| abstract |
A spring actuated fastener driving tool has a lift pawl, bearings for supporting the lift pawl for pivotal movement about a first axis into and out of engagement with a power spring, and an operating handle continuously engageable with the bearings and intermittently engageable with the lift pawl. The operating handle is supported by a housing for pivotal movement about a second axis parallel to the first axis through successive driving cycles each including a loading phase during which the pawl remains engaged with the power spring as the power spring is resiliently deflected and loaded, and a release phase during which the pawl is disengaged from the power spring. The housing and the operating handle have guide surfaces which coact in sliding engagement with the bearings to accommodate movement of the bearings towards a reference plane containing the second axis during at least the loading phase of the drive cycles. |