Fastening tool with mode selector switch

• US 20050220445A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schell, Craig A., Berry, Alan, Bradenbaugh, Charles L. IV, Baskar, Ashok S., Cruise, Nathan
• Granted Patent: US 7,137,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 388/811
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 1/06 operated by electric power
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 388/937 Hand tool

Abstract

A fastening tool having a contact trip switch, a trigger switch, a driver, a motor assembly and a controller. The controller is configured to selectively operate the motor assembly in response to inputs received from the contact trip switch and the trigger switch. The controller includes a mode selector switch having a first switch setting, which can permit bump-feed operation of the fastening tool, and a second switch setting, which prohibits bump-feed operation of the fastening tool.

Claims

1. A fastening tool for installing fasteners into a workpiece, the fastening tool comprising:

a contact trip switch that is actuated in response to a first operator input;

a trigger switch that is actuated in response to a second operator input;

a driver that is movable along an axis;

a motor assembly having a flywheel that is driven by a motor and an actuator that can be actuated to drive the driver into engagement with the flywheel to cause the driver to move along the axis;

a controller that is configured to selectively activate the motor assembly to cause the driver to translate along the axis at least partially in response to actuation of the contact trip switch and the trigger switch, the controller including a mode selector switch having a first switch state and a second switch state, wherein placement of the mode selector switch into the first switch state requires that the contact trip switch be actuated prior to actuation of the trigger switch before the controller actuates the actuator, and wherein placement of the mode selector switch into the second switch state permits the controller to activate the actuator when both the contract trip switch and the trigger switch have been activated regardless of an order in which the contract trip switch and the trigger switch have been activated.

2. The fastening tool of claim 1, wherein the controller activates the motor when either one of the contact trip switch and the trigger switch have been actuated.

3. The fastening tool of claim 1, further comprising a cover that is selectively removable from the tool body, wherein coupling of the cover to the tool body covers and obscures the mode selector switch.

4. The fastening tool of claim 3, wherein the mode selector switch is an electric switch that generates a switch signal that is responsive to a position into which the mode selector switch is set.

5. The fastening tool of claim 3, wherein coupling of the cover to the tool body inhibits a state of the mode selector switch from being changed.

6. The fastening tool of claim 3, wherein the cover is formed of a resilient material.

7. The fastening tool of claim 1, wherein positioning of the mode selector switch in the first switch state applies a first predetermined signal to the controller, wherein positioning of the mode selector switch in the second switch state applies a second predetermined signal to the controller, the second predetermined signal being different from the first predetermined signal.

8. The fastening tool of claim 7, wherein the controller defaults to a condition wherein the first operator input must be received prior to the second operator input before the controller activates the power source if the second predetermined signal is not received from the mode selector switch.

9. The fastening tool of claim 7, wherein the first predetermined signal is a signal of a first voltage and wherein the second predetermined signal is a signal of a second voltage.

10. A fastening tool for installing fasteners into a workpiece, the fastening tool comprising:

a nosepiece;

a contact trip that is coupled to the nosepiece and movable between a first contact trip position and a second contact trip position, the contact trip being biased into the first contact trip position and moving into the second contact trip position in response to a first operator input;

a tool body that is coupled to the nosepiece;

a driver that is housed in the tool body and movable along an axis through at least a portion of the nosepiece;

a motor assembly for translating the driver along the axis;

a trigger that is coupled to the tool body, the trigger being movable between a first trigger position and a second trigger position, the trigger being biased into the first trigger position and moving into the second trigger position in response to a second operator input;

a controller that is configured to selectively activate the motor assembly, the controller including a mode selector having a first state and a second state, wherein placement of the mode selector into the first state requires that the contact trip be moved into the second contact trip position prior to movement of the trigger into the second trigger position to actuate the motor assembly and cause the driver to translate along the axis, and wherein placement of the mode selector into the second state permits the controller to activate the motor assembly and cause the driver to translate along the axis regardless of an order in which the contact trip is moved into the second contact trip position and the trigger is moved into the second trigger position.

11. The fastening tool of claim 10, further comprising a cover that is selectively removable from the tool body, wherein coupling of the cover to the tool body covers and obscures the mode selector.

12. The fastening tool of claim 11, wherein the mode selector is an electric switch that generates a switch signal that is responsive to a position into which the mode selector is set.

13. The fastening tool of claim 11, wherein coupling of the cover to the tool body inhibits a state of the mode selector from being changed.

14. The fastening tool of claim 11, wherein the cover is formed of a resilient material.

15. The fastening tool of claim 10, wherein positioning of the mode selector in the first state applies a first predetermined signal to the controller, wherein positioning of the mode selector in the second state applies a second predetermined signal to the controller, the second predetermined signal being different from the first predetermined signal.

16. The fastening tool of claim 15, wherein the controller defaults to a condition wherein the contact trip must be moved into the second contact trip position prior to movement of the trigger into the second trigger position to actuate the motor assembly and cause the driver to translate along the axis if the controller does not receive the second predetermined signal.

17. The fastening tool of claim 15, wherein the first predetermined signal is a signal of a first voltage and wherein the second predetermined signal is a signal of a second voltage.

18. A fastening tool for installing fasteners into a workpiece, the fastening tool comprising:

a tool body;

a contact trip that is coupled to the tool body and movable between a first contact trip position and a second contact trip position, the contact trip being biased into the first contact trip position and moving into the second contact trip position in response to a first operator input;

a driver that is housed in the tool body and movable along an axis;

a motor assembly for translating the driver along the axis, the motor assembly including a flywheel and an actuator, the driver being disposed between the flywheel and the actuator;

a trigger that is coupled to the tool body, the trigger being movable between a first trigger position and a second trigger position, the trigger being biased into the first trigger position and moving into the second trigger position in response to a second operator input;

a controller that is configured to selectively move the actuator to pinch the driver between an actuator member and the flywheel, the controller including a mode selector having a first state and a second state, wherein placement of the mode selector into the first state mandates sequential mode operation of the fastening tool and wherein placement of the mode selector into the second state permits the fastening tool to be operated in a different mode of operation.

19. The fastening tool of claim 18, wherein the different mode of operation is a bump feed mode.

20. The fastening tool of claim 18, wherein positioning of the mode selector in the first state causes a first predetermined signal to be applied to the controller, and wherein positioning of the mode selector in the second state causes a second predetermined signal to be applied to the controller, the second predetermined signal being different from the first predetermined signal.

21. The fastening tool of claim 20, wherein the controller defaults to a condition that permits only the sequential feed mode of operation if the controller does not receive the second predetermined signal.

22. The fastening tool of claim 20, wherein the first and second predetermined signals are electrical signals.

23. A fastening tool comprising:

a tool body;

a driver mounted on the tool body and movable along an axis;

a motor assembly that is configured to drive the driver along the axis;

a contact trip that is coupled to the tool body and movable between a first contact trip state and a second contact trip state, the contact trip being biased into the first contact trip state and moveable into the second contact trip state in response to a first operator input;

a trigger that is coupled to the tool body and moveable between a first trigger state and a second trigger state, the trigger being biased into the first trigger state and moveable into the second trigger state in response to a second operator input;

an electronic controller coupled to the motor assembly and operable for actuating the motor assembly so as to move the driver along the axis, the electronic controller being operable in a first mode, which actuates the motor assembly only if the contact trip is moved into the second contact trip state prior to movement of the trigger into the second trigger state, and a second mode, which permits the motor assembly to be actuated when the trigger is moved into the second trigger state prior to movement of the contact trip into the second contact trip state.

24. The fastening tool of claim 23, wherein the motor assembly includes an electric motor.

25. The fastening tool of claim 24, wherein the electric motor drives a flywheel.

26. The fastening tool of claim 25, wherein the motor assembly further comprises an actuator having a pinch member and wherein actuation of the motor assembly includes moving the pinch member to drive the driver into contact with the flywheel.

27. A method comprising:

providing an electric fastening tool having a contact trip, a trigger, a driver that is moveable along an axis, and a mode selector switch, the mode selector switch having a sequential setting and a bump-feed setting;

placing the mode selector switch into the bump-feed setting; and

operating the tool such that;

a) the trigger is moved into an actuated state;

b) the contact trip is moved into an actuated state after the trigger has been moved into the actuated state; and

c) the driver is translated along the axis without first changing the trigger to an unactuated state.