US 5,197,647 AGranted

Fastener-driving tool with improved feeding mechanism

AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.

InventorScott A. Howell

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A fastener-driving tool comprising a nosepiece, a mechanism for driving a fastener from the nosepiece into a workpiece, and a mechanism for feeding an elongate strip of collated fasteners, such as, for example, nails having heads. An elongate track admits the strip of fasteners and guides it so that a leading fastener is positioned so as to enter the nosepiece. A pusher is movable longitudinally along the track over a range of operative positions, between a retracted position and an advanced position, and laterally between the retraced position and an inoperative position. The pusher is biased longitudinally so as to push the strip of fasteners along the track, toward the advanced position, when the pusher is disposed within the range of operative positions. The pusher is biased laterally toward the inoperative position, at which it can be releasably latched. A button is arranged to be manually depressed so as to release the pusher.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A fastener-driving tool comprising a housing, a nose-piece, means for driving a fastener from said nosepiece into a workpiece, and means for feeding an elongate strip of collated fasteners, including a leading fastener and a trailing fastener, in such a manner that said fasteners are successively fed into said nosepiece, said feeding means comprising:

means comprising an elongate tract, having an inlet end, and an outlet end which communicates with said nose-piece, for admitting said elongate strip of fasteners into said inlet end with said leading fastener preceding said trailing fastener and for guiding said elongate strip of fasteners along said elongate track in such a manner that said leading fastener is positioned so as to enter said nosepiece from said outlet end of said track;
pusher assembly means comprising a support member longitudinally movable upon said housing;
and a pusher member which is longitudinally movable along said elongate track over a range of operative positions, including a retracted position and an advanced position, for pushing said elongate strip of fasteners longitudinally along said elongate track when said pusher member is disposed within said range of operative positions, and which is laterally movable relative to said support member of said pusher assembly means between said retracted position and an inoperative position at which said pusher member is laterally displaced with respect to said support member of said pusher assembly means so as to permit said elongate strip of fasteners to be admitted into said inlet end of said elongate track;
means for biasing said pusher member longitudinally toward said advanced position;
biasing means mounted upon said pusher assembly means for biasing said pusher member, relative to said support member of said pusher assembly means, laterally toward said inoperative position;
and
means for relasably latching said pusher member at the inoperative position.

4 more elements

A nail-driving tool comprising a housing, a nosepiece, means for driving a nail from said nosepiece into a workpiece, and means for feeding an elongate strip of collated nails, having heads and including a leading nail and a trailing nail, in such a manner that said nails are successively fed into said nosepiece, said feeding means comprising:

means comprising an elongate track, having two laterally spaced, inwardly turned flanges, an inlet end, and an outlet end, which communicates with said nosepiece, for admitting said elongate strip of nails into said inlet end of said track with said leading nail preceding said trailing nail, for suspending said elongate strip of nails from said flanges by said nail heads, and for guiding said elongate strip of nails along said elongate track in such a manner that said leading nail is positioned so as to enter said nosepiece from said outlet end of said track;
pusher assembly means comprising a support member longitudinally movable along said housing;
and a pusher member which is longitudinally movable along said elongate track over a range of operative positions, including a retracted position and an advanced position, for pushing said elongate strip of nails longitudinally along said elongate track when said pusher member is disposed within said range of operative positions, and which is laterally movable relative to said support member of said pusher assembly means between said retracted position and an inoperative position at which said pusher member is laterally displaced with respect to said support member of said pusher assembly means so as to permit said elongate strip of nails to be admitted into said inlet end of said elongate track;
means for biasing said pusher member longitudinally toward said advanced position;
biasing means mounted upon said pusher assembly means for biasing said pusher member, relative to said support member of said pusher assembly means, laterally toward said inoperative position;
and
means for releasably latching said pusher member at said inoperative position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.