A cable tie binding machine with adjustable cutting blade height

Abstract

This invention relates to a cable tie binding machine with an adjustable cutting blade height, comprising a fixed base, a sliding base, and a cutting blade supported on the sliding base. The height of the cutting blade is finely adjusted by a mechanism that drives the sliding pair through a threaded connection. The threaded connector is recessed into the sliding base, and the threaded connector is opened or closed by the sliding cutting action of the cutting blade to achieve a foolproof function and avoid the problem of the cutting blade and cable tie waste being squeezed and the mechanism being damaged if the cutting blade is adjusted hastily when it is in the cutting position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to automatic strapping equipment, specifically to a cable tie strapping machine with an adjustable cutting blade height. Background Technology

[0002] The prior art CN220483660U discloses a cable tie binding device, which includes a tensioning part and a cutting knife. In CN220483660U, the tensioning part is constructed as a pair of clamping wheels. After the cable tie is tied to a fixed binding part, the tensioning part clamps and stretches the tail of the cable tie. As the tail of the cable tie is stretched continuously, the cable tie becomes tighter and tighter. After the cable tie is tightened by the tensioning part, the tail of the cable tie is cut off by the cutting knife.

[0003] In the existing technology, the distance between the cutting blade and the cable tie cannot be adjusted, meaning the cutting position of the cutting blade cannot be adjusted. Therefore, the cutting blade cannot adapt to different lengths of cable ties and cannot adjust the length of the cable ties it cuts. If different cutting blades are chosen to adapt to different lengths of cable ties, the process of disassembling and assembling the cutting blades is quite troublesome. Moreover, the method of adapting to different cable ties by changing the cutting blades cannot achieve fine adjustment of the cutting height, resulting in poor flexibility. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention proposes a cable tie binding machine with an adjustable cutting blade height, which enables manual fine-tuning of the cutting blade height and has a reasonable error-proof function.

[0005] This invention is achieved using the following technical solution:

[0006] This invention proposes a cable tie binding machine with an adjustable cutting blade height, comprising a fixed base, a sliding base slidably connected to the fixed base, a cutting blade supported on the sliding base, and a height fine-tuning mechanism. The height fine-tuning mechanism includes a threaded connector and an elastic element. The threaded connector connects the fixed base and the sliding base, and the elastic element acts on the sliding base with its elastic force. The height fine-tuning mechanism is configured to fine-tune the sliding position of the sliding base relative to the fixed base by rotating the threaded connector in a forward or reverse direction in conjunction with the elastic force applied to the sliding base by the elastic element. The threaded connector is recessed into the sliding base. The cutting blade is configured to slide on the sliding base, and the movement trajectory of the cutting blade is set directly above the threaded connector. The cutting blade has a cutting position and a retraction position. When the cutting blade is in the cutting position, it covers and closes the threaded connector, and when the cutting blade leaves the cutting position, it exposes the threaded connector.

[0007] Preferably, the cutting blade has an operating hole, and the operating hole on the cutting blade away from the cutting position exposes the threaded connector.

[0008] Preferably, the size of the operating hole is comparable to that of the threaded connector, and the operating hole coincides with the threaded connector only when the cutter is in the withdrawn position.

[0009] Preferably, the cable tie binding machine further includes a tensioning mechanism for tightening the cable ties, and the cutting blade is configured to slide toward or away from the tensioning mechanism. A height fine-tuning mechanism is located at the other end of the cutting blade away from the tensioning mechanism. During the process of switching the cutting blade to the cutting position, the cutting blade gradually moves away from the height fine-tuning mechanism, and during the process of switching the cutting blade to the exit position, the cutting blade gradually moves toward the height fine-tuning mechanism.

[0010] Preferably, the height fine-tuning mechanism further includes a limiting member. The threaded connector includes a stud section and a T-shaped limiting part connected to one end of the stud section. A receiving groove is provided on the fixed seat, and a through threaded hole is provided on the sliding seat. The receiving groove and the threaded hole are coaxially arranged. The stud section of the threaded connector is threadedly connected to the threaded hole, and the T-shaped limiting part of the threaded connector is inserted into the receiving groove. The limiting member is fixedly connected to the upper end of the receiving groove to prevent the T-shaped limiting part from coming out upward in the receiving groove.

[0011] Preferably, the limiting member is provided in pairs, and each of the two limiting members has a semi-circular slot on the opposite side. The two limiting members are spliced ​​together so that the two slots form a circular opening, which is held on the neck of the T-shaped limiting part with a reduced diameter.

[0012] Preferably, the upper end of the stud section is provided with a hexagonal groove.

[0013] Preferably, the cutting blade and the driving device are linked together, and the cutting blade is driven to slide by the driving device. The output rod of the driving device is provided with a sleeve, and the cutting blade is movably sleeved on the sleeve.

[0014] Preferably, the sliding seat is provided with a guide channel for sliding and guiding the cutting blade.

[0015] Preferably, one of the fixed seat and the sliding seat is provided with a scale, and the other is provided with a pointer, so as to indicate the height of the sliding seat relative to the fixed seat by means of the scale and the pointer.

[0016] The present invention has the following beneficial effects: The present invention achieves fine adjustment of the cutting blade height through a mechanism that drives a sliding pair via a threaded connection. The threaded connector is recessed into the sliding seat, and the threaded connector is opened or closed by the sliding cutting action of the cutting blade, so as to achieve a foolproof function. This avoids the problem of the cutting blade and the cable tie waste being squeezed and the mechanism being damaged when the cutting blade is in the cutting position by rashly adjusting the height of the cutting blade. This makes the strapping machine more reliable and stable. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cable ties in the embodiment;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a cable tie binding machine with an adjustable cutting blade height in the embodiment (where the cutting blade is in the retracted position);

[0019] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a cable tie binding machine with an adjustable cutting blade height in the embodiment (where the cutting blade is in the cutting position);

[0020] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the height fine-tuning mechanism, sliding seat, cutting blade, cylinder, and sliding guide sleeve in the embodiment;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a top view of the cable tie binding machine with adjustable cutting blade height in the embodiment;

[0022] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Sectional view at point AA;

[0023] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the threaded connection in the embodiment;

[0024] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of an alternative example of the highly fine-tuning mechanism in the embodiments;

[0025] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of an alternative example of the tensioning mechanism in the embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To further illustrate the various embodiments, the present invention provides accompanying drawings. These drawings are part of the disclosure of the present invention, primarily used to illustrate the embodiments and to explain the operating principles of the embodiments in conjunction with the relevant descriptions in the specification. With reference to these drawings, those skilled in the art should be able to understand other possible implementations and the advantages of the present invention. Components in the drawings are not drawn to scale, and similar component symbols are generally used to represent similar components.

[0027] To address the problems in the background technology, the inventors conducted in-depth research. In the initial version, the inventors used height adjustment mechanisms such as motors and cylinders to adjust the height of the cutting blade. However, during the research and development, it was further discovered that when the cutting blade is in the cutting position, the cutting end of the cutting blade is still in the material drop space of the cable tie waste. The cutting blade is very likely to be blocked by the cable tie waste. If the position of the cutting blade is adjusted at this time, the adjustment may not be possible due to the obstruction of the cable tie waste. Furthermore, if the height adjustment mechanism continues to be driven when the cutting blade is blocked by the cable tie waste, it may also cause damage to the mechanism.

[0028] After further research, the inventors have provided a solution to the above problems in this embodiment.

[0029] The present invention will now be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0030] For ease of understanding, Figure 1 The diagram illustrates the structure of a common cable tie 100, which includes a head 101 and a body 102. The head 101 has a through hole 103, which allows the tail of the body 102 to be threaded and fixed therein in a coiled and bent manner. The cable tie 100 is only an example of this embodiment, and other types of cable ties can also be used in the cable tie binding machine of this embodiment.

[0031] See Figure 2 As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a cable tie binding machine with an adjustable cutting blade height is provided. For ease of description, the following description refers to the static orientation of the cable tie binding machine in its operating state. The cable tie binding machine includes a cutting blade 1 and a tensioning mechanism 5. The tensioning mechanism 5 is used to receive and stretch the tail of the cable tie already bound to a fixed component. For example, the component to be bound can be a wire harness. The component to be bound is supported and remains fixed during the binding process. In this embodiment, the tensioning mechanism 5 consists of two clamping wheels that rotate in opposite directions. A motor is driven and connected to the tensioning mechanism. The rotation of the tensioning mechanism 5 is controlled by the motor. When the tensioning mechanism 5 rotates, the tail of the cable tie extending between the two clamping wheels can be tightened, thereby achieving automatic tightening of the cable tie. A reduction gear system can be driven between the motor and the tensioning mechanism 5 to reduce the rotational speed and increase the torque.

[0032] A tensioning gap for the cable tie is formed between the two clamping rollers of the tensioning mechanism 5, and an inlet 6 is provided directly above this tensioning gap. The cable tie is typically bundled above the tensioning mechanism 5. After bundling, the tail of the cable tie is guided into the inlet 6. The inlet 6 acts as a limiting mechanism, ensuring that the tail of the cable tie can enter the tensioning gap. The guiding of the cable tie tail can be automated, such as using a motor-driven push rod or hook mechanism. Alternatively, the tail of the cable tie can be guided manually.

[0033] After the tensioning mechanism 5 tightens the cable tie, the cutting blade 1 cuts off the tail of the cable tie, thus preventing any excess tail from protruding from the cable tie bound to the bundled item. In this embodiment, the cutting blade 1 is positioned above the tensioning mechanism 5 to remove the excess tail of the cable tie after binding. It is understood that due to the clamping action of the two clamping rollers, the excess tail may still remain between the two clamping rollers after cutting.

[0034] In this embodiment, the cutting blade 1 is configured to be height adjustable; see reference [link to documentation]. Figures 2-6As shown, the cable tie binding machine includes a fixed base 2 and a sliding base 3. The fixed base 2 is fixed in place, while the sliding base 3 is slidably connected to the fixed base 2 in the vertical direction. The cutting blade 1 is supported on the upper end of the sliding base 3 in the direction of gravity. Since the cutting blade 1 is supported on the upper end of the sliding base 3 in the direction of gravity, adjusting the vertical sliding position of the sliding base 3 is equivalent to adjusting the height of the cutting blade 1. A threaded connector 4 connects the fixed base 2 and the sliding base 3. (See attached diagram for details.) Figure 7 The threaded connector 4 includes a stud section 41 and hexagonal grooves 42 and T-shaped limiting parts 43 respectively connected to both ends of the stud section 41. A receiving groove 21 is provided on the fixed seat 2, and a through threaded hole 31 is provided on the sliding seat 3. The receiving groove 21 and the threaded hole 31 are coaxially arranged. The stud section 41 of the threaded connector 4 is threaded into the threaded hole 31, and the T-shaped limiting part 43 of the threaded connector 4 is inserted into the receiving groove 21. A pair of limiting members 7 are fixedly connected to the upper end of the receiving groove 21. Each of the two limiting members 7 has a semi-circular slot 70 on its facing side. The two limiting members 7 are joined together so that the two slots 70 form a circular latch, which correspondingly holds the reduced-diameter neck of the T-shaped limiting part 43. During installation, first insert the T-shaped limiting part 43 of the threaded connector 4 into the receiving groove 21, and then fix the limiting part 7 to the upper end of the receiving groove 21, so that the T-shaped limiting part 43 is limited in the receiving groove 21 by the limiting part 7 and cannot be pulled out upwards. In this embodiment, the elastic element 8 is a compression spring. One end of the elastic element 8 acts on the fixed seat 2, and the other end acts on the sliding seat 3. The threaded connector 4, the receiving groove 21, the threaded hole 31, the limiting part 7, and the elastic element 8 form the height fine adjustment mechanism of the sliding seat 3 in this embodiment, and its principle is as follows:

[0035] See also Figure 6 When the threaded connector 4 is rotated in the direction of unscrewing from the threaded hole 31, it rotates upward relative to the threaded hole 31. Since the threaded connector 4 is limited by the limiting member 7 within the receiving groove 21 and cannot be dislodged upward, the sliding seat 3 slides downward, simultaneously compressing the elastic member 8. When the threaded connector 4 is rotated in the direction of screwing into the threaded hole 31, it rotates downward relative to the threaded hole 31. Due to the continuous elastic force of the elastic member 8 acting on the sliding seat, the sliding seat 3 slides upward.

[0036] This highly fine-tuning mechanism is actually a mechanism for a threaded connection driving a sliding pair. If the goal is simply to achieve the effect of the threaded connection driving the sliding seat 3 to slide relative to the fixed seat 2, those skilled in the art can conceive of other solutions, such as... Figure 8An alternative example of the height fine-tuning mechanism of this embodiment is shown, wherein the threaded connector 4A is a conventional screw, the sliding seat 3A has a smooth hole for the threaded connector 4A to pass through, and the fixed seat 2A has a threaded hole. The threaded connector 4A passes through the sliding seat 3A and is screwed to the fixed seat 2A. Similarly, an elastic member 8 acts on the fixed seat 2A at one end and on the sliding seat 3A at the other end, so that the head of the threaded connector 4A always abuts against the sliding seat 3A. Although the height fine-tuning mechanism of this alternative example has a simpler structure, it has one characteristic: the head of the threaded connector 4A is always exposed outside the sliding seat 3A. The biggest difference between this and the height fine-tuning mechanism of this embodiment is that the threaded connector 4A in this embodiment is completely recessed into the sliding seat 3. This difference is determined by the special construction of the height fine-tuning mechanism of this embodiment, and the beneficial function of this difference will be further explained below.

[0037] Continue reading Figures 2-4 In this embodiment, the cutting blade 1 has a sheet-like structure with a sharp cutting end. The cutting blade 1 is linked to the cylinder 9, with a sleeve 91 on the output rod of the cylinder 9. The cutting blade 1 is movably fitted onto the sleeve 91; more specifically, the cutting blade 1 is fitted onto the sleeve 91 with a clearance fit. Thus, the output rod of the cylinder 9 can drive the cutting blade 1 to slide on the upper surface of the sliding seat 3. When the height of the sliding seat 3 is adjusted, the cutting blade 1 can also slide along the sleeve 91. A sliding guide sleeve 11 is fixedly connected to the sliding seat 3. The sliding guide sleeve 11 and the sliding seat 3 form a channel for guiding the cutting blade 1, which extends through this channel, ensuring the accuracy of the cutting blade 1's sliding. The cylinder 9 drives the cutting blade 1 to slide closer to or further away from the tensioning mechanism 5 on the upper surface of the sliding seat 3 to perform a cutting action. Depending on the action of the cutting blade 1, it has at least a forward cutting position and a backward retraction position. This cutting position is where the cutting blade 1 approaches and cuts the tail of the cable tie. Figure 2 and Figure 3The diagrams show the cutter 1 in both the withdrawn and cut-off positions for better understanding. The movement trajectory of the cutter 1 is positioned directly above the threaded connector 4. The threaded connector is opened or closed by the movement of the cutter 1 during its cutting action. Furthermore, the cutter 1 is configured such that when in the cut-off position, it covers and closes the threaded connector 4, and when it leaves the cut-off position, it exposes the threaded connector 4. Thus, this embodiment achieves a foolproof mechanism by using the movement of the cutter 1 during its cutting action to open or close the operation on the threaded connector 4. That is, as long as the cutter 1 is in the cut-off position, the threaded connector 4 is covered and sealed, preventing operation on the threaded connector 4 and thus preventing adjustment of the height of the sliding seat 3 and the cutter 1. This avoids the problem of the cutter 1 being squeezed by the cable tie waste and damaged due to abruptly adjusting its height while in the cut-off position.

[0038] In this embodiment, an operating hole 10 is provided on the cutting blade 1. The size of the operating hole 10 is approximately the same as that of the threaded connector 4. The operating hole 10 coincides with the threaded connector 4 only when the cutting blade 1 is in the retracted position, and the threaded connector 4 is exposed through the operating hole 10. That is to say, in this embodiment, the threaded connector 4 can only be rotated through the operating hole 10 when the cutting blade 1 is in the retracted position (for example, by inserting a hex wrench into the operating hole 10 to rotate the threaded connector 4). The operating hole 10 can be further expanded into a strip-shaped hole extending along the sliding direction of the cutting blade 1, so that the threaded connector 4 can be opened as soon as the cutting blade 1 leaves the cutting position. However, the method of using the operating hole 10 in this embodiment, combined with the operation of the cylinder 9, provides better safety.

[0039] In this embodiment, the height fine-tuning mechanism is located at the end of the cutting blade 1 furthest from the tensioning mechanism 5. That is, as the cutting blade 1 switches to the cutting position, it gradually moves away from the height fine-tuning mechanism; as it switches to the exit position, it gradually moves closer to the height fine-tuning mechanism. Positioning the height fine-tuning mechanism at the end of the cutting blade 1 furthest from the tensioning mechanism 5 serves two purposes: firstly, to avoid interference between the height fine-tuning mechanism and the tensioning mechanism 5; and secondly, to fully utilize the sliding stroke space of the cutting blade 1.

[0040] Because the threaded connector 4 is completely recessed into the sliding seat 3 in this embodiment, the threaded connector 4 can be opened or closed by sliding the cutter 1 on the upper surface of the sliding seat 3. Furthermore, this structure allows the cutter 1 to achieve the effect of "covering the threaded connector 4 when it is far away from it, and opening it when it is close to it" simply by opening an operating hole 10. The structures of both the cutter 1 and the cylinder 9 can be relatively simple. The cutter 1 is merely a flat, sheet-like structure that is directly connected to the output rod of the cylinder 9. This results in lower cost, easier installation, smaller footprint, and less interference with other components. The entire strapping machine is more compact and smaller, making it more suitable for manual strapping operations. As a counterexample... Figure 8 In the alternative example shown, since the threaded connector 4A protrudes from the upper end of the sliding seat 3A, the threaded connector 4A will first interfere with the sliding of the cutter 1 on the upper surface of the sliding seat 3. The cutter 1 must be provided with a structure to accommodate the threaded connector 4A; otherwise, the distance between the threaded connector 4A and the cutter 1 will be very long, resulting in excessive space occupation. Moreover, in this embodiment, if the cutter 1 is to open or close the threaded connector 4A, the structure of the cutter 1 and the linkage mechanism between the cutter 1 and the cylinder 9 need to be set to be more complex (for example, the cutter is set to have a receiving groove that is reversed and fastened to the threaded connector 4A, or, for example, the threaded connector 4A is opened and closed by adding other linkage motion mechanisms between the cutter 1 and the cylinder 9), which requires more space.

[0041] In other embodiments, the tensioning mechanism 5 can be replaced by other mechanisms. For example, the tensioning mechanism 5 can also be replaced by a mechanical gripper structure capable of grasping and pulling the cable ties. For another example... Figure 9 An alternative example of the tensioning mechanism 5 of this embodiment is shown. In this alternative example, the tensioning mechanism includes a first clamping block 5A and a second clamping block 5B. The first clamping block 5A is slidably connected to the first slide rail 201, and the second clamping block 5B is slidably connected to the second slide rail 202. A driving device (such as a motor or cylinder) drives the first clamping block 5A and the second clamping block 5B to move synchronously along their respective slide rails. When the first clamping block 5A and the second clamping block 5B slide on the inclined section of the slide rail, they can move closer to each other to clamp the tail of the cable tie. When the first clamping block 5A and the second clamping block 5B slide on the vertical section of the slide rail, they can pull the tail of the cable tie. However, the tensioning mechanism 5 with two clamping wheels in this embodiment is more conducive to guiding and receiving the cable tie, and it also occupies less space.

[0042] The limiting member 7 can be replaced by other structures, as long as the limiting member 7 can be fixedly connected to the fixed base 2 and partially cover the upper end of the receiving groove 21.

[0043] In other embodiments, the elastic element 8 can also be replaced with other elastic elements, such as tension springs or sheet springs, only requiring adaptive modifications to the installation position.

[0044] Cylinder 9 can be replaced by other drive devices, such as motors or hydraulic cylinders.

[0045] In this embodiment, the sliding guide sleeve 11 is a separate component, fixed to the sliding seat 3 by a threaded connection. In other embodiments, the sliding guide sleeve 11 may also be integrally formed on the sliding seat 3. The sliding guide sleeve 11 is a raised structure on the sliding seat 3. To prevent the sliding guide sleeve 11 from interfering with the cable tie (especially the head of the cable tie) when the sliding seat 3 is in a high position, a clearance hole 110 is provided on the sliding guide sleeve 11.

[0046] In this embodiment, one of the fixed base 2 and the sliding base 3 is provided with a scale, and the other is provided with a pointer. The scale and the pointer are used to indicate the height of the sliding base 3 relative to the fixed base 2, so as to facilitate the adjustment of the position of the cutting blade 1 according to the scale value.

[0047] Although the invention has been specifically shown and described in conjunction with preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes in form and detail made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims fall within the protection scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A strapping machine with height-adjustable cutters, characterized in that: The height fine adjustment mechanism includes a threaded connecting piece and an elastic piece, the threaded connecting piece connects the fixed seat and the sliding seat, the elastic piece acts on the sliding seat with elastic force, the height fine adjustment mechanism is configured to fine adjust the sliding position of the sliding seat relative to the fixed seat by rotating the threaded connecting piece forward or reversely and matching the elastic force applied to the sliding seat by the elastic piece, The threaded connecting piece is sunk in the sliding seat, the cutting knife is configured to slide on the sliding seat, and the movement track of the cutting knife is arranged directly above the threaded connecting piece, the cutting knife has a cutting position and an exit position, when the cutting knife is in the cutting position, the cutting knife blocks the threaded connecting piece, and after the cutting knife leaves the cutting position, the threaded connecting piece can be exposed, The height fine adjustment mechanism further includes a limiting piece, the threaded connecting piece includes a threaded connecting piece and a T-shaped limiting part connected to one end of the threaded connecting piece, an accommodating groove is arranged on the fixed seat, a through threaded hole is arranged on the sliding seat, the accommodating groove and the threaded hole are coaxially arranged, the threaded connecting piece is threadedly connected in the threaded hole, the T-shaped limiting part of the threaded connecting piece is inserted into the accommodating groove, and the limiting piece is fixedly connected to the upper end of the accommodating groove to limit the T-shaped limiting part from being pulled out upward in the accommodating groove.

2. The cut-to-length strap bundling machine of claim 1, wherein: An operation hole is arranged on the cutting knife, and the operation hole on the cutting knife is exposed when the cutting knife leaves the cutting position.

3. The cut-off knife height adjustable strapping bander of claim 2, wherein: The size of the operation hole is equivalent to that of the threaded connecting piece, and only when the cutting knife is in the exit position, the operation hole coincides with the threaded connecting piece.

4. The cut-to-length strap bundling machine of claim 1, wherein: A tensioning mechanism for tensioning the binding tape is further included, the cutting knife is configured to slide towards or away from the tensioning mechanism, the height fine adjustment mechanism is arranged at the other end of the cutting knife away from the tensioning mechanism, the cutting knife gradually moves away from the height fine adjustment mechanism during switching to the cutting position, and the cutting knife gradually moves close to the height fine adjustment mechanism during switching to the exit position.

5. The cut-to-length strap bundling machine of claim 1, wherein: The limiting piece is provided with a pair of two, each of the two limiting pieces is provided with a semicircular clamping groove, and the two limiting pieces are spliced to form a circular clamping hole corresponding to the neck of the T-shaped limiting part.

6. The cut-to-length strap bundling machine of claim 1, wherein: The upper end of the threaded connecting piece is provided with a hexagonal groove.

7. The cut-to-length strap bundling machine of claim 1, wherein: The cutting knife is connected with the driving device in linkage, the driving device drives the sliding of the cutting knife, a sleeve column is arranged on the output rod of the driving device, and the cutting knife is movably sleeved on the sleeve column.

8. The cut-to-length strap bundling machine of claim 1, wherein: A guide channel for guiding the sliding of the cutting knife is arranged on the sliding seat.

9. The cut-to-length strap bundling machine of claim 1, wherein: One of the fixed seat and the sliding seat is provided with a scale, and the other is provided with a pointer, and the height of the sliding seat relative to the fixed seat is indicated by the scale and the pointer.

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