Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
FASTENER-DRIVING TOOL ASSEMB1Y WITH IMPROVED
FA5TENER-~OADING FEATURES
This application is a division of Canadian Patent
File No. 2,077,570, filed September 4, 1992.
Technical Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a tool assembly
including a fastener-driving tool, such as a powder-
actuated tool, and having fastener-loading features
facilitating its use by a standing worker who does not
have to lift the tool assembly or to stoop when it is
desired to reload the fastener-driving tool with
individual fasteners.
Backqround of the Invention
Commonly, fastener-driving tools, such as
powder-actuated tools, are arranged to drive fasteners
of a known type comprising a shank defining an axis and
having a tip at one end, a head integral with the other
end of the shank, and a washer carried by the shank with
an interference fit. Such faste~ers are exemplified in
Almeras et al. U.S. Patent No. 4,824,003.
In such a fastener, the washer is carried near
but in spaced relation to the tip and is moveable
axially toward the head when the fastener is driven with
the washer bearing against a workpiece. The head
diameter and the washer diameter are approximately
equal.
As exemplified in Almeras et al. U.S. Patent
No. 4,824,003, it is known for such a tool to be muzzle-
loaded with such fastenerS~ which are loaded one at a
time. As exemplified in Pfister U.S. Patent No.
4,881,643, it is knoWn to load a plurality of different
fasteners into a powder-actuated tool, via a carrier
strip fed laterally into the tool.
A common use of a powder-actuated tool, as
exemplified in Almeras et al. U.S. Patent No. 4,824,003,
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
is to attach metal decking members to steel structural members
or concrete floors. For such a use, it would be highly desirable
to adapt such a tool so as to facilitate its use by a standing
worker. Neither a muzzle-loaded tool nor a strip-loaded tool
would be entirely satisfactory, since the worker would have to
lift the tool or to stoop whenever it was necessary to reload the
tool.
Thus, there has been a need, to which this invention is
addressed, for a better approach to loading fasteners into a
fastener-driving tool, such as a powder-actuated tool, so as to
facilitate its use by a standing worker.
Summary of the Invention
This invention provides a novel combination of fastener-
loading and other elements in a tool assembly including a
fastener-driving tool, such as a powder-actuated tool, which is
arranged to drive a fastener of the type noted above. The novel
combination facilitates the use of the tool assembly by a
standing worker who does not have to lift the tool assembly or
to stoop when it is desired to reload the fastener-driving tool
with individual fasteners.
The invention in one aspect provides a portable stand-up
tool assembly comprising a powder actuated nail-driving tool
arranged to drive a nail of a type comprising a shank defining
an axis and having a tip at one end, and a head integral with the
other end of the shank. A resiliently biased nosepiece assembly
has an aperture arranged to permit the nail to be axially driven
through it and a nail transport mechanism is responsive to
depression of the resiliently biased nose piece assembly, when
pressing the tool assembly downwardly against a work piece whilst
standing on the workpiece, and subsequent release of the
resiliently biased nose piece assembly, for transporting a nail
in a direction transverse to the nail axis into a delivery
position with the nail aligned axially with the aperture. A
driving element engages the nail head so as to drive the nail
axially through the aperture and the nail is retained in the
delivery position so as to prevent the nail from dropping
accidentally but so as to permit the nail to be axially driven
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
- 2A -
by the driving element. A handle and trigger are located remote
from the nosepiece to enable an operator to actuate the driving
means to drive nails into a workpiece from a position standing
on the workpiece and, there is a nail guide for receiving nails
loaded at a position located substantially adjacent the handle
and trigger.
More particularly, the tool includes a work-engaging
nosepiece through which fasteners are successively driven into
work, which may be a metal decking member, for example. The tool
includes a fastener-feeding shuttle moveable back and forth to
successively feed fasteners from a source of supply into the
nosepiece for subsequent driving into the metal decking member.
The shuttle has a passageway, which is arranged to receive the
fastener and to permit the fastener to be axially driven through
the passageway.
The tool includes a structure for guiding the
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
- 3
fastener axially in~o the passage~ay with the Yashe~
preceding the head when the shu~tle is in a fastener-
r~ceiving position and a mechanism for ~oving the
shuttle fro~ the fastener-receiving position into a
fastener-delivery position. The tool further inclu~es a
dri~ing r~m, ~ich is arranged to be axially d~iven
through the passagevay when the shuttle is in the
- fastener-delivery position, for engaging the head sO as
to drive the fastener axially from the passageway,
through t~e aperture.
The shuttle is designed to cooperate wit~
fastener-retaining ~eans effective when the s~u~tle is
in the delivery position to prevent the fastener from
dropping accidentally prior to being driven fro~ the
tool. In one embodiment, the shuttle cooperates ~ a
magnet to retain the fastener in a pre-dri~ing pos~tion.
In another em~odiment, the shuttle is modified to
cooperate with a spring to retain the fastener.
The tool includes a main housing for the
20 fastener-driving components and an operating handle.
The operating handle is moveable relati~e to the main
housing when the tool i5 set to drive a fastener. A
flexible tube is connected bet~een the housing and the
nosepiece for gravity fee~ of fasteners to the
nosepiece. The flexibility of the tube accommodates the
mo~ement of the operating handle relative to the ma~n
housing.
T~e se~eral ~spects of this invention ~ay be
advantageously combined in a assembly including a~ 30 fastener-driving tool, ~uch as a powder-ac~ua~ed ~ool,
so as to facilitate its use by a standing ~orker. There
is no need for such a ~or~er to lift the tool asse~bly
or to stoop when it is desired to reload the fastener-
driving tool with individua~ fas~eners. Carri~r strips
are not used.
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
These and other objects, features, and
advantages of this invention are evident from the
following description of a preferred embodiment of this
invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a powder-
actuated tool embodying this invention. As shown, the
tool is being used to drive fasteners through a metal
decking member, into a concrete substrate. A standing
worker using the tool can be partly seen in phantom
lines.
Figure 2, on a slightly smaller scale, is a
fragmentary., perspective view of upper portions of the
tool, as seen from a different vantage.
Figure 3, on a somewhat larger scale, is a
fragmentary, perspective view of lower portions of the
tool.
Figure 4 is a detail taken from Figure 3 with
certain elements removed so as to reveal other elements.
Figure 5 is a fragmentary, sectional detail
taken along line 5-5 of Figure 3, in a direction
indicated by arrows.
Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary,
elevational detail of a nosepiece, a shuttle, and
associated components of the tool, as seen from the
front of the tool with the shuttle in a retracted,
fastener-receiving position.
Figure 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary,
elevational detail of the same components, as seen from
one side of the tool with the shuttle in the retracted
position.
Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 but
taken with the shuttle in an advanced, fastener-delivery
position.
Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 but
I
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
taken with the shuttle in the advanced position.
Figure 10 is a fragmentary, sectional view
taken along line 10-10 of Figure 6, in a direction
indicated by arrows.
Figure 11 is a fragmentary, sectional view
taken along line 11-11 of Figure 10, in a direction
indicated by arrows. Figure 11 shows a fastener having
been guided into a passageway of thè shuttle. Figure 11
also shows a metal workpiece and a concrete substrate.
Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 10 but
taken with the shuttle in the advanced position.
Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 11 but
taken with the shuttle in the advanced position. Figure
13 shows the workpiece and the substrate.
Figure 14 is a view similar to Figures 11 and
13 but taken to show a driving ram having driven a
fastener partly through an aperture of the nosepiece.
Figure 15 is a view similar to Figures 11, 13,
and 14 but taken to show the driving ram having driven
the fastener through the workpiece, into the substrate,
so as to fasten the workpiece onto the substrate.
Figure 16 is a view similar to Figures 11, 13,
14, and 15 but taken to show the driving ram being
retracted and the shuttle having been retracted. The
workpiece, the substrate, and the fastener fastening the
workpiece onto the substrate are omitted.
Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure 11 but
taken to show an inverted fastener having been guided
into the shuttle. The workpiece and the substrate are
omitted.
Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 17 but
taken to show that the shuttle cannot be fully moved
into the advanced position because of interference
between the inverted fastener and other structure.
Figures 19 and 20 are similar views showing
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
two alternative embodiments of this invention.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment
As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, a portable,
powder-actuated, fastener-driving tool assembly 10
constitutes a preferred embodiment of this invention.
As described below, the tool assembly 10 has fastener-
loading features facilitating its use by a standing
worker who does not have to lift the tool assembly 10 or
to stoop when it is desired to reload the tool assembly
10 with individual fasteners.
One important, exemplary use of the tool
assembly 10 is to successively drive fasteners through a
metal workpiece, such as a metal decking member 12 shown
in Figure 1, into a steel structural member (not shown)
or into a concrete substrate, such as the concrete
substrate 14 shown in Figure 1. The decking member 12
and the concrete substrate 14 are shown also in Figures
11, 13, 14, and 15.
As shown in Figures 10 though 18, the tool
assembly 10 is designed to work advantageously with
individual fasteners 20, which are not collated, of a
type comprising a shank 22 defining an axis and having a
tip 24 at one end, a head 26 integral with the other end
of the shank 22, and a washer 28 carried by the shank 22
with an interference fit near but in spaced relation to
the tip 24. For use with the preferred embodiment of
this invention, each fastener 20 is made from a
magnetizable metal, such as carbon steel. As mentioned
above, such fasteners are exemplified in Almeras et al.
U.S. Patent No. 4,824,003.
In such a fastener 20, the washer 28 is
moveable axially toward the head 26 when the fastener 20
is driven with the washer 28 bearing against a
workpiece, such as the decking member 12, as shown in
Figure 15. Ordinarily, as shown in Figure 15, the
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
-- 7
.
washer 28 remains spaced axially from the head 26 after
the fastener 20 has been driven. The head 26 defines a
head diameter. The washer 28 defines a washer diameter,
which is equal approximately to the head diameter.
The tool assembly 10 comprises a portable,
powder-actuated, fastener-driving tool 30, which (except
as modified for purposes of this invention) is available
commercially, as Model P230, from Societe de Prospection
et d'Inventions Techniques S.P.I.T. of Valence, France,
a subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works Inc. of Glenview,
Illinois. Various features of the tool 30 are disclosed
in prior patents including Almeras et al. U.S. Patent
No. 4,824,003 and Bosch U.S. Patent No. 4,375,269.
The tool 30 comprises a housing structure 32,
which includes a pistol grip 34, and a nosepiece
assembly 36. It is convenient to refer to the pistol
grip 34, which is cut away for purposes of this
invention, as a primary handle. The nosepiece assembly
36 is mounted to the housing structure 32, via a tubular
element 38, so as to permit relative movement of the
housing structure 32 and the nosepiece assembly 36,
along an axis defined by the tubular element 38, between
an extended condition and a retracted condition. A
coiled spring 40 is disposed around the tubular member
38, between the housing structure 32 and the nosepiece
assembly 36, so as to bias the housing structure 32 and
the nosepiece assembly 36 toward the extended condition.
The housing structure 32 and the nosepiece assembly 36
are shown in the extended condition in Figures 1, 3, 6,
and 7 and in the retracted condition in Figures 8 and 9.
The tool 30 is arranged in a known manner to
be manually actuated via a trigger 50, which is mounted
operatively to the primary handle 34, so as to ignite an
explosive charge in a cartridge (not shown) loaded into
the tool 30. As disclosed in Bosch U.S. Patent No.
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
4,375,269, the tool 30 is arranged to be manually loaded
with a magazine holding ten cartridges. Ignition of the
explosive charge causes a driving ram 52 (see Figures 11
and 13 through 18) to be axially driven with an
explosive force, which can drive a fastener, such as one
of the fasteners 20, from the nosepiece assembly 36,
through a metal workpiece, such as the metal decking
member 12, into a concrete substrate, such as the
concrete substrate 14.
The trigger 50 is arranged in a known manner
so as to be normally deactuated and to be manually
actuated when pulled in an inward direction relative to
the primary handle 34, i.e., in an upward direction in
Figures 1, 3, and 5. It is convenient to refer to the
trigger 50 as a primary trigger. The tool 30 has
internal mechanisms (not shown) known heretofore for
preventing the tool 30 from being actuated via the
primary trigger 50 unless the nosepiece assembly 36 is
pressed against an unyielding object, such as the metal
decking member 12 overlying the concrete substrate 14,
with sufficient force to compress the coiled spring 40
and to cause relative movement of the housing structure
32 and the nosepiece assembly 36 from the extended
condition into the retracted condition.
So as to facilitate its use by a standing
worker, the tool assembly 10 comprises a tubular
extension 54, a lower end of which is fixed to the
housing structure 32, and an upper handle 58, which is
fixed to an upper end of the tubular extension 54. A
secondary trigger 60 is mounted operatively to the upper
handle 58 so as to be pivotally moveable between an
inoperative position and an operative position. The
secondary trigger 60 is arranged to actuate the primary
trigger 50 remotely when the secondary trigger 60 is
pivoted from its inoperative position into its operative
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
g
position.
As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, a remote
actuator 62 is mounted operatively to the primary handle
34 via a bracket 64. The bracket 64 has two bracket
arms 66, between which the remote actuator 62 is mounted
pivotally via a pivot pin 68 for pivotal movement
between an inoperative position and an operative
position. The pivot pin 68 extends axially from one of
the bracket arms 66. The remote actuator 62 is arranged
to actuate the primary trigger 50, as suggested by a
curved arrow in Figure 5, when the remote actuator 62 is
pivoted from its inoperative position into its operative
position.
The remote actuator 62 comprises a bracket 70
having two bracket arms 72 and a cross pin 74 extending
between the bracket arms 72 and from one of the bracket
arms 72. The cross pin 74 is threaded where the cross
pin 74 extends therefrom. A torsional spring 78 is
disposed around the pivot pin 68 where the pivot pin 68
extends from one of the bracket arms 66. A bearing
sleeve 76 is disposed around the cross pin 74, between
the bracket arms 72, so as to permit the bearing sleeve
76 to rotate about the cross pin 74. The torsional
spring 78 ~has a first arm 80 extending into a small hole
in the same one of the bracket arms 66 and a second arm
82 bearing against the cross pin 74 where the cross pin
74 extends from one of the bracket arms 72. The second
arm 82 is secured by a nut 84 threaded onto the cross
pin 74 where the cross pin 74 is threaded. The
torsional spring 78 biases the remote actuator 62 toward
its inoperative position, in which the primary trigger
50 is not actuated.
A wire cable 86 and a flexible sleeve 88,
through which the wire cable 86 is deployed so as to
permit relative movement between the wire cable 86 and
I
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
-- 10 --
the flexible sleeve 88, are provided for interconnecting
the primary and secondary triggers. The flexible sleeve
is made from a flexible, spiral-wound, metal ribbon,
which has an outer, polymeric sheath. The wire cable 86
and the flexible sleeve 88 are deployed from the upper
handle 58, through an upper portion of the tubular
extension 54, and through an orifice 90 in the tubular
extension 54. An upper end portion of the wire cable 86
is secured to the upper handle 58. A lower end portion
of the wire cable 86 is secured to the remote actuator
62. The lower end portion of the wire cable 86 is
secured to the cross pin 74, by the nut 84, where the
cross pin 74 extends from one of the bracket arms 72.
An upper end portion of the flexible sleeve 88 is
disposed so as to coact with the secondary trigger 60 in
such manner that the flexible sleeve 88 is pushed along
the wire cable 86, away from the upper end portion of
the wire cable 86, when the secondary trigger 60 is
pivoted from its inoperative position into its operative
position. A lower end portion of the flexible sleeve 88
is secured to the bracket 64. The bracket 64 has a bore
(not shown) through which the lower end portion of the
wire cable 86 extends.
When the flexible sleeve 88 is pushed along
the wire cable 86, away from the upper end portion of
the wire cable 86, the wire cable 86 and the flexible
sleeve 88 tend to bow outwardly, particularly but not
exclusively between the orifice 9o and the bracket 64.
Also, as the flexible sleeve 88 tends to be
substantially incompressible, the lower end portion of
the wire cable 86 is drawn upwardly into the flexible
sleeve 88. Thus, when the secondary trigger 60 is
actuated, i.e., pivoted from its inoperative position
into its operative position, the remote actuator 62 is
pivoted from its inoperative position into its operative
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
-- 11 --
position, whereby the primary triqger 50 is actuated.
As shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 6, a flexible
tube 100 is provided for guiding fasteners, such as the
fasteners 20, successively into the nosepiece assembly
36. An upper end of the flexible tube 100 is stretched
over an inlet tube 102 having a flared mouth 104, as
shown in Figure 2, and is secured by a clamping band
106. A lower end of the flexible tube 100 is stretched
over an outlet tube 108, as shown in Figure 6,~and is
secured ~y a clamping band 110. The inlet tube 102 is
secured to the tubular extension 54, near the upper
handle 58, by a bracket arm 112, which is clamped to the
tubular extension 54. The outlet tube 108 is an element
of the nosepiece assembly 36. The flexible tube 100,
the inlet tube 102, and the outlet tube 108 are sized to
permit fasteners, such as the fasteners 20, to be
individually and successively dropped into the flared
mouth 104 of the inlet tube 102, through the inlet tube
102, through the flexible tube 100, into the outlet tube
108, and through the outlet tube 108. Preferably, the
flexible tube 100 is made from mesh-reinforced,
polymeric tubing.
As discussed above, the tool 30 has internal
mechanisms for preventing the tool 30 from being
2S actuated unless the nosepiece assembly 36 is pressed
against an unyielding object with sufficient force to
compress the coiled spring 40 and to cause relative
movement of the housing structure 32 and the nosepiece
assembly 36 from the extended condition into the
retracted condition. When the nosepiece assembly 36 is
moved from its extended position into its retracted
position, the flexible tube 100 can flex as necessary,
even if the flexible tube 100 is filled with fasteners,
such as the fasteners 20.
The nosepiece assembly 36 comprises a
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
- 12 -
nosepiece 120 having an aperture 122 extending
vertically through the nosepiece 120. The aperture 122
defines an axis. The aperture 122 is arranged to permit
a fastener 20 to be axially driven through the aperture
122 with the washer 28 preceding the head 26. The
nosepiece 120 has a slot 124 extending transversely into
the nosepiece 120, having an open face, and intersecting
the aperture 122.
The nosepiece assembly 36 comprises a shuttle
130, which is block~like, as shown. The shuttle 130 is
disposed in the slot 124 SO as to be transversely
moveable along the slot 124 relative to the nosepiece
120, between a retracted, fastener-receiving position
and an advanced, fastener-delivery position. The
shuttle 130 is shown in its retracted position in
Figures 6, 10, and 11, and in its advanced position in
Figures 8, 11, 12, and 13.
A linkage 140, which comprises a first link
142 and a second link 144, interconnects the nosepiece
120 and the shuttle 130 at the open face of the slot 124
One end of the first link 142 is connected pivotally to
the nosepiece 120 via a pivot pin 146. The other end of
the first link 142 is connected pivotally to one end of
the second link 144 via a pivot pin 14 8. The other end
of the second link 144 is connected pivotally to the
shuttle 130 via a pivot pin 150.
A torsion spring 160 is deployed around the
pivot pin 146, between the first link 142 and the
nosepiece 120. One arm 162 of the torsion spring 160
extends into a small hole in the nosepiece 120 SO as to
fix the arm 162 relative to the nosepiece lZ0. The
other arm 166 of the torsion spring 160 extends into a
small hole in the first link 142 SO as to fix such arm
166 relative to the first link 142. The torsion spring
160 is wound so as to bias the first link 142 in one
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
- 13 -
rotational sense (clockwise in Figures 6 and 8) whereby
the shuttle 130 is biased toward its retracted position.
The torsion spring 160 permits the shuttle 130 to move
toward its advanced position.
~ As shown in Figures 6 through 9, a camming
element 170 is attached to the housing structure 32 so
as to extend downwardly from the housing structure 32.
The camming element 170 has a camming surface 172 at the
lower end. The camming element 170 is arranged so that
the camming surface 172 engages a camming surface 176 of
the first link 142, when the nosepiece assembly 36 is
pressed against an unyielding object with sufficient
force to compress the coiled spring 40, so as to pivot
the first link 142 on the pivot pin 146. Upon relative
movement of the housing structure and the nosepiece
assembly 36 from the extended condition into the
retracted condition, the camming element 170 moves the
linkage 140, which overcomes the torsion spring 160 and
moves the shuttle 130 from its retracted position into
its advanced position.
The shuttle 130 has a passageway 180 extending
vertically through the shuttle 130 and a slot 182
extending transversely from an inner end of the shuttle
130 and intersecting the passageway 180. The passageway
180 is arranged to receive a fastener 20 with the washer
28 preceding the head 26, and with the fastener 20
disposed axially in the passageway 180, and to permit
the fastener 20 to be axially driven through the
passageway 180. The shuttle 130 defines a cylindrical
wall 184 surrounding the passageway 180 except where the
slot 182 intersects the passageway 180. The width of
the slot 182 is less than the diameter of the
cylindrical wall 184, less than the head and washer
diameters of the fastener 20, but more than the diameter
of the driving ram 52, which is cylindrical except for a
.
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
- 14 -
frusto-conical tip 186. Thus, as shown in Figure 10,
the cylindrical wall 184 is configured to surround the
fastener 20 in the passageway 180 except for the slot
182.
As shown in Figures lo through 18, the shuttle
130 has a wedge-shaped, camming groove 188, which is
inclined backwardly and upwardly from an upper, front
edge of the shuttle 130. When a fastener 20 is received
fully by the passageway 180 with the shuttle 130 in the
retracted position, the tip 24 of the next fastener 20
extends slightly into the passageway 180 so as to bear
on the head 26 of the underlying fastener 20.
Thereupon, when the shuttle 130 is moved toward the
advanced position, the tip 24 bearing thereon is cammed
upwardly by the wedge-shaped surfaces of the groove 188
so as no to interfere with the moving shuttle 130.
A permanent magnet 190 is mounted fixedly in a
slot 192 in the nosepiece 120. The magnet 190 is
mounted so as to extend through the slot 182 in the
shuttle 13Q, into the inner end of the slot lZ4, and so
as to engage the head 26 of a fastener 20 in the
passageway 180, when the shuttle 130 is in the advanced
position. Because the fastener 20 is made from a
magnetizable metal, the magnet 190 retains the fastener
20 in a pre-driving position in the passageway 180 when
the shuttle 130 is in the advanced position so as to
prevent the fastener 20 from dropping accidentally, but
so as to permit the fastener 20 to be axially driven
through the aperture 122 by the driving ram 52.
Because the width of the slot 182 in the
shuttle 130 is less than the head and washer diameters
of the fastener 20, the shuttle 130 is arranged to
retract the fastener 20 at such time as the shuttle 130
is retracted, if there is a failure of ignition when the
tool 30 is actuated with the shuttle 130 in the advanced
I
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
- lS -
position. There may be a failure of ignition simply
because a worker using the tool 30 has failed to notice
that all cartridges in a magazine loaded into the tool
30 have been spent.
Because the width of the slot 182 in the
shuttle 130 is more than the diameter of the driving ram
52, the slot 182 provides sufficient clearance for the
driv~ng ram 52 to permit the shuttle 130 to move from
the advanced position (see, e.g., Figure 15) toward the
retracted position (see, e.g., Figure 16) even if the
driving ram 52 extends into or through the passageway
180. Therefore, after the tool 30 has been used to
drive a fastener 20, it is not necessary to wait for the
driving ram 52 to retract before lifting the tool 10.
The nosepiece 120 has an elongate groove 200
extending along the lower wall of the slot 124 for the
shuttle 130 and intersecting the aperture 122. If a
fastener 20 is disposed properly when dropped through
the outlet tube 108, the groove 200 receives the tip 24
and the washer 28 engages the bottom of the slot 124, as
shown in Figure 11.
Provision is made to prevent an inverted
fastener 20 from being driven by the tool 10. If a
fastener 20 is inverted when dropped through the outlet
tube 108, the tip 24 extends upwardly and the head 26
engages the nosepiece 120 at the margins 202, 204, of
the groove 200, as shown in Figure 17. A lower portion
206 of the outlet tube 108 is disposed to engage the tip
24, as shown in Figure 18, so as to prevent movement of
the fastener 20 and the shuttle 130 into the advanced
position.
As shown in Figure 19, in which similar
elements are numbered similarly, an alternative
embodiment of this invention is useful whether or not
the fasteners 20 are made from a magnetizable metal. A
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
~ -- 16 --
permanent magnet is not used. A shuttle 210 is used,
which is similar to the shuttle 130 except that the
shuttle 210 has a hollow portion 212 with an inclined
wall 214 facing downwardly and backwardly, i.e.,
downwardly and away from the aperture 122 of the
nosepiece 120 . . A torsion spring 220 is mounted to the
shuttle 210., in the hollow portion 212, and is deployed
around the p~ivot pin 146 connecting the first link (not
shown in Fi~ure 19) to the shuttle 210. One arm 222 of
the torsion spring 220 extends upwardly and backwardly
and bears against the inclines wall 214. The other arm
224 of the torsion spring 220 extends oppositely and
engages a fastener 20, when the fastener 20 is in the
passageway 180 of the shuttle 210, so as to hold the
fastener 20. Thus, as shown in Figure 19, the spring
arm 224 engages the washer 28 and extends partly beneath
the washer 28. Thus, the spring arm 224 prevents the
fastener 20 from dropping when the shuttle 210 is in the
advanced position but permits the fastener 20 to be
axially driven through the aperture 122, by the driving
ram 52.
As disclosed in Figure 20, the fastener-
loading features described above can be readily adapted
to a fastener-driving tool 300, which is a so-called
stand-up screw gun adapted to drive screws 302 similar
to the screws disclosed in Sygnator U.S. Patent No.
4, 583,898. The respective screws 302 have hexagonal
heads 304, washer-like portions 306 adjacent to the
heads 304, and elongate shanks 308 with threaded
portions 3I0 adjacent to the washer-like portions 306
and with drilling tips 312 adjacent to the threaded
portions 310.
Except as illustrated and described herein,
the fastener-driving tool 300 may be substantially
similar to prior fastener-driving tools exemplified in
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
Murray U.S. Patent No. 3,960,191; Dewey U.S. Patent No. 4,236,555
and Dewey U.S. Patent No. 4,397,412 and available commercially
from ITW-Buildex (a unit of Illinois Tool Works Inc.) of Itasca,
Illinois, under its AUTOTRAXX trademark. Furthermore, the
fastener-driving tool 300 and the screws 302 driven thereby may
incorporate improvements disclosed in Janucz et al Canadian
Patent Application File No. 2,051,728 filed September 18, 1991
and assigned commonly herewith, for FASTENER HAVING RECESSED,
NON-CIRCULAR HEAD, AND FA~l~N~K-DRIVING TOOL.
The tool 300 comprises a nosepiece assembly 320, which
is similar to the nosepiece assembly 36 of the tool 30, except as
illustrated and described herein. Moreover, the tool 300
comprises a driving blade 322, which may be substantially similar
to the driving blades of stand-up screw guns known heretofore.
Thus, the driving blade 322 is provided at its lower end with a
downwardly opening socket 324, which conforms to the hexagonal
heads 304 of the screws 302. The driving blade 300 is arranged
to be rotatably driven by an electric motor (not shown) when the
tool 300 is actuated in a known manner and to be axially pushed
with the socket 324 receiving the hexagonal head 304 of a screw
302, so as to rotate a screw 302 and so as to drive the screw 302
from the nosepiece assembly 320.
A flexible tube 330, which is similar to the flexible
tube 100 of the tool 30, is provided for guiding the screws 302
successively into the nosepiece assembly 320 with the tips 312
preceding the heads 304. A lower end of the flexible tube 330 is
secured, by a clamping band 332, over an outlet tube 334. The
outlet tube 334 is similar to the outlet tube 108 of the tool 30
and is an element of the nosepiece assembly 320.
The nosepiece assembly 320 comprises a
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
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nosepiece 340 having an aperture 342 extending
vertically through the nosepiece 340. The aperture 342
defines an axis. The aperture 342 is arranged to permit
a screw 302 to be rotatably and axially driven through
the aperture 342 with the tip 312 preceding the head
304. The nosepiece 340 has a slot 344 extending
transversely into the nosepiece 340, having an open
face, and intersecting the aperture 342.
The nosepiece assembly comprises a shuttle
350, which is block-like, as shown. The shuttle 350 is
disposed in the slot 344 so as to be transversely
moveable along the slot 344 between a retracted,
fastener-receiving position and an advanced, fastener-
delivery position. A linkage (not shown) similar to the
linkage 140 of the tool 30 is used to move the shuttle
between those positions.
The shuttle 350 has a passageway 360 extending
vertically through the shuttle 350 and a slot 362
extending transversely from an inner end of the shuttle
350 and intersecting the passageway 360. The passageway
360 is arranged to receive a screw 302 with the tip 312
preceding the head 304, and with the screw 302 disposed
axially in the passageway 360, and to permit the screw
302 to be rotatably and axially driven through the
passageway 360. The shuttle 350 defines a cylindrical
wall 364 surrounding the passageway 360 except where the
slot 362 intersects the passageway 360. The width of
the slot 362 is less than the diameter of the
cylindrical wall 364, less than the diameter of the
washer-lik,e portion 306 of the screw 306, ~ut more than
the diameter of the driving blade 322, which is
cylindri~al where it is provided with the socket 324.
- A permanent magnet 370, which is similar to
the permanent magnet 190 of the tool 30, is monnted
fixedly in a slot 372 in the nosepiece 340. The magnet
I
CA 02219048 1997-11-21
~ -- 19 --
370 is mounted so as to extend through the slot 362 in
the shuttle 350, into the inner end of the slot 124, and
so as to engage the washer-like portion 306 of a screw
302 in the passageway 360, when the shuttle 350 is in
the advanced position. If the screw 302 in the
passageway 360 is made from a magnetizible metal, the
magnet 370 retains the screw 302 in a pre-driving
position in the passageway 360 when the shuttle 350 is
in the advanced position so as to prevent the screw 302
from dropp~ng accidentally, but so as to permit the
screw 302 to be rotatably and axially driven through the
aperture 342 by the driving blade 322.
The nosepiece 340 has a deep, elongate groove
380, which is analogous to the elongate groove 200 of
the tool 30. The groove 380 extends along the lower
wall of the slot 344 for the shuttle 350 and intersects
the aperture 342. The groove 380 receives and
! accommodates the elongate shank 308 of a screw 302 with
the washer-like portion 310 enqaging the bottom of the
slot 344.
Structurally and functionally, therefore, the
fastener-driving tool 300 is similar in many respects to
the fastener-driving tool 30.
Various other modifications may be made in the
preferred embodiment described above without departing
from the scope and spirit of this invention.
