Power take off for cordless nailer

• US 8,302,833 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2006
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• 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: Gross, Paul G, Kenney, James J, Gregory, Larry E, Brendel, Lee M
• Primary Examiner(s): Low, Lindsay
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US11/586,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20070102471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,204 Days
• Field of Search: 227/133, 227/134, 227/120, 227/131, 227/146, 173/13, 173/15, 173/124, 173/216, 173/217
• US Class Current: 227/134
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 1/008 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 1/06 operated by electric power

Abstract

A power tool that includes a structure; a flywheel coupled to the structure; a driver that is translatable along a driver axis; and a follower assembly having an actuator and an activation arm assembly. The actuator is coupled to the activation arm assembly. The activation arm assembly is coupled to the structure and includes a pinch roller. Actuation of the actuator causes the pinch roller to translate toward and engage the driver to initiate driving engagement between the driver and the flywheel.

Claims

1. A power tool comprising:

a structure;

a flywheel coupled to the structure;

a driver that is translatable along a driver axis; and

a follower assembly having an actuator and an activation arm assembly, the actuator being coupled to the activation arm assembly, the activation arm assembly being coupled to the structure and including a pinch roller and a first arm, wherein actuation of the actuator causes the pinch roller to translate toward and engage the driver to initiate driving engagement between the driver and the flywheel to thereby permit the flywheel to drive the driver;

wherein the pinch roller is pivotably coupled to the first arm and rotates in a direction away from the flywheel and the driver after the driver has been driven along the driver axis by the flywheel and while the actuator is still engaged.

2. A power tool comprising:

a structure;

a flywheel coupled to the structure;

a driver that is translatable along a driver axis; and

a follower assembly having an actuator and an activation arm assembly, the actuator being coupled to the activation arm assembly, the activation arm assembly being coupled to the structure and including a pinch roller, wherein actuation of the actuator causes the pinch roller to translate toward and engage the driver to initiate driving engagement between the driver and the flywheel;

wherein the activation arm assembly further includes a first arm, the first arm being fixedly coupled to the structure, the actuator being mounted on the first arm;

wherein the activation arm further includes a second arm, the second arm including an arm member, a first axle and a second axle, the first axle being received through a pivot slot formed in the first arm, the first axle being coupled to the arm member, the second axle being coupled to the arm member, the pinch roller being mounted on the second axle; and

wherein the activation arm further includes a third arm that engages the second arm, the third arm including a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion, the second mounting portion being pivotally coupled to the actuator and slidingly engaged to the first arm, the first mounting portion being biased in a direction toward the driver.

3. A power tool comprising:

a structure;

a flywheel coupled to the structure;

a driver that is translatable along a driver axis; and

a follower assembly having an actuator and an activation arm assembly, the actuator being coupled to the activation arm assembly, the activation arm assembly being coupled to the structure and including a pinch roller, wherein actuation of the actuator causes the pinch roller to translate toward and engage the driver to initiate driving engagement between the driver and the flywheel;

wherein the driver includes a first cam portion and wherein contact between the pinch roller and the first cam portion as the driver is driven by the flywheel along the driver axis causes the pinch roller to translate away from flywheel.

4. The power tool of claim 3, wherein the driver includes a second cam portion and wherein contact between the pinch roller and the second cam portion as the driver is driven by the flywheel along the driver axis permits the pinch roller to be rotated away from the driver and the flywheel.

5. A power tool comprising:

a structure;

a flywheel coupled to the structure;

a driver that is translatable along a driver axis; and

a follower assembly having an actuator, an activation arm assembly and a spring, the activation arm assembly including a first arm, a second arm, a third arm and a pinch roller, the first arm being fixed to the structure, the second arm being pivotally mounted to the first arm, the third arm having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being pivotally and axially slidably coupled to the first arm, the second portion being pivotally coupled to the actuator, the spring biasing the first portion about the second arm in a first rotational direction, wherein the third arm pivots about the second arm in response to actuation of the actuator to move the second arm such that the pinch roller drives the driver into driving engagement with the flywheel.

6. The power tool of claim 5, wherein the actuator is received in the first arm.

7. The power tool of claim 6, wherein the actuator is engaged to the first arm in a snap-fit manner.

8. The power tool of claim 5, wherein the second arm further includes a central member and a pivot roller, the second portion of the third arm being received between the central member and the pivot roller.

9. The power tool of claim 5, wherein the follower assembly further includes a first cap and a second cap, at least a portion of the first cap being disposed on a first side of the first portion of the third arm, the second cap being disposed on a second side of the first portion of the third arm, the first and second caps being coupled to one another, one of the first and second caps being coupled to the first arm to limit movement of the first and second caps relative to the first arm in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the driver axis, the spring being disposed between the first end of the third arm and the second cap.

10. The power tool of claim 9, wherein the first cap includes a body member and a flange, the body member extending through a hole in the first portion of the third arm, the spring being disposed about the body member, the flange abutting the first side of the first portion of the third arm.

11. The power tool of claim 5, wherein the actuator is a solenoid having a body and a plunger, the plunger being movable along an actuator axis that is generally parallel to the driver axis.

12. The power tool of claim 5, wherein the first arm includes a pair of arm members, each of the arm members including a pivot slot, a first axle being received through the pivot slot and the second arm.

13. The power tool of claim 12, wherein the pinch roller is rotated about the first axle in a direction toward the first portion of the third arm when the pinch roller initially contacts the driver to drive the driver into driving engagement with the flywheel.

14. The power tool of claim 13, wherein the first arm limits rotation of the second arm about the first axle.

15. The power tool of claim 5, wherein the driver includes a first cam portion and wherein contact between the pinch roller and the first cam portion as the driver is driven by the flywheel along the driver axis causes the second arm to translate away from flywheel.

16. The power tool of claim 15, wherein translation of the second arm away from the flywheel causes a corresponding translation of the third arm to compress the spring.

17. The power tool of claim 15, wherein the driver includes a second cam portion and wherein contact between the pinch roller and the second cam portion permits the second arm to rotate in a direction that moves the pinch roller away from the spring.