Suction devices and power tools

Abstract

The present invention provides a suction device that facilitates the replacement of driver bits, and a power tool equipped with such a suction device. [Solution] The suction device 10 comprises a suction device body 20 attached to the tool body 14 so as to cover the bit fixing sleeve 18 of the power tool 12, a suction tip member 22 detachably attached to the suction device body 20, and a sleeve operating member 64 extending from the internal space 28 of the suction device body 20 through an operating opening to the outside of the suction device body 20. The sleeve operating member 64 is positioned to be operable in the front-rear direction along the rotation axis R. By operating the sleeve operating member 64 from the outside of the suction device body 20, the bit fixing sleeve 18 can be displaced from a fixed position that fixes the driver bit B to a release position in which the driver bit B can be removed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a suction device for a power tool in which a driver bit is detachably attached, and a power tool provided with such a suction device.

Background Art

[0002] In a power tool such as an electric driver in which a driver bit is detachably attached, there is a device provided with a suction device for vacuum-sucking and holding a screw at the tip of the driver bit. Since it is necessary to use an appropriate driver bit according to the screw or nut to be tightened, generally, when replacing the driver bit in such a power tool, it is necessary to remove the suction device attached to the main body of the power tool. However, when removing the suction device, it may be necessary to remove a tube or piping connected to the vacuum source, so the operation of replacing the driver bit becomes a time-consuming and complicated task.

[0003] Therefore, a suction device that enables easy replacement of the driver bit has been developed. For example, the suction devices shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are composed of a suction device main body attached to the tool main body and a suction tip member detachably attached to the suction device main body. By removing the suction tip member, it becomes possible to access the bit fixing sleeve, so that the driver bit can be removed by directly operating the bit fixing sleeve. In particular, in Patent Document 1, since a tube or the like connected to the vacuum source is attached to the side of the suction device main body, it is not necessary to remove the tube or the like in the operation of replacing the driver bit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

[0005] However, in the conventional suction devices described above, when the suction tip is removed, the bit fixing sleeve is located inside the suction device body. Therefore, accessing the bit fixing sleeve requires accessing the inside through an opening in the suction device body. As a result, operating the bit fixing sleeve was somewhat difficult. Furthermore, when power tools are used attached to automated machines such as robot hands, it is desirable to be able to replace the driver bit automatically, but with conventional structures, it was difficult to enable automatic replacement by a robot system.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a suction device that makes it easier to replace driver bits, and a power tool equipped with such a suction device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In other words, the present invention is A suction device for a power tool comprising: a tool body; a bit holder rotatably held by the tool body; and a bit fixing sleeve positioned around the bit holder, which is operable between a fixing position for fixing a driver bit inserted into the bit holder to the bit holder and an unlocking position for removing the driver bit from the bit holder, A suction device body that is attached to the tool body so as to cover the bit fixing sleeve, the suction device body having a front end opening, a cylindrical wall portion extending rearward from the front end opening and defining an internal space between itself and the power tool, a connection opening that communicates with the internal space and is connected to an external vacuum source, and an operating opening formed in the cylindrical wall portion, A suction tip member detachably attached to the main body of the suction device, the suction tip member having a bit passage extending rearward from the tip suction opening through which a driver bit attached to the bit holder passes, A sleeve operating member extending from within the internal space through the operating opening to the outside of the suction device body and arranged to be operable in the front-rear direction, wherein when operated from the outside in the front-rear direction, the sleeve operating member displaces the bit fixing sleeve from the fixed position to the unlocked position, The present invention provides an adsorption device equipped with the following features.

[0008] In this suction device, the bit fixing sleeve of the power tool can be operated from the outside of the suction device via a sleeve operating member. Therefore, it is possible to easily replace the driver bit compared to conventional devices in which the driver bit had to be replaced by directly operating the bit fixing sleeve. In this application, terms indicating direction such as "forward," "backward," and "front-back direction" are used to illustrate the configuration of the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner and do not necessarily indicate the direction in the state of use.

[0009] Furthermore, the device may further include a sliding seal member attached to the main body of the suction device and sealed engaging with the bit holder, the sliding seal member which divides the internal space into a first space communicating with the connection opening and a second space communicating with the operation opening.

[0010] Furthermore, the device may be further equipped with a spring that biases the sleeve operating member forward and presses it against the front side surface of the operating opening, and when the sleeve operating member is displaced backward against the biasing force of the spring, the bit fixing sleeve can be displaced from the fixed position to the unlocked position.

[0011] When the sleeve operating member is not being operated, the spring presses the sleeve operating member against the front side of the operating opening, thereby minimizing contact between the bit fixing sleeve and the sleeve operating member while the power tool is in operation.

[0012] Furthermore, the operating openings can be formed in a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction on the cylindrical wall, and the sleeve operating member can have an annular portion that extends in an annular shape around the bit fixing sleeve, and a plurality of radial portions that extend radially from the annular portion through each operating opening.

[0013] This configuration allows multiple radial sections to be operated simultaneously, enabling stable operation of the sleeve operating member.

[0014] Furthermore, the present invention, The tool body and A bit holder rotatably held on the tool body, A bit fixing sleeve is positioned around the bit holder and is operable between a fixing position that secures the driver bit inserted into the bit holder to the bit holder and an unlocking position that allows the driver bit to be removed from the bit holder. A suction device as described in any one of the above-mentioned items, attached to the tool body, We provide a power tool equipped with the following features.

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the suction device and power tool according to the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a power tool equipped with a suction device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a side view of a power tool equipped with a suction device. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a front cross-sectional view of the adsorption device. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the adsorption device. [Figure 5] This is a side cross-sectional view of the suction device with the suction tip removed. [Figure 6] This is a side cross-sectional view of the suction device with the driver bit removed.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the suction device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to and used with a power tool 12.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the power tool 12 includes a tool body 14, a bit holder 16 rotatably held by the tool body 14, and a bit fixing sleeve 18 for attaching and detaching a driver bit B inserted into the bit holder 16. The bit fixing sleeve 18 is operable between a fixing position (FIG. 3) for fixing the driver bit B to the bit holder 16 and a release position (FIG. 6) where the driver bit B can be removed from the bit holder 16. An electric motor is built into the tool body 14, and the bit holder 16 and the driver bit B are rotationally driven by the electric motor.

[0019] The suction device 10 includes a suction device body 20 attached to the tool body 14 so as to cover the bit fixing sleeve 18, and a suction tip member 22 detachably attached to the suction device body 20. The suction device body 20 is fixed to the tool body 14 by a plurality of set screws 24. The suction device body 20 includes a cylindrical wall portion 30 that extends rearward (upward in the drawing) from a front end opening 26 (FIGS. 5 and 6) and defines an internal space 28 between the suction device body 20 and the power tool 12. A connection opening 32 communicating with the internal space 28 is formed in the cylindrical wall portion 30. A joint 34 for attaching a tube connected to an external vacuum source is attached to the connection opening 32. Further, an operation opening 36 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4, etc.) penetrating in the radial direction is formed in the cylindrical wall portion 30. In the present embodiment, two operation openings 36 are formed side by side in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall portion 30. A sliding seal member 38 that seals and engages with the bit holder 16 is attached to the cylindrical wall portion 30. The sliding seal member 38 slidably engages with the rotationally driven bit holder 16 in a sealed state. The internal space 28 is divided by the sliding seal member 38 into a first space 40 communicating with the connection opening 32 and a second space 42 communicating with the operation opening 36.

[0020] The suction tip member 22 has a suction nozzle 48 that defines a bit passage 46 extending rearward from the tip suction opening 44, and a cylindrical holding member 50 that holds the suction nozzle 48 so that it can be displaced in the front-rear direction along the rotation axis R of the bit holder 16. The driver bit B attached to the bit holder 16 extends through the bit passage 46. A spring 52 is placed between the suction nozzle 48 and the cylindrical holding member 50, and the suction nozzle 48 is biased forward by the biasing force of the spring 52. When the suction tip member 22 is attached to the suction device body 20, a suction channel 54 is formed from the connection opening 32 through the first space 40 of the internal space 28 and the bit passage 46 to the tip suction opening 44. When a screw is fitted onto the tip Ba of the driver bit B while air is being drawn in by an external vacuum source, the screw is attracted and held on the tip Ba of the driver bit B.

[0021] As shown in Figure 4, the suction device body 20 further includes a locking element holding hole 56 formed in the cylindrical wall portion 30, a locking element 58 held within the locking element holding hole 56, and a connecting sleeve 60 arranged around the cylindrical wall portion 30. When the suction tip member 22 is connected to the suction device body 20, a portion of the suction tip member 22 is inserted into the internal space 28, and the locking element 58 engages with the annular locking groove 62 of the suction tip member 22. The locking element 58 is held in the engaged position with the annular locking groove 62 by the connecting sleeve 60. In this way, the state in which the suction device body 20 and the suction tip member 22 are connected is maintained.

[0022] The suction device 10 further includes a sleeve operating member 64 positioned around the bit fixing sleeve 18. The sleeve operating member 64 has an annular portion 66 (Figure 3) that extends in an annular shape around the bit fixing sleeve 18, and a radial portion 68 (Figure 4) that extends from the annular portion 66 through the operating opening 36 to the outside of the suction device body 20. In this embodiment, the sleeve operating member 64 has two radial portions 68 that extend through each of the two operating openings 36. The suction device 10 further includes a spring 70 that biases the sleeve operating member 64 forward. The sleeve operating member 64 is pressed against the front side surface 72 of the operating opening 36 by the biasing force of the spring 70.

[0023] When replacing the driver bit B, as shown in Figure 5, the connecting sleeve 60 is displaced to the rearward position to release the locking element 58, and the suction tip member 22 is removed from the suction device body 20. Next, as shown in Figure 6, the sleeve operating member 64 is operated to the rearward position. This causes the sleeve operating member 64 to engage with the bit fixing sleeve 18 of the suction device 10 in the direction of the rotation axis R, displacing the bit fixing sleeve 18 from the fixed position to the unlocked position. This releases the driver bit B from the bit holder 16, and the driver bit B can be removed.

[0024] As described above, in the suction device 10, the bit fixing sleeve 18 can be operated from the outside of the suction device 10 via the sleeve operating member 64. Therefore, it is possible to easily replace the driver bit B compared to conventional devices in which the bit fixing sleeve 18 is operated directly. Furthermore, when the power tool 12 is attached to an automated machine such as a robot hand, it becomes easy to automatically replace the driver bit B due to the movement of the robot hand.

[0025] Furthermore, in order to ensure that the screw is properly attracted to the tip Ba of the driver bit B, the inner diameter of the tip-side portion of the bit passage 46 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tip Ba of the driver bit B. Therefore, when replacing the driver bit B with one of a different size, the suction tip member 22 having a bit passage 46 of the appropriate size is replaced. In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the tip Ba side of the driver bit B is smaller than the outer diameter of the base Bb side. Therefore, the tip-side portion of the bit passage 46 has a relatively small inner diameter to match the outer diameter of the thin tip Ba of the driver bit B. In this case, since the outer diameter of the base Bb side of the driver bit B is larger than the inner diameter of the bit passage 46, the driver bit B cannot be removed through the bit passage 46. Therefore, when replacing the driver bit B, it is necessary to remove the suction tip member 22 from the suction device body 20 as described above. However, if the outer diameter of the tip Ba side of the driver bit B is greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the base Bb side, it becomes possible to remove the driver bit B through the bit passage 46. In this case, it is not necessarily required to remove the suction tip member 22 from the suction device body 20 when replacing the driver bit B.

[0026] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. For example, the number of operating openings may be one or three or more. Also, the number of radial portions of the sleeve operating member can be arbitrarily changed to match the number of operating openings. Furthermore, although the power tool in the above embodiments is an electric screwdriver, the power tool according to the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an air screwdriver using an air motor instead of an electric motor may be used, or the tool may be used to fasten other members such as nuts. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0027] 10 Adsorption device 12 Power tools 14 Tool body 16-bit holder 18-bit fixed sleeve 20 Adsorption device main body 22 Suction tip member 24 Set screws 26 Front end opening 28 Interior space 30 Cylindrical wall section 32 connection openings 34 Fittings 36 Operation opening 38 Sliding seal member 40 1st space 42 Second space 44 Tip suction opening 46-bit passage 48 Suction nozzles 50 Cylindrical holding member 52 Springs 54 Suction channel 56 Locker retaining hole 58 Locker 60 connecting sleeves 62 Annular locking groove 64 Sleeve operating member 66 Circular section 68 Radial section 70 Spring 72 Front side B Driver Bit Ba tip Bb base R rotation axis

Claims

1. A suction device for a power tool comprising: a tool body; a bit holder rotatably held by the tool body; and a bit fixing sleeve positioned around the bit holder, which is operable between a fixing position for fixing a driver bit inserted into the bit holder to the bit holder and an unlocking position for removing the driver bit from the bit holder, A suction device body that is attached to the tool body so as to cover the bit fixing sleeve, the suction device body having a front end opening, a cylindrical wall portion extending rearward from the front end opening and defining an internal space between itself and the power tool, a connection opening that communicates with the internal space and is connected to an external vacuum source, and an operating opening formed in the cylindrical wall portion, A suction tip member detachably attached to the main body of the suction device, the suction tip member having a bit passage extending rearward from the tip suction opening through which a driver bit attached to the bit holder passes, A sleeve operating member extending from within the internal space through the operating opening to the outside of the suction device body and arranged to be operable in the front-rear direction, wherein when operated from the outside in the front-rear direction, the sleeve operating member displaces the bit fixing sleeve from the fixed position to the unlocked position, Adsorption device equipped with the following features.

2. The suction device according to claim 1, further comprising a sliding seal member attached to the suction device body and sealed engaging with the bit holder, the sliding seal member dividing the internal space into a first space communicating with the connection opening and a second space communicating with the operation opening.

3. The suction device according to claim 1, further comprising a spring that biases the sleeve operating member forward and presses it against the front side surface of the operating opening, wherein when the sleeve operating member is displaced backward against the biasing force of the spring, it displaces the bit fixing sleeve from the fixed position to the unlocked position.

4. Multiple operating openings are formed in the cylindrical wall portion, arranged in the circumferential direction. The suction device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve operating member has an annular portion extending in an annular shape around the bit fixing sleeve and a plurality of radial portions extending radially from the annular portion through each operating opening.

5. The tool body and A bit holder rotatably held on the tool body, A bit fixing sleeve is positioned around the bit holder and is operable between a fixing position that secures the driver bit inserted into the bit holder to the bit holder and an unlocking position that allows the driver bit to be removed from the bit holder. A suction device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, attached to the tool body, Power tools equipped with these features.

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