Reciprocating tool, and method for detecting occurrence of malfunction associated with position detection of reciprocating member in reciprocating tool

A method for detecting occurrence of malfunction associated with position detection of a reciprocating member in a reciprocating tool, the method comprising:

• reciprocating the reciprocating member between a first dead center and a second dead center;
• receiving a first position detection signal from a first position detector in the reciprocating tool, the first position detector being configured to output the first position detection signal each time the reciprocating member reaches a first position in at least one reciprocating motion thereof;
• receiving a second position detection signal from a second position detector in the reciprocating tool, the second position detector being (i) distinct from the first position detector, and (ii) configured to output the second position detection signal each time the reciprocating member reaches a second position in the at least one reciprocating motion thereof, the second position being located after the first position in the at least one reciprocating motion of the reciprocating member;
• and detecting an occurrence of malfunction associated with the first position detector or the second position detector based on (i) failure to receive the second position detection signal between an mth reception and an (m-1)th reception of the first position detection signal, or (ii) failure to receive the first position detection signal between an nth reception and an (n-1)th reception of the second position detection signal, wherein m and n are any integers greater than or equal to two.