Fastener driving tool

Claim 2

A fastener driving tool comprising a drive track for guiding fasteners as they are driven, a pneumatically powered driver in said drive track movable on a power stroke to drive fasteners and a return stroke, pusher means for feeding fasteners into said drive track and movable between a forward position extending into said drive track and a rearward position rearwardly retracted therefrom, and fluid control means including a piston slidable in a cylinder, said piston interconnected with said pusher means for moving the same and providing valving action for preventing the initiation of a power stroke of said driver until said pusher means is retracted from said drive track.

Claim 3

The driving tool of claim 1 wherein said control means includes first motor means for moving said driver on a power and return stroke and second motor means for moving said pusher means, and passage means operably interconnecting said first and second motor means whereby said second motor means normally closes said passage means preventing a power stroke of said driver until said pusher means is clear of said drive track.

Claim 4

The driving tool of claim 2 including safety valve means responsive to the position of said drive track relative to a workpiece movable between a safe and a fire position and operable upon movement from said safe to said fire position to retract said pusher means from said drive track, said safety valve means operable to activate said second motor means to feed a fastener into said drive track with said pusher means when returned from said fire position to said safe position.

Claim 5

The driving tool of claim 2 wherein said control means comprises a manual trigger valve operable to open and close said passage means between said first and second motor means.

Claim 6

The driving tool of claim 3 wherein said second motor means includes valve means operable to open communication between one end of said passage means and the atmosphere when said safety valve means is moved from the safe to the fire position.

Claim 7

The driving tool of claim 5 wherein said valve means on said second motor means is operable to close communication between said one end of said passage means and the atmosphere when said safety valve means is returned from the fire to the safe position.

Claim 8

A fastener driving tool comprising a drive track, a driver slidable in said drive track, pneumatic motor means operable to move said driver on a power and return stroke in said drive track, pusher means operable to move into and out of said drive track to position fasteners therein to be driven, control valve means for activating said motor means to initiate a power stroke of said driver, means for retracting said pusher including a piston slidably mounted in a cylinder and a valve, said piston operable to actuate said valve for preventing a power stroke of said driver until said pusher means is rEtracted from said drive track.

Claim 9

A fastener driving tool comprising a drive track, a driver slidable in said drive track, pneumatic motor means operable to move said driver on a power and return stroke in said drive track, pusher means operable to move into and out of said drive track to position fasteners therein to be driven, control valve means for activating said motor means to initiate a power stroke of said driver, means for retracting said pusher including a piston slidably mounted in a cylinder and a valve, said piston operable to actuate said valve for preventing a power stroke of said driver until said pusher means is rEtracted from said drive track.

Claim 10

The driving tool of claim 7 wherein said control valve means includes exhaust passage means in communication between said motor means and the atmosphere for initiating a power stroke, said retracting means normally closing said passage means and operable to open said passage means after retraction of said pusher means from said drive track.

Claim 11

The driving tool of claim 8 wherein said retracting means is operable to advance said pusher means into said drive track after said motor means has initiated a return stroke of said driver.

Claim 12

A fastener driving tool comprising a drive track for receiving fasteners, a driver slidable in said drive track and movable on a power stroke to drive fasteners and a return stroke in an opposite direction, pusher means movable on a feed stroke from a retracted position clear of said drive track forwardly to a forward position extending into said drive track and movable rearwardly on a return stroke in the opposite direction to said retracted position, first valve means for initiating a power stroke of said driver and second valve means associated therewith preventing the initiation of a power stroke until said pusher means moves on a return stroke to said retracted position.

Claim 13

A fastener driving tool comprising a drive track for receiving fasteners, a driver slidable in said drive track and movable on a power stroke to drive fasteners and a return stroke in an opposite direction, pusher means movable on a feed stroke from a retracted position clear of said drive track forwardly to a forward position extending into said drive track and movable rearwardly on a return stroke in the opposite direction to said retracted position, first valve means for initiating a power stroke of said driver and second valve means associated therewith preventing the initiation of a power stroke until said pusher means moves on a return stroke to said retracted position.

Claim 14

The driving tool of claim 10 wherein said second valve means comprises piston means slidable in a bore, and said first valve means includes passage means intersecting said bore and blocked by said piston means when said pusher means is in said forward position.

Claim 15

The driving tool of claim 11 wherein said piston means moves to open communication between said passage means and said bore when said pusher means is moved to said retracted position.

Claim 16

The tool of claim 12 including safety valve means movable between a safe and a fire position, and means controlled by said safety valve means to supply pressurized fluid to move said piston means to retract said pusher means when said safety valve means is moved from said safe to said fire position.

Claim 17

The driving tool of claim 10 wherein said first valve means includes passage means and a pair of valve members in series communication in said passage means, each valve member movable between a first and second position and operable to initiate a power stroke of said driver only when both valve members are moved to said second position.

Claim 18

The driving tool of claim 10 wherein said second valve means includes a piston member interconnected with said pusher means and a second valve member, said first valve means including a valve member operable between a first and second position to move said piston member to retract and advance respectively said pusher means.

Claim 19

The driving tool of claim 15 wherein said piston member is operable to open and close said second valve member upon retraction and advancement of said pusher means, said second valve member opening to initiate a power stroke of said driver and said one valve member operable to initiate a return stroke thereof.

Claim 20

The driving tool of claim 16 wherein said piston member is movable to a third position in response to the absence of fasteners in said tool to close said second valve member and prevent the initiation of a power stroke of said driver.

Claim 21

The driving tool of claim 17 wherein said first valve means includes a first valve passage between said piston member and a pair of valves in series movable between open and closed positions to connect and disconnect an end of said first valve passage to the atmosphere.

Claim 22

A fastener driving tool comprising a drive track and a driver slidably disposed therein, motor means for reciprocating said driver to drive successive fasteners positioned in said drive track, safety valve means movable on an operating cycle between a safe and a fire position and operably connected with said motor means to prevent initiation of a drive stroke of said driver until said safety valve means has been cycled between said safe and fire positions, said safety valve means inCluding a workpiece engaging structure movably mounted adjacent the lower end of said drive track for movement between a safe position projecting below said lower end of said drive track and a fire position spaced upwardly thereof, and reciprocating feeder means for advancing successive fasteners into said drive track and means operatively interconnecting said feeder means and said safety valve means for initiating a feeding stroke of said feeder means in response to cycling of said safety valve means between said safe and fire positions.

Claim 23

A fastener driving tool comprising a drive track and a driver slidably disposed therein, motor means for reciprocating said driver to drive successive fasteners positioned in said drive track, safety valve means movable on an operating cycle between a safe and a fire position and operably connected with said motor means to prevent initiation of a drive stroke of said driver until said safety valve means has been cycled between said safe and fire positions, said safety valve means inCluding a workpiece engaging structure movably mounted adjacent the lower end of said drive track for movement between a safe position projecting below said lower end of said drive track and a fire position spaced upwardly thereof, and reciprocating feeder means for advancing successive fasteners into said drive track and means operatively interconnecting said feeder means and said safety valve means for initiating a feeding stroke of said feeder means in response to cycling of said safety valve means between said safe and fire positions.

Claim 24

The fastener driving tool of claim 1 wherein said cylinder is formed with a port therein for cooperation with said piston to provide said valving action upon movement of said piston to open and close said port.

Claim 25

The fastener driving tool of claim 1 wherein said piston includes a pair of piston portions having different diameters, at least one of said piston portions serving as a component for said valving action.

Claim 26

The fastener driving tool of claim 20 wherein said piston includes an axial stem of reduced diameter between said piston portions forming a piston chamber movable into and out of communication with said port.

Claim 27

The fastener driving tool of claim 7 wherein said valve includes a port formed in said cylinder and opened and closed by said piston.

Claim 28

The fastener driving tool of claim 23 wherein said piston includes portions of different diameters, at least one portion functioning as a component of said valve for controlling the operation of said motor means for initiating a power stroke of said driver.