending Mechanism of Detachment Portion]

The detachment portion includes a support wall that supports the staple S in the movement path of the staple S separated by the driver 42 and moving in the forward direction X1 and during the displacement by the first displacement portion 20 and the second displacement portion 30.
As shown in FIG. 10, the detachment portion 56 is provided to be movable up and down along with the movement of the slider 44. A gap 56A in which a part of the slider 44 enters along with the movement of the slider 44 is formed in the detachment portion 56. Since a part of the slider 44 enters the gap 56A of the detachment portion 56, a vertical position of the detachment portion 56 can be stabilized, and the deformation of the staple S can be reliably performed.
FIGS. 11A and 11B are partially enlarged views showing the front-end portion of the binding machine 10 in the initial state (standby state) in a front view and a top view.
When the staple S moves in the forward direction X1 by the driver 42, the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 passes through the first outer wall portion 62 while in contact therewith, and thus the first outer wall portion 62 executes plastic deformation so as to further reduce the bending angle α1 formed by the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 and the first portion S1B of the first leg portion S1 (a portion connected to the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1).
Accordingly, the first outer wall portion 62 is provided at a position where only a part of the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 of the staple S is in contact with the first outer wall portion 62.
The first inner wall portion 64 is provided inside the first leg portion S1 to support the first leg portion S1 from the inside when the first leg portion S1 of the staple S moves in the forward direction X1 by the driver 42 and when the first leg portion S1 is displaced. The first inner wall portion 64 includes a bottom surface provided along a movement path of the first leg portion S1, and a wall surface provided substantially parallel to the front-rear direction, which is a movement direction of the first leg portion S1, and supporting the first leg portion S1 from the inside.
On the other hand, the first outer wall portion 62 is provided to include a wall surface inclined such that a gap with the wall surface of the first inner wall portion 64 becomes small toward the forward direction X1. With such a configuration, it becomes possible to displace the tip end portion such that the bending angle α1 becomes small as the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 advances in the forward direction X1.
In addition, the first outer wall portion 62 according to the present embodiment at least includes a first region 62A (FIG. 11B) where a wall surface in which a gap with the wall surface of the first inner wall portion 64 is relatively largely reduced is formed, and a second region 62B (FIG. 11B) provided in the forward direction X1 with respect to the first region 62A and including a wall surface in which a gap with the wall surface of the first inner wall portion 64 is slightly reduced.
When an average reduction rate of the gap (a distance in the left-right direction perpendicular to the forward direction X1) between the wall surface of the first outer wall portion 62 and the wall surface of the first inner wall portion 64 in the first region 62A is set to a first reduction rate, and an average reduction rate of the gap (the distance in the left-right direction perpendicular to the forward direction X1) between the wall surface of the first outer wall portion 62 and the wall surface of the first inner wall portion 64 in the second region 62B is set to a second reduction rate, an absolute value of the first reduction rate is larger than an absolute value of the second reduction rate. In other words, an angle formed by the front-rear direction in a top view and the wall surface of the first region 62A of the first outer wall portion 62 is larger than an angle formed by the front-rear direction in a top view and the wall surface of the second region 62B of the first outer wall portion 62.
As the bending angle α1 of the bent portion decreases, the elastic force repelling the displacement becomes smaller, and thus it becomes possible to smoothly bend the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 by the above configuration.
Note that the wall surface with which the first leg portion S1 does not come into contact is not limited to the above configuration. For example, the first inner wall portion 64 may be provided to restrict the displacement in the upward direction Z1 of the first portion S1B by providing a wall surface provided to protrude an upper portion of the first inner wall portion 64 in the outward direction and to face an upper surface of the first portion S1B.
In addition, the first inner wall portion 64 is formed with a through hole for allowing the tip end portion S1A and the contact member 24 to pass through the downward direction Z2 with respect to the first portion S1B (FIG. 5).

[Support Wall of Detachment Portion]

The detachment portion further includes a second inner wall portion 66 having a wall surface that is provided inside the second leg portion S2 to support the second leg portion S2 from the inside when the second leg portion S2 is displaced. The second inner wall portion 66 further includes a bottom surface provided substantially parallel to the front-rear direction along a movement path of the second leg portion S2.
A front end of the second inner wall portion 66 functions as a fulcrum when the second leg portion S2 is bent. Therefore, the front end of the second inner wall portion 66 is provided at a position by the second distance DS2 from the tip end of the second leg portion S2, which is a bent portion of the second leg portion S2. Since the second leg portion S2 needs to have a distance for closing the opening, the front end of the second inner wall portion 66 needs to be provided at a position spaced by a distance equal to or greater than the width of the opening of the staple S from the tip end of the second leg portion S2. The tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 is supported by a tip end support portion 68. In addition, the width of the opening of the staple S corresponds to a width between the wall surface of the first inner wall portion 64 and the wall surface of the second inner wall portion 66. Therefore, the second inner wall portion 66 is provided such that a distance between the tip end support portion 68 (particularly, a surface of the tip end support portion 68 facing the tip end of the second leg portion S2) and the front end of the second inner wall portion 66 is greater than a width between the wall surface of the first inner wall portion 64 and the wall surface of the second inner wall portion 66, which corresponds to the width of the opening of the staple S.
The second displacement portion 30 further includes the tip end support portion 68 supporting the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2. The tip end support portion 68 includes the support wall portion 68A that has a wall surface provided inside the second leg portion S2 and supporting the tip end portion S2A from the inside.

[First Displacement Portion]

The first displacement portion 20 has a function of displacing the first leg portion S1 so as to be engageable with the first object G.
The first displacement portion 20 according to the present embodiment includes the first arm 22 that rotates by being pushed by the first front end portion 44A1 of the slider 44, and the contact member 24 (the claw member) that bends the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 to plastically deform by moving toward the inward direction of the staple S while in contact with the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 as the first arm 22 rotates.
First, the configuration of the first front end portion 41A1 of the slider 44 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the first front end portion 41A1 of the slider 44 is provided to extend in the forward direction X1 at an end portion of the slider 44 in the leftward direction Y2. The first front end portion 44A1 includes a first protruding portion 44A11 that protrudes in the upward direction Z1 in order to rotate the first arm 22 in the first rotation direction R1 by coming into contact with the first arm 22 at the time of the movement in the forward direction X1, and a second protruding portion 44A12 that rotates the first arm 22 in the second rotation direction R2 opposite to the first rotation direction R1 by coming into contact with the first arm 22 at the time of the movement in the rearward direction X2.
The first protruding portion 44A11 is provided in the rearward direction X2 with respect to the second protruding portion 44A12. In addition, the first protruding portion 44A11 is provided outside (in the leftward direction Y2) with respect to the second protruding portion 44A12. With such a configuration, since a distance between a rotary shaft of the first arm 22 and the first protruding portion 44A11 can be set to be greater than a distance between the rotary shaft of the first arm 22 and the second protruding portion 44A12, it becomes possible to generate a large rotation torque at the time of advance involving a high load.
The first front end portion 41A1 of the slider 44 further includes a protruding end portion 44A13 extending in the forward direction X1. The protruding end portion 44A13 suppresses the bending of the first portion S1B by pressing the first portion S1B connected to the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 from the upward direction Z1 at the time of the plastic deformation of the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1.
Subsequently, the first arm 22 of the first displacement portion 20 will be described. The first arm 22 is a member that rotates in the first rotation direction R1 by being pushed in the forward direction X1 by the first front end portion 44A1 of the slider 44, thereby translating the contact member 24 in the inward direction.
FIG. 12A is a partially enlarged top view showing the front-end portion of the binding machine 10 at the start of plastic deformation by the first displacement portion 20, FIG. 12B is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the first displacement portion 20 in a left side view, and FIG. 12C is an enlarged perspective view of the front-end portion of the binding machine 10. However, for convenience, components unnecessary for the description are omitted in FIGS. 12A to 12C.
As shown in FIG. 12A and the like, a rotary shaft 22AX of the first arm 22 is provided in the outward direction (in the rightward direction Y1) of the first leg portion S1 of the staple S and in the forward direction X1. In addition, the rotary shaft 22AX of the first arm 22 is provided perpendicular to the front-rear direction so as to extend in the up-down direction. Additionally, the first arm 22 has a portion provided to extend from the rotary shaft 22AX in the rearward direction X2 at the time of standby, and includes, at a rear end of this portion, a wall portion that protrudes in the downward direction Z2 and extends to be inclined toward the rearward direction X2 and the inward direction. A surface of the wall portion facing the rearward direction X2 faces the rearward direction X2 and the outward direction in the initial state, and a surface of the wall portion facing the forward direction X1 faces the forward direction X1 and the inward direction. The surface of the wall portion facing the rearward direction X2 includes a surface in contact with the advancing first protruding portion 44A11. The wall portion moves to pass through a region between the first protruding portion 44A11 and the second protruding portion 44A12 while rotating in the first rotation direction R1 by coming into contact with the first protruding portion 44A11. In addition, the surface of the wall portion facing in the forward direction X1 includes a surface in contact with the retracting second protruding portion 44A12. Accordingly, the wall portion is configured to return to an original position while rotating in the second rotation direction R2 opposite to the first rotation direction R1 by coming into contact with the second protruding portion 44A12.
As shown in FIG. 12C, a protruding portion 22C protruding in the downward direction Z2 is further provided at the rear end portion of the first arm 22. The protruding portion 22C is engaged with a recessed portion 24A provided at an end portion of the contact member 24. Since the protruding portion 22C rotates, with respect to the rotary shaft 22AX of the first arm 22, in the first rotation direction R1, the contact member 24 is configured to advance toward the inward direction of the staple S.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the contact member 24 (claw member). The contact member 24 has a function of plastically deforming the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 of the staple S by being pressed by the first arm 22 and advancing in a direction inclined toward the inward direction of the staple S and the downward direction Z2. By the contact member 24, the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 is bent such that the tip end portion S1A intersects the first portion S1B connected to the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 in a top view, and the tip end thereof advances in the downward direction Z2 separated from the plane PL passing through the first leg portion S1, the second leg portion S2, and the main body portion S3 before the binding. By plastically deforming the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 in the inward direction and the downward direction Z2 in a state of sandwiching the first object G, the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 can sandwich the first object G without interfering with the first portion S1B.
As shown in FIG. 13, a tail end of the contact member 24 is provided with the recessed portion 24A that is engaged with the protruding portion 22C of the first arm 22 protruding in the downward direction Z2. When the protruding portion 22C of the first arm 22 rotates in the first rotation direction R1, a side surface of the recessed portion 24A comes into contact with the protruding portion 22C, and the contact member 24 advances in the direction inclined toward the inward direction and the downward direction Z2, when the protruding portion 22C rotates in the second rotation direction R2, another side surface of the recessed portion 24A comes into contact with the protruding portion 22C, and the contact member 24 returns in a direction inclined toward the upward direction Z1 and the outward direction.
A tip end of the contact member 24 includes a contact surface 24B that comes into contact to grip the tip end portion, and a corner portion 24C that is provided at a connection portion between the contact surface 24B and a side surface and applies stress for plastically deforming the tip end portion. Here, the contact surface 24B is formed to be recessed in conformity to a shape of the cross-section of the staple S. In addition, the contact surface 24B is formed to be inclined so as to come in contact with the tip end portion S1A prior to the corner portion 24C. With such a configuration, after the tip end portion S1A is taken in by the contact surface 24B to be gripped, the tip end portion S1A can be plastically deformed by the corner portion 24C, and thus a position of the tip end portion S1A plastically deformed by the corner portion 24C can be stabilized.
FIG. 14 shows a front cross-sectional view of the tip end portion S1A after plastic deformation by the contact member 24 and an enlarged view of region A in the cross-section. As shown in FIG. 14, the contact member 24 is placed on an inclined surface of the base 46 inclined to descend in the inward direction and is thus guided to advance in a direction inclined toward the inward direction of the staple S (a direction approaching the second arm 32) and the downward direction Z2. The first portion S1B of the first leg portion S1 is supported by the bottom surface of the slider 44 from the upward direction Z1, and is supported by the first inner wall portion 64 from the inside and the downward direction Z2 (excluding a portion where the tip end portion S1A passes through the downward direction Z2 with respect to the first portion S1B). Additionally, the contact surface 24B of the contact member 24 faces an outer surface of the first portion S1B at the time of the plastic deformation. Therefore, it becomes possible to suppress the bending of the first portion S1B at the time of the plastic deformation of the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S 1.

[Second Displacement Portion]

The second displacement portion 30 has a function of displacing the second leg portion S2 so as to be engageable with the first object G.
The second displacement portion 30 includes the second arm 32 that bends the second leg portion S2 to plastically deform by rotating in the first rotation direction R1 by the second front end portion 44A2 of the slider 44.
First, the configuration of the second front end portion 44A2 of the slider 44 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the second front end portion 44A2 of the slider 44 is provided to extend in the forward direction X1 at an end portion of the slider 44 in the rightward direction Y1. The second front end portion 44A2 includes a first surface 44A21 and a second surface 44A22 formed to face the forward direction X1 in order to rotate the second arm 32 in the first rotation direction R1 by coming into contact with the second arm 32 at the time of the movement in the forward direction X1, and a third surface 44A23 provided in the forward direction X1 with respect to the first front surface 44A21 and the second surface 44A22 and formed to face the rearward direction X2. By arranging a rear end portion 32B of the second arm 32 between the first surface 44A21 and second surface 44A22 and the third surface 44A23, the second arm 32 rotates in the first rotation direction R1 at the time of the advance of the slider 44, and the second arm 32 rotates in the second rotation direction R2 and returns to an original position at the time of the retraction of the slider 44.
The first surface 44A21 of the slider 44 corresponds to a surface where the first front end portion 44A1 of the advancing slider 44 first comes into contact with the rear end portion 32B of the second arm 32. A surface of the rear end portion 32B of the second arm 32 that comes into contact with the first surface 44A21 is referred to as a first rear end surface 32B1.
The second surface 44A22 of the slider 44 corresponds to a surface where the second front end portion 44A2 of the slider 44, which further advances after the first surface 44A21 comes into contact with the first rear end surface 32B1 and the second arm 32 starts rotating in the first rotation direction R1, comes into contact with the rear end portion 32B of the second arm 32. A surface of the rear end portion 32B of the second arm 32 that comes into contact with the second surface 44A22 is referred to as a second rear end surface 32B2.
As shown in FIG. 7B and the like, the first surface 44A21 is provided in the upward direction Z1 with respect to the second surface 44A22 in terms of the up-down direction, the first surface 44A21 is provided in the rearward direction X2 with respect to the second surface 44A22 in terms of the front-rear direction, and the first surface 44A21 is provided in the rightward direction Y1 with respect to the second surface 44A22 in terms of the left-right direction, that is, the first surface 44A21 is provided in the outward direction (rightward direction Y1) with respect to the second surface 44A22 with the staple S as a reference.
With such a configuration, the slider 44 can further push the second arm 32 by the second surface 44A22 after pushing the second arm 32 by the first surface 44A21, and thus it becomes possible to increase a rotation angle of the second arm 32 with respect to a stroke of the slider 44.
In addition, the slider 44 and the second arm 32 are formed such that an angle (an example of a "first angle") formed by a normal line of the first rear end surface 32B 1 at a contact point (an example of a "first contact point") in contact with the first surface 44A21 of the slider 44 and a straight line connecting the first contact point and a rotary shaft 32AX is closer to 90 degrees than an angle (an example of a "second angle") formed by a normal line of the second rear end surface 32B2 at a contact point (an example of a "second contact point") in contact with the second surface 44A22 of the slider 44 and a straight line connecting the second contact point and the rotary shaft 32AX when there is no first contact point.
At the point in time when the contact point is switched by the rotation of the second arm 32, the slider 44 and the second arm 32 are formed such that an angle (an example of the "first angle") formed by a normal line of the first rear end surface 32B1 at a contact point (an example of the "first contact point") in contact with the first surface 44A21 of the slider 44 and a straight line connecting the first contact point and the rotary shaft 32AX is equal to an angle (an example of the "second angle") formed by a normal line of the second rear end surface 32B2 at a contact point (an example of the "second contact point") in contact with the second surface 44A22 of the slider 44 and a straight line connecting the second contact point and the rotary shaft 32AX. Alternatively, the slider 44 and the second arm 32 are formed such that the angle (an example of the "second angle") formed by the normal line of the second rear end surface 32B2 at the contact point (an example of the "second contact point") in contact with the second surface 44A22 of the slider 44 and the straight line connecting the second contact point and the rotary shaft 32AX is close to 90 degrees.
With such a configuration, it becomes possible to set a rotational moment at the time when the first surface 44A21 comes into contact with the first rear end surface 32B1 to be relatively greater than a rotational moment at the time when the second surface 44A22 comes into contact with the second rear end surface 32B2.
As described below, the second leg portion S2 needs to be bent at two portions simultaneously at the start of rotation of the second arm 32, and thus a large load is applied to the second arm 32 at the start of rotation. Therefore, by pushing the second arm 32 in the forward direction X1 by the first surface 44A21 of the slider 44 at the start of rotation involving a load, it becomes possible to generate a relatively large rotational moment on the second arm 32. Note that, in order to increase the rotational moment, a distance between the rotary shaft 32AX of the second arm 32 and the first rear end surface 32B1 may be greater than a distance between the rotary shaft 32AX of the second arm 32 and the second rear end surface 32B2. In other words, the distance between the rotary shaft 32AX of the second arm 32 and the second rear end surface 32B2 may be smaller than the distance between the rotary shaft 32AX of the second arm 32 and the first rear end surface 32B1.
Subsequently, the second arm 32 will be described. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the second arm 32 as seen from below. FIGS. 16A and 16B are a plan view and a rear view of the second arm 32, respectively.
As shown in FIGS. 15, 16A, and 16B, the second arm 32 includes the rear end portion 32B extending in the rearward direction X2 from the rotary shaft 32AX in the initial state, and a tip end portion 32C extending in the forward direction X1 with respect to the rotary shaft 32AX.
Since the first rear end surface 32B 1 of the rear end portion 32B is provided in the rearward direction X2 with respect to the second rear end surface 32B2, it is possible to bring the first surface 44A21 of the slider 44 into contact with the first rear end surface 32B1, and then bring the second surface 44A22 into contact with the second rear end surface 32B2.
The rotary shaft 32AX is provided at a portion in the leftward direction Y2 (inward direction), which is closer to a center than the first rear end surface 32B1 and the second rear end surface 32B2. Therefore, since the rear end portion 32B is pushed in the forward direction X1, the tip end portion 32C of the second arm 32 rotates in the first rotation direction R1, which is directed to a direction approaching the inward direction of the staple S and the first arm 22.
Additionally, the rotary shaft 32AX is provided to be inclined so as to advance in the inward direction (leftward direction Y2) as it advances in the downward direction Z2. Therefore, the tip end portion 32C of the second arm 32 rotating in the first rotation direction R1 is provided to advance in the upward direction Z1 as the tip end portion 32C rotates in the first rotation direction R1. As a result, the second leg portion S2 of the staple S plastically deformed by the second arm 32 also advances in the upward direction Z1 as the second arm 32 rotates, and is configured to be engageable with the first object G at a position in the upward direction Z1 with respect to the plane PL passing through the first leg portion S1, the second leg portion S2, and the main body portion S3 before the binding.
The tip end portion 32C of the second arm 32 includes a main body portion 32C1 that comes into contact with the second leg portion S2, and a protrusion 32C2 for bending back. The main body portion 32C1 is provided such that two protruding portions protruding in the first rotation direction R1 are vertically separated from each other at a position separated from the rotary shaft 32AX. By vertically sandwiching the second leg portion S2 using the protruding portions, it becomes possible to firmly hold and plastically deform the second leg portion S2.
The second arm 32 includes the protrusion 32C2 for bending back that is provided at a position advanced in the first rotation direction R1 with respect to the main body portion 32C1, and protrudes in the downward direction Z2. By rotating the second arm 32 in the second rotation direction R2 and returning the second leg portion S2 in the second rotation direction R2 by the protrusion 32C2 after rotating the second arm 32 in the first rotation direction R1 to bend the second leg portion S2, it becomes possible to engage the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 with the first object G.
The protrusion 32C2 for bending back is formed to be inclined so as to protrude in the downward direction Z2 as advancing in the first rotation direction R1. With such a configuration, when the second arm 32 is rotated in the second rotation direction R2, the protrusion 32C2 for bending back can smoothly move over the second leg portion S2 engaged with the first object G while returning the second leg portion S2 in the second rotation direction R2. Note that an urging force toward the upward direction Z1 by the pusher 16 is applied to the plastically deformed staple S via the staple S in the downward direction Z2. An elevation angle of the second leg portion S2 at the time of the displacement (for example, 10 degrees to 45 degrees with respect to the plane PL passing through the first leg portion S1, the second leg portion S2, and the main body portion S3 before the binding) and an inclination angle of the protrusion 32C2 for bending back are designed such that the protrusion can move over the second leg portion S2 against the urging force.

[Binding Method Using Binding Machine]

Below, a binding method using the binding machine 10 will be described.
As described above, FIGS. 11A and 11B are partially enlarged views showing the front-end portion of the binding machine 10 in the initial state (standby state) in a front view and a top view.
At this time, the uppermost staple S is connected to one or more staples S accommodated in the magazine 14 in the downward direction Z2. In addition, the driver 42 is positioned in the rearward direction X2 with respect to the main body portion S3 of the uppermost staple S. There is a slight gap between a front end of the driver 42 and the main body portion S3 of the uppermost staple S. The protruding end portion 44A13 of the slider 44 provided at a left end slightly overlaps the staple S.
FIGS. 17A and 17B are partially enlarged views showing the front-end portion of the binding machine 10 in a front view and a top view immediately after the user operates the switch and the driver 42 starts moving. When the user operates the switch, the motor 54 starts rotating, and the ball screw 50 accordingly rotates in the forward direction, and thus the nut component 52 and the slider 44 fixed to the nut component 52 start moving in the forward direction X1. The first claw portion 48C1 and the third claw portion 48C3 of the switching block 48 held by the nut component 52 are inserted into the first groove 42G1 and the third groove 42G3, and thus the front surface of the first claw portion 48C1 and the front surface of the third claw portion 48C3 come into contact with the side surface of the first groove 42G1 facing the rearward direction X2 and the side surface of the third groove 42G3 facing the rearward direction X2, respectively, and the movement of the driver 42 in the forward direction X1 is started. Accordingly, the first moving operation in which both the driver 42 and the slider 44 advance is started.
As shown in FIG. 8A, the base 46 is provided such that the height of the driver 42 substantially coincides with the uppermost staple S. Therefore, the front end surface 42S of the driver 42 moving on the base 46 in the forward direction X1 comes into contact with the main body portion S3 of the uppermost staple S, and pushes out the main body portion S3 of the staple S in the forward direction X1. A separation block 18 (FIG. 8A) for prohibiting the movement of the staple S in the downward direction Z2 toward the forward direction X1 is provided inside the staple S in the downward direction Z2. Therefore, only the uppermost staple S is separated from the other staples S in the downward direction Z2 and moves on the separation block 18 in the forward direction X1.
FIG. 18 is a partially enlarged top view showing the front-end portion of the binding machine 10 when the driver 42 advances and the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 of the staple S advances on a guiding path of the detachment portion. Note that a front view is the same as FIG. 17A, so the front view is omitted.
Since the ball screw 50 continuously rotates in the forward direction, the slider 44 moves in the forward direction X1. Therefore, the first front end portion 44A1 of the slider 44 advances such that the protruding end portion 44A13 is positioned on the first leg portion S1, and the second front end portion 44A2 advances along a right end of the binding machine 10. The driver 42 also advances together with the slider 44. The tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 comes into contact with the wall surface of the first region 62A corresponding to an entering portion of the first outer wall portion 62. Additionally, the inside of the first portion S1B of the first leg portion S1 comes into contact with the wall surface of the first inner wall portion 64. Since the distance between the wall surface of the first outer wall portion 62 and the wall surface of the first inner wall portion 64 decreases as the driver 42 advances in the forward direction X1, the first leg portion S1 is plastically deformed such that the bending angle α1 is reduced as the driver 42 advances. At this time, the protruding end portion 42B of the driver 42 supports the first portion S1B and a left end of the main body portion S3 from the outside, and the protruding end portion 44A13 of the slider 44 comes into contact with an upper surface of the first leg portion S1 to press the first leg portion S1 from the upward direction Z1, and thus the bending of the first portion S1B is suppressed. Since the distance between the wall surface of the first outer wall portion 62 and the wall surface of the first inner wall portion 64 in the first region 62A is relatively largely reduced, an angle between the tip end portion S1A and the first portion S1B of the first leg portion S1 is relatively largely reduced. Since the distance between the wall surface of the first outer wall portion 62 and the wall surface of the first inner wall portion 64 in the subsequent second region 62B is relatively slightly reduced, the bending angle is relatively slightly reduced.
FIG. 19 is a partially enlarged top view of the front-end portion of the binding machine 10 when the driver 42 advances and the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 of the staple S passes through the first outer wall portion 62. Note that a front view is the same as FIG. 17A, so the front view is omitted. As shown in FIG. 19, when the tip end portion passes through the first outer wall portion 62, the tip end portion is plastically deformed, and the bending angle α1 is largely reduced.
FIG. 20 is a partially enlarged top view showing the state where the driver 42 advances most and the staple S reaches a displacement start position. At this time, the bent portion of the first leg portion S1 of the staple S reaches a front end of the first inner wall portion 64 (an inner wall surface of the first inner wall portion 64 facing the rearward direction X2), and the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 reaches a front end of the tip end support portion 68 (an inner wall surface of the tip end support portion 68 facing the rearward direction X2). Note that a front view is the same as FIG. 17A, so the front view is omitted.
At this time, the bent portion of the first leg portion S1 and an inner side surface and a lower surface of the first portion S1B are supported by the first inner wall portion 64 from the downward direction Z2 and the rightward direction Y1 (inward direction). In addition, the bent portion of the first leg portion S1 is also supported by the first inner wall portion 64 from the forward direction X1. Additionally, the upper surface of the first portion S1B is supported by the protruding end portion 44A13 of the first front end portion 44A1 of the slider 44 from the upward direction Z1.
On the other hand, an inner side surface and a lower surface of the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 are supported by the tip end portion from the downward direction Z2 and the leftward direction Y2 (inward direction).
In addition, an inner side surface of the main body portion S3 and an inner side surface of a connection portion with the main body portion S3 of the second leg portion S2 are supported by the second inner wall portion 66 from the inward direction.
At this time, the second claw portion 48C2 of the switching block 48, which pushes the driver 42 in the forward direction X1, moves in the upward direction Z1 by the second protrusion 46A2. As a result, since the switching block 48 moves on the driver 42, the driver 42 stops moving in the forward direction X1, and the first moving operation ends. At the same time, the ball urged in the upward direction Z1 from the hole formed in the base 46 is fitted into the recessed portion provided in the bottom surface of the driver 42 and functions as a stopper, and thus the movement of the driver 42 in the forward direction X1 or the rearward direction X2 is suppressed by a frictional force with the switching block 48.
The first protruding portion 44A11 and the second protruding portion 44A12 of the first front end portion 44A1 of the slider 44 approach a rear end of the first arm 22. In addition, the first surface of the second front end portion 44A2 of the slider 44 approaches or comes into contact with the first rear end surface 32B1 of the second arm 32.
After the first moving operation ends, the motor 54 stops rotating by the control device. At this time, the user sets the first object G and the second object P at predetermined positions of the binding machine 10. In the present embodiment, the first object G is a string that functions as a guide element. Therefore, the user inserts the string, which is the first object G, into the bent portion of the first leg portion S1. In the present embodiment, the second object P is a stem. Therefore, the user inserts the stem, which is the second object P, into a region surrounded by the staple S. The portions of the binding machine 10 where the first object G and the second object P are inserted may be referred to as a first insertion portion and a second insertion portion. In the present embodiment, the first object G is inserted into the bent portion of the first leg portion S1 supported by the first inner wall portion 64, and thus the first inner wall portion 64 corresponds to the first insertion portion. In addition, the second object P is inserted into the recessed portion of the binding machine 10 provided to be recessed in the rearward direction X2 so as to be sandwiched by the first inner wall portion 64 and the second inner wall portion 66, and thus the recessed portion corresponds to the second insertion portion.
FIGS. 21A and 21B are partially enlarged views showing the front-end portion of the binding machine 10 in a front view and a top view when the user inserts the first object G into the first insertion portion and the second object P into the second insertion portion.
Thereafter, when the user operates the switch, or when it is detected that the first object G and the second object P are inserted by sensors such as contact sensors respectively provided in the first insertion portion and the second insertion portion, the motor 54 starts rotating again. The motor 54 resumes rotating, and the ball screw 50 accordingly rotates in the forward direction, and thus the nut component 52 and the slider 44 fixed to the nut component 52 start moving in the forward direction X1. Since the switching block 48 advances on the driver 42, the driver 42 does not advance. Therefore, the second moving operation in which only the slider 44 of the driver 42 and the slider 44 advances is started.
FIGS. 22A and 22B are partially enlarged views showing the front-end portion of the binding machine 10 in a front view and a top view when the slider 44 further advances in the second moving operation. In the second moving operation, the driver 42 does not advance. Therefore, the inner side surface of the main body portion S3 of the staple S is supported by the first inner wall portion 64 and the second inner wall portion 66, and the outer side surface thereof is supported by the driver 42 and remains stationary.
The first protruding portion 44A11 of the first front end portion 44A1 of the slider 44 comes into contact with the surface of the wall portion facing the rearward direction X2, which extends in a direction inclined to protrude in the downward direction Z2 with respect to the rear end portion of the first arm 22, and pushes the first arm 22 in the forward direction X1. The rotary shaft 22AX of the first arm 22 is provided at a position in the forward direction X1 and the outward direction (leftward direction Y2) with respect to the first protruding portion 44A11 at this time. Therefore, the first arm 22 starts rotating in the first rotation direction R1. The wall portion of the rear end portion of the first arm 22 rotates in the first rotation direction R1 while passing through a region of a gap between the first protruding portion 44A11 and the second protruding portion 44A12. Note that at this time, the first leg portion S1 is not plastically deformed by the first displacement portion 20.
On the other hand, the first surface 44A21 of the second front end portion 44A2 comes into contact with the first rear end surface 32B1 of the second arm 32, and pushes the second arm 32 in the forward direction X1. At this time, the rotary shaft 32AX of the second arm 32 is positioned in the forward direction X1 and the inward direction (leftward direction Y2) with respect to the first rear end surface 32B1, and thus the second arm 32 also starts rotating in the first rotation direction R1. The second leg portion S2 vertically sandwiched by two protrusions of the main body portion of the second arm 32 is bent toward the inward direction with the front end of the second inner wall portion 66 as a fulcrum.
At this time, the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 is supported from the inward direction by the wall surface of the support wall portion 68A of the tip end support portion 68 provided inside the second leg portion S2. Therefore, the second leg portion S2 is bent toward the inward direction of the staple S with the front end of the second inner wall portion 66 as a fulcrum, and at the same time, the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 is bent in the opposite direction (outward direction) by passing through the support wall portion 68A while in contact with the wall surface of the support wall portion 68A of the tip end support portion 68.
As described above, since the rotary shaft 32AX of the second arm 32 is inclined such that the rotary shaft 32AX advances in the inward direction as advancing in the downward direction Z2, the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 advances in the upward direction Z1 while approaching the first leg portion S1 as rotating in the first rotation direction R1.
In addition, a period in which the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 of the staple S and the wall surface of the support wall portion 68A are in contact with each other and a period in which the first surface 44A21 of the slider 44 and the first rear end surface 32B1 of the second arm 32 are in contact with each other are configured to overlap each other in at least a partial period, and thus it is possible to generate a relatively large rotational moment at the time of high load.
FIGS. 23A and 23B are partially enlarged views showing the front-end portion of the binding machine 10 in a front view and a top view when the slider 44 further advances in the second moving operation.
The first arm 22 further rotates in the first rotation direction R1 by being pushed by the first protruding portion 44A11 of the first front end portion 41A1 of the slider 44. At this time, since the protruding end portion 44A13 of the first front end portion 44A1 of the slider 44 reaches the front end of the first inner wall portion 64, the slider 44 presses the upper surface of the first portion S1B of the first leg portion S1 from the upward direction Z1. Therefore, the first portion S1B of the first leg portion S1 is supported by the slider 44 and the first inner wall portion 64 from the upward direction Z1, the downward direction Z2, and the inward direction.
The second rear end surface 32B2 of the second arm 32 further rotates in the first rotation direction R1 by being pushed by the second surface 44A22 of the second front end portion 44A2 of the slider 44. As shown in FIG. 23B, since the second leg portion S2 held by the second arm 32 is bent to the position where the second leg portion S2 intersects the first leg portion S1, the opening provided in the staple S before the binding is closed in a top view, and the first leg portion S1, the second leg portion S2, and the main body portion S3 of the staple S surround the second object P in a top view. Note that, in a front view shown in FIG. 23A, the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 moves in the upward direction Z1 and approaches the first object G.
In addition, the second surface 44A22 of the slider 44 and the second rear end surface 32B2 of the second arm 32 are in contact with each other after the period in which the tip end portion S2A of the second leg portion S2 of the staple S and the support wall portion 68A are in contact with each other elapses, and thus it is possible to generate a relatively small rotational moment at the time of relatively low load.
FIGS. 24A and 24B are partially enlarged views showing the front-end portion of the binding machine 10 in a front view and a top view just before the slider 44 advances most in the second moving operation.
The first arm 22 further rotates in the first rotation direction R1 by being pushed by the first protruding portion 44A11 of the first front end portion 41A1 of the slider 44, comes into contact with the first object G, and pushes and displaces the first object G. In addition, the protruding portion 22C protruding in the downward direction Z2 with respect to the first arm 22 comes into contact with the recessed portion 24A provided at the tail end of the contact member 24. Therefore, as the protruding portion 22C of the first arm 22 rotates, the contact member 24 starts advancing in the direction inclined toward the inward direction of the staple S and the downward direction Z2. First, the contact surface 24B of the contact member 24 comes into contact with the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1, and then the corner portion 24C of the contact member 24 comes into contact with the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1, and plastically deforms the tip end portion to fold back. The tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 folded back by the contact member 24 passes through the downward direction Z2 with respect to the first portion S1B, and is bent to intersect the first portion S1B in a top view. As shown in FIG. 14 corresponding to a cross-sectional view at the position where the first portion S1B intersects the tip end portion S1A, the tip end portion S1A can be plastically deformed such that the first portion S1B (upward direction) and the tip end portion S1A (downward direction) are vertically adjacent to each other. At this time, the tip end of the contact member 24 and the tip end of the second leg portion S2 enter the inside of the through hole formed in the first inner wall portion 64 and communicating with the region surrounded by the staple S in a top view. As shown in FIG. 14, since the first portion S1B is surrounded by the slider 44 and the first inner wall portion 64 from the upward direction, the downward direction (excluding the portions through which the folded-back tip end portion S1A and the contact member 24 pass), and the inward direction, the bending thereof is suppressed.
By the above process, the first leg portion S1 sandwiches the first object G. Since the first leg portion S1 is plastically deformed, the first leg portion S1 and the first object G are not easily disengaged from each other.
On the other hand, the second rear end surface 32B2 of the second arm 32 further rotates in the first rotation direction R1 by being pushed by the second surface of the second front end portion 44A2 of the slider 44. Therefore, the second leg portion S2 approaches the second object P beyond the first object G in a top view.
Thereafter, the motor 54 rotates the ball screw 50 in the reverse direction, and thus the slider 44 starts retracting.
FIGS. 25A, 25B and 25C are partially enlarged views and a partially enlarged perspective view of the front-end portion of the binding machine 10 in a front view and a top view after the slider 44 starts retracting.
When the slider 44 starts retracting, the second protruding portion 44A12 of the first front end portion 41A1 of the slider 44 comes into contact with the surface facing the forward direction X1 of the wall portion of the first arm 22 moving to pass through the region between the first protruding portion 44A11 and the second protruding portion 44A12 and pushes the first arm 22 in the rearward direction X2, thereby rotating the first arm 22 in the second rotation direction R2.
In addition, the third surface of the second front end portion 44A2 of the slider 44 comes into contact with the rear end portion of the second arm 32 and pushes the second arm 32 in the rearward direction X2, thereby rotating the second arm 32 in the second rotation direction R2. When the second arm 32 rotates in the second rotation direction R2, the protrusion 32C2 for bending back of the second arm 32, which is provided to protrude in the downward direction Z2 at the position advanced in the first rotation direction R1 with respect to the main body portion, comes into contact with the second leg portion S2 and pushes the second leg portion S2 in the second rotation direction R2. Therefore, the second leg portion S2 is displaced in the second rotation direction R2, and as a result, the bent portion of the second leg portion S2 is engaged with the first object G. As shown in FIG. 25A, the second leg portion S2 is engaged with the first object G, and thus the first object G is displaced, and the tension is generated between the engagement position of the first leg portion S1 and the first object G and the engagement position of the second leg portion S2 and the second object P. Therefore, the first object G is bent, the first object G and the second leg portion S2 can be suppressed from being disengaged from each other.
FIGS. 26A, 26B and 26C are partially enlarged views and a partially enlarged perspective view of the front-end portion of the binding machine 10 in a front view and a top view when the slider 44 further retracts.
The second protruding portion 44A12 of the first front end portion 44A1 of the slider 44 comes into contact with the surface facing the forward direction X1 of the wall portion of the first arm 22 moving to pass through the region between the first protruding portion 44A11 and the second protruding portion 44A12 and pushes the first arm 22 in the rearward direction X2, and thus the first arm 22 further rotates in the second rotation direction R2.
When the first arm 22 further rotates in the second rotation direction R2 and rotates to an initial position shown in FIG. 21B from this state, the ball member urged by the elastic member is fitted in the recessed portion provided in the lower surface of the first arm 22. Therefore, the first arm 22 is held at the initial position.
The third surface of the second front end portion 44A2 of the slider 44 comes into contact with the surface of the rear end portion of the second arm 32 facing the forward direction X1 and pushes the second arm 32 in the rearward direction X2, and thus the second arm 32 further rotates in the second rotation direction R2. Since the second leg portion S2 is engaged with the first object G, the protrusion 32C2 for bending back of the second arm 32 cannot further displace the second leg portion S2 in the second rotation direction R2. Therefore, the protrusion 32C2 for bending back of the second arm 32 moves over the second leg portion S2 while slightly pushing down the second leg portion S2 in the downward direction Z2. As shown in FIG. 26C, the binding machine 10 is configured such that the urging force toward the upward direction Z1 by the pusher 16 is applied to the staple S via the staple S in the downward direction Z2, and thus the protrusion 32C2 for bending back moves over the second leg portion S2 against the urging force.
When the second arm 32 further rotates in the second rotation direction R2 and rotates to the initial position shown in FIG. 21B from this state, the ball member urged by the elastic member is fitted in the recessed portion provided in the lower surface of the second arm 32. Therefore, the second arm 32 is held at the initial position.
When the motor 54 further rotates the ball screw 50 in the reverse direction after the binding operation ends, the second claw portion 48C2 of the switching block 48 moves in the downward direction Z2 while moving in the rearward direction X2 along the inclined surface of the second protrusion 46A2 provided on the base 46, and thus the first claw portion 48C1, the second claw portion 48C2. and the third claw portion 48C3 of the switching block 48 are respectively inserted into regions inside the first groove 42G1, the second groove 42G2, and the third groove 42G3. At this time, the first arm 22 and the second arm 32 approximately return to positions in the initial state. When the motor 54 further rotates the ball screw 50 in the reverse direction, the switching block 48 moves in the rearward direction X2, and the rear surface of the second claw portion 48C2 of the switching block 48 comes into contact with a side surface of the second groove 42G2 facing the forward direction X1. Therefore, the switching block 48 moves the driver 42 in the rearward direction X2 by the rear surface of the second claw portion 48C2 while pressing the surface of the base 46 in the downward direction Z2 by the elastic member 49. Therefore, the driver 42 can be returned to the initial state.
By the above process, the second leg portion S2 is engaged with the first target G. As described above, since the second leg portion S2 is engaged with the first object G in a state where the second leg portion S2 has passed (penetrated) through the gap between the first object G and the second object P in a top view, the second object P is surrounded by the staple S. Therefore, the second object P and the staple S are suppressed from being easily disengaged from each other. In addition, even when the second object P grows and the second leg portion S2 is bent, the engagement with the first object G is strengthened, and thus the first object G and the staple S are also suppressed from being easily disengaged from each other.
However, the binding machine 10 according to the present embodiment can be modified. For example, the first displacement portion 20 may be configured to plastically deform the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 by the first arm 22 without using the contact member 24. For example, a component obtained by integrating the first arm 22 and the contact member 24 may be provided, and the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 may be plastically deformed by rotating the component. At this time, by providing the first arm 22 such that the rotary shaft 22AX of the first arm 22 is inclined and the first arm 22 descends as rotating in the first rotation direction R1, the first arm 22 may have a configuration in which the tip end portion passes under the first portion S1B. On the contrary, by providing the first arm 22 such that the first arm 22 rises as rotating in the first rotation direction R1, the first arm 22 may have a configuration in which the tip end portion passes above the first portion S1B. For example, the tip end portion S1A of the first leg portion S1 folded back by the contact member 24 may pass through the upward direction Z1 with respect to the first portion S1B and may be bent to intersect the first portion S1B in a top view. On the other hand, the second leg portion S2 may be bent to advance in the downward direction Z2 separated from the plane PL passing through the second leg portion S2 and the main body portion S3.

[Switch Structure]

The switch structure 70 is configured to rotationally drive the motor 54 when the user presses it with the user's finger. Below, the switch structure according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4C. To facilitate understanding of the description, components having the same function in each drawing will be described using the same symbols wherever possible.
FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the switch structure 70 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 27, the switch structure 70 includes a first trigger 71, a switch 73, and a positioning member PM.
The first trigger 71 is configured to be rotatable in a first rotating direction M1 around a first rotary shaft 71AX with a first rotation hinge 71B1 as a fulcrum. As the first trigger 71 is pressed by the user's finger and rotates in the first rotating direction M1 around the first rotary shaft 71AX, a pressing portion pdp (FIG. 28A), which is a member protruding in the direction of the first rotary shaft 71AX of the first trigger 71, also rotates in the first rotating direction M1, and thus the switch 73 provided at a position advanced in the first rotating direction M1 from the member is also pressed. At this time, the power source of the battery of the motor 54 is turned on and the motor 54 rotates, so the drive portion (speed reducer 55, ball screw 50, driver 42, slider 44, first displacement portion 20, second displacement portion 30, and the like) is driven.
FIG. 28A is a diagram showing an example of the switch structure 70 before pressing according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 28B is a diagram showing an example of the switch structure 70 after pressing according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The first trigger 71 has a first pressing surface 71C1, a first inclined surface 71D11, a second inclined surface 71D12, a third pressing surface 71E1, and a protrusion surface 71F1, all of which are for the user to press with a finger.
The first pressing surface 71C1 rotates the first trigger 71 in the first rotating direction M1 by being pressed in the rearward direction X2 with the user's finger. The first pressing surface 71C1 rotates the first trigger 71 in the first rotating direction M1 by being, for example, pressed in the rearward direction X2 with the user's left or right index finger.
As shown in FIG. 28A, in a cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to the first rotary shaft 71AX, the first pressing surface 71C1 is formed in a plane shape that is substantially perpendicular to the forward direction X1.
In addition, the first pressing surface 71C1 is configured to be capable of rotating the first trigger 71 in the first rotating direction M1 even when pressed in a direction inclined toward the rightward direction Y1 by the user.
The first inclined surface 71D11 and the second inclined surface 71D12 are provided at both end portions of the first pressing surface 71C1. The first inclined surface 71D11 is an inclined surface connected to an end portion on one side of the first pressing surface 71C1 and inclined with respect to both the forward direction X1 and a lateral side on the other side (rightward direction Y1). Therefore, the first inclined surface 71D11 has a portion exposed toward the forward direction X1 (a portion that is visible from the forward direction X1) and a side surface (a portion that is visible from the lateral side) exposed toward the lateral side (rightward direction Y1) on the other side. The first inclined surface 71D11 is a connection portion between the portion exposed toward the forward direction X1 of the first trigger 71 and the portion exposed toward the lateral side (rightward direction Y1) on the other side, and is curved with respect to the forward direction X1. In addition, the second inclined surface 71D12 is a connection portion between the portion exposed toward the forward direction X1 of the first trigger 71 and a portion exposed toward a lateral side (leftward direction Y2), and is curved with respect to the forward direction X1. By providing the first inclined surface 71D11, for example, when the user presses the switch structure 70 with the index finger of the left hand, even a user whose index finger of the left hand does not reach the first pressing surface 71C1 can rotate the first trigger 71 by pressing the first inclined surface 71D11. Furthermore, the first rotary shaft 71AX is provided at a position closer to the outer peripheral surface of the grip 12 than the center of the grip 12, and as a result, a distance between the first inclined surface 71D11 and the first rotary shaft 71AX is greater than a distance between the first pressing surface 71C1 and the first rotary shaft 71AX, making it possible to generate a larger rotational moment.
The second inclined surface 71D12 is an inclined surface connected to an end portion on the other side of the first pressing surface 71C1 and inclined with respect to both the forward direction X1 and a lateral side (leftward direction Y2). By providing the second inclined surface 71D12, for example, when the user presses the first trigger 71 with the index finger of the right hand, the index finger of the right hand fits along the first pressing surface 71C1 and the second inclined surface 71D12, so the user can easily operate the switch. In addition, since the second inclined surface 71D12 is formed to be inclined with respect to the first pressing surface 71C1, even in a direction where pressing the first pressing surface 71C1 does not generate a sufficient rotational moment, it may be possible to rotate the first trigger 71 by pressing the second inclined surface 71D12. Furthermore, even a user who does not reach the first pressing surface 71C1 with the index finger of the right hand can rotate the first trigger 71 by pressing the second inclined surface 71D12.
The third pressing surface 71E1 rotates the first trigger 71 in the first rotating direction M1 by being pressed with the user's finger. The third pressing surface 71E1 rotates the first trigger 71 in the first rotating direction M1, for example, by being pressed with the index finger of the user's right hand. In addition, the third pressing surface 71E1 is configured to be capable of rotating the first trigger 71 in the first rotating direction M1 by being pressed by the user.
The protrusion surface 71F1 protrudes from a surface of the first trigger 71 opposite to the third pressing surface 71E1 toward the rightward direction Y1. By providing the protrusion surface 71F1, for example, when the user presses the switch structure 70 with the index finger of the left hand, even if the pressing force is directed toward a left rear direction (a direction between the leftward direction Y2 and the rearward direction X2), the index finger of the left hand is caught on the protrusion surface 71F1, making operation easy.
The switch structure 70 before and after being pressed by the user's finger transitions from FIG. 28A to FIG. 28B. For example, when the first pressing surface 71C1 of the first trigger 71 is pressed with the user's finger, the first trigger 71 rotates (pivots) in the first rotating direction M1 around the first rotary shaft 71AX. At this time, along with the rotation of the first trigger 71, the pressing portion pdb presses the switch 73.
The positioning member PM is provided to maintain a positional relationship between the first trigger 71 and the switch 73. The positioning member PM maintains, for example, the first rotation hinge 71B1. In addition, the positioning member PM may maintain the switch 73 at a position where the pressing portion pdb can press the switch 73 when the first trigger 71 rotates in the first rotating direction M1 around the first rotary shaft 71AX with the first rotation hinge 71B1 as a fulcrum. When the user stops pressing the first trigger 71, the push back spring pbs returns the first trigger 71 to its position before pressing.
When the switch structure 70 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is provided in the grip 12 of FIG. 4C, it has the first trigger 71 having the first pressing surface 71C1 exposed toward the forward direction X1 and configured to rotate, with respect to the first rotary shaft 71AX, in the first rotating direction M1 when pressed, and the first inclined surface 71D11 exposed toward the rightward direction Y1 and configured to rotate, with respect to the first rotary shaft 71AX, in the first rotating direction M1 when pressed. As a result, the switch can be operated using either the finger of the right hand or the finger of the left hand.
In addition, the first trigger 71 has the third pressing surface 71E1 exposed toward the leftward direction Y2 and configured to rotate, with respect to the first rotary shaft 71AX, in the first rotating direction M1 when pressed, making it possible to easily operate the switch.
Additionally, since the first trigger 71 is provided at a position closer to the outer periphery of the grip 12 than the center of the grip 12 in a cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to the first rotary shaft 71AX, it becomes possible to rotate the first trigger 71 even when pressed in a direction other than a direction perpendicular to each pressing surface.
As described above, the present disclosure is applicable to generic electric tools. However, it is particularly applicable to electric tools used for tasks where the posture of the electric tool is not necessarily fixed, such as the binding machine 10. When binding a plant using the binding machine 10, the user needs to change the position or posture of the binding machine 10 in accordance with individual differences in the plant, and to perform the binding operation while keeping the arm extended or the wrist fixed. The binding machine 10 adopting the switch structure 70 according to the present embodiment can be directed in various directions while keeping the arm extended or the wrist fixed. In such a state, the switch can be operated in a rotation direction using the right index finger, the left index finger, or the thumb, so the burden on the user can be reduced.
Note that the user may press any one surface using a finger of the right hand or the left hand according to the dominant hand.
FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a switch structure 70 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 29, the switch structure 70 includes a first trigger 71, a second trigger 72, and a switch 73. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that two triggers for pressing the switch 73 are provided.
The first trigger 71 is configured to be rotatable in the first rotating direction M1 around the first rotary shaft 71AX of the first trigger 71, with the first rotation hinge 71B2 as a fulcrum. In addition, the second trigger 72 is configured to be rotatable in a second rotating direction M2 around a second rotary shaft 72AX of the second trigger 72, with a second rotation hinge 72B2 as a fulcrum. When one of the first trigger 71 and the second trigger 72 is pressed by the user's finger and rotated, the other trigger rotates in conjunction. Since the switch 73 is pressed in conjunction with the rotation of one of the triggers, the motor 54 is turned on and the drive portion of the binding machine 10 is driven. Note that the pressing surface of the first trigger 71 and the pressing surface of the second trigger 72 may be provided with comb-shaped grooves that mesh with each other. Specifically, the first trigger 71 is composed of four first plate-shaped portions 71C21 to 71C24 and a first connecting portion 71G2 connecting the first plate-shaped portions. The four plate-shaped portions 71C21 to 71C24 are provided spaced apart from each other by a plurality of grooves in the direction of the first rotary shaft 71AX, and each have a front end surface forming a part of the first pressing surface 71C2. The second trigger 72 is also composed of four second plate-shaped portions 72C21 to 72C24 and a second connecting portion 72G2 connecting the second plate-shaped portions.
FIG. 30A is a diagram showing an example of the switch structure 70 before pressing according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 30B is a diagram showing an example of the switch structure 70 after pressing according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.
The first trigger 71 is composed of a plurality of plate-shaped members, and the front end surface of each member is provided with the first pressing surface 71C2 and the first inclined surface 71D2 formed such that the user can press them with a finger. The first pressing surface 71C2 is a surface facing the forward direction X1 and is formed to protrude toward the forward direction X1, and the first inclined surface 71D2 has a surface facing a lateral side (rightward direction Y1), is curved with respect to the forward direction X1, and is also formed to protrude toward the rightward direction Y1. The respective plate-shaped members are provided parallel to and spaced apart from one another, with the grooves formed on the front end surfaces therebetween, and are connected in a region in the rearward direction X2 where the first rotary shaft 71AX is provided.
In addition, the first trigger 71 has a protrusion pp1 for transmitting a rotational force, as an acting portion. Note that by providing the first inclined surface 71D2, the switch can be operated when it fits the user's finger or even when the index finger does not reach the first pressing surface 71C2.
The second trigger 72 is composed of a plurality of plate-shaped members that are respectively arranged in the grooves of the plate-shaped members constituting the first trigger 71, and a front end surface of each member is provided with a second pressing surface 72C2 and a second inclined surface 72D2 formed such that the user can press them with a finger. The second pressing surface 72C2 is a surface facing the forward direction X1 and is formed to protrude toward the forward direction X1, and the second inclined surface 72D2 has a surface facing a lateral side (leftward direction Y2) on the other side, is curved with respect to the forward direction X1, and is formed to protrude toward the leftward direction Y2. The respective plate-shaped members are provided parallel to and spaced apart from one another, with the grooves formed on the front end surfaces therebetween, and are connected in a region in the rearward direction X2 where the second rotary shaft 72AX is provided. In addition, the second trigger 72 has a guide pin sp1 that receives a rotational force from the outside, as an acted portion. Note that when viewed from the back in the upward direction Z1 in FIGS. 30A and 30B, the first trigger 71 has a guide pin (not shown), and the second trigger 72 has a protrusion (not shown). As such, since the first trigger 71 and the second trigger 72 each have a protrusion and a guide pin, when one of the first trigger 71 or the second trigger 72 is pushed and rotated, the other trigger can rotate in conjunction.
When the pressing surface is pressed by the user's finger, the switch structure 70 transitions from FIG. 30A to FIG. 30B. For example, when the first pressing surface 71C2 of the first trigger 71 is pressed with the user's index finger, the first trigger 71 rotates in the first rotating direction M1 around the first rotary shaft 71AX. At this time, the protrusion pp1 provided as an acting portion on the first trigger 71 slides while coming into contact with the guide pin sp1 provided as an acted portion on the second trigger 72, thereby causing the second trigger 72 to rotate in the second rotating direction M2 around the second rotary shaft 72AX. Therefore, the first trigger 71 or the second trigger 72 presses the switch 73.
When the switch structure 70 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure is provided in the grip 12 of FIG. 4C, the user can operate the switch in the rotation direction by selecting the first trigger 71 or the second trigger 72 with the finger of the right hand or left hand, so the burden on the user can be reduced. Note that the first pressing surface 71C2 and the second pressing surface 72C2 may be formed flush with each other, or may be configured to be rotatable in opposite directions. In addition, when the first trigger 71 and the second trigger 72 are provided in the grip 12 of FIG. 4C, they may be formed over a range within half of the outer periphery in a cross-section perpendicular to the extension direction, near the grip 12 in the forward direction X1.
FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the switch structure 70 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 31, the switch structure 70 includes a first trigger 71, a second trigger 72, and a switch 73. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that two triggers for pressing the switch 73 are provided. In addition, the third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that two pressing surfaces, formed separately for each trigger, are provided.
FIG. 32A is a diagram showing an example of the switch structure 70 before pressing according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 32B is a diagram showing an example of the switch structure 70 after pressing according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. The first trigger 71 has a first pressing surface 71C3, a first inclined surface 71D3, and a third pressing surface 71E3, all of which are for the user to press with a finger. In addition, the first trigger 71 has a protrusion pp2. The second trigger 72 has a second pressing surface 72C3, a second inclined surface 72D3, and a fourth pressing surface 72E3, all of which are for the user to press with a finger. In addition, the second trigger 72 has guide pins sp2 and sp3.
The first trigger 71 has the first pressing surface 71C3 and the third pressing surface 71E3. For example, the user can selectively press the first pressing surface 71C3 with the index finger of the left hand, or the third pressing surface 71E3 with the thumb of the left hand. At this time, the first trigger 71 is pressed and rotated, so that a rotational force is transmitted from the protrusion pp2 (acting portion) to the guide pin sp2 (acted portion), and thus the second trigger 72 also rotates in conjunction. Note that the third pressing surface 71E3 may be perpendicular to the first pressing surface 71C3 so that the user can selectively choose a surface to press with a finger, as described above.
The second trigger 72 has the second pressing surface 72C2 and the fourth pressing surface 72E2. For example, the user can selectively press the second pressing surface 72C3 with the index finger of the right hand, or the fourth pressing surface 72E3 with the thumb of the right hand. At this time, the second trigger 72 is pressed and rotated, so that a rotational force is transmitted from the guide pin sp3 (acting portion) to the protrusion pp2 (acted portion), and thus the first trigger 71 also rotates in conjunction. Note that, the fourth pressing surface 72E3 may be perpendicular to the second pressing surface 72C3 so that the user can selectively choose a surface to press with a finger, as described above.
Note that when viewed from the back in the upward direction Z1 in FIGS. 32A and 32B, the first trigger 71 may have a protrusion (not shown), and the second trigger 72 may have two guide pins (not shown). As such, since the first trigger 71 has a protrusion and the second trigger 72 has two guide pins, when one of the first trigger 71 or the second trigger 72 is pushed and rotated, the other trigger can rotate in conjunction.
The switch structure 70 before and after being pressed by the user's finger transitions from FIG. 32A to FIG. 32B. For example, when the fourth pressing surface 72E3 of the second trigger 72 is pressed with the thumb of the user's right hand, the second trigger 72 rotates in the second rotating direction M2 around the second rotary shaft 72AX. At this time, the slide pin sp3 provided on the second trigger 72 slides while coming into contact with the protrusion pp2 provided on the first trigger 71, thereby causing the first trigger 71 to rotate in the first rotating direction M1 around the first rotary shaft 71AX. As a result, the first trigger 71 or the second trigger 72 presses the switch 73.
When the switch structure 70 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure is provided in the grip 12 of FIG. 4C, the user can operate the switch in the rotation direction by selecting the first trigger 71 or the second trigger 72 with the finger of the right hand or left hand, so the burden on the user can be reduced. In addition, when the first trigger 71 and the second trigger 72 are provided in the grip 12 of FIG. 4C, they may be formed over a range within half of the outer periphery in a cross-section perpendicular to the extension direction, near the grip 12 in the forward direction X1.
The first, second and third embodiments of the switch structure 70 have been described. Any one of the switch structures 70 of the first, second and third embodiments is suitably employed in the binding machine 10. That is, in the case where the object to be bound is an object with individual differences, such as a plant, when adjusting the angle of the binding machine 10 according to the object to be bound, the user can operate the binding machine by selecting a pressing surface from multiple pressing surfaces with either the left or right finger. This allows the user to operate the binding machine while adjusting to a posture, arm angle, and wrist angle that are less burdensome. In addition, since the switch structure 70 has a shape that fits the fingertip, it reduces the burden on the user's body and makes operation easier, and is therefore adopted in the binding machine 10.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the binding machine has been described as an example of the electric tool, but the electric tool according to the present disclosure is not limited to the binding machine. The electric tool according to the present disclosure may be, for example, an electric tool such as a hammer drill, an impact wrench, a vibration drill, or a reinforcing bar binding machine, or a pneumatic tool such as a pneumatic nailing machine or a pneumatic impact driver.
In addition, the present disclosure can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. For example, other known configurations may be added to some components of an embodiment within the scope of the ordinary creativity of one skilled in the art. Additionally, some components in an embodiment may be replaced with other known components. The components disclosed in the present application can be reasonably combined or replaced with other known components by the exhibition of the ordinary creativity of one skilled in the art.
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application (Patent Application No. 2023-004096) filed on January 13, 2023 , the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an electric tool having a switch that reduces a burden on a user.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

10: binding machine
12: grip
12a: front arc portion
112b: rear arc portion
12c1, 12c2: lateral side arc portion
14: magazine
16: pusher
18: separation block
20: first displacement portion
22: first arm
22AX: rotary shaft of first arm
22C: protruding portion
24: contact member (claw member)
24A: recessed portion
24B: contact surface
24C: corner portion
30: second displacement portion
32: second arm
32AX: rotary shaft of second arm
32B: rear end portion
32B1: first rear end surface
32B2: second rear end surface
32C: tip end portion
32C1: main body portion
32C2: protrusion
42: driver
42S: front end surface
42B: protruding end portion
42C: protruding portion for driver
42G1: first groove
42G2: second groove
42G3: third groove
44: slider
44A1: first front end portion
44A11: first protruding portion
44A12: second protruding portion
44A13: protruding end portion
44A2: second front end portion
44A21: first surface
44A22: second surface
44A23: third surface
44B: fixing portion
46: base
46A1: first protrusion
46A2: second protrusion
46A3: third protrusion
48: switching block
48C1: first claw portion
48C2: second claw portion
48C3: third claw portion
50: ball screw
50AX: central axis
52: nut component
52A: holding portion
54: motor
62: first outer wall portion
62A: first region
62B: second region
64: first inner wall portion
66: second inner wall portion
68: tip end support portion
68A: support wall portion
70: switch structure
71: first trigger
71AX: first rotary shaft
71B1, 71B2, 71B3: first rotation hinge
71C1, 71C2, 71C3: first pressing surface
71D11, 71D12, 71D2, 71D3: first inclined surface
71E1, 71E3: third pressing surface
71F1: protrusion surface
72: second trigger
72AX: second rotary shaft
72B1, 72B2, 72B3: second rotation hinge
72C1, 72C2, 72C3: second pressing surface
72D1, 72D2, 72D3: second inclined surface
72E3: fourth pressing surface
73: switch
230: guide holding mechanism
S: staple
S1: first leg portion
S1A: tip end portion
S1B: first portion
α1: bending angle
DS1: first distance
S2: second leg portion
S2A: tip end portion
DS2: second distance
S3: main body portion
G: first object
P: second object
PM: positioning member
pdp: pressing portion
pbs: push back spring
ppl, pp2: protrusion
sp1, sp2, sp3: guide pin
PL: plane
X1: forward direction
X2: rearward direction
Y1: rightward direction
Y2: leftward direction
Z1: upward direction
Z2: downward direction
D1: opening direction
R1: first rotation direction
R2: second rotation direction
M1: first rotating direction
M2: second rotating direction

Claims

An electric tool comprising:
a motor;

a drive portion configured to be driven by operation of the motor;

a grip;

a first rotary shaft provided in the grip and extending in an extension direction of the grip; and

a first trigger exposed toward a forward direction of the grip and configured to rotate, with respect to the first rotary shaft, in a direction orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the extension direction when a part exposed toward the forward direction is pressed,
wherein the motor is configured to operate based on rotation of the first trigger.
The electric tool according to claim 1, wherein the first trigger is exposed toward a lateral side on one side of the grip and configured to rotate, with respect to the first rotary shaft, in the direction orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the extension direction when a part exposed toward the lateral side is pressed.
The electric tool according to claim 2, wherein the first rotary shaft is provided at a position closer to an outer periphery of the grip than a center of the grip in a cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to the first rotary shaft.
The electric tool according to claim 3, wherein the first trigger is provided at an upper portion of the grip in the extension direction of the grip.
The electric tool according to claim 4, wherein a part of the first trigger exposed from the forward direction of the grip is formed to protrude in the forward direction from an outer peripheral surface of the grip.
The electric tool according to claim 5, wherein the first trigger is formed over a range of one quarter or more of an entire outer periphery of the grip in a cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to the first rotary shaft.
The electric tool according to claim 2, further comprising:
a second rotary shaft provided in the grip and parallel to the first rotary shaft, and

a second trigger exposed toward the forward direction and at least a lateral side on another side of the grip and configured to rotate, with respect to the second rotary shaft, in a direction opposite to that of the first trigger,
wherein the motor is configured to operate based on rotation of the second trigger.
The electric tool according to claim 7, wherein the second trigger is configured to rotate in conjunction with rotation of the first trigger.
The electric tool according to claim 8, wherein
the first trigger has an acting portion,

the second trigger has an acted portion, and

the second trigger is configured such that when the first trigger rotates, the acting portion comes into contact with the acted portion, causing the second trigger to rotate.
The electric tool according to claim 2, wherein the first trigger is exposed toward a lateral side on another side of the grip and configured to rotate, with respect to the first rotary shaft, in the direction orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the extension direction when a part exposed toward the lateral side on the other side is pressed.
The electric tool according to claim 7, wherein
the first trigger and the second trigger each comprise a plurality of plate-shaped portions provided spaced apart in the extension direction, and

the plate-shaped portions of the second trigger and the plate-shaped portions of the first trigger are alternately arranged in the extension direction, respectively.
The electric tool according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein
the part of the first trigger exposed toward the forward direction is continuous with a part of the first trigger exposed toward the lateral side, and

a connecting portion between the part exposed toward the forward direction and the part exposed toward the lateral side is curved in the direction orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the extension direction.
The electric tool according to claim 12, wherein a distance between the connecting portion and the first rotary shaft is smaller than a distance between the part exposed toward the forward direction and the first rotary shaft.