Patent ID: 8387718

Claim:
A method for controlling a fastener driving tool, said method comprising: (a) providing a fastener driving tool that includes: (i) a housing; (ii) a system controller; (iii) a safety contact element; (iv) a user-actuated trigger; (v) a fastener; (vi) a prime mover that moves a lifter member which moves a driver member away from an exit end of the mechanism; and (vii) a fastener driving mechanism that moves said driver member toward said exit end of the mechanism, said fastener driving mechanism including: (A) a hollow cylinder comprising a cylindrical wall with a movable piston therewithin, said hollow cylinder containing a displacement volume created by a stroke of said piston, and (B) a main storage chamber that is in fluidic communication with said displacement volume of the cylinder, wherein said main storage chamber and said displacement volume are initially charged with a pressurized gas; (b) selecting, by a user, an operating mode of said driving cycle to be one of: a “bottom firing mode,” and a “restrictive firing mode;” wherein: (i) if said restrictive firing mode is selected, said tool will operate if said safety contact element has been actuated before said trigger actuator has been operated; and (ii) if said bottom firing mode is selected, said tool will operate if both: (A) said trigger actuator has been operated, and (B) said safety contact element has been actuated, in either sequence; (c) initiating a driving cycle by pressing said exit end against a workpiece and actuating said trigger, thereby causing said fastener driving mechanism to force the driver member to move toward said exit end and drive a fastener into said workpiece; and (d) actuating said prime mover, thereby moving said lifter member and causing said driver member to move away from said exit end toward a ready position.