Fastener Driver Stopper Mechanism for Dry-Fire Prevention

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastener drivers experience poor user experience due to misfitting fasteners when the magazine is nearly empty, leading to inefficiencies and potential dry firing issues.

Innovation Solution

A fastener driver with a dry fire prevention assembly featuring a stopper mechanism that prevents the striker from striking fasteners when the magazine is nearly empty, combined with a lifting assembly and trigger assembly that switches states to prevent dry firing, and a nail gun with integrated light-emitting devices for operational feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the magazine is nearly empty, then the fastener driver can be reused, but the fasteners and striker may not fit well causing poor user experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous use capabilityVSAvoidfastener-striker fit

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper is positioned to proactively prevent the trigger assembly from enabling firing when fasteners are insufficient. The stopper blocks the trigger assembly's motion path before firing can occur, creating a preliminary protective action that prevents dry firing and ensures reliable operation only when fasteners are properly loaded.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper acts as an intermediary element between the trigger assembly and the firing mechanism. It mediates the interaction by blocking the trigger assembly's ability to enable firing when fasteners are insufficient, thereby preventing direct contact between the striker and insufficient fasteners.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the trigger assembly is allowed to switch to firing state, then the fastener driver can operate, but dry firing may occur when magazine is nearly empty

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrigger operationVSAvoiddry firing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper is positioned to proactively prevent the trigger assembly from enabling firing when fasteners are insufficient. The stopper blocks the trigger assembly's motion path before firing can occur, creating a preliminary protective action that prevents dry firing and ensures reliable operation only when fasteners are properly loaded.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper acts as an intermediary element between the trigger assembly and the firing mechanism. It mediates the interaction by blocking the trigger assembly's ability to enable firing when fasteners are insufficient, thereby preventing direct contact between the striker and insufficient fasteners.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the stopper performs only first motion, then the trigger assembly is blocked, but the lifting assembly cannot drive fasteners to move

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedry fire preventionVSAvoidfastener loading

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper is designed to dynamically switch between two motion states based on trigger assembly position. When the trigger assembly is in the first state, the stopper performs first motion to block firing. When the trigger assembly switches to the second state, the stopper performs second motion to allow lifting assembly to drive fasteners, creating a dynamic adaptive system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper's motion is segmented into two distinct phases: first motion for blocking the trigger assembly, and second motion for allowing fastener loading. This segmentation allows the system to address different operational requirements at different times, preventing dry firing while maintaining fastener loading capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enhances user experience by preventing dry firing and providing visual feedback, ensuring consistent performance even when the magazine is nearly empty.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic member, where when the lifting assembly applies a first action force to the stopper and the obstruction portion applies a second action force to the stopper, the stopper applies a third action force to the elastic member to perform the second motion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250326099A1Fastener driver and nail gun

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 NANJING CHERVON IND

AI summary

A fastener driver includes: a trigger assembly operated by a user to switch between a first state in which a striker is allowed to strike a fastener and a second state in which the striker is forbidden to strike the fastener; a lifting assembly, where at least part of the lifting assembly is movably disposed in a magazine to drive the fastener to move in the magazine; and a dry fire prevention assembly having a dry fire prevention state, where the dry fire prevention assembly includes a stopper, and in the dry fire prevention state, the trigger assembly is forbidden by the stopper to switch to the first state. When the trigger assembly obstructs the stopper from performing a first motion, the lifting assembly drives the stopper to perform a second motion.