Fastener Tool Driver Position Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastener driving tools face issues with the driver member ending its driving stroke at an incorrect position, leading to potential jamming and damage due to wear and jammed fasteners, which existing technologies fail to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating at least one position sensor to determine the correct ending position of the driver member and a dynamic braking circuit to prevent lifter impact, with a diagnostic 'dry fire' test using time intervals between sensor detections to assess gas pressure and tool functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the driver member is allowed to complete its driving stroke without position monitoring, then the tool operates continuously with high productivity, but the driver may end at an incorrect position causing lifter impact and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements position sensors that detect the driver member's position during the driving stroke and provide feedback signals to a control system. This feedback mechanism allows the system to verify whether the driver has reached the correct position and to prevent lifter impact by stopping the lifter when abnormal position is detected, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical position detection methods with electronic position sensors and a control system. This substitution enables precise monitoring of the driver member's position without adding significant mechanical complexity, allowing the system to maintain high productivity while ensuring reliable driver positioning through electronic control
2Reliability
If position sensors and control systems are added to monitor driver position, then driver positioning accuracy and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system in the patent serves multiple functions: it monitors driver position through sensors, determines whether the driver is at the correct position, controls the lifter operation, and prevents lifter impact. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved driver positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a control system as an intermediary between the position sensors and the lifter mechanism. This intermediary processes sensor signals and makes decisions about lifter operation, simplifying the overall control architecture while ensuring reliable driver positioning. The intermediary approach allows the system to manage complexity by centralizing control logic in a single unit rather than distributing it across multiple components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents lifter impact and potential damage by ensuring correct driver positioning and allows for user-performed diagnostic tests without service center visits, enhancing tool reliability and maintenance efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
one of the position sensors is an optical sensor, in which an infrared light-emitting diode is placed on one side of the driver track in the guide body, while an infrared photodetector is placed on the opposite side of that driver track
Data Source
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AI summary
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.