Hand-actuatable plier tool

Abstract

A hand-actuatable plier tool (1) has a first pressing jaw (5), with a first handle (2) extending from it, a second pressing jaw (6), mounted pivotably on the first pressing jaw (5), and a second handle (3), which can be moved so as to be spread apart from the first handle (2), wherein the second pressing jaw (6) has a u-shaped joint element (9) with a base (91) and two legs (62, 63) extending from the base (91), wherein the base (91) of the joint element (9) is mounted on the first pressing jaw (5) and a first of the legs (92) is mounted on the second handle (5), and also an electronic counter (7), with which the number of working or processing operations can be counted and / or stored, wherein the counter (7) has at least one switching element (74), an evaluating unit (72) and a signal transmitter (73) electrically connected to the evaluating unit (72), wherein the counter (7) is accommodated in a counting unit (8) releasably fastened on the first pressing jaw (5), wherein, in the closed position of the plier handles (2, 3), the second leg (93) of the joint element (9) interacts with the counting unit (8) in such a way that at least one counting signal is emitted by the switching element (74) to the evaluating unit (72).

Description

[0001] Hand-operated pliers tool

[0002] The present invention relates to a hand-operated pliers tool, in particular for processing cables, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] In pliers of this type, it is known to provide electronic counters that count the number of times the pliers are used. Such an electronic counter is integrated, as is known, for example, from DE 20 2010 005 761 U1, into an auxiliary tool that can be inserted into the jaws of the pliers and removed from the jaws when not in use.

[0004] From DE 20 2014 105 571 U1 a generic pliers tool is known in which an electronic counter is fixed to the rear end of one of the pliers handles, so that a counting signal is output to the counter each time a closed position of the pliers handles is reached from a previously spread position.

[0005] Such a counter has proven itself in practice.

[0006] The counting unit installed there is permanently installed in one of the pliers handles.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a pliers tool with such a counting unit, in which the counting unit can be detachably attached if required.

[0008] The stated object is achieved by a pliers tool having the features of claim 1.

[0009] The hand-operated pliers tool according to the invention, in particular for processing cables, has a first pressing jaw with a first handle extending from the pressing jaw. The pliers tool further has a second pressing jaw pivotally mounted on the first pressing jaw about a first pivot axis, as well as a second handle pivotally movable relative to the first handle and hinged to the second pressing jaw. A U-shaped node element with a base and two legs extending from the base toward the handles is arranged on the second pressing jaw.

[0010] The base of the node element is mounted on the first press jaw via the first pivot axis.

[0011] A first of the legs of the node element is mounted on the second handle via a second pivot axis.

[0012] A second leg of the node element can be pivoted in the direction of an upper outer edge of the first pressing jaw remote from the second pressing jaw when a pliers mouth formed by the pressing jaws is opened.

[0013] The pliers tool further includes an electronic counter with which the number of machining or processing operations can be counted and / or stored. The counter includes at least one switching element, an evaluation unit, and at least one signal transmitter electrically connected to the evaluation unit.

[0014] The counter is accommodated in a counting unit detachably attached to the first pressing jaw, wherein in the closed position of the pliers handles the second leg of the node element interacts with the counting unit in such a way that at least one counting signal is output from the switching element to the evaluation unit.

[0015] A counting unit detachably attached to the first pressing jaw in this way can be easily attached to the pliers tool and just as easily removed.

[0016] The insertion and / or replacement of accessories, for example in the form of different crimping dies, on the pliers head of a pliers tool designed as a crimping pliers is still possible in a simple manner, since the counting unit does not engage in the area of ​​the pliers mouth.

[0017] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the counting unit comprises a housing that can be latched to the first pressing jaw and has a first receiving space for accommodating the counter, and a rocker that interacts with the second leg of the node element for triggering the switching element.

[0018] The locking mechanism of the counting unit housing makes it easy to attach and remove the counting unit to or from the first press jaw.

[0019] According to a preferred development, the rocker is accommodated in a second receiving space of the housing and mounted on a rotational axis that divides the rocker into a first rocker leg and a second rocker leg.

[0020] This means that the rocker is reliably protected against access or dirt from outside.

[0021] A trigger head for triggering the switching element is preferably formed on a first rocker arm of the rocker. A lug protruding from the housing and interacting with the second arm of the node element is formed on a second rocker arm of the rocker.

[0022] Since the second leg of the knot element moves when the handles are spread and pressed together, the positioning of the second leg of the knot element can be used advantageously to trigger a counting signal.

[0023] To prevent the unintentional triggering of such a counting signal, according to an advantageous development, a spring element coupled to the rocker is arranged in the housing. This spring element positions the rocker without external force so that the trigger head is held against the switching element. Only the pivoting movement of the rocker triggered by the movement of the node element moves the trigger button away from the switching element, thereby triggering a counting signal.

[0024] According to a further embodiment variant, a first locking element for locking onto a first spacer sleeve of the first pressing jaw and a second locking element for locking onto a second spacer sleeve of the first pressing jaw are formed on the housing.

[0025] The first locking element is preferably designed as a partially circular locking recess. The second locking element is designed as an elastic locking lug.

[0026] According to a further preferred embodiment, the at least one signal generator of the counter is designed as an optical signal generator, in particular as an LED.

[0027] Furthermore, the housing preferably has a window or an opening into which the at least one optical signal transmitter of the counter protrudes.

[0028] This makes it easy to check whether a counting signal was triggered when the handles were pressed together.

[0029] At least one of the pliers handles of the pliers tool preferably consists of a hand lever and a handle shell that at least partially encompasses the hand lever.

[0030] The pliers tool is preferably designed as a crimping pliers or stripping pliers.

[0031] According to a further preferred embodiment, in addition to determining the number of machining or processing operations, at least one of the switching elements is designed as a force sensor for determining different strengths of force exerted by the individual machining or processing operations, wherein a signal can be output from the force sensor to the evaluation unit with which the force exerted by the individual machining or processing operations can be stored.

[0032] Preferred embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

[0033] Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of a hand-operated pliers tool according to the invention in the closed position, Figure 2 is a side view of an embodiment variant of a counting unit according to the invention as an individual view,

[0034] Figure 3 is a plan view of the counting unit shown in Figure 2,

[0035] Figure 4 shows a side view of the counting unit corresponding to Figure 2 with the counting unit housing half hidden,

[0036] Figure 5 a side view of the pliers tool with spread handles,

[0037] Figure 6 shows a representation of the pliers tool corresponding to Figure 5 with pliers handles in the closed position and the second leg of the node element being placed on the nose of the rocker of the counting unit and

[0038] Figures

[0039] 7 to 9 show representations of the pliers tool corresponding to Figures 5 and 6 to illustrate the assembly of the counting unit on the first pressing jaw.

[0040] In the following description of the figures, terms such as top, bottom, left, right, front, back, etc., refer exclusively to the exemplary representation and position of the pliers tool, pressing jaw, handle, counting unit, and the like chosen in the respective figures. These terms are not to be understood as limiting; i.e., these references may change due to different working positions or the mirror-symmetrical design, etc.

[0041] In Figure 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an embodiment of a manually operable pliers tool according to the invention. The pliers tool 1 is designed here as a crimping pliers. However, a design as a stripping pliers is also conceivable, for example.

[0042] Such a pliers tool 1 has a first pressing jaw 5 with a first handle 2 extending therefrom. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle 2 consists of a hand lever 22 shown in Figures 5 to 8 and a handle shell 21 at least partially enclosing the hand lever 22, shown in Figures 1 and 9.

[0043] The hand lever 22 and the first pressing jaw 5 are preferably formed in one piece in the pliers tool 1 shown.

[0044] The pliers tool 1 further comprises a second pressing jaw 6 pivotably mounted on the first pressing jaw 5 about a first pivot axis 4, as well as a second handle 3 which is pivotally movable relative to the first handle 2 and is hinged to the second pressing jaw 6.

[0045] In the preferred embodiment shown here, the second handle 3 is also formed from a handle shell 31 and a hand lever 32.

[0046] A U-shaped node element 9 with a base 91 and two legs 62, 63 extending from the base 91 in the direction of the handles 2, 3 is arranged in a stationary manner on the second pressing jaw 6.

[0047] The base 91 of the node element 9 is mounted on the first pressing jaw 5 via the first pivot axis 4.

[0048] A first of the legs 92 of the node element 9 is mounted on the second handle s via a second pivot axis 10.

[0049] A second leg 93 of the node element 9 can be pivoted in the direction of an upper outer edge 51 of the first pressing jaw 5 remote from the second pressing jaw 6 when a pliers mouth 14 formed by the pressing jaws 5, 6 is opened, as a comparison of Figures 5 and 6 shows.

[0050] Figure 6 shows the pliers tool 1 with the jaws 14 closed, while Figure 15 shows the pliers tool 1 with the jaws 14 open and the handles 2, 3 spread apart.

[0051] As shown in Figures 1 and 7 to 9, a counting unit 8 is detachably attached to the first pressing jaw 5. Individual views of this counting unit 8 are shown in Figures 2 to 4. Figures 2 and 3 show a housing 81 of this counting unit 8 in the closed state. Figure 4, on the other hand, shows the counting unit 8 in a side view, in which one half of the housing 81 is hidden in order to

[0052] 81 recorded components.

[0053] In a first receiving space 811 of the housing 81 of the counting unit 8, at least one electronic counter 7 is accommodated, with which the number of processing operations can be counted and / or stored.

[0054] The at least one counter 7 comprises, in addition to a switching element 74, an evaluation unit 72 and at least one signal generator 73 electrically connected to the evaluation unit 72. The switching element 74, the evaluation unit 72, and the signal generator 73 are preferably mounted on a circuit board 71.

[0055] As can be clearly seen in Figure 6, in the closed position of the pliers handles 2, 3, the second leg 93 of the node element 9 interacts with the counting unit 8 in such a way that a counting signal is output from the switching element 74 to the evaluation unit 72.

[0056] For this purpose, the counting unit 8, as shown in Figures 4 to 8, has a rocker interacting with the second leg 93 of the node element 9

[0057] 82 for triggering the switching element 74. This rocker 82 is accommodated in a second receiving space 812 of the housing 81.

[0058] The rocker 82 is mounted on a rotation axis 83 and is divided by the rotation axis 83 into a first rocker leg 821 and a second rocker leg 822.

[0059] To trigger the switching element 74 of the counter 7, a trigger head 86 is formed on the first rocker arm 821 of the rocker 82, as shown in Figure 4.

[0060] Furthermore, it can be seen in Figure 4 that a nose 84 protruding from the housing 81 and cooperating with the second leg 93 of the node element 9 is formed on the second rocker leg 822 of the rocker 82.

[0061] As a comparison of Figures 5 and 6 shows, when the pliers jaw 14 is open and the handles 2, 3 are spread apart (Figure 5), the nose 84 protrudes further from the second receiving space 812 than in the closed position of the pliers tool 1 shown in Figure 6, in which an abutment edge 94 on the second leg 93 of the node element 9 presses the nose 84 a little way into the second receiving space 812.

[0062] As Figure 4 further shows, when the second rocker arm 822 of the rocker 82 is moved into the second receiving space 812 of the housing

[0063] 81, the contact between the trigger head 86 at the end of the first rocker arm 821 and the switching element 74 is released, which causes a counting signal to be triggered within the counter 7 to the evaluation unit 72.

[0064] In order to pre-tension the rocker 82 in its neutral position (where the trigger head 86 rests against the switching element 74), a

[0065] 82 coupled spring element 85 is arranged, which positions the rocker 82 without external force so that the trigger head 86 rests against the switching element 74.

[0066] The spring element 85, designed here as a compression spring, is arranged in the region of one end of the second receiving space 812 in the embodiment shown in Figure 4 and presses against a rear side of the second rocker leg 822 opposite the nose 84.

[0067] It is also conceivable to position this spring element 85 at a different position within the housing 81, for example below the trigger head 86 on the first rocker arm 821.

[0068] In order to pre-tension the pliers tool 1 in its open position shown in Figures 5, 7, 8 and 9 with the handles 2, 3 spread apart and the pliers mouth 14 open, a spring element 12 designed here as a tension spring is used, which is suspended on the one hand on the first pressing jaw 5 and on the other hand on the second leg 93 of the node element 9.

[0069] The housing 81 of the counting unit 8 is designed to be latched to the first pressing jaw 5. For this purpose, a first latching element 87 for latching to a first spacer sleeve 23 of the first pressing jaw 5 and a second latching element 88 for latching to a second spacer sleeve 24 of the first pressing jaw 5 are formed on the housing 81. The first latching element 87 is preferably designed as a partially circular latching recess that partially encloses the first spacer sleeve 23, as can be seen in Figures 5, 6, and 8.

[0070] The second locking element 88 is designed here as an elastic locking lug, so that, as can be seen in Figures 7 and 8, when assembling the counting unit 8, the first locking element 87 is first placed onto the first spacer sleeve 23.

[0071] Subsequently, the housing 81 of the counting unit 8 is slid around the first spacer sleeve 23 with the second locking element 88 onto the first pressing jaw 5 and is pressed in front of the second spacer sleeve 24 with slight bending (viewed from the direction of the first spacer sleeve 23) and is thereby locked onto the first pressing jaw 5.

[0072] After attaching the counting unit 8 to the first pressing jaw 5, the grip shell 21 of the first handle can finally be placed on the hand lever 22. A front end of the grip shell 21 overlaps the second receiving space 812 of the housing 81 of the counting unit 8.

[0073] As can be further seen in Figures 3 and 4, the housing 81 has a window or opening 813 into which the optical signal generator 73 of the counter 7 protrudes. The signal generator 73 of the counter 7 is preferably designed as an optical signal generator, in particular as an LED, the activation of which is visible to the outside through the window or opening 813.

[0074] In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the switching elements 74 is designed as a force sensor for determining the different strengths of the force applied during the individual machining or processing operations. A signal can be output from the force sensor to the evaluation unit 72, with which the force applied during the individual machining or processing operations can be stored, associated with the individual machining or processing operations.

[0075] 1 pliers tool

[0076] 2 first step

[0077] 21 Handle

[0078] 22 hand levers

[0079] 23 first spacer sleeve

[0080] 24 second spacer sleeve

[0081] 3 second handle

[0082] 31 handle

[0083] 32 hand levers

[0084] 4 first swivel axis

[0085] 5 first press jaw

[0086] 51 outer edge

[0087] 6 second pressing jaw

[0088] 7 counter

[0089] 71 circuit board

[0090] 72 Evaluation unit

[0091] 73 Display element

[0092] 74 switching element

[0093] 8 counting unit

[0094] 81 housings

[0095] 811 first recording room

[0096] 812 second recording room

[0097] 813 Opening

[0098] 82 Seesaw

[0099] 821 first rocker arm

[0100] 822 second rocker arm

[0101] 83 axis of rotation

[0102] 84 Nose

[0103] 85 spring element

[0104] 86 Release head 87 Recess

[0105] 88 locking lug

[0106] 9 Node element 91 Base

[0107] 92 first leg

[0108] 93 second leg

[0109] 94 abutment edge 10 second pivot axis

[0110] 11 Thrust strut

[0111] 12 spring element

[0112] 13 Crimping insert

[0113] 14 pincer jaws

Claims

Claims 1 . Hand-operated pliers tool (1 ), in particular for processing cables, comprising: - a first pressing jaw (5) with a first handle (2) extending therefrom, - a second pressing jaw (6) pivotably mounted on the first pressing jaw (5) about a first pivot axis (4), - a second handle (3) which is movable in a spreadable manner relative to the first handle (2) and is hinged to the second pressing jaw (6), - wherein a U-shaped node element (9) with a base (91) and two legs (62, 63) extending from the base (91) in the direction of the handles (2, 3) is arranged on the second pressing jaw (6), - wherein the base (91) of the node element (9) is mounted on the first pressing jaw (5) via the first pivot axis (4) and a first of the legs (92) is mounted on the second handle (3) via a second pivot axis (10), - wherein a second leg (93) of the node element (9) is pivotable in the direction of an upper outer edge (51) of the first pressing jaw (5) remote from the second pressing jaw (6) when a pliers mouth (14) formed by the pressing jaws (5, 6) is opened, - an electronic counter (7) with which the number of processing operations can be counted and / or stored, - wherein the counter (7) has at least one switching element (74), an evaluation unit (72) and at least one signal transmitter (73) electrically connected to the evaluation unit (72), characterized in that - the counter (7) is accommodated in a counting unit (8) detachably attached to the first pressing jaw (5), - wherein in the closed position of the pliers handles (2, 3), the second leg (93) of the node element (9) interacts with the counting unit (8) in such a way that at least one counting signal is output to the evaluation unit (72) by the at least one switching element (74).

2. Pliers tool (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the counting unit (8) comprises a housing (81) which can be locked to the first pressing jaw (5) and has a first receiving space (811) for receiving the counter (7) and a the second leg (93) of the node element (9) cooperating rocker (82) for triggering the switching element (74).

3. Pliers tool (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the rocker (82) is mounted in a second receiving space (812) of the housing (81), on a rotational axis (83) dividing the rocker (82) into a first rocker leg (821) and a second rocker leg (822).

4. Pliers tool (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that a trigger head (86) for triggering the at least one switching element (74) is formed on a first rocker arm (821) of the rocker (82), and a nose (84) protruding from the housing (81) and cooperating with the second arm (93) of the node element (9) is formed on a second rocker arm (822) of the rocker (82).

5. Pliers tool (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that a spring element (85) coupled to the rocker (82) is arranged in the housing (81), which spring element positions the rocker (82) without external force in such a way that the trigger head (86) is held against the switching element (74).

6. Pliers tool (1) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that a first locking element (87) for locking on a first spacer sleeve (23) of the first pressing jaw (5) and a second locking element (88) for locking on a second spacer sleeve (24) of the first pressing jaw (5) are formed on the housing (81).

7. Pliers tool (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the first locking element (87) is designed as a part-circular locking recess and the second locking element (88) is designed as an elastic locking nose.

8. Pliers tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one signal generator (73) of the counter (7) is designed as an optical signal generator, in particular as an LED.

9. Pliers tool (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the housing (81) has a window or an opening (813) into which the at least one optical signal transmitter (73) of the counter (7) projects.

10. Pliers tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the pliers handles (2, 3) consists of a hand lever (22, 32) and a handle shell (21, 31) at least partially enclosing the hand lever (22, 23).

11. Pliers tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pliers tool (1) is designed as a crimping tool, a stripping tool, or a cutting tool.

12. Pliers tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the switching elements (74) is designed as a force sensor for determining different force effects of the individual machining or processing operations, wherein a signal can be output from the force sensor to the evaluation unit (72), with which the force effect of the individual machining or processing operations can be stored.

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