Abstract: The present driver for fasteners such as nails, screws and the like is provided with a separator member operatively located between the ejector channel and a fastener supply magazine. The separator member takes up a fastener arresting position in which the separator member reaches between the shafts of two fasteners and a retracted position in which the separator member releases a fastener for movement into the ejector channel. The separator member cooperates with a holding device which holds a fastener in the ejector channel after release by the separator member and prior to the driving stroke. The holding device may comprise two permanent magnets.

Abstract: A portion of a melting or fusing adhesive in the form of a cartridge is melted in a melting chamber and supplied under pressure to an adhesive applying device. The latter includes a melting chamber with a heated facing wall having exit holes therein through which the molten adhesive may be pressed out by a piston movable in the melting chamber by way of a power drive. The starting and stopping of the adhesive supply is controlled by the movement of a work piece past the adhesive applying device.

Abstract: A portion of a melting or fusing adhesive in the form of a cartridge is melted in a melting chamber and supplied under pressure to an adhesive applying device. The latter includes a melting chamber with a heated facing wall having exit holes therein through which the molten adhesive may be pressed out by a piston movable in the melting chamber by way of a power drive.

Abstract: A screw strip for holding a row of parallel screws is formed of a flexible plastic material with sleeves which either only partially surround the screws, or have different wall thicknesses on different sides of the screws. The ribs interconnecting the sleeves have wall thicknesses less than the outer diameters of the screw threads. In a method for forming the screw strip, a plastic material is extruded only on one side of the threads of a row of screws, and it is then pressed by means of grooved rollers to be formed into the sleeves which only partially surround the screws.

Abstract: Strip sections holding securing elements such as nails or screws are stacked, for example, in cartons so that the nail heads or screw heads come to rest in alternate opposite directions. For this purpose the strips slide down an inclined guide chute in a given direction until the heads are held by support elements which are movable alternately and laterally outwardly substantially at right angles to said given direction. Thus, one support element still supports the heads while the other support is withdrawn from the holding position whereby the strips, as they fall downwardly, rotate alternately, through an angle of 90.degree. whereupon the strips are intercepted, for example, by a tiltable chute.

Abstract: The present power driver handles fasteners of varying length mounted on a strip or belt, through a touch-down foot which accommodates fasteners of different length to eliminate wasted motion of the driver. The fasteners are also prevented by said touch-down foot from tipping or going into a workpiece at an angle. The depth to which the fasteners are driven into the workpiece is controllable and any irregularities in the mounting of the fasteners on the strip or belt are compensated.

Abstract: An impact drive tool is provided with a percussive piston arranged in a cylinder. A rod on the piston is mounted to drive a nail or other object into a workpiece. A valve arrangement is provided to apply compressed air to the upper surface of the piston, and a storage chamber communicating with the space below the piston is provided for returning the piston to a rest position. A plurality of sequentially arranged latching devices are provided for locking the piston in its rest position, the latching device effective at a given time being dependent on such factors as friction in the device and the amount of compressed air stored for the return stroke. A buffer surface is provided to effect the absorption of energy if the piston passes all of the latching devices, and to rebound the piston to the nearest latching device.

Abstract: An impact drive tool has a cylinder within which a percussive piston is mounted for actuating a ram to drive a nail into a workpiece. Valve means are provided for introducing compressed air to one side of the piston to cause the impact stroke, and an air storage chamber is provided for returning the piston to its rest position. A truncated cone shaped first buffer element of a cellular polyurethane is affixed to the bottom of the percussive piston. A second buffer element of a harder material, such as a cross-linked polyurethane is mounted in the bottom of the cylinder. The second buffer element has a recess facing the first buffer element and shaped to receive the first element. The buffer elements are positioned so that, at the end of an impact stroke, the first buffer element is initially deformed, followed by the striking of a bottom portion of the piston on the second buffer element to absorb the impact energy.

Abstract: An upright rectangular frame has a roller conveyor in its lower horizontal member, carries hydraulically operated clamps on its upright members, and movably supports a carrier for a tilting circular saw on its upper horizontal member. A panel of plywood and the like can be cut horizontally into two sections while the lower edge of the lower section rests on the roller conveyor and the upper section is clamped to the frame. The lower section may then be shifted horizontally on the roller conveyor in the original plane of the panel and further divided into parts by vertical saw cuts, whereupon the upper panel section is lowered to the roller conveyor, and the procedure is repeated until the panel is entirely divided into portions of desired size.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding workpieces through a machine employing a workpiece guide and at least one sensor for determining the dimensions of the workpiece. The workpiece guide applies pressure to the workpiece in accordance with the dimensions of the workpiece as determined by the sensor which includes one or more vertical or arcuate sensing members contacting the workpieces and moving in accordance with the dimensions thereof. Switches for controlling a driving motor of the workpiece guide are actuated by control cams responsive to the movements of the sensor.