Machine tool with swivelling control console

Abstract

A machine tool ( 10 ) has a working space ( 11 ), a housing ( 12 ) enclosing the working space ( 11 ), a control console ( 32 ) which serves to control the machine tool ( 10 ), and a joint ( 44 ) which is fastened to a wall ( 14 ) of the housing ( 12 ). The control console ( 32 ) is fastened to the wall ( 14 ) by means of the joint ( 44 ) in such a way that it can be swivelled about a vertical axis ( 51 ). The control console ( 32 ) is rigidly connected to the joint ( 44 ) according to a first embodiment, whereas according to a second embodiment the joint defines a first and at least one further operating position of the control console and is designed such that at least said first operating position is self-locking (FIG. 1 ).

Therefore, what I claim is:  
     
         1 . A machine tool for machining workpieces, said machine tool having a working space for receiving said workpieces, a housing enclosing said working space, said housing having at least a first wall, a control console for controlling operation of said machine tool at least when machining said workpieces, and a joint fastened to said first wall and to said control console, said joint defining a vertical axis, such that the control console can be swiveled about said vertical axis, 
 wherein the control console is rigidly connected to the joint.    
     
     
         2 . The machine tool of  claim 1 , wherein the joint and the control console are arranged at a same level relative to said housing.  
     
     
         3 . The machine tool of  claim 2 , wherein the first wall has a side edge, the vertical axis essentially coinciding with said side edge.  
     
     
         4 . The machine tool of  claim 1 , wherein the control console has a rear side that is free of operating elements and has a side edge, the vertical axis essentially coinciding with said side edge of said rear side.  
     
     
         5 . The machine tool of  claim 4 , wherein the control console is connected to the joint via a bearer.  
     
     
         6 . The machine tool of  claim 5 , wherein the bearer is rigidly fastened to said rear side of the control console.  
     
     
         7 . The machine tool of  claim 1 , wherein the control console can be swivelled between two operating positions, at least one of said two operating positions being self-locking.  
     
     
         8 . The machine tool of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one self-locking operating position is established by the joint.  
     
     
         9 . A machine tool as in  claim 8 , wherein in the at least one self-locking operating position, the control console is lowered relative to intermediate positions it assumes between the two operating positions.  
     
     
         10 . A machine tool for machining workpieces, said machine tool having a working space for receiving said workpieces, a housing enclosing said working space, said housing having at least a first wall, a control console for controlling operation of said machine tool at least when machining said workpieces, and a joint fastened to said first wall and to said control console, said joint defining a vertical axis such that the control console can be swivelled about said vertical axis, 
 wherein the joint defines a first and at least one further operating position of the control console and is designed such that at least said first operating position is self-locking.    
     
     
         11 . The machine tool of  claim 10 , wherein the joint has two joint bodies which are arranged one above the other and are rotatable relative to one another about the vertical axis, a guide body being formed on one joint body and a guide surface being formed on the other joint body, the guide surface having at least one recess for locating the guide body, this recess establishing the first operating position.  
     
     
         12 . A machine tool for machining workpieces, said machine tool having a working space for receiving said workpieces, a housing enclosing said working space, said housing having at least a first wall, a control console for controlling operation of said machine tool at least when machining said workpieces, and a joint fastened to said first wall and to said control console, said joint defining a vertical axis such that the control console can be swivelled about said vertical axis between at least two operating positions, 
 wherein the joint has two joint bodies which are arranged one above the other and are rotatable relative to one another about the vertical axis, a guide body being formed on a first of the two joint bodies and a guide surface being formed on the second of the two joint bodies, the guide surface having at least one recess for locating the guide body, the recess establishing a self-locking operating position.    
     
     
         13 . The machine tool of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one recess has a flank, via which the guide body is guided when assuming the self-locking operating position.  
     
     
         14 . The machine tool of  claim 13 , wherein the flank is designed as an inclined plane.  
     
     
         15 . The machine tool of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one recess is adapted in its shape to the guide body, so that, in the at least one self-locking operating position, the guide body is located with surface contact in the recess.  
     
     
         16 . The machine tool of  claim 15 , wherein the guide body is designed as a pin having a circumferential contour, and wherein the at least one recess has a curved section adapted to said circumferential contour of the pin, such that the pin can oscillate slightly in the at least one recess.  
     
     
         17 . The machine tool of  claim 12 , wherein the control console is connected to the machine tool via a cable string which comes out of the control console at its top end and enters the housing at a level below the control console.  
     
     
         18 . The machine tool of  claim 1 , wherein the control console is connected to the machine tool via a cable string which comes out of the control console at its top end and enters the housing at a level below the control console.  
     
     
         19 . The machine tool of  claim 10 , wherein the control console is connected to the machine tool via a cable string which comes out of the control console at its top end and enters the housing at a level below the control console.