POWER TOOLS

• US 20110229283A1
• Filed: 03/18/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Original Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Inventors: KIMURA, Takuji, KATO, Kazuya
• Granted Patent: US 8,747,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 409/182
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/021 with guiding devices guiding devices for hand tools on stands or supports B25H1/0078
• CPC Class Codes: B27C 5/10 Portable hand-operated wood-milling machines; Routers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/306608 End mill [e.g., router, etc.]

Abstract

A power tool includes a base and a drive unit movable relative to the base and having a spindle and a drive device for rotatably driving the spindle. The power tool further includes a movable member mounted to the base and movable in a first mode and a second mode. A first device is coupled between the movable member and the drive unit and moves the drive unit relative to the base when the movable member moves in the first mode. A second device is coupled to the movable member and is configured to fix the drive unit in position relative to the base when the movable member moves in the second mode.

Claims

1. A power tool comprising:

a drive unit having a spindle and configured to rotatably drive the spindle, the spindle being configured to be able to attach a tool bit used for machining a workpiece; and

a base for placing on the workpiece;

wherein the drive unit has a housing having an outer circumferential surface;

wherein the base has a base plate for contacting the workpiece and a tubular holding portion extending from the base plate and positioned to be opposed to the outer circumferential surface of the housing;

a relative position adjusting mechanism configured to adjust a position of the drive unit relative to the base; and

a relative position fixing mechanism configured to fix a position of the drive unit relative to the base;

wherein at least one member is used commonly between the relative position adjusting mechanism and the relative position fixing mechanism.

2. The power tool as in claim 1, wherein;

the at least one member includes a support shaft member mounted to the tubular holding portion of the base and extending in a tangential direction of the tubular holding portion;

the relative position adjusting mechanism includes the support shaft member and a rotational member mounted on the support shaft member;

the rotational member is configured to rotate along the outer circumferential surface of the housing in a direction parallel to a central axis of the drive unit, so that the position of the drive unit relative to the base changes as the rotational member rotates along the outer circumferential surface of the housing;

the support shaft member has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion with respect to an axial direction;

the first end portion of the support shaft member is rotatably supported by a first part of the tubular holding portion of the base;

the second end portion of the support shaft member is rotatably supported by a second part of the tubular holding portion of the base, the second part being spaced from the first part in a circumferential direction of the tubular holding portion; and

the relative position fixing mechanism includes the support shaft member and is configured to be able to move the support shaft member in the axial direction, so that the first part and the second part move toward each other to reduce a circumferential length of the tubular support portion for tightening the tubular holding portion around the outer circumferential surface of the housing.

3. The power tool as in claim 2, wherein;

the rotational member is a pinion gear;

the relative position adjusting mechanism further includes a rack engaging the pinion gear; and

the rack is disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the housing of the drive unit and extends along a direction of movement of the drive unit relative to the base.

4. The power tool as in claim 2 wherein:

the relative position fixing mechanism further includes a shift mechanism for moving the support shaft member in the axial direction;

the shift mechanism comprises a earn portion rotatable about a rotational axis and an operation lever portion extending from the cam portion in a radial direction with respect to the rotational axis of the cam portion;

the cam portion acts on the support shaft member to move the support shaft member in the axial direction according to the rotational position of the cam portion; and

the operation lever portion is operable for rotating the cam portion.

5. The power tool as in claim 4, wherein;

the cam portion is rotatably supported on a rotary support shaft that moves relative to the tubular holding portion in response to the rotation of the earn portion, and the rotary support shaft is supported on the support shaft member such that the rotary support shaft urges the support shaft member to move in the axial direction relative to the tubular holding portion in response to the rotation of the cam portion.

6. The power tool as in claim 5, wherein:

the cam portion has an outer circumferential surface serving as a cam surface for contacting a contact member disposed on the side of the tubular holding portion when the cam portion acts on the support shaft member for moving the support shaft member in the axial direction; and

the outer circumferential surface of the cam portion is oriented in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the support shaft member.

7. A power tool comprising:

a base;

a drive unit movable relative to the base and having a spindle and a drive device for rotatably driving the spindle;

a movable member mounted to the base and movable in a first mode and a second mode;

a first device coupled between the movable member and the drive unit and moving the drive unit relative to the base when the movable member moves in the first mode; and

a second device coupled to the movable member and configured to fix the drive unit in position relative to the base when the movable member moves in the second mode.

8. The power tool as in claim 7, wherein:

the first mode of movement of the movable member is a rotational movement; and

the second mode of movement of the movable member is a linear movement.

9. The power tool as in claim 8, wherein:

the movable member is a shaft member having an axis;

the shaft member rotates about the axis in the first mode; and

the shaft member moves in an axial direction in the second mode.

10. The power tool as in claim 9, wherein:

the first device comprises a pinion gear mounted to the shaft member and a rack mounted to the drive unit and engaging the pinion gear.

11. The power tool as in claim 9, wherein:

the second device comprises a tightening device coupled to the base and capable of tightening around a part of the drive unit.

12. The power tool as in claim 11, wherein:

the tightening device comprises a tubular holding portion of the base;

the tubular holding portion has an inner diameter and can resiliently deform to reduce the inner diameter, so that the tubular holding portion is tightened around the part of the base.