Abstract: A fastener detection system is provided for both internal combustion and powder actuated fastener driving tools, and similar powered fastener driving tools. A sensor disposed at a portion of a fastener supply path detects the presence or absence of a fastener. In the combustion tool, either or both of fuel delivery and combustion ignition are disabled when no fastener is detected. In the powder actuated tool an indicator notifies an operator when the sensor detects the absence of a fastener. The indicator may also be incorporated into the combustion tool.

Abstract: A method and system for printing bi-directionally with a thermal print head movable back and forth along a print path adjacent a ribbon to transfer ink therefrom onto a substrate. The ribbon being drawn from an unwind reel and adjacent the print path, and the ribbon being clamped to maintain tension on the ribbon at least when the print head moves in the same direction as ribbon is drawn along the print path. A rotary drive member is rotatable in a first direction to actuate a brake member that clamps the ribbon against a fixed ribbon guide, and the rotary drive member is rotatable in a second opposing direction to rotate the rewind reel to draw ribbon from the unwind reel.

Abstract: A power fastener driving tool, like a pneumatic trim nailer, of the type for driving fasteners supplied from a collated strip of fasteners disposed in a magazine of the tool. The magazine is coupled to a nose-piece of the fastener driving tool, wherein individual fasteners are sequentially fed into a channel of the nose-piece and driven axially through the nose-piece by a driver blade and into a workpiece. The fastener driving tool includes an improved work contacting element that provides for improved visibility of the nose-piece, an improved depth of drive adjustment for accurately adjusting the work contacting element, an improved hinged nose-piece assembly, and an improved two piece magazine assembly formed of extruded components which provide an accurately dimensioned channel for receiving fastener strips, among other improvements.

Abstract: A system for printing an image onto a target area of a moving substrate with an actuatable print head having an actuation delay time, the substrate movable at a variable speed to a print position relative to the print head. The system includes a trigger signal generator for generating a trigger signal when the target area of the substrate is a specified distance from the print position so selected that a time required to move the target area of the substrate the specified distance to the print position is not less than the actuation delay time of the print head. Encoder signals based on movement of the substrate decrement a reference count during a delay time to generate a delay count, wherein the delay time corresponds to the actuation delay time of the print head. The encoder signals decrement the delay count in response to the generation of a trigger signal, wherein a print signal is generated when the delay count is decremented to zero.

Abstract: An imprinting system having a print head with a plurality of type for transferring ink from an inked ribbon onto a substrate. A typeholder having an open ended cavity defined by side walls for retaining the plurality of type, wherein the typeholder is removably disposeable in a recess of the print head. At least one side wall portion of the cavity is removably coupleable to the typeholder for permitting insertion and removal of the plurality of type into and from the cavity. And a resilient member protrudes into the cavity from at least one of the side walls, wherein the resilient member biases the plurality of type toward one of other the side walls to prevent shifting of the type in the cavity. A resilient member urges a button protruding from an outer surface of the typeholder into contact with the recess of the print head, and a magnetized striker plate disposed on another outer surface of the typeholder cooperates to securely retain the typeholder in the recess of the print head.

Abstract: A pre-assembled workpiece fastenable to a mounting surface of a second workpiece, and in one application a pre-assembled plastic component fastenable to a metal automotive engine component. The pre-assembled workpiece includes an opening extending therethrough between an outer surface and a mounting surface thereof. A sleeve member is retainably disposed in the opening through the pre-assembled workpiece, and a fastener having a threaded shank portion and a head is retainably disposed through the sleeve member. The fastener is axially and laterally positionable relative to the pre-assembled workpiece, whereby the pre-assembled workpiece is mountable and alignable on the mounting surface of the second workpiece without interference from the fastener.

Abstract: A foot control for a TIG welding machine utilizes a timing belt that is tensioned between a pedal and an enclosure. The timing belt meshes with a timing gear that is fixed to a rotatable shaft. Pivoting the pedal on the enclosure causes the timing belt to travel past and rotate the gear and shaft. A potentiometer on the shaft also rotates to control the power output of the welding machine. The belt is tensioned by a relatively weak spring in a manner that biases the pedal in one direction on the enclosure. A stronger spring biases the pedal in the opposite direction. The pedal is hinged to the enclosure by resilient tabs on the enclosure having bosses that engage holes in the pedal. The tab bosses can be depressed to disengage the pedal holes and enable the pedal to be removed from the enclosure. A heavy base joined to the enclosure has plates that lie alongside the enclosure tabs such that the tab bosses cannot be depressed out of engagement with the pedal holes when the base is joined to the enclosure.

Abstract: An imprinting system with a typeface for transferring ink from an inked ribbon onto a substrate including a first resilient member having an exposed surface located opposite the typeface, and the inked ribbon and substrate disposeable between the typeface and the first resilient member. The first resilient member is mounted on a first rigid member which is supported by a second resilient member supported by a second rigid member. The first resilient member has a durometer hardness greater than a hardness of the second resilient member, wherein the second resilient member is compressible between the first rigid member and the second rigid member to absorb shock from the typeface impacting against the first resilient member during imprinting.

Abstract: A printing system for transferring ink from an inked ribbon supplied from a ribbon roll having a tubular core with an inner surface onto a substrate. The system includes a rotatable locking cam hub having a reel hub with a first surface engageable with the inner surface of the ribbon roll, and an eccentric hub having a second surface engageable with the inner surface of the ribbon roll. The eccentric hub is rotatable relative to the reel hub to provide a variable diameter between the first surface of the reel hub and the second surface of the eccentric hub. The diameter of the locking cam hub may be reduced by rotating the eccentric hub relative to the reel hub to permit disposal of the ribbon roll tubular core about locking cam hub, and the diameter of the locking cam hub may be increased by rotating the eccentric hub relative to the reel hub to engageably retain the inner surface of the ribbon roll by the first surface of the reel hub and the second surface of the eccentric hub.

Abstract: An imprinting system having a typeface for transferring ink supplied from an inked ribbon roll onto a substrate, and an ink ribbon cassette removably coupleable to a mounting member of the imprinting system to facilitate service and maintenance. An alignment member of the imprinting system is disposeable in a first alignment aperture of the ink ribbon cassette to align the ink ribbon cassette relative to the imprinting system. A lever having an engagement surface is pivotally coupled to the ink ribbon cassette and is engageable with a locking pin coupled to the imprinting system, wherein the engagement surface of the lever is engageable with the locking pin as the lever is pivoted to firmly retain the ink ribbon cassette mounted on the mounting member. A handle having multiple gripping members is coupled to an outer side portion of the ink ribbon cassette to facilitate gripping the cassette and for stably supporting the ink ribbon cassette disassembled from the imprinting system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting a panel on a rail member having first and second resilient legs separated by a channel. A groove disposed along a first side of the panel receives a portion of one of the resilient legs of the rail member. The groove extends from a lower surface of the panel toward an upper surface of the panel so that the upper surface extends over the resilient leg received in the groove. The groove includes a first side surface with a first inclined portion and a second side surface with a second inclined portion. The second side surface of the groove is engagable with the inner leg surface of the resilient leg received in the groove to outwardly urge the resilient leg away from the channel of the rail member and toward the first inclined portion of the groove to retain the panel on the rail member.

Abstract: A side panel is easily installable onto and removed from a welding machine using a minimum of fasteners and requiring only a small space on the side of the machine. The side panel includes clips joined to one edge of the panel. The clips have respective first legs secured to the panel, second legs that register with slots in the machine base, and third legs that elastically bend against a lip on the base. The restoring force of the bent third legs of the clips holds the clips second legs firmly against the base slot and thereby prevents vibration. Conventional fasteners are used to attach at least one other edge of the panel to the welding machine.

Abstract: A method and system for supplying electrically conductive coating materials to an electrostatic dispenser with a parallel arrangement of subsystems selectably coupled to the dispenser by a four-port system voltage blocking valve, which electrically isolates the subsystems. The subsystems each include first and second piston cylinders that alternatingly receive a selected coating material from a corresponding manifold and supply the coating material to the dispenser by a subsystem voltage blocking valve, which isolates the dispenser from the manifold, when coupled to the dispenser. The first and second piston cylinders of each subsystem also alternatingly receive a solvent from the corresponding manifold and direct the solvent to a waste receptacle by a corresponding subsystem voltage blocking valve when the subsystem is not coupled to the dispenser.

Abstract: A combustion powered tool having a self-contained internal combustion power source constructed and arranged for creating a combustion for driving a driver blade to impact a fastener and drive it into a workpiece includes a housing having a main chamber enclosing the power source, a combustion chamber defined within the main chamber, an air flow enhancing device disposed in the combustion chamber for enhancing the flow of air therein, and a supplemental air flow enhancing device disposed externally of the combustion chamber and within the housing for forcing air past the combustion chamber as a cooling mechanism.

Abstract: A stress plate for use with a threaded fastener for securing relatively soft insulation to a solid base, such as in a roofing environment, includes a generally planar main body, and a hole on the main body configured for receiving the fastener. The plate is configured so that the hole is angled relative to a vertical axis of the plate for accommodating threads of the fastener so that the fastener is maintained in a generally perpendicular orientation to the main body upon the engagement of the threads of the fastener in the hole. In the preferred embodiment, the threads of the fastener have a helix angle, and the hole, which is formed in a conical depression in the plate, is angled at the same angle as the threads of the fastener.

Abstract: A method for making a lock nut engagable and retainable about a threaded shaft wherein a body member having a bore is threaded for receiving a threaded shaft, and at least a portion of the bore is deformed to provide threaded shaft engaging means engagable with a threaded shaft disposed in the bore. The deformed portion of the bore is then sized with a threaded sizing tool that is oversized relative to the deformed portion of the bore and undersized relative to any undeformed portion of the bore to provide a sized lock nut with a relatively consistent torque performance and a reduced statistical spread over several installation and removal cycles of the nut about the threaded shaft.