Power-operated screw driving device

摘要

The present invention is a screwdriving device configured to be used with a rotary power source and a screw collation supply. A feeding assembly defines a drive track and a rotatable screw engaging bit member is operatively connected with a rotary power source. The bit member is engageable with the lead screw and movable relative to the drive track to drive the lead screw into the workpiece. The feeding assembly is constructed and arranged to move a subsequent lead screw from the screw collation supply into the drive track. The feeding assembly includes a screw feeding structure movable between (1) a lead screw engaged position and (2) a subsequent lead screw engaging position. The feeding assembly includes a biasing element engaged with the screw feeding structure. The biasing element applies a biasing force to the screw feeding structure in the feeding direction so as to (1) bias the screw feeding structure towards the lead screw engaging position and (2) bias the screw feeding structure towards and into engagement with the screw collation supply. The screw feeding structure moves against the biasing force of the biasing element from the lead screw engaging position to the subsequent lead screw engaging position in response to the bit member moving forwardly relative to the drive track during the screwdriving operation. The screw feeding structure engages the exterior surface of the subsequent lead screw so as to move against the biasing force of the biasing element away from the screw collation supply as the screw feeding structure moves from the lead screw to the subsequent lead screw engaging position, and then, after the screw feeding structure has cleared the subsequent lead screw, the biasing element applies the biasing force so as to move the screw feeding structure towards the screw collation supply and into the subsequent lead screw engaging position. The feeding assembly is constructed and arranged such that the biasing element moves the screw feeding structure from the subsequent lead screw engaging position to the lead screw engaging position in response to the bit member moving rearwardly relative to the drive track after the screwdriving operation so as to move the subsequent lead screw into the drive track.