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EP-4739462-A1 - DRIVING TOOL AND ITS CONSUMABLES

EP4739462A1EP 4739462 A1EP4739462 A1EP 4739462A1EP-4739462-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a driving tool (1) for driving a fastener (31, 7) into a substrate, the tool comprising a control means (2), a reader (5, 6) operationally connected to the control means and a consumable device (3, 4) mounted on or in the tool and having an encoded material (30, 40), in which the reader is configured to read the encoded material and the control means is configured to set one or more of the tool's operating parameters based on one or more characteristics of the encoded material read by the reader.

Inventors

  • GRANDJEAN, PASCALE

Assignees

  • Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240625

Claims (13)

  1. 1. A driving tool (1 ) for driving a fastener (31 , 7) into a substrate, the tool comprising a control means (2), a reader (5, 6) operationally connected to the control means and a consumable device (3, 4) mounted on or in the tool and having an encoded material (30, 40) included along most or substantially all of its length or around most or substantially all of its edge, in which the reader is configured to read the encoded material when the consumable device is in any of a plurality of different positions or orientations, and the control means is configured to set one or more of the tool’s operating parameters based on one or more characteristics of the encoded material read by the reader.
  2. 2. The driving tool according to claim 1 , in which the reader (5, 6) comprises an emitter (50, 60) for emitting electromagnetic energy (51 , 61 ) and a receiver (52, 62) for receiving the electromagnetic energy reflected by the encoded material (30, 40), the encoded material being configured to reflect the electromagnetic energy according to a predetermined spectral signature (35) associated with one or more characteristics of the consumable device.
  3. 3. The driving tool according to any of the preceding claims, in which the encoded material (30, 40) is deposited or laminated onto, or molded into, a part of the consumable device (3, 4).
  4. 4. The driving tool according to any of the preceding claims, in which the encoded material (30, 40) comprises phosphors or particles incorporated or embedded in the encoded material.
  5. 5. The driving tool according to any of the preceding claims, in which the reader (5, 6) is configured to emit and receive visible and/or ultraviolet and/or infrared light.
  6. 6. A consumable device (3, 4, 7, 8) designed for use in a driving tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims, the device comprising an encoded material (30, 40, 70, 80) included along most or substantially all of its length or around most or substantially all of its edge to enable the reader of the driving tool to read the encoded material when the consumable device is in any one of a plurality of different positions or orientations.
  7. 7. The consumable device according to claim 6, in which the encoded material (30, 40, 70, 80) is configured to reflect electromagnetic energy (51 , 61) according to a predetermined spectral signature (35) associated with one or more characteristics of the consumable device (3, 4, 7, 8).
  8. 8. The consumable device according to claim 7, in which the encoded material (30, 40, 70, 80) is deposited on the consumable device (3, 4, 7, 8).
  9. 9. The consumable device according to claim 8, in which the consumable device comprises a nail (7) or a staple onto which the encoded material (70) is deposited.
  10. 10. The consumable device according to claim 9, in which the encoded material (30, 80) is laminated onto, or molded into, the consumable device (3, 8).
  11. 11 . The consumable device according to claim 8 or claim 10, in which the consumable device comprises a strip of nails (3) or of staples with the encoded material (30) deposited on or incorporated into a holder (32) on which the nails (31 ) or staples are mounted.
  12. 12. The consumable device according to claim 8 or claim 10, in which the consumable device comprises a fuel cartridge (4) or a battery (8) on which the encoded material is deposited directly on or incorporated into a label or sticker attached thereto.
  13. 13. The consumable device according to claim 8 or claim 10, in which the consumable device comprises an accessory to be attached to the substrate by a fastener, the encoded material being deposited on or incorporated into the accessory.

Description

DRIVING TOOL AND ITS CONSUMABLES Priority Claim This application claims priority to and the benefit of French Application No. 2307067, which was filed on July 3, 2023, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical field of the invention The present invention generally relates to a driving tool for driving fasteners, such as nails and staples, into a substrate. More specifically, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to a driving tool configured to automatically recognize a consumable loaded into this tool and to consumables provided with identification means designed for use in such a driving tool. Technical background There are known driving tools configured to automatically recognize a consumable. FR2854340A1 discloses a tool with a reading device for reading coding on a strip forming a magazine for fasteners and an automatic control mechanism for setting sealing parameters of a sealing operation. Summary of the invention The present invention aims to provide an improved driving tool, in particular a more versatile tool. One specific, but not exclusive, purpose of the present invention is to provide a means of more reliably recognizing a consumable device mounted on or in such a tool. The invention relates to a tool, for example a driving tool, with a consumable device mounted on or in the tool, which comprises an encoded material that can be read by a reader in the tool. The use of a readable encoded material on the consumable device provides a more versatile arrangement with a means of more reliably recognizing the consumable device. The tool can be used to drive a fastener into a substrate. The tool can comprise a control means. The tool can comprise a reader, which can be operationally connected to the control means. The reader can be configured to read the encoded material. The control means can be configured to set or adjust one or more of the tool’s operating parameters, for example based on one or more characteristics of the encoded material read by the reader. The invention also relates to a driving tool for driving a fastener into a substrate, the tool comprising a control means, a reader operationally connected to the control means and a consumable device mounted on or in the tool and having an encoded material, in which the reader is configured to read the encoded material and the control means is configured to set or adjust one or more of the tool’s operating parameters based on one or more characteristics of the encoded material read by the reader. The encoded material can be included along at least part of the length, and/or on at least part of the edge, of the consumable device. The reader can be configured to read the encoded material when the consumable device is in any one of a plurality of different positions or orientations. More specifically, the encoded material can be included along at least part of the length, or at least part of the edge, of the consumable device, the reader being configured to read the encoded material when the consumable device is in any one of a plurality of different positions or orientations. The invention also relates to a driving tool for driving a fastener into a substrate, the tool comprising a control means, a reader operationally connected to the control means and a consumable device mounted on or in the tool and having an encoded material included along at least part of its length, or on at least part of its edge, in which the reader is configured to read the encoded material when the consumable device is in any one of a plurality of different positions or orientations, and the control means is configured to set or adjust one or more of the tool’s operating parameters based on one or more characteristics of the encoded material read by the reader. The reader can comprise an emitter, for example for emitting electromagnetic energy. The reader can comprise a receiver, for example to receive the electromagnetic energy reflected by the encoded material. The encoded material can be configured to reflect electromagnetic energy according to a predetermined spectral signature, which can be associated with one or more characteristics of the consumable device. More specifically, the reader can comprise an emitter for emitting electromagnetic energy and a receiver to receive the electromagnetic energy reflected by the encoded material, the encoded material being configured to reflect electromagnetic energy according to a predetermined spectral signature associated with one or more characteristics of the consumable device. The encoded material can be deposited or laminated onto, or molded into, a part of the consumable device. The encoded material can comprise phosphors or particles incorporated or embedded in the encoded material. The reader can be configured to emit and receive visible and/or ultraviolet and/or infrared light. The tool’s operating parameter(s) can comprise a drive energy and/or a drive distan