A portable linear fastener driving tool is provided that drive staples, nails, or other linearly driven fasteners. The tool uses a gas spring principle, in which a cylinder filled with compressed gas is used to quickly force a piston through a driving stroke movement, while a driver also drives a fastener into a workpiece. The piston/driver is then moved back to its starting position by use of a rotary-to-linear lifter, and the piston again compresses the gas above the piston, thereby preparing the tool for another driving stroke. The driver has protrusions along its edges that contact the lifter, which lifts the driver during a return stroke. A pivotable latch is controlled to move into either an interfering position or a non-interfering position with respect to the driver protrusions, and acts as a safety device, by preventing the driver from making a full driving stroke at an improper time.

A portable linear fastener driving tool is provided that drive staples, nails, or other linearly driven fasteners. The tool uses a gas spring principle, in which a cylinder filled with compressed gas is used to quickly force a piston through a driving stroke movement, while a driver also drives a fastener into a workpiece. The piston/driver is then moved back to its starting position by use of a rotary-to-linear lifter, and the piston again compresses the gas above the piston, thereby preparing the tool for another driving stroke. The driver has protrusions along its edges that contact the lifter, which lifts the driver during a return stroke. A pivotable latch is controlled to move into either an interfering position or a non-interfering position with respect to the driver protrusions, and acts as a safety device, by preventing the driver from making a full driving stroke at an improper time.

An automatic staple remover in a gun-shaped housing comprises a trigger that engages a series of levers and one or more springs that ultimately engage a rotating tumbler. Alternatively, the trigger engages an electric motor and gears, or a pneumatic motor and lever arrangement, or a combination of levers and motors to engage the rotating tumbler. Around the perimeter of the tumbler are one or more teeth capable of sliding under a staple. Positioned below the tumbler a removable receptacle catches removed staples. Additionally, the automatic staple remover can include stapler components side-by-side in the same housing that can be engaged by a common trigger. Stapler components comprise a series of levers and springs, a blade assembly, and a plurality of staples in a sleeve. Alternatively, stapler components can include pneumatic motor components or electric motor components.

An automatic staple remover in a gun-shaped housing comprises a trigger that engages a series of levers and one or more springs that ultimately engage a rotating tumbler. Alternatively, the trigger engages an electric motor and gears, or a pneumatic motor and lever arrangement, or a combination of levers and motors to engage the rotating tumbler. Around the perimeter of the tumbler are one or more teeth capable of sliding under a staple. Positioned below the tumbler a removable receptacle catches removed staples. Additionally, the automatic staple remover can include stapler components side-by-side in the same housing that can be engaged by a common trigger. Stapler components comprise a series of levers and springs, a blade assembly, and a plurality of staples in a sleeve. Alternatively, stapler components can include pneumatic motor components or electric motor components.

A hand tool for mechanically generating and delivering a driving force to a fastener. The hand tool includes a mechanical force delivery system that is structured and operable to mechanically generate and deliver a driving force to a fastener. The hand tool additionally includes a pneumatic actuation device that is operatively connected to the mechanical force delivery system. The pneumatic actuation device is structured and operable to actuate the mechanical force delivery system such that the mechanical force delivery system mechanically generates and delivers the driving force.

A hand tool for mechanically generating and delivering a driving force to a fastener. The hand tool includes a mechanical force delivery system that is structured and operable to mechanically generate and deliver a driving force to a fastener. The hand tool additionally includes a pneumatic actuation device that is operatively connected to the mechanical force delivery system. The pneumatic actuation device is structured and operable to actuate the mechanical force delivery system such that the mechanical force delivery system mechanically generates and delivers the driving force.

A fastener driving apparatus featuring at least one gas spring and a drive mechanism, comprising a plurality of lifters, for selectively engaging and disengaging said at least one gas spring to energize the gas spring. The lifters the gas spring to energize the gas spring and thereafter release the gas spring, wherein the gas spring releases a portion of its potential energy and accelerates an anvil to engage a fastener. The lifters may engage the gas spring at the same time for a portion of the operational cycle of the apparatus, and the operational cycle may include an intermediate stopping point, which after resumption of a lifter on the gas spring after the stopping point, a relatively small increase of energy in the gas spring thereafter is required to generate a sufficient energy in the gas spring to effectively drive a fastener.

A fastener driving apparatus featuring at least one gas spring and a drive mechanism, comprising a plurality of lifters, for selectively engaging and disengaging said at least one gas spring to energize the gas spring. The lifters the gas spring to energize the gas spring and thereafter release the gas spring, wherein the gas spring releases a portion of its potential energy and accelerates an anvil to engage a fastener. The lifters may engage the gas spring at the same time for a portion of the operational cycle of the apparatus, and the operational cycle may include an intermediate stopping point, which after resumption of a lifter on the gas spring after the stopping point, a relatively small increase of energy in the gas spring thereafter is required to generate a sufficient energy in the gas spring to effectively drive a fastener.

A method of operating a fastener driver comprises initiating a fastener driving operation by moving a driver blade from a retracted position toward a driven position, and detecting that the driver blade has become jammed in an intermediate position between the retracted position and the driven position. The method further includes moving a latch from a locked position, in which a lifter assembly is maintained in an engaged position by the latch for moving the driver blade from the driven position toward the retracted position, to a released position, in which the lifter assembly is movable away from the driver blade. The method further includes driving a motor to rotate a lifter of the lifting assembly, thereby moving the lifter assembly away from the driver blade, then, returning the lifter assembly to the engaged position, and moving the latch from the released position to the locked position.

A method of operating a fastener driver comprises initiating a fastener driving operation by moving a driver blade from a retracted position toward a driven position, and detecting that the driver blade has become jammed in an intermediate position between the retracted position and the driven position. The method further includes moving a latch from a locked position, in which a lifter assembly is maintained in an engaged position by the latch for moving the driver blade from the driven position toward the retracted position, to a released position, in which the lifter assembly is movable away from the driver blade. The method further includes driving a motor to rotate a lifter of the lifting assembly, thereby moving the lifter assembly away from the driver blade, then, returning the lifter assembly to the engaged position, and moving the latch from the released position to the locked position.