Flywheel Fastening Tool Pulse Timing for Drive-Feed Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening tools, such as power nailers and staplers, face challenges in the coordinated driving and feeding of fasteners, which can be improved for enhanced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A tool incorporating a housing with a nosepiece assembly, a motor, a drive actuator, and a magazine assembly, featuring a feed assembly and a controller that implements a firing sequence with timed electric pulses to the drive and feed actuators, optimizing the translational movement and feeding of fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a spring-loaded device is used to push fasteners into position, then the fastening tool can operate without a continuous power supply, but the driving and feeding coordination of fasteners is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of the drive actuator and feed actuator through a controller that receives input from a trigger switch. The system dynamically adjusts the operation sequence based on real-time user input, allowing the drive and feed mechanisms to coordinate their movements precisely. This dynamic control enables the system to achieve higher fastening rates (up to four fasteners per second) while maintaining coordination between the drive and feed functions through programmed timing sequences.
2Ease of operation
If the drive actuator and feed actuator operate independently, then the control system is simpler, but the coordinated driving and feeding of fasteners is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control of the drive actuator and feed actuator into a unified control system that manages both actuators through a single controller. The controller integrates signals from the trigger switch and coordinates the operation of both actuators through a programmed firing sequence. This merged control approach allows for precise synchronization of the drive and feed mechanisms, enabling improved fastener coordination while managing system complexity through integrated rather than separate control architectures.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the motor operates continuously, then the tool maintains constant power, but energy is wasted during actuator activation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by controlling the motor to operate only during specific time intervals between actuator activations. The controller deactivates the motor during the activation periods of the drive actuator and feed actuator, then reactivates it during the intervals between these events. This periodic on/off cycling of the motor ensures that power is supplied only when needed for maintaining operation between fastener drives, thereby reducing energy waste while maintaining adequate power availability for the next actuation cycle.
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
The solution enhances the driving and feeding capabilities, increasing the number of fasteners driven per second from three to four, improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a motor; a drive actuator; and a magazine assembly configured to hold a plurality of fasteners
Implementation Method 2
A drive system, associated with the drive actuator, is configured to selectively drive the driver along the drive axis
Implementation Method 3
The feed assembly has feed actuator configured to move said lead fastener into the nosepiece assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a tool is provided for applying fasteners to a workpiece. The method includes energizing a motor to operate the flywheel; applying a first electric pulse to a driver actuator to transitionally drive a driver actuator along a drive axis to drive a lead fastener into a workpiece; energizing the motor for at least a portion of a time following the first electric pulse and prior to a second electric pulse; applying a second electric pulse to a feed actuator to present a subsequent lead fastener into a nosepiece assembly; deenergizing the motor or reducing a supply of electrical energy to the motor for at least a portion of a time during the second electric pulse; and reenergizing the motor after the second electric pulse.