Importance

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Abstract

The present invention is a power-operated screwdriving device configured to be used with a rotary power source and a supply of collated screws. The device comprises a housing structure and a feeding assembly defines a drive track carried by the housing and providing a workpiece engaging surface. The drive track is configured to receive a lead screw from the supply. A rotatable screw engaging bit member is constructed and arranged to be operatively connected to the rotary power source such that the rotary power source rotates the screw engaging bit member during a screwdriving operation. The rotatable screw engaging bit member is movable relative to the drive track and the workpiece engaging surface such that, when the workpiece engaging surface is engaged with the surface of the workpiece, rotation of the bit member and relative movement between the bit member and the drive track drives the lead screw into the workpiece during the screwdriving operation. Screw depth setting structure provides a feeding assembly engaging surface. The screw depth setting structure is positioned and configured such that the feeding assembly engaging surface engages the feeding assembly to thereby limit the relative movement occurring between the screw engaging bit member and the workpiece engaging surface during the screwdriving operation. The workpiece engaging surface and the rotatable screw engaging bit member are constructed and arranged such that, when the feeding assembly is engaged with the feeding assembly engaging surface, a distance between a screw engaging end portion of the bit member and the workpiece engaging surface determines the depth to which the lead screw will be driven relative to the surface of the workpiece during the screwdriving operation. A manually engageable screw depth adjusting member is disposed exteriorly of the housing structure and operatively connected to the screw depth setting structure. The screw depth adjusting member is constructed and arranged such that manual operation thereof moves the screw depth setting structure through a range of adjustable positions to thereby adjust the depth to which the lead screw will be driven to the surface of the workpiece during the screwdriving operation.

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First Claim