Smart Trigger System for Powered Fasteners
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of powered fastener devices in construction and manufacturing poses a risk of injury due to accidental discharge and accidental contact, with a significant percentage of injuries occurring in the hands or fingers of operators.
Innovation Solution
A smart trigger system that includes a detector to generate and transmit a profile signal of a test substrate, a processing unit to determine if the profile signal corresponds to a target substrate, and an actuation unit to permit or prevent the device from actuating based on the comparison.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a smart trigger system with detector and processing unit is added to identify target substrates, then safety against accidental discharge is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A detector is introduced as an intermediary component between the trigger mechanism and the fastener discharge system. The detector captures optical signals from the substrate, and a processing unit analyzes these signals to determine whether the substrate is a valid target. This intermediary layer enables intelligent discrimination without requiring fundamental redesign of the fastener device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical trigger activation with an optoelectronic control system. Instead of relying solely on mechanical contact and trigger linkage, the system uses optical detectors and electronic processing to verify substrate identity before enabling fastener discharge. This substitution of mechanical control with optoelectronic intelligence enhances safety while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Reliability
If sequential actuation trigger requires nosepiece and trigger to be activated in specific order, then safety is improved, but productivity decreases due to additional activation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The detector continuously monitors and pre-identifies valid target substrates before the trigger is pulled. By performing substrate verification in advance and maintaining a ready state for authorized discharge, the system eliminates the need for sequential activation steps during actual operation. This preliminary identification action enables faster response while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing unit provides real-time feedback to the trigger mechanism about whether the detected substrate is a valid target. This feedback loop allows the system to dynamically adjust its activation requirements based on current conditions, enabling single-trigger activation when a valid target is confirmed while maintaining safety protocols. The feedback mechanism ensures that productivity is not compromised by unnecessary activation steps.
Data Source
AI summary
An actuation system for preventing actuation of a base device upon a non-target substrate. The actuation system includes a detector configured to generate and transmit a profile signal of a test substrate. A processing unit is in communication with the detector and configured to receive the profile signal of the test substrate from the detector, the processing unit being configured to determine whether the profile signal of the test substrate corresponds to a profile signal of a target substrate, and to generate an actuation signal if the profile signal of the test substrate corresponds to the profile signal of the target substrate. An actuation unit is in communication with the processing unit and the base device, the actuation unit being configured to receive the actuation signal from the processing unit and to permit the base device to actuate when receiving the actuation signal.