Switch for a machine tool and method for switching on a machine tool

Abstract

The present invention relates to a switch for a machine tool, wherein the switch comprises a printed circuit board and a silicone layer. The printed circuit board has a first microswitch, while the silicone layer has a blocking switch, the silicone layer being arranged on the printed circuit board such that actuation of the blocking switch results in actuation of the first microswitch. Furthermore, the printed circuit board can have a second microswitch and the silicone layer a diaphragm, wherein actuation of the diaphragm results in actuation of the second microswitch. In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for switching on a machine tool, wherein the machine tool comprises a switch with a printed circuit board and a silicone layer.The invention provides an ergonomically advantageous switch that is also well protected against dust, dirt and / or water, and effectively prevents accidental activation of the machine tool.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a switch for a machine tool, wherein the switch comprises a printed circuit board and a silicone layer. The printed circuit board has a first microswitch, while the silicone layer has a blocking switch, wherein the silicone layer is arranged on the printed circuit board such that actuation of the blocking switch leads to actuation of the first microswitch. Furthermore, the printed circuit board can have a second microswitch and the silicone layer can have a membrane, wherein actuation of the membrane leads to actuation of the second microswitch. In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for switching on a machine tool, wherein the machine tool comprises a switch with a printed circuit board and a silicone layer.The invention makes it possible to provide an ergonomically advantageous switch which is also well protected against dust, dirt and / or water and which can effectively prevent accidental switching on of the machine tool. Background of the invention:

[0002] Mechanical switches for machine tools are known in the prior art, with which the machine tool can be switched on or off. For example, WO 2022 117 409 A1 or WO 2022 117 311 A1 disclose such mechanical switches, further disclosing safety and unlocking mechanisms to prevent unwanted switching on of the machine tool. The switching devices described in WO 2022 117 409 A1 or WO 2022 117 311 A1 have a switch-on lockout and an actuating switch, wherein the switch-on lockout is configured to prevent contact between a spring element of the actuating switch and an electronic switching element in a locked position of the switch-on lockout and to enable contact in an operating position of the switch-on lockout.The disadvantage of such a solution, however, is that the user of the machine tool must ensure that a component of the switching device is in a blocking position after use of the machine tool so that the machine tool cannot be switched on accidentally.

[0003] To overcome this disadvantage, the prior art has proposed an electronic switching solution in which the machine tool is unlocked only for a predetermined period of time, allowing it to be switched on. After the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the switching device returns to the blocking position, preventing the machine tool from being switched on accidentally. Rather, the blocking position is accompanied by a securely locked state of the machine tool, in which accidental switching on of the machine tool can be prevented by a mechanical blockage.

[0004] For example, WO 2019 197 123 A1 discloses a purely electronic switching solution that includes a switch for activating the machine tool. However, such a purely electronic solution is only feasible for certain machine tools, such as grinders with a continuous operation button, primarily for ergonomic reasons. For other types of devices that only operate when a switch is continuously actuated, the solution proposed in WO 2019 197 123 A1 can quickly lead to fatigue in the user's hand or individual parts of the hand. Furthermore, for some machine tools, effective protection of the switch and its components against dust, dirt, and / or water is desirable.

[0005] The object underlying the present invention is to overcome the above-described deficiencies and disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a switch for a machine tool with which the machine tool is effectively protected against accidental and unwanted switching on by the user and which has good ergonomics as well as good protection against water, dirt and / or dust.

[0006] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the independent claims can be found in the dependent claims. Description of the invention:

[0007] According to the invention, a switch for a machine tool is provided, wherein the switch comprises a printed circuit board and a silicone layer. The printed circuit board has a first microswitch, while the silicone layer has a blocking switch, wherein the silicone layer is arranged on the printed circuit board such that actuation of the blocking switch leads to actuation of the first microswitch. Furthermore, the printed circuit board can have a second microswitch and the silicone layer can have a membrane, wherein actuation of the membrane leads to actuation of the second microswitch. According to the invention, it is preferred that the printed circuit board has at least a first and a second microswitch. For example, the printed circuit board can also have two, three, or more microswitches of one type, whereby all combinations of numbers of microswitches are also disclosed.For example, the circuit board can comprise a first microswitch and two second microswitches. This circuit board configuration is shown, for example, in . Figure 1shown. The first microswitch can preferably be referred to as a blocking microswitch, while the second microswitch can be referred to as an on-off microswitch. The silicone layer comprises at least the aforementioned blocking switch, as well as optionally a membrane. The silicone layer can also comprise many other components and functionalities. The invention can advantageously provide an electromechanical switch that combines the advantages of known switches without having their disadvantages. In particular, the proposed switch can effectively prevent the user from accidentally or undesirably switching on the machine tool. Furthermore, it has been shown that the proposed switch has good ergonomics and offers good protection against water, dirt and / or dust.

[0008] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the circuit board has a first microswitch and a second microswitch and the silicone layer has a blocking switch and a membrane, wherein the silicone layer is arranged on the circuit board in such a way that actuation of the blocking switch leads to actuation of the first microswitch and actuation of the membrane leads to actuation of the second microswitch.

[0009] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the circuit board can have a substantially exposed second microswitch, wherein the second microswitch is actuated by a switching portion of a rotary lever of the switch. Preferably, the switching portion is arranged on a first side of the rotary lever of the switch, wherein the rotary lever can rotate about a pivot point. In other words, the rotary lever is designed to be rotatable about a pivot point, wherein the pivot point separates the first side of the rotary lever from the second side of the rotary lever.

[0010] The functionality whereby actuation of the blocking switch leads to actuation of the blocking microswitch can be achieved, for example, by the circuit board and the silicone layer having approximately the same dimensions and footprints, wherein the circuit board and the silicone layer are arranged one above the other such that the positions of the blocking switch and the blocking microswitch correspond to one another. Furthermore, the positions of the membrane and the on-off microswitch can also correspond to one another. Preferably, the positions of the blocking switch and the blocking microswitch, or the positions of the membrane and the on-off microswitch, can be arranged directly above or below one another, for example, so that when assembling the proposed switch, the blocking switch and the membrane lie directly on the blocking microswitch and the on-off microswitch.In other words, the positions of the blocking switch and the first microswitch can correspond to each other, and the positions of the membrane and the second microswitch can correspond to each other. This can preferably be achieved by arranging the positions of the blocking switch and the first microswitch, or the positions of the membrane and the second microswitch, directly above or below each other, so that when assembling the proposed switch, the blocking switch and the membrane lie directly on the first and second microswitches.

[0011] According to the invention, it is preferred that the circuit board and the silicone layer form a switching unit within the switch, with the switch preferably being arranged in a handle of the machine tool. The silicone cover provided by the silicone layer of the switch enables particularly good splash protection or particularly good protection of the switch and its components against dirt, dust, and / or water.

[0012] According to the invention, it is preferred that the circuit board also comprises a second microswitch in addition to the first microswitch. Furthermore, the silicone layer can have a membrane, wherein the silicone layer is arranged on the circuit board such that actuation of the membrane leads to actuation of the second microswitch. This can be achieved, for example, by arranging the silicone layer and the circuit board one above the other, so that the corresponding components of the silicone layer and the circuit board lie exactly or substantially above or on top of each other when the switch is assembled.

[0013] According to the invention, it is preferred that actuation of the membrane and / or the second microswitch is only possible if the blocking switch and / or the first microswitch have previously been actuated. Actuation of the membrane and / or the second microswitch located underneath advantageously results in the machine tool being switched on, whereby such switching on of the machine tool is only possible if the blocking switch and / or the first microswitch have previously been actuated. In order to switch the machine tool on, the blocking switch must first be actuated by a user of the machine tool. For this purpose, the blocking switch can be pressed down, for example. Actuation of the actuation switch activates an unlocked state of the machine tool, so that the machine tool can be switched on after the user has actuated the blocking switch.In the context of the present invention, the user actuates the blocking switch himself, which is referred to as a direct actuation of the blocking switch by the user.

[0014] Switching on occurs by actuating a membrane, whereby this membrane is only indirectly actuated by the user themselves. The machine tool or the switch can comprise a rotary lever, whereby the rotary lever has a switching section that can actuate the membrane and thus the second microswitch. In other words, the switching section of the rotary lever can be designed to actuate the membrane and / or the on-off microswitch when the rotary lever is actuated by the user of the machine tool. For actuation, the rotary lever can have a pistol grip section that can be actuated, i.e. pulled, by the user of the machine tool in order to actuate the preferably rotatable rotary lever. By rotating the rotary lever, the switching section of the rotary lever can be pressed onto the membrane, so that the second microswitch is actuated or pressed, so that the machine tool is switched on.

[0015] According to the invention, it is preferred that the membrane and / or the second microswitch located underneath is actuated by actuating a pistol grip section, the pistol grip section being arranged on a second side of a rotary lever of the switch. The provision of a pistol grip section enables particularly good ergonomics of the proposed switch. The rotary lever is preferably designed to be rotatable about a pivot point, the pivot point dividing the rotary lever into a first side and a second side, a switching section being arranged on a first side of the pivot point, the switching section being designed to actuate the membrane and / or the on-off microswitch located underneath. According to the invention, the first side of the rotary lever faces the switching unit of the switch.The second side of the rotary lever preferably comprises the pistol grip section, wherein at least a portion of the pistol grip section can be grasped or pulled by the user of the power tool to start the power tool. In the context of the present invention, this starting of the power tool can only occur if a blocking switch of the proposed switch or switching unit has previously been actuated, so that a first microswitch and thereby an unlocked state of the power tool is activated. Within the meaning of the invention, it is preferred that the blocking switch and the blocking microswitch are activated directly by the user of the power tool, while the membrane and the on-off microswitch of the proposed switch or switching unit are activated or actuated indirectly with the aid of a rotary lever.

[0016] According to the invention, it is preferred that the pistol grip section of the rotary lever protrudes or is visible at least partially on the underside of a handle of the power tool, so that the pistol grip section can be pressed by the user of the power tool to switch on the power tool - preferably indirectly. For example, the pistol grip section of the proposed switch can be enclosed by the fingers of one hand of the user and then pressed when the power tool is in the unlocked state. According to the invention, it is preferred that the pistol grip section of the switch is enclosed by at least one finger, but at most five fingers of the user's hand, and then pressed.To activate the unlocked state on the machine tool, the user can actuate the blocking switch and thus the blocking microswitch – for example, with a thumb. This actuation is preferably carried out directly – with the user's thumb. This staggered activation process, which is performed using different regions of the human hand, can, on the one hand, provide a particularly safe machine tool and, on the other hand, enable ergonomically favorable activation of the machine tool.

[0017] The unlocked state is preferably activated only for a short period of time, which, within the meaning of the invention, is preferably referred to as a "predetermined period of time." The predetermined period of time can, for example, be in a range of 1 to 10 seconds, preferably 1 to 3 seconds. The period of time can, for example, be 1 second, 2, or 3 seconds, although all intermediate values, such as 1.34 seconds, 2.5 seconds, or 2.66 seconds, can also be preferred. Of course, other periods of time, for example, in the range of 1 to 5 minutes (min), preferably 1 to 2 min, can also be preferred in the context of the present invention. The period of time can, for example, also be in a range between 10 and 60 seconds, for example 17 seconds, 20 seconds, 25 seconds, 33 seconds, 48.7 seconds, or 50.06 seconds.

[0018] According to the invention, it is preferred that actuation of the blocking switch and / or the first microswitch unlocks the machine tool, allowing the machine tool to be switched on. When the blocking switch and / or the blocking microswitch have been actuated, the "unlocked state" can advantageously be activated, allowing the machine tool to be switched on. According to the invention, it is preferred that the machine tool can only be switched on in this unlocked state. This makes it possible to provide a particularly safe machine tool that can only be switched on for very limited periods of time.

[0019] According to the invention, it is preferred that the unlocked state of the machine tool be deactivated after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. The predetermined period of time can, for example, be in a range of 1 to 10 seconds, preferably 1 to 3 seconds.

[0020] It is preferred within the meaning of the invention that the circuit board comprises light-emitting diodes and the silicone layer has at least one correspondingly designed transparent region, so that the illumination of the light-emitting diodes can be recognized by a user of the machine tool through the transparent region. For example, it may be preferred within the meaning of the invention that the light-emitting diodes on the circuit board illuminate when the unlocked state of the machine tool is activated and the machine tool is ready to be switched on. The user can recognize the unlocked state based on the illumination of the light-emitting diodes of the proposed switch and act accordingly. For example, the user can switch on the machine tool when they recognize from the illumination of the light-emitting diode on the switching unit that the machine tool has been brought into the unlocked state by actuating the blocking switch or the blocking microswitch.The user can also initiate measures to return the machine tool to the locked state if the user does not wish to work with the machine tool at that time. It is preferred within the meaning of the invention that the machine tool or the switch comprises means with which the machine tool can be actively brought from the unlocked to the locked state by the user. These means can be, for example, further actuating elements, such as switches or buttons, which can be actuated directly or indirectly by the user in order to end or deactivate the unlocked state so that the machine tool returns to the locked state. It is preferred within the meaning of the invention that the switch has means with which an unlocked state of the machine tool can be deactivated.In this case, the termination of the unlocked state and the return of the machine tool to the locked state can preferably be carried out independently of the predetermined time period, but rather by the user themselves according to the manner in which they wish to work with the machine tool. The means by which the machine tool can be actively brought from the unlocked to the locked state by the user can be referred to as a lock switch within the meaning of the invention. It is preferred within the meaning of the invention that such a lock switch can assume two different states, between which the user can toggle back and forth ("toggle switch"). In this case, it is preferred within the meaning of the invention that a first state of the lock switch corresponds to the unlocked state of the machine tool, while a second state of the lock switch corresponds to the blocked or locked state of the machine tool.

[0021] According to the invention, it is preferred that the at least one transparent area is arranged on the upper side of the blocking switch. This makes the illumination of the LED on the circuit board of the proposed switch particularly easy for the user to see, and the user can act accordingly on the light signal. Preferably, the upper side of the blocking switch is located within the field of vision of the machine tool user, so that the user can quickly detect the LED lighting up or going out, i.e., a change in the light signal.

[0022] According to the invention, it is preferred that the switch has an unlocking device, wherein the unlocking device must be actuated in addition to the blocking switch and / or the first microswitch in order to activate an unlocked state of the machine tool. By providing the unlocking device, an additional level of safety can be created and safety when working with the machine tool can be further increased. According to the invention, it is preferred that the blocking switch and the unlocking device are actuated simultaneously or substantially simultaneously so that the machine tool enters the unlocked state and can be switched on.

[0023] Alternatively, a preferred switching sequence can look like this: 1. Unlocking the machine tool, for example by actuating the blocking switch and / or the lock switch, 2. Actuating the unlocking device in order to mechanically release an on / off switch of the machine tool, which can in particular be designed as a pistol grip section or can comprise such a section, 3. Switching on the machine tool, for example by actuating the on / off switch of the machine tool.

[0024] Preferably, the blocking switch and the unlocking device are actuated directly by the user, wherein the user preferably actuates the blocking switch and the unlocking device in parallel or substantially in parallel. It is preferred within the meaning of the invention that the unlocking device is arranged on a top side of the proposed switch, wherein the unlocking device can preferably be designed as a pressure switch. It is particularly preferred within the meaning of the invention that the unlocking device is designed as a mechanical locking pawl. The unlocking device or the mechanical locking pawl is preferably designed to mechanically release the on / off switch of the machine tool so that the machine tool can be switched on. In other words, the machine tool can be unlocked by actuating the unlocking device or the mechanical locking pawl, i.e.from a locked to an unlocked state. The on / off switch of the machine tool can be designed, in particular, as a so-called gun trigger. It is particularly preferred within the meaning of the invention for the on / off switch of the machine tool to be actuated with the ball of the hand of a user of the machine tool.

[0025] It is preferred in the sense of the invention that the unlocking device - if present - is actuated in addition to the blocking switch of the switching unit, ie preferably pressed downwards in order to be able to switch on the machine tool.

[0026] According to the invention, it is preferred that the switch has a spring mount, wherein the spring mount preferably represents a counter-bearing and serves to support the second leg of the leg spring in the housing. In other words, the spring mount is designed to support the leg spring or a portion of the leg spring relative to the switch housing.

[0027] According to the invention, it is preferred that the circuit board has additional microcontrollers. The circuit board can then be used, for example, as a machine-human interface. For this purpose, the circuit board can preferably also include additional electronic components.

[0028] In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for switching on a machine tool, wherein the machine tool has a proposed switch with a printed circuit board and a silicone layer. The terms, definitions, and technical advantages introduced for the switch preferably apply analogously to the method for switching on the machine tool. The method for switching on the machine tool is characterized in that the printed circuit board has a first microswitch and that the silicone layer has a blocking switch, wherein the silicone layer is arranged on the printed circuit board such that actuation of the blocking switch leads to actuation of the first microswitch.

[0029] According to the invention, it is preferred that the machine tool can only be switched on when the machine tool is in an unlocked state or when an unlocked state of the machine tool is activated. This unlocked state can advantageously be achieved by a user of the machine tool actuating the blocking switch and / or the first microswitch - preferably directly. The membrane or the on-off microswitch can then be actuated - preferably indirectly with the aid of a rotary lever - whereby the user pulls or actuates a pistol grip section of the rotary lever, whereby a switching section of the preferably rotatable rotary lever comes into contact with the membrane of the switching unit, so that the membrane is pressed downwards in one spatial direction and thus actuated.By "pressing down" the membrane, the second microswitch is advantageously actuated, which causes the power tool to be switched on. This activates the power tool when the unlocked state is activated on the power tool and the user pulls the pistol grip portion of the rotary lever, causing the switching portion of the rotary lever to press against the membrane and thus against the second microswitch. According to the invention, actuation of the membrane and / or the underlying second microswitch is preferred only if the blocking switch and / or the first microswitch have previously been actuated. An unlocked state of the power tool is preferably activated by actuating the blocking switch and / or the first microswitch.

[0030] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is preferred that the circuit board has a second microswitch in addition to the first microswitch, and the silicone layer has a membrane in addition to the blocking switch, wherein the silicone layer is arranged on the circuit board in such a way that actuation of the membrane leads to actuation of the second microswitch. It may also be preferred within the meaning of the invention for the circuit board to have a substantially exposed second microswitch, wherein the second microswitch is actuated by a switching section of a rotary lever. In both cases, it may be preferred that actuation of the membrane and / or the second microswitch is only possible if the blocking switch and / or the first microswitch have previously been actuated.

[0031] The procedure for switching on the machine tool may, for example, include the following steps: a) The user actuates the locking switch of the silicone layer, thereby actuating the first microswitch of the circuit board and activating the unlocked state of the machine tool, b) The user actuates the pistol grip portion of the rotary lever, thereby rotating the rotary lever and pressing the switching portion of the rotary lever onto the membrane of the silicone layer, thereby actuating the second microswitch of the circuit board and turning on the machine tool.

[0032] It should be noted that the machine tool can only be switched on if the blocking switch and / or the first microswitch of the switching unit have been actuated beforehand, so that the machine tool is in the unlocked state. If the blocking switch and / or the first microswitch of the switching unit have been actuated, the unlocked state is preferably activated for a predetermined period of time Δt. In other words, the machine tool is in the unlocked state during this predetermined period of time Δt and can be switched on. In the sense of the invention, it is preferred that the unlocked state ends spontaneously, i.e. preferably automatically, after the period of time Δt has elapsed, so that the unlocked state is deactivated. Thus, after the period of time Δt has elapsed, the machine tool is preferably in the blocked state, in which the machine tool cannot be switched on for safety reasons.As an alternative to automatically ending the unlocked state, the machine tool or the proposed switch can comprise means by which the unlocked state can be ended by the user of the machine tool, regardless of the specified time period Δt. These means for ending the unlocked state can be provided, for example, in the handle of the machine tool. Alternatively, the blocking switch can also be actuated again to end the unlocked state of the machine tool, i.e., to transfer the machine tool from the unlocked to the blocked state.

[0033] Further advantages emerge from the following description of the figures. The figures, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The skilled person will also expediently consider the features individually and combine them into further meaningful combinations.

[0034] In the figures, identical and similar components are numbered with the same reference numerals.

[0035] They show: Fig. 1View of a preferred embodiment of the proposed switch, in particular of the switching unit Fig. 2Sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the proposed switch Fig. 3Sectional view of a further preferred embodiment of the proposed switch Fig. 4View of a preferred embodiment of the proposed switch, in particular its partial integration into the handle of a machine tool Fig. 5View of a further preferred embodiment of the proposed switch, in particular its partial integration into the handle of a machine tool Character description:

[0036] Figure 1shows a preferred embodiment of a switching unit 48 of a proposed switch 10. In the lower right-hand area, a handle 52 of the machine tool 50 is shown; in the upper left-hand area, a section of the switching unit 48 of the proposed switch is shown. The switching unit 48 comprises a printed circuit board 12 and a silicone layer 14, wherein the printed circuit board 12 comprises a first microswitch 16 and a second microswitch 18. The silicone layer 14 comprises a membrane 22 and a blocking switch 20. The first microswitch 16 of the printed circuit board 12 can preferably also be referred to as a "blocking microswitch," while the second microswitch 18 of the printed circuit board 12 can preferably also be referred to as an "on-off microswitch." The printed circuit board 12 and the silicone layer 14 preferably have substantially similar external dimensions and are in the Figure 1illustrated embodiment of the invention are arranged one above the other such that the blocking switch 20 lies on the first microswitch 16 and the membrane 22 on the second microswitch 18. Thus, the blocking switch 20 is arranged on the first microswitch 16 and the membrane 22 is arranged on the second microswitch 18 and an actuation of the blocking switch 20 leads to an actuation of the first microswitch 16, while an actuation of the membrane 22 leads to an actuation of the second microswitch 18. By actuating the blocking switch 20 and / or the first microswitch 16, the machine tool 50 (schematically shown in Figure 1) into an unlocked state. This means that the unlocked state of the machine tool 50 is activated by actuating the blocking switch 20 and / or the first microswitch 16. The proposed switch 10 can be provided in a handle 52 of the machine tool 50. The machine tool 50 can only be switched on when the unlocked state of the machine tool 50 is activated, i.e. when the machine tool 50 is in the unlocked state. In other words, the machine tool 50 can only be switched on if the blocking switch 20 and / or the first microswitch 16 of the switch 10 were actuated before the actual switching on, so that the machine tool 50 is in the unlocked state. The second microswitch 18 can also be arranged substantially exposed on the circuit board 12, so that the second microswitch 18 can be directly orcan be actuated directly by a switching section 26a of a rotary lever 24. In this embodiment of the invention, it is preferred that the second microswitch 18 is not covered by a membrane 22.

[0037] Light-emitting diodes 32 can be arranged on the circuit board 12 of the switch 10, the light or illumination of which is visible through transparent areas 34 of the silicone layer 14 or can be recognized by the user of the machine tool 50. In the case of the Figure 1In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the position of the LED 32 corresponds to the position of the transparent area 34 on the top side 36 of the blocking switch 20, so that the light of the LED 32 can fall into the eye of the user of the machine tool 50 through the preferably transparent area 34 of the silicone layer 14. For example, a lighting up of the LED 32 can symbolize that the machine tool 50 is in the unlocked state and can be switched on. In this embodiment, the light signal of the LED 32 can be understood as a warning signal. It is also conceivable that a lighting up of the LED 32 means that the machine tool 50 is in the blocked state and cannot be switched on at the moment. In this embodiment, the light signal comprises more of an information signal.In addition to the microswitches 16, 18 and the LED 32, the circuit board 12 can, for example, include at least one microcontroller 42 or other electronic components, such as (micro)capacitors. This allows the circuit board 12 to be expanded into a machine-human interface.

[0038] In Figure 1Means 44 are also shown with which the unlocked state of the machine tool 50 can be deactivated. These means 44 can be provided, for example, on or at the handle 52 of the machine tool 10. With the means 44, a user of the machine tool 50 can end the unlocked state of the machine tool 50. This makes it possible to avoid having to wait for the predefined time period to elapse in order to return to the locked state of the machine tool 50; instead, the user can be enabled to actively transfer the machine tool 50 from the unlocked state to the locked state, independently of the predefined time period.

[0039] The actual switching on of the machine tool 50 is preferably carried out by actuating the membrane 22 and / or the second microswitch 18. The actuation of the membrane 22 and / or the second microswitch 18 is preferably carried out indirectly by actuating a rotary lever 24 which is in the Fig. 2 and 3 is shown.

[0040] The rotary lever 24 is preferably arranged rotatably about a pivot point 30. The pivot point 30 divides the rotary lever 24 into two halves or two sides 26, 28. The first side 26 of the rotary lever 24 preferably faces the switching unit 48 of the switch 10 and can comprise a switching section 26a configured to come into contact with the membrane 22 of the silicone layer 14 and to press this membrane 22 downward, thereby actuating the second microswitch 18 located thereunder. The rotation of the rotary lever 24 is preferably effected by the user of the power tool 50 pulling on the pistol grip section 28a of the rotary lever 24. The pistol grip section 28a is preferably a component of the second side 28 of the rotary lever 24. Tightening the pistol grip section 28a leads to a downward pressing of the switching section 26a of the rotary lever 24 due to the rotatability of the rotary lever 24, iethe second side 28 of the rotary lever 24 is moved upwards by tightening the pistol grip portion 28a, whereby the first side 26 of the rotary lever 24 is pressed downwards and the machine tool 50 is switched on by actuating the membrane 22 of the silicone layer 14 or the on-off microswitch 18 of the circuit board 12.

[0041] Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the switch 10 of an unlocking device 38, while Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the switch 10 with a spring fastening 40.

[0042] The unlocking device 38 can represent a further security level of the machine tool 50, wherein the unlocking device 38 must be actuated in addition to the blocking switch 20 in order to activate the unlocked state of the machine tool 50. Preferably, the unlocking device 38 and the blocking switch 20 are pressed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously by the user of the machine tool 50 to transfer the machine tool 50 to the unlocked state. Subsequently, as already described, the machine tool 50 can be switched on by directly actuating the pistol grip section 28a or indirectly actuating the membrane 22 or the second microswitch 18. In this case, the membrane 22 or the second microswitch 18 is actuated in particular by the switching section 26a of the rotary lever 24, which presses on the membrane 22 when the pistol grip section 28a of the rotary lever 24 is pulled by the user of the machine tool 50.

[0043] In Figure 3 An embodiment of the switch 10 with a spring attachment 40 is shown. The switch 10 can have a spring 46, wherein one leg of the spring 46 can be supported on the housing of the switch 10. The spring 46 can preferably be designed as a leg spring comprising two spring legs.

[0044] The Figures 4 and 5 each show a preferred embodiment of the proposed switch 10, in particular its partial integration into the handle 52 of a machine tool 50. For example, the switch 10 can be arranged predominantly inside two handle shells, wherein the handle shells form the handle 52 of the machine tool 50. Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the switch 10 with an unlocking device 38, wherein in Figure 5For better visibility, fewer components of the handle 52 of the machine tool 50 are shown. The switching unit 48 with the circuit board 12 and the silicone layer 14, as well as their components, in particular the microswitches 16, 18 of the circuit board 12 and the membrane 22 and the blocking switch 20 of the silicone layer 14 can be seen. The blocking switch 20 can be actuated directly by the user of the machine tool 50, while the membrane 22 can be actuated indirectly by the switching section 26a of the rotary lever 24 when the pistol grip section 28a of the rotary lever 24 is actuated, i.e. pulled, by the user of the machine tool 50. The rotary lever 24 is arranged so as to be rotatable about a pivot point 30, the pivot point 30 dividing the rotary lever 24 into a first side 26 and a second side 28. The rotary lever 24 is preferably not symmetrical, so that the sides 26, 28 of the rotary lever 24 are not corresponding or similar to each other.For example, the pivot point 30 does not have to form the center of gravity of the rotary lever 24. The switch 10 can, for example, comprise a housing. List of reference symbols

[0045] 10 Switch 12 Circuit board 14 Silicone layer 16 First microswitch or blocking microswitch 18 Second microswitch or on-off microswitch 20 Blocking switch 22 Membrane 24 Rotary lever 26 First side of the rotary lever 26 a Switching section 28 Second side of the rotary lever 28 a Pistol grip section 30 Pivot point of the rotary lever 32 Light-emitting diodes 34 Transparent areas 36 Top of the blocking switch 38 Unlocking device 40 Spring attachment 42 Microcontroller 44 Means for deactivating the unlocked state 46 Spring 48 Switching unit 50 Machine tool 52 Machine tool handle

Claims

1. Switch (10) for a machine tool (50), wherein the switch (10) comprises a circuit board (12) and a silicone layer (14), characterized in that the printed circuit board (12) has a first microswitch (16) and that the silicone layer (14) has a blocking switch (20), wherein the silicone layer (14) is arranged on the printed circuit board (12) in such a way that actuation of the blocking switch (20) leads to actuation of the first microswitch (16).

2. Switch (10) according to claim 1 characterized in that the printed circuit board (12) has a second microswitch (18) and the silicone layer (14) has a membrane (22), wherein the silicone layer (14) is arranged on the printed circuit board (12) in such a way that actuation of the membrane (22) leads to actuation of the second microswitch (18).

3. Switch (10) according to claim 1 characterized in thatthe circuit board (12) has a substantially exposed second microswitch (18), wherein the second microswitch (18) is actuated by a switching section (26a) of a rotary lever (24).

4. Switch (10) according to one of claims 2 or 3 characterized in that actuation of the membrane (22) and / or the second microswitch (18) is only possible if the blocking switch (20) and / or the first microswitch (16) have previously been actuated.

5. Switch (10) according to one of claims 2 to 4 characterized in that an actuation of the membrane (22) and / or the second microswitch (18) takes place by an actuation of a pistol grip section (28a), wherein the pistol grip section (28a) is arranged on a second side (28) of a rotary lever (24) of the switch (10).

6. Switch (10) according to claim 5 characterized in thatthe rotary lever (24) is designed to be rotatable about a pivot point (30), wherein the pivot point (30) divides the rotary lever (24) into a first side (26) and a second side (28), wherein a switching section (26a) is arranged on the first side (26) of the pivot point (30), wherein the switching section (26a) is designed to actuate the membrane (22) and / or the second microswitch (18).

7. Switch (10) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that actuation of the blocking switch (20) and / or the first microswitch (16) results in unlocking of the machine tool (50) so that the machine tool (50) can be switched on.

8. Switch (10) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that an unlocked state of the machine tool (50) is activated by actuating the blocking switch (20) and / or the first microswitch (16).

9. Switch (10) according to claim 8 characterized in thatthe unlocked state of the machine tool (50) is deactivated after a predetermined period of time.

10. Switch (10) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the printed circuit board (12) comprises light-emitting diodes (32) and the silicone layer (14) has at least one transparent region (34) corresponding thereto, so that illumination of the light-emitting diodes (32) can be recognized by a user of the machine tool (50).

11. Switch (10) according to claim 10 characterized in that the at least one transparent region (34) is arranged on an upper side (36) of the blocking switch (20).

12. Switch (10) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the switch (10) has an unlocking device (38), wherein the unlocking device (38) must be actuated in addition to the blocking switch (20) and / or the first microswitch (16) in order to activate an unlocked state of the machine tool (50).

13. Switch according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the switch (10) has means (44) with which an unlocked state of the machine tool (50) can be deactivated.

14. A method for switching on a machine tool (50), wherein the machine tool (50) comprises a switch (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the switch (10) comprises a printed circuit board (12) and a silicone layer (14), characterized by the printed circuit board (12) has a first microswitch (16) and the silicone layer (14) has a blocking switch (20), wherein the silicone layer (14) is arranged on the printed circuit board (12) in such a way that actuation of the blocking switch (20) leads to actuation of the first microswitch (16).

15. Method according to claim 14 characterized in thatthe printed circuit board (12) has a second microswitch (18) and the silicone layer (14) has a membrane (22), wherein the silicone layer (14) is arranged on the printed circuit board (12) such that actuation of the membrane (22) leads to actuation of the second microswitch (18) or the printed circuit board (12) has a substantially exposed second microswitch (18), wherein the second microswitch (18) is actuated by a switching section (26a) of a rotary lever (24), wherein actuation of the membrane (22) and / or the second microswitch (18) is only possible if the blocking switch (20) and / or the first microswitch (16) have previously been actuated.

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