Abstract: A pneumatic fastener driving tool is provided with a sensor package. A first portion of the sensor package is mounted in the handle of the tool, with a data cable running to a second portion of the sensor package mounted to an external cylinder wall of the working cylinder. A second portion includes at least one sensor to monitor piston operating cycles and other tool statistics. An antenna exiting the first portion of the sensor package and is threaded through the tool's outer housing to provide a clear radio signal to an external computer. The antenna allows wireless access to download information gathered by the sensors, or to upload new software instructions.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool with a hanger attachment that is rotatable around the handle of the tool. The hanger is configured to fit a 2×4 rafter or joist on either side of the tool. The rotatable hanger allows for this flexibility in hanging the tool securely on a jobsite. The hanger has a plurality of designed stop positions (detents) around the handle. A user rotating the hanger around the handle will feel the hanger become more secure at one of these designed stop (detent) positions.

Abstract: An autofeed attachment designed for mounting to a manual-feed screwgun that has a recessed channel on the exterior surface near a protruding flange. The autofeed attachment has at least one movable plate that is forced inward by a ramp structure on the interior surface of a rotatable collar. When the collar is rotated in a predetermined direction, the ramp surface acts to force the movable plate toward the interior, until that movable plate comes into contact into the recessed channel on the screwgun. Once that has occurred, the autofeed attachment will now be locked into place into that recessed channel and behind a protruding flange of the screwgun. The movable plate(s) is positioned between two retainer structures that are spaced-apart from one another, and create a gap through with the at least one movable plate can move during the locking, and later unlocking operations, by twisting the rotatable collar.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool that forces air from its variable venting volume beneath the piston of the working cylinder and directs that forced air through passageways and toward an electronic controller and/or an electric motor before being vented to atmosphere, thereby drawing heat away from those components during an operational cycle of the movable piston. When the piston returns to its initial position, environmental air is drawn through the same passageways, again past the electronic controller and/or electric motor, thereby twice cooling these “hot” components during a single operational cycle.

Abstract: A portable linear fastener driving tool is provided that drive staples, nails, or other linearly driven fasteners. The tool uses a gas spring principle, in which a cylinder filled with compressed gas is used to quickly force a piston through a driving stroke movement, while a driver also drives a fastener into a workpiece. The piston/driver is then moved back to its starting position by use of a rotary-to-linear lifter, and the piston again compresses the gas above the piston, thereby preparing the tool for another driving stroke. The driver has protrusions along its edges that contact the lifter, which lifts the driver during a return stroke. A pivotable latch is controlled to move into either an interfering position or a non-interfering position with respect to the driver protrusions, and acts as a safety device, by preventing the driver from making a full driving stroke at an improper time.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool that forces air from its variable venting volume beneath the piston of the working cylinder and directs that forced air through passageways and toward an electronic controller and/or an electric motor before being vented to atmosphere, thereby drawing heat away from those components during an operational cycle of the movable piston. When the piston returns to its initial position, environmental air is drawn through the same passageways, again past the electronic controller and/or electric motor, thereby twice cooling these “hot” components during a single operational cycle.

Abstract: A powered fastener driving tool including a latch with a position sensor, to detect the position of the driver during tool operation. The sensor communicates to the system controller, which determines, based on the position of the latch, if the motor should be energized or the motor braking energized. This latch sensor detection provides an accurate location of the driver to the system controller, helping prevent wear and tear on the lifter and driver, and increasing the life of the tool. The driver includes a plurality of through holes, in which the latch can engage when properly aligned. When the latch is engaged with a through hole, the sensor communicates to the controller than the motor may be energized. However, when the latch is not engaged with a through hole, the sensor communicates to the controller that the motor brake should be energized.

Abstract: A pneumatic fastener driving tool that forces pressurized gas from a gas supply source into a chamber above a piston enclosed in a working cylinder. During an operational cycle, the pressurized gas is released, forcing the piston to fire. The firing valve seals the pressurized gas utilizing two rolling diaphragm seals, thereby providing less breakdown of hardware and removing the need for lubricant within the firing valve. These diaphragm seals exhibit a smaller diameter than prior diaphragms used in similar pneumatic fastener driving tools.

Abstract: An adapter converts a fastener driving tool into an automatic (multiple shots per second) pneumatic fastener driving tool. The adapter is mounted to the top of the frame body of a pneumatic fastener driving tool, in which the adapter has a control valve that automatically moves to direct pressurized air to different passageways in the tool body in a repetitive cyclic manner. The speed of actuation can be adjusted by the user.

Abstract: A gas-spring fastener driving tool has a working cylinder and a pressurized main storage chamber to hold the gases that will drive the cylinder's piston and driver combination. An end cap is placed on the upper (back) end of the pressure chamber, above the cylinder, with a set of seals and a set of fasteners; the fasteners can be removed by a user—one at a time—to safely release the stored gas pressure from the tool, for maintenance or repair of the interior parts. The end cap includes a fill valve positioned along the side of the working cylinder which allows ‘refilling’ gases to flow through passageways in the end cap, then into the working cylinder and pressure chamber, thereby bringing the tool up to its nominal working pressure. In some embodiments, the fill valve can also act as a pressure release valve.

Abstract: A portable linear fastener driving tool is provided that drive staples, nails, or other linearly driven fasteners. The tool uses a gas spring principle, in which a cylinder filled with compressed gas is used to quickly force a piston through a driving stroke movement, while a driver also drives a fastener into a workpiece. The piston/driver is then moved back to its starting position by use of a rotary-to-linear lifter, and the piston again compresses the gas above the piston, thereby preparing the tool for another driving stroke. The driver has protrusions along its edges that contact the lifter, which lifts the driver during a return stroke. A pivotable latch is controlled to move into either an interfering position or a non-interfering position with respect to the driver protrusions, and acts as a safety device, by preventing the driver from making a full driving stroke at an improper time.

Abstract: A portable linear fastener driving tool is provided that drive staples, nails, or other linearly driven fasteners. The tool uses a gas spring principle, in which a cylinder filled with compressed gas is used to quickly force a piston through a driving stroke movement, while a driver also drives a fastener into a workpiece. The piston/driver is then moved back to its starting position by use of a rotary-to-linear lifter, and the piston again compresses the gas above the piston, thereby preparing the tool for another driving stroke. The driver has protrusions along its edges that contact the lifter, which lifts the driver during a return stroke. A pivotable latch is controlled to move into either an interfering position or a non-interfering position with respect to the driver protrusions, and acts as a safety device, by preventing the driver from making a full driving stroke at an improper time.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool that includes a lifter subassembly for moving the driver from a driven position to a ready position. In one embodiment, the lifter is mounted to a movable pivot arm, and if the driver is mispositioned at the beginning of a lifting phase, the lifter can displace a small distance to allow the lifter to move over the driver's protrusions, thereby allowing the lifting phase to continue without causing a jam. A retainer (or “cam follower”) is positioned along a rounded cam profile surface of at least one lifter disk to prevent the lifter from displacing during later portions of the lifting phase, or during a transition phase. The lifter includes at least two rotating disks with extending pins to engage driver protrusions. One of the lifter disks can have gear teeth on its perimeter, instead of a cam profile surface.

Abstract: A gas spring fastener driving tool, having a cylinder filled with compressed gas that forces a piston/driver through a driving stroke movement; a rotary-to-linear lifter, then moves the piston/driver back to its ready position, preparing the tool for another driving stroke. The driver has protrusions (teeth) along its edges to contact extending pins of the lifter member, for lifting the driver during a return stroke. The driver's movements are detected by position sensors, and the information provided by those position sensors is used to prevent the lifter from impacting against the driver in situations where the driver did not finish its driving stroke in a correct (“in specification”) position. The use of two position sensors allows a Dry Fire diagnostic test to determine if gas pressure in the gas storage chamber is too high, or has become too low.

Abstract: A gas spring fastener driving tool, having a cylinder filled with compressed gas that forces a piston/driver through a driving stroke movement; a rotary-to-linear lifter, then moves the piston/driver back to its ready position, preparing the tool for another driving stroke. The driver has protrusions (teeth) along its edges to contact extending pins of the lifter member, for lifting the driver during a return stroke. The driver's movements are detected by position sensors, and the information provided by those position sensors is used to prevent the lifter from impacting against the driver in situations where the driver did not finish its driving stroke in a correct (“in specification”) position. The use of two position sensors allows a Dry Fire diagnostic test to determine if gas pressure in the gas storage chamber is too high, or has become too low.

Abstract: An autofeed attachment designed for mounting to a manual-feed screwgun that has a recessed channel on the exterior surface near a protruding flange. The autofeed attachment has at least one movable plate that is forced inward by a ramp structure on the interior surface of a rotatable collar. When the collar is rotated in a predetermined direction, the ramp surface acts to force the movable plate toward the interior, until that movable plate comes into contact into the recessed channel on the screwgun. Once that has occurred, the autofeed attachment will now be locked into place into that recessed channel and behind a protruding flange of the screwgun. The movable plate(s) is positioned between two retainer structures that are spaced-apart from one another, and create a gap through with the at least one movable plate can move during the locking, and later unlocking operations, by twisting the rotatable collar.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool that includes a lift mechanism for moving the driver from a driven position to a ready position. In one embodiment, the lift mechanism is mounted to a movable pivot arm, and the pivot arm is slightly rotated to allow the driver to drive a fastener; when the driver is to be lifted in a return stroke, the lifter subassembly is moved back into engagement with the driver, and multiple lifter pins contact protrusions in the driver to lift the driver from the driven position to the ready position. In another embodiment, the pivotable lifter floats along the driver, and “releases” from contact only to prevent a jam or otherwise undesirable operating condition involving the driver; otherwise, the lifter remains nested in the tool's guide body during all operating states. A solenoid-operated latch also is provided to prevent the driver from moving downward (for driving a fastener).

Abstract: A fastener driving tool with a working cylinder and a piston, the piston outer surface having a lubricant-saturated foam material that stores and dispenses lubricant into the piston-cylinder wall interface, thereby increasing the performance and lifespan of the tool. Another embodiment discloses a two-part piston in which the bottom portion is made of metal and absorbs the main mechanical loading forces of the piston drive and return strokes, and the top portion is made of a non-metallic material that has surfaces that act as sliding bearings against the inner wall of the cylinder.

Abstract: An automated lift machine that feeds strips of staples into an automated stapling machine that can be used in a production line. The lift machine includes a lifter subassembly and a pusher subassembly, and a magazine for holding multiple strips of staples that are stacked on top of one another. A lift fork extends under of the legs of the second staple strip from the bottom, then lifts up all of the stacked staples in the magazine except for the bottom-most staple strip. After that occurs, the pusher forces the bottom-most staple strip from beneath the stacked staples in the magazine, then pushes that strip toward an exit position, into the feeder for the automated stapling machine. The pusher retracts and the lift fork gently lowers the stacked staples in the magazine until they bottom out, after which the lift fork retracts from the stack.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool that forces air from its variable venting volume beneath the piston of the working cylinder and directs that forced air through passageways and toward an electronic controller and/or an electric motor before being vented to atmosphere, thereby drawing heat away from those components during an operational cycle of the movable piston. When the piston returns to its initial position, environmental air is drawn through the same passageways, again past the electronic controller and/or electric motor, thereby twice cooling these “hot” components during a single operational cycle.