Electric power tool

An electric power tool includes a driving unit generating a driving force by electricity and various components functioning by electricity, a circuit board on which a control unit configured to control the driving unit and the various components is mounted, a plurality of connectors connecting a plurality of wirings, which extend from the driving unit and the various components, with a plurality of wirings, which extend from the circuit board, a body portion installed therein with the driving unit, the various components, the circuit board and the plurality of connectors, and a receiving portion which receives the plurality of connectors therein and which is fixed to the body portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priorities from Japanese patent applications No. 2018-025865 filed on Feb. 16, 2018 and No. 2019-004097 filed on Jan. 15, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technology disclosed herein relates to an electric power tool.

BACKGROUND

In order to make a work more efficient, various electric power tools are used. Such electric power tools include, for example, a binding machine and the like (see Patent Document 1). For example, the binding machine is used to bind an object, such as reinforcing bars, at a construction site and the like. By using the binding machine, the work can be reliably speeded up. Thus, it is expected that the binding machine will come into wide use in the future.

SUMMARY

Such electric power tools include, in a body portion thereof, a driving unit, such as a motor; various components, such as sensors or LEDs; a circuit board, on which a control unit is mounted; wirings and connectors for electrically connecting therebetween and the like. Among them, the connectors are often received in an empty space inside the body portion by pushing the connectors into the space due to routing of wirings. As a result, assemblability or maintainability of the connectors or wirings to the body portion is not good. Accordingly, an object of the technology disclosed herein is mainly to solve the above problems.

In order to solve the problems an electric power tool of the present disclosure comprising:

a driving unit generating a driving force by electricity and various components functioning by electricity;

a circuit board on which a control unit configured to control the driving unit and the various components is mounted;

a plurality of connectors connecting a plurality of wirings, which extend from the driving unit and the various components, with a plurality of wirings, which extend from the circuit board;

a body portion installed therein with the driving unit, the various components, the circuit board and the plurality of connectors; and

a receiving portion which receives the plurality of connectors therein and which is fixed to the body portion.

According to the electric power tool, a plurality of connectors, which would have been simply pushed into the empty space inside the body portion due to routing of wirings, can be received in the receiving portion and then fixed to the body portion. Therefore, it is possible to enhance assemblability or maintainability of connector portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIGS. 1 to 13Bare intended to describe the present embodiment.

<Configuration> Hereinafter, a configuration of the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1shows a binding machine1as an example of an electric power tool. Arrows in the figure represent, respectively, a first direction2corresponding to a horizontal direction of the binding machine1, a second direction3perpendicular to the first direction2and also corresponding to a vertical direction of the binding machine1, and a third direction4perpendicular to the first direction2and the second direction3and also corresponding to a widthwise direction of the binding machine1.

The binding machine1is an electric power tool intended to bind an object or a work piece, such as reinforcing bars5, with a binding member, such as a wire6. The binding machine1includes a twisting unit25configured to twist a binding member, such as a wire6, which is guided in a loop shape to wrap around an object, such as reinforcing bars5, and thus to bind the object, such as reinforcing bars5; a twist motor27for driving the twisting unit25; a circuit board32having a mounting surface32a, on which a control unit40(seeFIG. 6) for controlling the twist motor27is mounted; a body portion7for housing the twisting unit25, the twist motor27and the circuit board32. A handle portion8extending outward, i.e., substantially in the second direction3, is provided on the substantially middle part of the body portion7in the first direction2. The body portion7has a generally hollow case extending in the first direction2. In the following, reinforcing bars5as the object and a wire6as the binding member will be described by way of example. Also, in the first direction2, a side of the body portion7facing the reinforcing bars5is referred to a front side of the body portion7, and the opposite side thereof is referred to as a rear side of the body portion7. Further, in the second direction3, a side of the body portion7, on which the handle portion8is provided, is referred to as a lower side of the body portion7, and the opposite side thereof is referred to as a upper side of the body portion7. Meanwhile, it should be noted that the body portion7can be oriented in various directions depending on a working posture of the binding machine1and thus the front/rear sides and the upper/lower sides are relative. The third direction4is a direction corresponding to a left and right direction of a worker, who holds the binding machine1, and is represented as a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the figure (the far side is the right side and the near side is the left side).

The handle portion8is provided on the body portion7for the purpose of easily performing a work while holding the binding machine1. Thus, in order to easily grip the handle portion8, the handle portion8is attached on the body portion7at an angle slightly inclined toward the front side of the body portion7in the first direction2. The handle portion8is formed by a generally hollow member. In the following, a portion (upper end portion) of the handle portion8facing the body portion7is referred to as a base portion or root portion of the handle portion8, and the opposite portion thereof (lower end portion) is referred to as a distal end portion of the handle portion8. Electric components, such as a trigger switch9as an activation switch, are provided on a front side of the root portion of the handle portion8. Also, a battery11as a power supply is detachably attached on the distal end portion of the handle portion8via a battery attaching portion12. Then, the binding machine1is activated by pulling the trigger switch9in a state where the binding machine1is turned on.

On a lower portion of the body portion7, which is located in the rear of the handle portion8, a load supporting portion67may be provided to be placed on the back of a worker's hand and thus to support a load. At a location, which is located in front of the load supporting portion67but in the rear of the root portion of the handle portion8, a recessed portion66may be provided by scraping out the entire lower portion of the body portion7to allow the back of the hand gipping the handle portion8to be inserted therein. By providing the recessed portion66in this way, the handle portion8(and thus a gripping position thereon) relative to the body portion7can be provided to be closer to the upper side or center portion of the body portion7than the existing one. Correspondingly, a position of the middle finger when the handle portion8is gripped (a location in the vicinity of a lower end of the trigger switch9) can be brought closer to the centroid position68of the binding machine1than before. Accordingly, a weight balance of the binding machine1can be improved and also operability of the binding machine1can be enhanced. Meanwhile, the centroid position68of the binding machine1is determined by a weight of the body portion7and a weight of the battery11and generally corresponds to the position as shown inFIG. 1and the like.

The binding machine1is configured to bind the reinforcing bars5by twisting the wire6, which is guided in a loop shape to wrap around the reinforcing bars5. The wire6is consumables and thus the wire6wound around a reel13(seeFIG. 8) can be used. The body portion7is provided, on the rear portion thereof (e.g., on the right side thereof), with a mount portion (reel mount portion)14(seeFIG. 8) allowing the reel13to be rotatably mounted thereon. The mount portion14is provided with a reel detection unit having electric components, such as a sensor capable of detecting an attached or detached state of the reel13. The reel detection unit is attached on the body portion7while being mounted on a sub-board. The mount portion14is provided with a brake unit for regulating rotation of the reel13. The brake unit is configured to brake rotation of the reel13, for example, at a time when delivery of the wire6is ended. The brake unit has a driving portion such as a solenoid17. The driving portion such as the solenoid17is attached on the substantially middle portion (an upper portion thereof) of the body portion7. The wire6drawn out from the reel13mounted on the mount portion14is delivered to the front side of the body portion7by a wire feeding unit18(seeFIG. 8). The wire feeding unit18is provided on the substantially middle portion of the body portion7. The wire feeding unit18has a driving portion constructed by an electric motor, such as a feeding motor18a(seeFIG. 8), and feeding gears driven by the feeding motor18a.

The body portion7is provided, on a front end portion thereof, with curl guides21,22configured to curl the wire6and then to guide the wire6in a loop shape around the reinforcing bars5. The wire6is guided by the curl guides21,22in such a manner that the wire6is wrapped in one turn or a plurality of turns around the reinforcing bars5. The curl guides21,22are provided in a pair while having a gap therebetween in the vertical direction (second direction3) of the binding machine1. Since the reinforcing bars5have to be inserted between the pair of curl guides21,22, an opening portion (insertion portion)23is provided therebetween. The pair of curl guides21,22are provided to have different lengths in such a manner that the upper side (curl guide21) is longer and the lower side (curl guide22) is shorter. The upper curl guide21is fixed (fixed curl guide). The lower curl guide22may be fixed or movable (movable curl guide). In the present embodiment, the lower curl guide22is attached on the body portion7to be pivotable in the second direction, i.e., in the vertical direction, about a curl guide shaft24extending in the third direction4.

The body portion7is provided with the twisting unit25configured to perform binding by twisting the loop-shaped wire6wound around the reinforcing bars5to reduce a diameter of the loop. The twisting unit25is formed in a generally shaft shape extending in the first direction2. The twisting unit25is connected to an output shaft of the twist motor27, which protrudes from one end side thereof, via a speed reduction mechanism26. Then, the twisting unit25is operated by rotationally driving the twist motor27.

Various driving portions installed in the binding machine1, such as the feeding motor18a, the twist motor27and the solenoid17, are sequentially controlled by the control unit40. The control unit40is mounted on the circuit board32(control board or main board). The circuit board32is installed between the twist motor27inside the body portion7and an inner wall surface34thereof facing the handle portion8, while being received in a circuit board case33. The circuit board case33is formed as a shallow dish or flat box-shaped container having, on one face thereof, an opening portion allowing the circuit board32to be received therein. As viewed in a plan view, the circuit board32has a generally quadrangular shape, and a shape of the circuit board case33in the plan view is generally similar to that of the circuit board32. The circuit board case33is fixed to a side surface of the body portion7(a first body portion54as described below) by fixing portions56. Also, the binding machine1is installed with a setting unit35capable of setting operation conditions of the binding machine1, specifically operation conditions of various driving portions, such as the feeding motor18a, the twist motor27and the solenoid17. For example, the setting unit35is configured to set the number of turns of the wire6wound around the reinforcing bars5, an operation time of the feeding motor18a, an operation timing of the solenoid17, an amount of torque of the twist motor27and the like. The setting unit35is mounted on a switch board37, together with electric components, such as a main power switch or main switch36for turning on and off the power supply. Also, various driving portions, such as the feeding motor18a, the twist motor27and the solenoid17; various circuit boards, such as the circuit board32(main board), the switch board37and the sub-board; and a battery11(a battery board provided inside the battery), which are installed in the binding machine1, are connected to each other by various wirings. The various wirings include, for example, power supply wirings38, signal wirings39and the like. The wirings, such as power supply wirings38and signal wirings39, are arranged inside the body portion7.

With respect to the basis configuration as described above, the electric power tool of the present embodiment is configured as follows.

(1) The electric power tool of the present embodiment includes a driving unit generating a driving force by electricity and various components functioning by electricity; a circuit board32, on which a control unit40for controlling the driving unit and the various components is mounted; a plurality of connectors71ato71c(seeFIGS. 2A to 2C) for connecting a plurality of wirings72ato72c(seeFIGS. 2A to 2C), which extend from the driving unit and the various components, with a plurality of wirings72ato72c, which extend from the circuit board32; a body portion7installed therein with the driving unit, the various components, the circuit board32(seeFIG. 6) and the plurality of connectors71ato71c; and a receiving portion46configured to receive the plurality of connectors71ato71ctherein and to be fixed to the body portion7.

Herein, the electric power tool is not limited to the binding machine1as described above, but the structure of the present embodiment can be appropriately applied to the binding machine1. The body portion7is configured to be dividable into a first body portion54and a second body portion55in the widthwise direction (third direction4or left and right direction) (seeFIG. 5). In the case of the binding machine1, the driving unit is the solenoid17of the brake unit, the feeding motor18aof the wire feeding unit18, the twist motor27for driving the twisting unit25or the like, in particular the twisting motor27. In the case of the binding machine1, the components includes the sensor of the reel detection unit, the trigger switch9, the setting unit35, the main switch36, a light source, such as a LED, for indicating an on/off state of the main switch36, or the like.

As shown inFIGS. 2A to 2C, the connectors71ato71care provided singularly or in plural on an end portion or a middle portion of wirings72ato72cconstituting the power supply wirings38, the signal wirings39or the like. The connectors71ato71cmay be individual connectors capable of individually connecting wirings one by one, but in the present embodiment, are configured as a collective connector capable of collectively connecting a plurality of wirings72ato72cat once. For example, a plurality of connectors71ato71ccan be separately provided for each number of wirings72ato72c, for each thickness of wirings, for each component (or board) to be connected, or the like. In the present embodiment, a first connector71ais provided to be capable of connecting five first wirings72ahaving the thinnest thickness at once. Also, a second connector71bis provided to be capable of connecting four second wirings72bhaving a medium thickness (thicker than the first wirings72abut thinner than third wirings72c) at once. A third connector71cis provided to be capable of connecting two third wirings72chaving the thickest thickness in the figures at once. However, the number of connectors71ato71cis not limited to three. Also, the connectors71ato71cin the figures are shown in a state where male connectors and female connectors are connected to each other.

The receiving portion46is configured in the shape of a box capable of receiving a plurality of connectors71ato71c. The receiving portion46is at least constituted of a container portion75having an opening portion in one surface thereof, and a lid portion76for closing the opening portion of the container portion75. The lid portion76is capable of closing or opening the container portion75in the widthwise direction (third direction4) of the body portion7. The container portion75and the lid portion76are fixed to each other by claws or screws. The receiving portion46is fixed to the body portion7in the widthwise direction by fixtures77such as screws (seeFIG. 1), while the receiving portion46is received inside the body portion7. Therefore, attaching pieces75a,75bhaving a screw hole are respectively integrally provided on upper and lower portions of the container portion75. Also, on an upper portion of the lid portion76, an attaching piece76ais integrally provided to be fastened together with the upper attaching piece75aof the container portion75. On a lower portion of the lid portion76, no attaching piece or the like is provided. In this configuration, by temporarily loosely fixing the lower attaching piece75bof the container portion75to the body portion7by means of the fixture77, the container portion75is allowed to be pivotally displaced (rearward) about the attaching piece75b. Also, for example, it is possible to attach the connectors71ato71cto the container portion75while the container portion75is brought out of the body portion7. If the connectors71ato71chave been attached to the container portion75, the lid portion76is attached to the container portion75, so that the connectors71ato71care received in the receiving portion (first receiving portion)46. Thereafter, the receiving portion46is moved to a defined position inside the body portion7(by pivotally displacing the receiving portion46forward about the attaching piece75b). Then, the attaching piece75a,76aare finally fixed to the body portion7by means of the fixtures77, and also the attaching piece75bis finally fixed to the body portion7by the fixture77. By adopting such a mounting method, it is possible to simplify the work and also to shorten the wirings72ato72c.

At this time, a wiring restriction portion78may be provided on the receiving portion46. For example, the wiring restriction portion78can be configured as a wiring arranging arm protruding from the lower attaching piece75bof the container portion75downward (toward the circuit board case33below thereof). The wiring restriction portion78is intended to restrict wirings (e.g., power supply wirings38inFIG. 5), which extend from lower to upper side by passing outside the receiving portion46after emerging, for example, from the circuit board32, the circuit board case33and the like, and thus to arrange a flow or direction of the wirings. Accordingly, for example, by fixing the receiving portion46to the first body portion54constituting the body portion7, the wiring restriction portion78can naturally control wirings in the vicinity thereof, in such a manner that the wirings are guided outside the receiving portion46. As a result, it is possible to enhance assemblability or maintainability of the wirings to the body portion7or the container portion75.

Also, the receiving portion46may be formed of an opaque member, but the receiving portion46may be entirely or partially formed of a transparent member or translucent member. Thus, a received state of the connectors71ato71cin the receiving portion46can be visually identified. Therefore, it is possible to find and prevent defects, such as biting of the connectors71ato71cby the receiving portion46or poor connection of the connectors71ato71c.

(2) As shown inFIG. 1, the receiving portion46is arranged in the rear of the driving unit, i.e., the receiving portion46is arranged on the opposite side to the output shaft of the twist motor27.

The twisting unit25is installed at a location inside the body portion7, which is located in front of the twist motor27, via the speed reduction mechanism26, and a rear space42is formed in the rear of the twist motor27. The receiving portion46is installed in the rear space42. The circuit board32is arranged to be close to the twist motor27. In the binding machine1, the circuit board32is the above main board. The circuit board32is arranged upside down in such a manner that the mounting surface32a(seeFIG. 6) faces the handle portion8and the back surface (soldering surface) thereof faces the twist motor27. The circuit board32is arranged between the twist motor27and the handle portion8in such a manner that the circuit board32is closer to the twist motor27than the inner wall surface34(bottom wall) of the body portion7, which is located toward the handle portion8. For example, on the basis of the curl guide shaft24positioned between the inner wall surface34and the twist motor27(in the second direction3), the circuit board32is arranged at a height substantially equal to or higher than that of the curl guide shaft24. A heat resistant member, such as a heat resistant sheet41(seeFIG. 1), may be interposed between the circuit board32and the twist motor27as required. The heat resistant sheet41can be installed by attaching rubber or resin on an upper surface of the circuit board case33. In this way, by interposing the heat resistant member, such as the heat resistant sheet41, between the circuit board32and the twist motor27, it is possible to protect the circuit board32from heat generated by the twist motor27. Also, since the heat resistant sheet41is formed of rubber, resin or the like, the effect thereof as a vibration-proof material can be anticipated.

(3) As shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B, the receiving portion46has a plurality of chambers82ato82cpartitioned inside thereof. The plurality of chambers82ato82care partitioned by partitions81a81band are configured to receive the plurality of connectors71ato71c. In the present embodiment, one of the connectors71ato71cis received in each of the chambers82ato82c. Alternatively, for example, a plurality of (e.g., two) connectors71ato71cmay be received in one chamber82ato82c(any one thereof).

The partitions81a,81bare provided generally along directions of the wirings72ato72c. In the case, the receiving portion46is partitioned into three chambers arranged generally in the front and rear direction by two partitions81a,81b, which extend generally in the vertical direction (second direction3).

(4) Each of the plurality of chambers82ato82cis configured to have a shape matching with a shape of the plurality of connectors71ato71cto be received therein. Also, each of the plurality of chambers82ato82cis configured to have a different shape to match with a shape of each of the connectors71ato71c. Alternatively, depending on shapes of the connectors71ato71cto be received (e.g., in a case where all of the connectors71ato71cto be received have the same shape, or a case where only some of the connectors71ato71chave different shapes), all of the plurality of chambers82ato82cmay have the same shape or at least two of the plurality of chambers82ato82cmay have a different shape. Also, similarly to the shapes of the chambers82ato82c, the chambers82ato82cmay configured not only such that all have different sizes, but also such that all have the same size or at least two sizes are employed.

Herein, the first connector71a, the second connector71band the third connector71cshown inFIG. 2Ahave different width dimensions and shapes in accordance with difference in the number or thickness of the wirings72ato72cto be connected. Then, the chambers82ato82cof the receiving portion46are also configured to have different depths or sizes depending on the connectors71ato71c. At locations on a peripheral wall portion of the receiving portion46(i.e., of the container portion75thereof), which correspond to upper and lower portions of each of the chambers82ato82c, slits83ato83care provided to allow the wirings72ato72cto pass therethrough. Similarly, the slits83ato83care also formed to have different depths or widths depending on the number or thickness of the wirings72ato72c. The receiving portion46may be configured to have a width dimension based on the widest one of the connectors71ato71c. Also, as shown inFIG. 2C, step-shaped portions84may be provided on a side surface of the container portion75opposite to the opening portion, in accordance with difference in width dimension of the connectors71ato71c. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 4, the step-shaped portions84may be provided on the lid portion76.

(5) As shown inFIG. 5, the receiving portion46is fixed to be spaced from inner side walls85,86of the body portion7. Therefore, predetermined spaces (second receiving portions)87,88are formed between the receiving portion46and the inner side walls85,86.

Herein, the inner side walls85,86of the body portion7means inner walls of side surfaces of the body portion7, which are oriented in the widthwise (right and left) direction (third direction4), namely, inner walls of side surfaces of the body portion7, which are located along a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the twist motor27and also substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the handle portion8. By arranging the receiving portion46to be spaced from one inner side wall85,86(any one thereof), a predetermined space, i.e., a widthwise gap (second receiving portion)87,88is formed between the receiving portion46and the inner side walls85,86. Accordingly, wirings (power supply wirings38, signal wirings39and the like) can be arranged to pass through the space or the widthwise gap (second receiving portion)87,88. Thus, in the electric power tool of the present embodiment, connectors or wirings can be arranged to pass inside and outside the receiving portion46, thereby making full use of the empty space in the body portion7.

(6) The receiving portion46includes a first outer surface79opposing one inner side wall85of the body portion7and a second outer surface80located opposite to the first outer surface79and opposing the other inner side wall86, and also a wiring holding portion91for holding wirings is provided on the second outer surface80.

For example, the wiring holding portion91is configured as a hook portion so that wirings (power supply wirings38, signal wirings39and the like) extending generally in the vertical direction can be received and held therein. For example, the hook portion is configured such that a distal end thereof is bent toward the front side of the body portion7, although a direction of the hook portion may be set to any direction. By bending the hook portion toward the front side, wirings received in the wiring holding portion91can be constrained not to protrude rearward, thereby preventing the wirings from being caught in the rear portion of the body portion7. One or a plurality of wiring holding portions91may be provided. Alternatively, the wiring holding portion91may be provided on the first outer surface79or on both the first outer surface79and the second outer surface80.

(7) As shown inFIG. 6, as another embodiment, the receiving portion46may be integrally formed inside the body portion7.

Herein, the receiving portion46can be integrated with the body portion7, for example, by forming a portion92of the container portion75, which corresponds to the attaching pieces75a,75b, as a connected portion (integrated portion) to the body portion7(e.g., the first body portion54).

(8) As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the body portion7has a plurality of openings (connector connection portions94ato94c) extending from inside to outside of the body portion7, and the plurality of openings have shapes matching respectively with shapes of a plurality of connectors71dto71ito hold the plurality of connectors71dto71i.

Herein, the connector connection portions94ato94care provided separately from the receiving portion46as described above, but may be provided in place of the receiving portion46. The connector connection portions94ato94care formed to be individually matched with the connectors71dto71i, which are different in size or shape in accordance with the number of wirings to be connected, a thickness of wirings, a component (or board) to be connected or the like. Also, male connectors71dto71fare inserted into the connector connection portions94ato94cfrom the outside or inside of the body portion7(e.g., the first body portion54), and then the male connectors71dto71fare locked on the body portion7by claw portions or the like. Then, female connectors71gto71imating with the male connectors71dto71fare fitted into the male connectors71dto71ffrom the inside or outside of the body portion7. Accordingly, the connectors71dto71iare coupled to sandwich the body portion7therebetween. Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, the connector connection portions94ato94care installed in front of the circuit board32and the circuit board case33and also between the twisting unit25and the trigger switch9.

(9) As shown inFIG. 1, the binding machine (electric power tool)1may have wiring protection portions95,96provided inside the body portion7for protecting wirings (e.g., power supply wirings38, signal wirings39, other wirings and the like).

Herein, the wiring protection portions95,96are preferably provided singularly or in plural at a location inside the body portion7, which is located close to a peripheral edge portion of the body portion7, to generally extend along the peripheral edge portion of the body portion7. In the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 9, a first wiring protection portion95is provided at a location on a lower portion of the first body portion54constituting the body portion7, which is located in front of the handle portion8. Also, as shown inFIG. 12, a second wiring protection portion96is provided at a location in the rear of the handle portion8. For example, the first wiring front-side wiring protection portion95can be provided in the vicinity of the trigger switch9. Also, the second rear-side wiring protection portion96can be provided in the recessed portion66, which is provided in the rear of the handle portion8, or at a location in the rear of the recessed portion66.

The wiring protection portions95,96may be formed of an opaque resin member, but is preferably formed of a transparent or translucent resin member so that a state of wirings to be protected and the like can be visible from the outside. The wiring protection portions95,96are fixed to the body portion7(e.g., first body portion54) by fixtures97such as screws. Therefore, the wiring protection portions95,96have screw holes98aformed therein. Also, screw supporting portions97b, such as boss portions, allowing the fixtures97, such as screws, to be screwed therein are provided on the body portion7(e.g., the first body portion54). Preferably, the wiring protection portions95,96are fixed to the body portion7by screwing the screws from the third direction4(from the left side). The wiring protection portions95,96may be attached on the body portion7after the wirings are installed in the body portion7. Alternatively, the wiring protection portions95,96may be attached on the body portion7before the wirings are installed therein, and then the wirings may be installed to extend along the wiring protection portions95,96.

Specifically, as shown inFIG. 9, the first front-side wiring protection portion95is installed above the trigger switch9in such a manner that the female connectors71gto71iinside the body portion7, which are attached to the connector connection portions94ato94c(seeFIG. 7) installed between the twisting unit25and the trigger switch9, or wirings extending from the female connectors71gto71ican be covered and protected therewith from the third direction4(from the left side). As shown in the enlarged view ofFIG. 10, front and lower sides of the trigger switch9are surrounded by a trigger guard9a, and a slide portion9bfor guiding forward and rearward movement of the trigger switch9is provided at a location within an installation range of the trigger guard9a, which corresponds to a lower edge portion of the body portion7(e.g., first body portion54). Then, the first wiring protection portion95is attached at a location above the slide portion9b.

The first wiring protection portion95is configured to form a generally closed wiring passage between the body portion7and the first wiring protection portion95when being attached on the body portion7. Accordingly, as shown in the part view ofFIGS. 11Ato D, the first wiring protection portion95is a generally C- or U-shaped cross-sectional member having a lower surface portion (first surface portion)95a, an upper surface portion (second surface portion)95b, and a side surface portion95cconnecting one-side portions (left portions) of the lower surface portion95aand upper surface portion95b. The first wiring protection portion95extends in the front and rear direction (first direction2) over the entire installation range of the trigger guard9aand has opening portions95d,95eformed between each of front and rear end portions thereof and the body portion7. Also, the other-side portions (right portions) of the lower surface portion95aand upper surface portion95bare spaced from each other to open therebetween. At least the lower surface portion95acan be provided, on the other-side portion thereof, with a portion arranged on an upper side of the slide portion9bat the lower edge portion of the body portion7and thus overlapping with the slide portion9bin the vertical direction. Meanwhile, other configurations of the first wiring protection portion95will be described below.

Also, as shown inFIG. 1, the second rear-side wiring protection portion96is installed to generally extend along a lower edge portion of the rear portion of the body portion7in such a manner that inverted-from-downward-to-upward parts of wirings (power supply wirings38or the like), which emerge and extend downward from the rear portion of the circuit board (main board)32and then routed upward generally along the rear end portion of the body portion7(e.g., first body portion54), are mainly protected (or pressed) therewith and thus the wirings are prevented from poking out of the body portion7(in the third direction4(left side), first direction2(rear side) or the like). The second wiring protection portion96is configured such that, when being attached on the body portion7, an upright wall capable of constraining the wirings from the left side is formed between the body portion7and the second wiring protection portion96. Also, as shown in the part view ofFIGS. 13Ato C, in order to form a wiring path opened upward, the second wiring protection portion96is a generally L- or J-shaped cross-sectional member having a lower surface portion (first surface portion)96aand a side surface portion96berected upward from one-side portion of the lower surface portion96ato form the upright wall. The second wiring protection portion96extends generally in the front and rear direction (first direction2) along the recessed portion66and a portion in the rear thereof. At least the lower surface portion96acan be provided, on the other-side portion thereof, with a portion arranged on an upper side of the lower edge portion of the body portion7and thus overlapping with the lower edge portion in the vertical direction. Meanwhile, other configurations of the second wiring protection portion96will be described below.

(10) As shown inFIG. 1, the wiring protection portions95,96may have rotation restricting portions98,99between the wiring protection portions95,96and the body portion7. The rotation restricting portions98,99are configured to restrict rotation of the wiring protection portions95,96relative to the body portion7.

Herein, the rotation restricting portions98,99are intended to restrict rotation of the wiring protection portions95,96in order to prevent the wiring protection portions95,96from being rotated together with the fixtures97, such as screws, in a screwing direction thereof (e.g., clockwise direction) when the wiring protection portions95,96are fixed to the body portion7(e.g., first body portion54) by the fixtures97. The rotation restricting portions98,99are preferably provided at locations separated from screwing positions of the fixtures97.

Specifically, as shown inFIG. 9, the screw hole97aused for attaching the first wiring protection portion95is provided at a location in front of the middle part, in the front and rear direction (first direction2), of the upper surface portion95b. Also, the rotation restricting portion98for the first wiring protection portion95has a rotation restricting concave portion98aprovided at a location in the rear of the middle part, in the front and rear direction, of the upper surface portion95b, and a rotation restricting convex portion98bprotruding from the body portion7(e.g., first body portion54) toward the rotation restricting concave portion98a. Then, when the first wiring protection portion95is set on the body portion7, the rotation restricting convex portion98bis fitted into the rotation restricting concave portion98a, thereby restricting rotation upon screwing of the fixture97. The rotation restricting concave portion98amay be configured as a hole portion, such as a pin hole, provided in the first wiring protection portion95, and the rotation restricting convex portion98bmay be configured as a protrusion, such as a pin, protruding from the body portion7. For example, the hole portion can be formed in a convex piece portion protruding upward the upper surface portion95bof the first wiring protection portion95. The rotation restricting convex portion98bcan formed to protrude in the left direction (third direction4) from a location on the body portion7(e.g., first body portion54), which corresponds to the hole portion.

Also, as shown inFIG. 12, the screw hole97aused for attaching the second wiring protection portion96is provided at a location on the substantially middle part, in the front and rear direction, of the second wiring protection portion96. The location is located in front of the wirings to be protected by the second wiring protection portion96. Meanwhile, in order to prevent the fixture97, such as a screw, from being directly in contact with the wirings, a box-shaped cover99c(seeFIGS. 13A to 13C) may be provided around the screw hole97a. Also, the rotation restricting portion99for the second wiring protection portion96has a protruding piece portion99aprotruding generally forward from the front end portion of the second wiring protection portion96, and a rotation restricting rib99bprotruding from the body portion7in the left direction (third direction4). The rib99bis formed to extend over and along the inner wall surface34of the lower edge portion of the body portion7in such a manner that a gap substantially equal to a thickness of the protruding piece portion99ais defined therebetween. Accordingly, when the second wiring protection portion96is set on the body portion7, the protruding piece portion99acan be inserted and held (or sandwiched) between the rib99band the lower edge portion of the body portion7. The rib99band the lower edge portion of the body portion7constitute a sandwiching portion capable of sandwiching the protruding piece portion99a. Then, when the second wiring protection portion96is set on the body portion7, the protruding piece portion99ais sandwiched between the rib99band the lower edge portion of the body portion7, thereby restricting rotation upon screwing of the fixture97.

(11) In the following, other configurations of the first wiring protection portion95will be described.

(a) As shown inFIG. 9(toFIG. 11D), a sensor101for detecting pivoting of the lower curl guide22about the curl guide shaft24in the vertical direction is provided in the vicinity of the front end portion of the first wiring protection portion95. For example, the sensor101may be configured as a push switch or the like. The sensor101is installed to be received at a location on the front upper portion of the trigger guard9a. Also, the first wiring protection portion95may be provided, in the vicinity of the front end portion thereof, with a retaining portion102(sensor retainer) for preventing the sensor101from falling out of the body portion7. The retaining portion102is configured as a locking portion for retaining (locking and holding) a left surface of the sensor101from the left side. The locking portion is formed by providing a convex-shaped portion, which has a length reaching the left surface of the sensor101, on a distal end portion of the first wiring protection portion95. By providing the convex-shaped portion, the distal end portion of the first wiring protection portion95has a stepped or cutout shape at the lower surface portion95aor upper surface portion95b. Accordingly, the sensor101can be retained by the stepped or cutout-shaped distal end portion. In this way, by providing the retaining portion102on the first wiring protection portion95, it is possible to prevent the sensor101from falling out of the body portion7(or the front upper portion of the trigger guard9a). Further, since the first wiring protection portion95is fixed to the body portion7, the sensor101can be stably held between the body portion7and the retaining portion102.

(b) The first wiring protection portion95may be provided with an enlarged cross-section portion105for preventing wirings to be protected from being sharply bent. In the present embodiment, wirings extending from the female connectors71gto71iin the third direction4(left direction) are greatly reversed to be routed in the right direction immediately after that. Subsequently, the wirings pass by front of a front side portion of the circuit board case33and then are guided to an inner portion of the body portion7(e.g., the first body portion54) (i.e., to the right side of the circuit board case33). At this time, if the wirings are excessively bent, there is a risk that defects, such as disconnection, occur in the wirings. Therefore, in order to maintain the bent section of the wirings in a more gentle shape, a cross section of the first wiring protection portion54, in which the bent section of the wirings and the vicinity thereof are arranged, is enlarged toward the third direction4to form the enlarged cross-section portion105. The enlarged cross-section portion105can be formed to have a desired size within a width range of the body portion7in the third direction4. In the present embodiment, the enlarged cross-section portion105is shaped in such a manner that the cross section of the first wiring protection portion95is enlarged toward the left side as it goes rearward. Meanwhile, the position or shape of the enlarged cross-section portion105of the first wiring protection portion95can be appropriately changed depending on a bent shape of the wirings. In this way, by providing the enlarged cross-section portion105on the first wiring protection portion95, it is possible to reliably guide and protect wirings to be protected while protecting the wirings from being sharply bent.

(c) As shown inFIG. 10, a shape correction portion107capable of maintaining the first wiring protection portion95in a normal shape may be provided between the first wiring protection portion95and the body portion7(e.g., the first body portion). The shape correction portion107is intended to restore the first wiring protection portion95to the normal shape, for example, in a case where the first wiring protection portion95is shrunk after molding, thereby ensuring that the first wiring protection portion95can be attached on the body portion7without any trouble. Specifically, a cross section of the first wiring protection portion95taken in a plane perpendicular to the first direction2(front and rear direction) has a generally C- or U-shape. Accordingly, due to shrinkage, the other-side portions of the upper surface portion95band lower surface portion95aare easy to be closed toward each other in the vertical direction. Therefore, the shape correction portion107can be configured to open the closed first wiring protection portion95in the vertical direction, thereby restoring the original shape thereof. In particular, the first wiring protection portion95is easy to be closed at the front and rear end portions and also at the position of the enlarged cross-section portion105due to shrinkage. Therefore, the shape correction portion107is preferably provided on at least one of the vicinity of the front and rear end portions and the vicinity of the enlarged cross-section portion105. In the present embodiment, the shape correction portion107is provided on the rear end-side portion provided with the enlarged cross-section portion105and the like.

Specifically, the shape correction portion107is configured as a protrusion, such as a rib107a, provided on the body portion7for opening the first wiring protection portion95. The rib107aabuts against an upper surface of the lower surface portion95aof the first wiring protection portion95, which is located in the vicinity of the rear end portion thereof, thereby widening the first wiring protection portion95and thus preventing biting of wirings. The rib107aextends from the body portion in the left direction (third direction4). On the other hand, if necessary, a rib bearing portion107bconfigured to surface-abut against the rib107amay be provided as the shape correction portion107on a portion of the lower surface portion95aof the first wiring protection portion95, which is located toward the rear end portion thereof. In the present embodiment, the rib bearing portion107bis configured as a protruding piece protruding rearward from the lower surface portion95a. The rib bearing portion107bcan be formed to be thicker than other portions of the first wiring protection portion95in order to finely adjust an abutting position thereof against the abutting portion107a, to secure a required strength and the like.

In this way, since the shape correction portion107is provided between the first wiring protection portion95and the body portion7(e.g., first body portion54), it is possible to restore (open) the shrunken first wiring protection portion95to the normal shape by simply setting the first wiring protection portion95on the body portion7and then surface-abutting the rib bearing portion107bagainst the rib107a. Therefore, it can be ensured that the first wiring protection portion95(the lower surface portion95athereof) is positioned at a defined location on the body portion7. Meanwhile, with respect to the upper surface portion95bof the first wiring protection portion95, the rotation restricting portion98serves as a reference for an attaching position thereof and also as the shape correction portion107, thereby ensuring that the upper surface portion95bis installed at a correct position.

(12) In the following, other configurations of the second wiring protection portion96will be described.

As shown inFIG. 12, a sinking prevention portion109for preventing the second wiring protection portion96from sinking down into the body portion7may be provided between the body portion7(e.g., first body portion54) and the second wiring protection portion96. If a restoring force of wirings, which have been pushed and bent by the second wiring protection portion96when the second wiring protection portion96has been set on the body portion7, causes one side (front or rear side), in the front and rear direction (first direction2), of the second wiring protection portion96to be lifted toward the near side in the third direction (left direction), the other side (rear or front side) is pushed into the body portion7toward the far side in the third direction (right direction), thereby causing sinking of the second wiring protection portion96. The sinking prevention portion109may be configured as front and rear stoppers109bor displacement restricting portions provided, respectively, at locations on the body portion7, which correspond, respectively, to front and rear end portions of the second wiring protection portion96, so that the front and rear end portions of the second wiring protection portion96are born thereon in the third direction4. The stoppers109bcan be formed as ribs, ridges or the like for restricting, respectively, the front and rear end portions of the second wiring protection portion96so as not to be displaced toward the far side in the third direction4by more than a predetermined amount. The ribs or ridges for the stoppers protrude from the body portion7in the left direction (third direction4) to have a height preventing the second wiring protection portion96from being displaced more toward the far side than the correct position thereof. On the other hand, on at least one of the front and rear end portions of the second wiring protection portion96, a bearing portion109acan be appropriately provided to stably bear the front and rear stoppers109bwith respect to the third direction4. In the present embodiment, the front bearing portion109ais formed on a portion (side surface) of the protruding piece portion99aconstituting the rotation restricting portion99, which faces the body portion7(e.g., the first body portion54). This front sinking prevention portion109is integrally formed with the rib99bof the rotation restricting portion99. Also, the rear bearing portion109ais formed as a cutout portion formed in the lower surface portion95a.

<Operation> Hereinafter, operation of the present embodiment will be described.

The reel13having the wire6wound thereon is mounted on the mount portion14, and then the main switch36is turned on. In this state, the distal end of the body portion7is oriented toward reinforcing bars5, the reinforcing bars5are inserted between the upper and lower curl guides21,22, and then the trigger switch9is pulled. As a result, the wire feeding unit18is activated so that the wire6is drawn out from the reel13and then is delivered to the front side of the body portion7. The wire6delivered to the front side of the body portion7is curled by the curl guides21,22and also guided to be wrapped in one turn or a plurality of turns around the reinforcing bars5. Thereafter, the loop-shaped wire6wound around the reinforcing bars5is twisted by the twisting unit25, so that a diameter of the loop is reduced, thereby binding the reinforcing bars5.

The electric power tool, such as the binding machine1as described above, includes, in the body portion7, the driving unit, such as a motor; various components, such as sensors or LEDs; the circuit board32, on which the control unit40is mounted; the connectors71ato71cfor electrically connecting therebetween and the like. If the body portion7has only a structure, in which the connectors71ato71care simply pushed into the inside of the body portion7when routing the wirings72ato72c, assemblability or maintainability to the body portion7is deteriorated.

<Effects> Accordingly, the above configurations of the present embodiment, can obtain the following effects.

(Effect 1) The plurality of connectors71ato71care received and held in the receiving portion46, and then the receiving portion46is fixed to the body portion7. Therefore, it is possible to enhance assemblability and maintainability of the plurality of connectors71ato71cto the body portion7. Since the plurality of connectors71ato71care collectively received in the receiving portion46, a receiving space, which has to be secured in the body portion7in order to receive the plurality of connectors71ato71c, can be reduced, thereby allowing downsizing of the body portion7. Since the receiving portion46is fixed to the body portion7, the connectors71ato71creceived in the receiving portion46are hardly shaken due to vibration or the like, thereby making it difficult for the connectors71ato71cto be damaged. Therefore, it is possible to enhance quality performance of the electric power tool.

(Effect 2) The receiving portion46is arranged in the rear of the driving unit, i.e., on the opposite side to the output shaft of the twist motor27. Therefore, a part of the electric power tool, which serves as a tool (twisting unit25in the case of the binding machine1and the like), can be arranged in front of the body portion7, the driving unit can be arranged in the rear of the body portion7, the circuit board32can be arranged to be close to the driving unit, and also the receiving portion46can be arranged in the rear space42in the rear of the twist motor27. As a result, the empty space in the rear of the twist motor27can be effectively utilized. Also, distances among various components and the circuit board32and the connectors71ato71care shortened, thereby facilitating arranging or routing of the connectors71ato71cin the body portion7. Therefore, it is possible to downsize the body portion7and to enhance operability of the electric power tool.

(Effect 3) The plurality of chambers82ato82care provided inside the receiving portion46. Therefore, the connectors71ato71ccan be received in the plurality of chambers82ato82c, or the plurality of connectors71ato71ccan be individually received and fixed therein. As a result, it is possible to enhance assemblability and maintainability of the connectors71ato71cto the receiving portion46. Also, the plurality of chambers82ato82care partitioned by the partitions81a,81b, thereby preventing the plurality of connectors71ato71cfrom interfering with each other inside the receiving portion46. Thus, it is possible to suppress the plurality of connectors71ato71cfrom being shaken due to vibration or the like, thereby making it difficult for the connectors71ato71cto be damaged. Therefore, it is possible to enhance quality performance of the electric power tool.

(Effect 4) The shapes of the plurality of chambers82ato82cmatch respectively with the shapes of the plurality of connectors71ato71cto be received therein. Therefore, the connectors71ato71ccan be individually fitted into the respective chambers82ato82c, so that the connectors71ato71care not shaken due to vibration or the like, thereby making it difficult for the connectors71ato71cto be damaged. Thus, it is possible to enhance quality performance of the electric power tool. Also, the plurality of chambers82ato82care configured to have different shapes to match with the shapes of the connectors71ato71c. Therefore, connectors having different shapes can be used as the plurality of connectors71ato71c, thereby preventing the connectors71ato71cfrom being misassembled.

(Effect 5) The receiving portion46is fixed to be spaced from the inner side walls85,86of the body portion7. Thus, the second receiving portions87,88are formed between the receiving portion46and the inner side walls85,86. Therefore, wirings (power supply wirings38, signal wirings39and the like) installed inside the body portion7can be held by the second receiving portions87,88. Also, the connectors71ato71c(and thus the wirings72ato72chaving the connectors71ato71c) and the other wirings can be separated to be hierarchically held in the inside and outside of the receiving portion46. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance assemblability and maintainability of the connectors71ato71cor the wirings to the body portion7.

(Effect 6) The wiring holding portion91is provided on the outer surfaces79,80of the receiving portion46, which oppose the inner side walls85,86of the body portion7. In particular, the wiring holding portion91is provided on the second outer surface80of the receiving portion46. Therefore, by using the wiring holding portion91, the wirings (power supply wirings38, signal wirings39and the like) and the connectors71ato71c(and thus the wirings72ato72chaving the connectors71ato71c) can be separated to be hierarchically received and held in the inside and outside of the receiving portion46. In the electric power tool of the present embodiment, the second receiving portion87, the receiving portion46and the wiring holding portion91are provided in the widthwise direction of the body portion7, thereby forming a receiving space having a three-layered structure. Also, since the connectors71ato71ccan be held by the receiving portion46and the wirings (power supply wirings38, signal wirings39and the like) can be held by the second receiving portion46and the wiring holding portion91, a space in the body portion7can be effectively utilized and thus the body portion7can be further compacted. Also, by receiving the connectors71ato71cor the wirings as described above, it is possible to enhance assemblability and maintainability of the connectors71ato71cor the wirings to the body portion7. Meanwhile, although in the electric power tool of the present embodiment, three layers of spaces are provided in the widthwise direction of the body portion7and the connectors71ato71cor the wirings are received therein, the receiving portion46may be brought close, for example, to the inner side wall85of the body portion7, so that the second receiving portion87is not provided between the receiving portion46and the inner side wall85, thereby providing a two-layered structure including the receiving portion46and the wiring holding portion91.

(Effect 7) The receiving portion46may be integrally formed inside the body portion7. Therefore, it is not necessary to form the receiving portion46as a separate member, thereby enhancing assemblability of the connectors71ato71cto the body portion7.

(Effect 8) The plurality of openings extending from inside to outside of the body portion7may be provided in the body portion7and the plurality of openings may serve as connector connection portions94ato94chaving shapes matching with shapes of a plurality of connectors71dto71irespectively. Therefore, connectors having different shapes can be used as the plurality of connectors71dto71i, thereby preventing the connectors71dto71ifrom being misassembled in the connector connection portions94ato94c1. Since the plurality of openings provided in the body portion7are used as the connector connection portions94ato94c, the connectors71dto71ican be directly held on the body portion7. Thus, the connectors71dto71ican have a structure robust against vibration, thereby enhancing assemblability and maintainability of the connectors71dto71ito the body portion7. Further, by using the connector connection portions94ato94c, wirings72ato72cextending from inside to outside of the body portion7can be easily provided.

(Effect 9) The wiring protection portions95,96may be provided inside the body portion7. Therefore, wirings arranged inside the body portion7can be protected by the wiring protection portions95,96. In the inside of the body portion7, the wiring protection portions95,96can serve as wiring guides for guiding the wirings to correct paths, maintaining the wirings in an orderly arranged state, or routing the wirings to prevent defects of the wirings, such as disconnection, due to excessive bending thereof. Also, for example, by providing the wiring protection portions95,96generally along the peripheral edge portion of the body portion7, it is possible to prevent the wirings from being caught in the body portion7when the body portion7(i.e., the first body portion54and the second body portion55) is closed. Further, for example, by providing the wiring protection portion95in the vicinity of the trigger switch9, it is possible to prevent the wirings from being caught in the slide portion9bof the trigger switch9and the like. In addition, by providing the wiring protection portion96in the recessed portion66or in the rear of the recessed portion66, it is possible to facilitate routing of the wirings in a narrow portion of the rear portion of the body portion7and the like. Further, the wiring protection portions95,96can prevent the wirings from moving inside the body portion7.

(Effect 10) The wiring protection portions95,96may be provided with the rotation restricting portions98,99for restricting rotation of the wiring protection portions95,96relative to the body portion7. Therefore, the rotation restricting portions98,99can restrict rotation of the wiring protection portions95,96relative to the body portion7when the wiring protection portions95,96are attached, thereby preventing positions of the wiring protection portions95,96from being shifted. As a result, it is possible to facilitate attaching of the wiring protection portions95,96.