Switching unit having a locking function for a tool

1. A switch unit for providing a combined switching and locking function for controlling an industrial tool, both the locking function and the switching function taking place on a magnetic basis, the switch unit comprising:

two facing rows of magnets, wherein:

each magnet row is made up of at least two magnets,

a width of a gap between facing sides of the magnet rows is essentially constant,

the magnet rows are relatively movable with respect to each other in a direction of an extension of the magnet rows, and

a distance between adjacent magnets one of the magnet rows is essentially constant; and

at least one magnetic field detector provided in at least one of the magnet rows;

wherein the at least one magnetic field detector replaces a magnet in a sequence and has two adjacent magnets,

wherein the at least one magnetic field detector includes a Hall effect sensor,

wherein a distance between the at least one magnetic detector and each of the magnets of the two magnet rows corresponds approximately to one of a distance and an integral multiple of the distance between the magnets mounted in the facing magnet rows, and the magnets adjacent to the at least one magnetic detector are mounted so that the facing sides have different magnetic poles,

wherein the facing magnets are situated so that the switch unit has two stable mechanical locked-in states, in one of the locked-in states always the facing side of a magnet directly facing the at least one magnetic detector and being detected by the at least one magnetic detector, and

wherein:

the at least one magnetic detector includes two adjacent magnets,

a row of magnets facing the at least one magnetic detector has only two magnets,

the sides facing each other of the magnets of each row of magnets correspond to different magnetic poles, and

a sequence of the magnetic poles of the two rows is opposite, as seen in the extension of the rows, so that in every locking setting two magnets having different poles face each other and execute the locking function, and in different locking settings, in each case different magnetic poles face the at least one magnetic field detector.

2. A switch unit for providing a combined switching and locking function for controlling an industrial tool, both the locking function and the switching function taking place on a magnetic basis, the switch unit comprising:

two facing rows of magnets, wherein each magnet row is made up of at least two magnets, a width of a gap between facing sides of the magnet rows is essentially constant, the magnet rows are relatively movable with respect to each other in a direction of an extension of the magnet rows, and a distance between adjacent magnets one of the magnet rows is essentially constant; and

at least one magnetic field detector provided in at least one of the magnet rows;

wherein a sequence of the magnetic poles of two magnet rows is opposite, as seen in an extension of the rows, so that in every locking setting two magnets having different poles face each other and execute the locking function, and in different locking settings, in each case different magnetic poles face the at least one magnetic field detector, and

wherein the switch unit is a rotary switch for setting a rotary direction of the tool.

3. A switch unit for providing a combined switching and locking function for controlling an industrial tool, both the locking function and the switching function taking place on a magnetic basis, the switch unit comprising:

two facing rows of magnets, wherein each magnet row is made up of at least two magnets, a width of a gap between facing sides of the magnet rows is essentially constant, the magnet rows are relatively movable with respect to each other in a direction of an extension of the magnet rows, and a distance between adjacent magnets one of the magnet rows is essentially constant; and

at least one magnetic field detector provided in at least one of the magnet rows;

wherein a sequence of the magnetic poles of two magnet rows is opposite, as seen in an extension of the rows, so that in every locking setting two magnets having different poles face each other and execute the locking function, and in different locking settings, in each case different magnetic poles face the at least one magnetic field detector, and

wherein the at least one magnetic detector includes two adjacent magnets, a row of magnets facing the at least one magnetic detector has only two magnets, and the sides facing each other of the magnets of each row of magnets correspond to different magnetic poles.