JP5082899B2 - Stopper residual amount detection mechanism and stopper residual amount detection method for hand-held tools - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a stopper remaining amount detection mechanism and a stopper remaining amount detection method in a handheld tool that continuously supplies a plurality of fasteners, and more particularly to a stop in a handheld tool that detects the remaining amount of a fastener. The present invention relates to a tool remaining amount detection mechanism and a stopper remaining amount detection method.

  For example, a hand-held stopper continuous supply tool (hereinafter also simply referred to as a tool) such as a nail driver loads a nail or a screw as a stopper (synonymous with a consumable) into a magazine of the tool body and injects the stopper. However, if the operator does not notice that the stopper has been used up, the worker may run out and may damage a stopper such as a gypsum board with a driver bit, for example. As a means for solving this problem, it is conceivable to provide a tool body with a blanking prevention mechanism for preventing blanking.

Conventionally, a detection device that detects that the remaining amount of stable in the magazine is absent or has been disclosed is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1). Conventionally, a stable hitting device including a sensor that monitors the supply of the stable when the stable is consumed is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2). Furthermore, conventionally, there has been disclosed an operation detecting device for a stable hammer that detects the movement of the stable driven forward by the stable driving operation (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-33077 JP-A-57-89572 JP-A-8-164503

  By the way, when the above-described idle driving prevention mechanism is provided in the tool body, the prevention mechanism increases the weight. Therefore, inconveniences such as poor usability occur. Further, there may be a case where it is known that there is no stopper only after actual hitting in a state where the remaining number of stoppers is unknown. For example, when working on a stepladder or the like, if there is no stop during the work on the stepladder, the number of steps thereafter becomes complicated. Specifically, in order to load the stopper, a troublesome operation such as getting off the stepladder is required, and labor and time are wasted.

  The technology according to Patent Documents 1 to 3 relates to an electric staple placed on a base, a stable driving device built in a copying machine, and an automatic stable driving device for driving a stable by automatic control. It's not about hand-held tools.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a stopper remaining amount detection mechanism and a stopper remaining amount detection method in a hand-held tool that can detect the remaining amount of a fastener.

  The stopper remaining amount detection mechanism in the hand-held tool according to the present invention includes a detecting unit that detects the remaining amount of the stopper in the hand-held tool that continuously supplies a plurality of stoppers. In addition, you may make it provide the counter means which counts the remaining number of the said fasteners in the said fastener residual amount detection mechanism. Further, in the stopper remaining amount detection mechanism, a plurality of detection parts for detecting the remaining amount of the stopper may be detachably disposed on the hand-held tool body as a single assembly completed product.

Further, warning means for warning the remaining number of fasteners may be provided, and the warning means may change the warning method according to the remaining number.

With the stopper remaining amount detection mechanism in the hand-held tool according to the present invention, since the remaining amount of the stopper is detected, it is possible to easily grasp the presence or absence of the stopper without hitting it. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent idling, and thus it is possible to prevent damage to the guard. Further, according to the present invention, since the operator can grasp that the remaining amount of the fastener is small without being aware of opening the magazine, the usability of the hand-held tool is improved. Specifically, since it is possible to recognize the necessity of loading the stopper in advance, for example, the stopper can be loaded before climbing the stepladder, and waste can be saved.

  When the counter means is provided, the remaining number of fasteners is counted, so that the remaining number of fasteners can be easily grasped. Further, when the plurality of detection parts for detecting the remaining amount of the fastener are detachably arranged as a single assembly completed product (assembly) with respect to the hand-held tool body, the assembly is attached to the tool body. It can be easily and quickly attached and detached. That is, when configured as the assembly, it can be retrofitted to the off-the-shelf tool, so various maintenance or replacement can be facilitated.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a stopper remaining amount detection mechanism and a stopper remaining amount detection method for a hand-held tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The hand-held tool in this embodiment will be described as a hand-held air-driven screw driving machine 10 shown in FIG. 1, and the stopper will be described as a screw.

  1 is a side view of the screw driving machine 10, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the screw driving machine 10, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of the screw driving machine 10, and FIG. 6 and 7 are views showing a state in which the detection lever of the stopper remaining amount detection mechanism detects the screw W, and FIGS. 8 to 10 are initial states of the detection lever (detecting the nail). FIG.

(Schematic configuration of the screw driving machine 10)
A screw driving machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a striking mechanism and a screw tightening mechanism (not shown). The striking mechanism includes a striking cylinder, a striking piston slidably provided in the striking cylinder, and a driver bit 12 (see a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) integrally coupled to the striking piston. As shown in FIG. 1, when the trigger 14 is pulled, compressed air is supplied into the striking cylinder from an air chamber (connected to an air supply source) 16 that stores compressed air. The illustrated driver bit 12 is actuated. As shown in FIG. 1, the air chamber 16 is formed inside the grip portion 15.

  The screw tightening mechanism (not shown) is for tightening the driver bit 12 (see FIG. 3) by the power of the air motor. That is, almost simultaneously with the start of the operation of the impact mechanism, a part of the compressed air flowing from the air chamber 16 shown in FIG. 1 is supplied to the air motor 18 as shown in FIG. Rotate to Then, the screw W (refer to the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) located at the injection port (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) is tightened by a rotating driver bit 12 (not shown) such as a gypsum board.

  In addition, the injection port mentioned above is formed in the nose part 20 mentioned later. Further, since the hitting mechanism and the screw tightening mechanism are the same as those of a conventionally known configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-353671, etc., further details are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the screw driving machine 10 includes a nose portion 20 for injecting a screw W and a contact member 22 as a safety device that is slidably disposed on the nose portion 20. The contact member 22 is urged so as to protrude toward the driving side of the screw W, and the operation of the trigger 14 (see FIG. 1) is effective only when the contact member 22 is pressed against the member to be tightened. Yes. Further, the contact member 22 is temporarily locked to a contact stopper (not shown) at the time of pressing. And the said striking mechanism act | operates and it is comprised so that it can project to the driving side again by moving a contact stopper.

(Configuration related to screw remaining amount detection mechanism S)
As shown in FIG. 3, in the screw driving machine 10, a screw feeding device 24 and a magazine 26 are continuously arranged on the nose portion 20. The plurality of screws W in the magazine 26 are sequentially supplied to the injection position of the nose portion 20 by the screw feeding device 24. The screw feeder 24 includes a screw feeding air section 25 shown in FIG.

  A cover 28 shown in FIG. 2 is rotatably disposed on the magazine 26. And the cover 28 covers the guide part 30 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of screws W are respectively attached to connecting bands WN connected in a long shape, and the connecting bands WN are stored in the magazine 24 in a state of being wound in a roll shape.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the rotatable cover 32 covers the screw feeding portion 24 </ b> A of the screw feeding device 24. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the cover 28 or 32 is locked, the cover 28 or 32 presses the connecting band WN toward the guide portion 30 or the screw feed portion 24A, and the screw W is predetermined. Is held at a height of

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the screw remaining amount detection mechanism S includes a plurality of detection components such as a detection box 34 and a detection lever 36 that house a circuit board 44 described later. The detection lever 36 rotates around a shaft 38 over a predetermined range and comes into contact with a screw W located on the guide portion 30. That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the detection lever 36 is always urged by the spring 40 toward the guide portion 30 side, that is, the screw W (see FIG. 6) side positioned on the guide portion 30. A magnet 42 is disposed on the detection lever 36. Note that the shaft 38 is disposed in the guide portion 30 of the magazine 26.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a circuit board 44 is arranged in the detection box 34, and electronic components such as a hall element 46 as a detection element are mounted on the circuit board 44. . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the Hall element 46 is arranged to face the magnet 42 when the detection lever 36 detects the screw W supplied to the guide portion 30.

  That is, when the screw W is supplied to the guide portion 30, the detection lever 36 is pushed back against the biasing force of the spring 40, and the magnet 42 and the hall element 46 are opposed to each other (FIGS. 6 to 8). State). On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the screw W is not positioned on the guide portion 30, that is, when the remaining amount of the screw W is reduced, the detection lever 36 is attached to the vicinity of the cover 28 by the biasing force of the spring 40. The turned off state (a state in which the magnet 42 is separated from the Hall element 46).

  As shown in FIG. 4, an acceleration sensor 48, which is a piezoelectric element, is arranged on the circuit board 44. The acceleration sensor 48 detects that the screw W is hit by the hitting mechanism described above. In addition, a button-shaped battery 52 is disposed in the detection box 34, and the battery 52 supplies power to electronic components such as the LED 50.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the LED driving device 10 is provided with an LED 50 on the upper side of the magazine 26. The LED 50 constitutes a part of warning means that blinks when the remaining amount of the screw W decreases. The irradiation direction of the LED 50 is the same as the injection direction of the screw W.

  In addition, the irradiation direction of LED50 can be changed arbitrarily, for example, you may arrange | position so that it may face an operator side. On the other hand, if the LED 50 is attached in the direction of irradiating the tightening member, the operator recognizes the reflected light of the LED 50 from the tightening member, so that overlooking of blinking can be prevented. That is, the operator's attention during the work is generally directed toward the tightened member rather than the screw driving machine 10.

(Configuration of control system of screw remaining amount detection mechanism S)
As shown in FIG. 11, the remaining screw amount detection mechanism S includes a CPU 90, a ROM 92, a RAM 94, a hall element 46, an acceleration sensor 48, and an LED 50. The CPU 90 controls the overall operation of the remaining screw amount detection mechanism S, and performs processing such as counting the remaining amount of the screw W when the screw W is hit by the hitting mechanism, for example. Note that the CPU 90 constitutes a part of detection means or counter means. The ROM 92 as storage means stores a program for controlling various processes. The RAM 94 has a recording area for reading and writing various data, and hit data and the like are recorded in this recording area.

(Operation of this embodiment)
Based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, processing related to the remaining screw amount detection mode will be described. 11 is executed by the CPU 90 and is represented by the flowcharts of FIGS. 12 and 13. These programs are stored in advance in the program area of the ROM 92 (see FIG. 11).

(Screw remaining amount detection mode)
In step 100 shown in FIG. 12, the CPU 90 determines whether the detection is off. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the detection lever 36 detects the screw W, the magnet 42 faces the hall element 46, so the detection signal from the hall element 46 is turned on. That is, Step 100 is negative and the processing of Step 100 is continued until the detection signal is turned off.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when there is no screw W on the guide portion 30, that is, when the remaining amount of the screw W is small, the detection lever 36 rotates to the vicinity of the cover 28 and the magnet 42. And the Hall element 46 are separated from each other, the detection signal from the Hall element 46 is turned off. Therefore, since step 100 becomes affirmative, in step 102, the CPU 90 sets the light emission mode in which the LED 50 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 emits light. After the process of step 102, the process returns to step 100.

(LED emission mode)
In this LED light emission mode, the light emission pattern 1 to the light emission pattern 5 (see FIG. 14) are set in advance so that the blinking intervals of the LEDs 50 shown in FIGS. That is, the blinking interval is gradually reduced from the light emission pattern 1 toward the light emission pattern 4, and the light emission pattern 5 is in a lighting state that is continuously lit. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the remaining amount of the screw W can be visually grasped by making the blinking intervals of the light emission patterns 1 to 5 different. The light emission pattern can be arbitrarily changed. For example, when the screw W is exhausted, the light emission pattern may be continuously blinked until the screw W is loaded, or may be blinked for a predetermined time in order to save power consumption. .

  In addition, the remaining number of screws W being four is determined by the detection signal from the hall element 46 being turned off. The remaining four are the number of the screw feed portion 24A shown in FIG. 9 and the number of screws W at the injection position. The number thereafter is counted based on the acceleration sensor 48 shown in FIG. Since the impact by the hitting mechanism described above is twice during the reciprocation of the driver bit 12 shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 90 ejects one screw W when the detection signal from the acceleration sensor 48 is twice. Judge that

  The light emission mode subroutine will be described with reference to FIG. If the LED emission mode is set in step 102 (see FIG. 12), it is determined in step 104 whether the remaining amount is four. If step 104 is positive, that is, if the remaining amount is four, in step 106, the light emission pattern 1 is caused to emit light. The light emission pattern 1 emits light at a blinking interval as shown in FIG. 14, and the blinking interval is the longest among the light emission patterns 1 to 4. That is, since the LED 50 blinks slowly, for example, when it is desired to hit only one shot, the user can determine that it is not necessary to load the screw W.

  If step 104 is negative, it is determined in step 108 whether the remaining amount is three. When step 108 is affirmative, that is, when the remaining amount is three, in step 110, the light emission pattern 2 shown in FIG. Whether the remaining number is three is determined by the CPU 90 counting based on the detection signal of the acceleration sensor 48 described above.

  If step 108 is negative, it is determined in step 112 whether the remaining amount is two. When step 112 is affirmative, that is, when the remaining amount is two, in step 114, the light emission pattern 3 shown in FIG. If step 112 is negative, it is determined in step 118 whether the remaining amount is one. When step 118 is affirmative, that is, when the remaining amount is one, in step 120, the light emission pattern 4 shown in FIG.

  If step 118 is negative, the remaining amount is zero, so in step 122, the light emission pattern 5 shown in FIG. That is, the LED 50 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 continues to be lit. According to this embodiment, since the remaining amount of the screw W is detected, the presence or absence of the screw W can be easily grasped without actually hitting it. In other words, in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent idling, and thus it is possible to prevent damage to the tightening member.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the operator can grasp that the remaining amount of the screw W is small without being aware of opening the cover 28, the usability of the screw driving machine 10 is improved. Specifically, since the necessity of loading the screw W can be recognized in advance, for example, the screw W can be loaded before climbing the stepladder, and waste can be saved.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the remaining number of screws W can be easily recognized due to the difference in the blinking interval of the LED 50, so the urgency of the loading timing of the screws W can be easily grasped.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the components related to the remaining screw amount detection mechanism S are lightweight, such as a button-type battery 52, an acceleration sensor 48 that is a piezoelectric element, a hall element 46, and a magnet 42 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the weight of the screw driving machine 10 can be minimized. Note that the flow of processing of each program described in the above embodiment (see FIGS. 12 and 13) is an example, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, based on FIG.15 and FIG.16, the detection box 60 which is 2nd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. In addition, the same parts number is attached | subjected about the same parts as 1st Embodiment. Unlike the first embodiment, the detection box 60 is an example in which the LED 50 is also arranged in the detection box 60 in addition to the detection lever 36.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the detection box 60 of the present embodiment is an example in which a detection lever 36 is also installed, and is configured so that it can be retrofitted to a ready-made screw driving machine. That is, in this embodiment, a plurality of detection components such as the detection lever 36 and the LED 50 are used as a single assembly completed product (assembly). Accordingly, in the present embodiment, since the detection box 60 can be easily attached and detached, various maintenance or replacement can be easily performed.

  The detection box 60 can be arbitrarily changed as long as it is a place where the remaining amount of the screw W can be detected (on the screw transfer path). For example, the detection box 60 may be provided on the injection side of the screw W (position shown in FIG. 16). good. Since other configurations and operational effects are the same as those of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

(Other variations)
If the LED 50 of this embodiment is of a high luminance type and a changeover switch is provided, the irradiation function can be exhibited when necessary, such as work in a dark place. In the present invention, the warning method can be arbitrarily changed. For example, in the present embodiment, the light emission pattern of the LED 50 blinks faster as the remaining number decreases. However, for example, the light emission color may be changed according to the remaining number (yellow to red). Further, the warning may be made with an arbitrary number, or a speaker / vibration device may be arranged so that the warning can be made with a buzzer sound / sound / vibration to notify the number.

  Further, in the present invention, together with the screw remaining amount detection mechanism S, for example, the magazine 26 may be arranged at an easy-to-see position in order to easily grasp the remaining amount of the screw W. Furthermore, in the present invention, the total number of screws W driven in may be counted by the acceleration sensor 48 or the like, and the maintenance time may be notified based on this count, or the battery replacement time may be detected by detecting the voltage of the battery 52. Etc. may be warned.

  In addition to the combination of the magnet 42 and the hall element 46 described above, the configuration for detecting the remaining amount of the screw W is, for example, a configuration for detecting the weight of the screw W, for example, a strain sensor / detection lever 36 for detecting a deflection amount. A configuration in which the microswitch is pressed or a configuration in which the shape of an arbitrary remaining number of screws W or connecting bands WN is changed and the changed shape is detected may be employed.

  The stopper remaining amount detection mechanism of the present embodiment is an example applied to a screw driving machine (hand-held type stopper continuous supply tool), but the stopper remaining amount detection mechanism of the present invention is, for example, a nail, a staple, a stable, etc. The present invention can be applied to a hand-held fastener continuous supply tool for continuously supplying a fastener. In addition to the above-mentioned stoppers applied in the present invention connected by a connecting band such as a connecting line, a plurality of stoppers not connected by a connecting band are injected from a hand-held stopper continuous supply tool by a continuous supply device. It can also be applied to such things.

It is a side view of the screw driving machine of one embodiment concerning the present invention. It is the perspective view seen from the front of the screw driving machine shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the screw driving machine shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the screw residual amount detection mechanism shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a screw remaining amount detection mechanism shown in FIG. 3. It is a use condition figure in case the screw residual amount detection mechanism shown in FIG. 4 detects a screw. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 shown in FIG. 6. It is a perspective view which shows the ON state of the detection lever shown in FIG. It is a use condition figure when the screw residual amount detection mechanism shown in FIG. 4 does not detect a screw. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 10-10 shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a screw remaining amount detection mechanism shown in FIG. 3. It is a flowchart figure regarding the screw residual amount detection mode of the screw residual amount detection mechanism shown in FIG. It is a flowchart figure regarding the LED light emission mode shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the light emission patterns 1 thru | or 5 shown in FIG. It is the whole detection box perspective view concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is a perspective view of the state which retrofitted the detection box shown in FIG. 15 to the existing screw driving machine.

10 Screw driving machine (hand-held tool)
36 Detection lever (detection component)
42 Magnet (detection part)
46 Hall element (detection component)
48 Acceleration sensor (counter means)
50 LED (Warning means)
60 detection box 90 CPU (detection means, counter means)
W screw (fastener)
WN Screw connection band S Screw remaining amount detection mechanism (stopper remaining amount detection mechanism)

Claims (3)

In hand-held tools that supply multiple fasteners continuously,
A mechanism for detecting a remaining amount of a stopper for a tool in a hand-held tool, wherein a plurality of detection parts for detecting the remaining amount of the stopper are detachably arranged as a single assembly finished product on the hand-held tool body. .   2. The tool stopper remaining amount detecting mechanism for a hand-held tool according to claim 1, further comprising counter means for counting the remaining number of the stoppers.   A warning means for warning the remaining number of fasteners;
  The said warning means changes the warning method according to the remaining number, The tool stopper residual amount detection mechanism in the hand-held tool of Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned.

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