Wire Tying Machine

Abstract

To provide a novel configuration that is capable of further miniaturizing a wire tying machine which can form M-shaped torsion lines.SOLUTION: A tying machine 10 includes a tying unit 12 for twisting both ends of a looped wire 7 to form an M-shaped twisting line 8. The tying unit 12 has a head shaft 14 which is configured to rotate about a center line C0, a cylinder body 15 including an inner cylinder 15a provided on the outer circumferential side of the head shaft 14 and an outer cylinder 15b provided on the outer circumferential side of the inner cylinder 15a, and a cam mechanism 40 that converts a rotatable displacement of the outer cylinder 15b about the center line C0 of the head shaft 14 into a displacement of the inner cylinder 15a in a direction of the center line C0, and a drive mechanism 16 that rotates the outer cylinder 15b about the center line C0 of the head shaft 14 to advance the inner cylinder 15a forward in a direction of a long material 5 side, in a first stroke S1, and further forward in a second stroke S2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wire binding machine that binds a plurality of long materials with a wire. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, in a steel rolling factory, long materials (also called strip materials) such as steel bars, steel pipes, and shaped steel are bundled together in a predetermined number and shipped. For this purpose, a predetermined number of long materials are bundled together with a wire. This bundling is performed by a wire bundling machine. The wire bundling machine includes a guide track for guiding the wire around a plurality of long materials to form a loop, and a bundling unit for twisting both ends of the looped wire to form a twist. Patent Document 1 discloses a wire bundling machine that forms an M-shaped twist that can prevent the tip of the wire from rubbing against another bundle of long materials and damaging the long materials contained therein. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-111359 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a novel structure that enables a wire binding machine capable of forming an M-shaped twist to be made more compact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The wire binding machine of the present disclosure includes a feeder that feeds out and pulls back a wire, a guide track for guiding the wire around a plurality of long materials to form a loop, and a binding unit for twisting both ends of the looped wire to form a twist, and the binding unit includes a head shaft that is provided with a first passage through which the wire fed out by the feeder passes and a second passage through which a first tip end of the wire that has passed through the first passage and via the guide track passes, and is configured to rotate around a center line, a cylinder including an inner cylinder provided on the outer periphery of the head shaft and an outer cylinder provided on the outer periphery of the inner cylinder, and a front end The head shaft has a cam mechanism that converts the rotational displacement of the outer tube around the center line of the head shaft into displacement of the inner tube in the direction of the center line, and a drive mechanism that rotates the outer tube around the center line of the head shaft to advance the inner tube forward in the direction of the long material side in a first stroke and further advances it in a second stroke, wherein as the first stroke advances, a first contact portion of the inner tube pushes forward the first tip end of the wire that has passed through the second passage, bending it forward, and as the second stroke advances, a second contact portion of the inner tube pushes forward the second tip end of the wire that was cut on the first passage side, bending it forward.

[0006] According to this wire binding machine, the outer cylinder is rotated by the drive mechanism, so that the inner cylinder advances in the first and second strokes, and the wire is twisted inward into an M shape. This eliminates the need for a link mechanism for converting the rotation of the drive mechanism into axial displacement of the cylinder, making it possible to construct a compact wire binding machine capable of forming an M-shaped twist.

[0007] In addition, preferably, the head shaft and the inner tube rotate together around the center line and are connected so as to be relatively displaceable in the direction of the center line, and the device further includes a regulating mechanism for regulating rotation of the head shaft around the center line, and with the head shaft regulated by the regulating mechanism, the inner tube can be displaced in the direction of the center line by the driving mechanism, and with the restriction of the head shaft by the regulating mechanism released, the head shaft can be rotated around the center line by the driving mechanism. This configuration allows the regulating mechanism to switch between the operation of displacing the inner cylinder in the axial direction by the drive mechanism and the operation of rotating the head shaft around the center line by the drive mechanism. This makes it possible to form an M-shaped twist by driving a single motor in the drive mechanism, making the wire binding machine more compact.

[0008] In addition, preferably, when the inner tube is moving forward on the first stroke and the second stroke, the outer tube rotates around the center line toward the side moving the inner tube forward, and the cam mechanism transmits the rotation of the outer tube to the inner tube, causing the inner tube and the head shaft to rotate around the center line. This configuration allows the head shaft to be rotated around the center line by the drive mechanism, which makes it possible to form an M-shaped twist by driving a single motor in the drive mechanism, making the wire binding machine more compact.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the head shaft and the inner cylinder are configured to be relatively rotatable about the center line, and the device further includes a rotation mechanism that rotates the head shaft about the center line. With this configuration, it is possible to rotate the outer tube about its center line by the drive mechanism to displace the inner tube in the axial direction, and to rotate the head shaft about its center line by the rotation mechanism. As a result, in a wire binding machine capable of forming an M-shaped twist, if the drive mechanism and the rotation mechanism are each configured to have a motor, a link mechanism is not required, and the wire binding machine can be made more compact.

[0010] Also, preferably, the first contact portion and the second contact portion are spaced apart from each other by 180° about the center line, and the first contact portion is located forward of the second contact portion. With this configuration, the first tip of the wire is bent forward first, and then the second tip is bent forward.

[0011] In addition, preferably, the binding unit further has a cutter block provided near the inner tube for cutting a portion of the wire, and as the second stroke advances, the portion of the wire just before it passes through the first passage is cut by the inner tube and the cutter block, and the second tip obtained by the cut is pushed forward by the second contact portion of the inner tube and bent forward. With this configuration, the wire is cut and the second tip is bent while the inner cylinder advances on the second stroke.

[0012] In addition, preferably, the first passage and the second passage open at a front surface of the head shaft via a slit that connects the first passage and the second passage together, and the slit and the opening are formed forward in the direction in which the head shaft rotates to form the twist, relative to the position of the wire in the first passage and the second passage when the twist is formed. According to this configuration, when the twist is formed, the inner tube is retracted relative to the head shaft and the head shaft is rotated slightly in the opposite direction to the rotation direction for forming the twist, making it easy to remove the twist from the opening on the front surface of the head shaft through the slit.

[0013] Also, preferably, a first groove for positioning the first tip portion of the wire and a second groove for positioning the second tip portion are formed on the inner peripheral side of the inner tube, the first groove having a groove cross-sectional shape that enables the first tip portion to be clamped in a sandwiched state between the first groove and an outer peripheral surface of the head shaft, and the second groove having a groove cross-sectional shape that enables the second tip portion to be clamped in a sandwiched state between the first groove and an outer peripheral surface of the head shaft. According to this configuration, as the first stroke advances, the first contact portion of the inner cylinder pushes the first tip portion of the wire forward to bend it forward, and the first tip portion is clamped in a state where it is sandwiched between the inner cylinder and the head shaft. As the second stroke advances, the second contact portion of the inner cylinder pushes the second tip portion of the wire forward to bend it forward, and the second tip portion is clamped in a state where it is sandwiched between the inner cylinder and the head shaft. With the wire with the first and second tip portions bent forward being clamped as described above, the head shaft and the cylinder body are rotated by the rotation mechanism to form the twist. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the wire binding machine of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a novel, more compact structure for a wire binding machine capable of forming an M-shaped twist. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example of a wire binding machine. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the binding unit according to the first embodiment as viewed from the side. [Figure 2B] 4 is a configuration diagram of a restriction mechanism when the binding unit according to the first embodiment is viewed from the rear. FIG. [Diagram 3] 1 is a configuration diagram of a portion of a binding unit viewed from the bundle side of the long material. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the binding unit. [Diagram 5]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a front portion of the head shaft and the cylindrical body. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the state in which the cylinder has advanced through the first stroke. [Figure 7] 13 is a diagram showing the state in which the cylinder body has advanced in the second stroke. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the bundling operation (1). [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the bundling operation (2). [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the bundling operation (3). [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the bundling operation (4). [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the bundling operation (5). [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the bundling operation (6). [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the bundling operation (7). [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the bundling operation (8). [Figure 16] 5A to 5C are explanatory diagrams of the states of the cam mechanism and the regulating mechanism in the bundling operations (1) to (5). [Figure 17] 11A to 11C are explanatory views of the states of the cam mechanism and the regulating mechanism in the bundling operations (6) to (8). [Figure 18] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an M-shaped twist. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a binding unit according to a second embodiment, as viewed from the side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] [Overall configuration of the wire binding machine] FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of a wire bundling machine. The wire bundling machine 10 (hereinafter referred to as the bundling machine 10) is installed in, for example, a steel rolling factory, and is equipment for bundling a predetermined number of long materials (also called strip materials) such as steel bars, steel pipes, and shaped steel. The bundling machine 10 includes an equipment frame 25 installed on the floor, a base 29, a guide track 11, a bundling unit 12, and a feeder 13. The base 29 is attached to the equipment frame 25. The guide track 11, the bundling unit 12, and the feeder 13 are mounted on the base 29. The base 29 is supported on the upper part of the equipment frame 25 so as to be able to swing. An actuator 26 is interposed between the equipment frame 25 and the base 29. The bundling unit 12 swings due to the operation of the actuator 26. With the bundling unit 12 in a first swing position, a bundle of long materials 5 is bound by the wire 7. When bundling is completed, the bundling unit 12 moves to the second swing position, and the bundle of bundled long materials 5 is placed on a transport conveyor (not shown) and carried out.

[0017] The guide track 11 has an annular guide 28 that guides the wire 7. A predetermined number of long materials 5 are located on the central side of the guide 28. The guide 28 has a passage for guiding the wire, and this passage has a concave cross-sectional shape. This concave shape opens toward the central side of the guide 28. When the wire 7 is fed out by the feeder 13, the wire 7 moves along the guide 28 through the bundling unit 12 (moves counterclockwise in FIG. 1) and becomes a loop. When the feeder 13 pulls back the wire 7 while holding the tip of the looped wire 7, the wire 7 comes out of the guide 28 and is wound around the bundle of long materials 5. In this way, the guide track 11 guides the wire 7 around the multiple long materials 5 in the bundle to form a loop.

[0018] The supplier 13 has a wheel 13a that is rotated by a motor (not shown). The wheel 13a rotates forward and backward. When the wheel 13a rotates forward (counterclockwise in FIG. 1), the wire 7 is sent out toward the bundling unit 12. When the wheel 13a rotates backward, the wire 7 is pulled back from the bundling unit 12. In this way, the supplier 13 sends out and pulls back the wire 7 with respect to the bundling unit 12.

[0019] The bundling unit 12 twists both ends of the wire 7 that is in a loop shape and wound around the bundle of long materials 5 to form twisted loops 8 (see FIG. 18).

[0020] [About the bundling unit] The following describes the detailed configuration of the bundling unit 12. Here, a configuration of a first bundling unit 12A, which is the bundling unit 12 according to the first embodiment, will be described. Note that in the following description, when simply referring to the "bundling unit 12," a configuration common to the first bundling unit 12A and a second bundling unit 12B (see FIG. 19) described later will be described.

[0021] Fig. 2A is a configuration diagram of the first bundling unit 12A when viewed from the side. Fig. 2B is a configuration diagram of the regulating mechanism when the first bundling unit 12A is viewed from the rear side. As shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, the first bundling unit 12A has a head shaft 14, a cylindrical body 15, a driving mechanism 16, a regulating mechanism 17, a cutter block 18, and a stopper 27. Note that in Fig. 2A, for ease of explanation, the phase of the driving mechanism 16 around the center line C0 is rotated 90 degrees toward the feeder 13 side from the actual phase shown in Fig. 1 (this also applies to Figs. 4, 8 to 15, and 19 described later).

[0022] [Head shaft and cylinder] FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a part of the bundling unit 12 seen from the bundle side of the long material 5. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the first bundling unit 12A. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the head shaft 14 and the front part of the cylindrical body 15. In the bundling unit 12, the "axial direction" is the direction along the center line C0 of the head shaft 14. The direction perpendicular to the center line C0 is the "radial direction", and the rotation direction around the center line C0 is the "circumferential direction". The bundle side of the long material 5 is defined as the "front", and the opposite side to the bundle side is defined as the "rear". In FIG. 4, for ease of explanation, the phase of the regulating mechanism 17 around the center line C0 is rotated 90 degrees toward the supplying machine 13 side from the actual phase shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A (the same applies to FIG. 8 to FIG. 15 described later).

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4, the head shaft 14 is a linear member. The head shaft 14 has a cylindrical locked portion 14c at the rear end. A radially recessed recess 14d is formed on the outer periphery of the locked portion 14c. The cylindrical body 15 is a cylindrical member provided on the outer periphery of the head shaft 14. The cylindrical body 15 is rotatably supported by the base 29 via a pair of bearings 33, 33 provided on the outer periphery. The head shaft 14 is rotatably supported by the base 29 via a bearing 35 provided on the outer periphery, and is supported by the cylindrical body 15 by being inserted into the cylindrical body 15.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 4, the cylinder body 15 is composed of an inner cylinder 15a located on the radial inside and an outer cylinder 15b located on the radial outside. The inner cylinder 15a has a first through hole 15e into which the head shaft 14 is inserted, and the outer cylinder 15b has a second through hole 15f into which the inner cylinder 15a is inserted. An annular bevel gear 15c is fixed to the radial outside of the outer cylinder 15b. The bevel gear 15c meshes with a bevel gear 34b of the drive mechanism 16, which will be described later.

[0025] In the bundling unit 12, the inner cylinder 15a is inserted into the second through hole 15f of the outer cylinder 15b, and the head shaft 14 is inserted into the first through hole 15e of the inner cylinder 15a. The inner cylinder 15a is configured to be displaceable in the axial direction (direction of the center line C0) of the head shaft 14 when inserted into the second through hole 15f. The outer cylinder 15b is configured to be non-displaceable in the axial direction (direction of the center line C0) and to be rotatable around the center line C0 when the inner cylinder 15a is inserted into the second through hole 15f.

[0026] The inner tube 15a has a first contact portion 31 and a second contact portion 32 on the front side, which are capable of contacting a part of the wire 7 and another part. The first contact portion 31 is located forward of the second contact portion 32. The first contact portion 31 and the second contact portion 32 are provided 180° apart about the center line C0 (see FIG. 3). The first contact portion 31 is made up of a part of the front end of the inner tube 15a. A notch having a width greater than the diameter of the wire 7 is provided in the front part of the inner tube 15a, 180° apart from this part. The rear part (bottom) of this notch becomes the second contact portion 32.

[0027] A first groove 19 and a second groove 20 are formed on the inner periphery side of the inner tube 15a. The longitudinal directions of the first groove 19 and the second groove 20 are parallel to the center line C0. The first groove 19 positions a (bent) first tip portion 71 of the wire 7 (see FIG. 7). The second groove 20 positions a (bent) second tip portion 72 of the wire 7. The bending of the tips 71, 72 of the wire 7 will be described later.

[0028] The head shaft 14 and the inner cylinder 15a form a connecting portion 30 by external teeth formed on the outer peripheral surface of the head shaft 14 and internal teeth formed on the inner peripheral surface of the first through hole 15e. The connecting portion 30 is a portion where the external teeth of the head shaft 14 and the internal teeth of the first through hole 15e are spline-fitted, and the head shaft 14 and the inner cylinder 15a are connected by the connecting portion 30. Therefore, in the first binding unit 12A, the inner cylinder 15a is displaceable relative to the head shaft 14 in the axial direction (the direction of the center line C0 of the head shaft 14) but is unable to rotate relative to the head shaft 14 around the center line C0.

[0029] In FIG. 5, the head shaft 14 is provided with a first passage 21 and a second passage 22 through which the wire 7 passes. Each of the first passage 21 and the second passage 22 is formed by a hole formed in the front part of the head shaft 14. The first passage 21 and the second passage 22 (see FIG. 3) are provided in parallel on one side and the other side in the radial direction with the center line C0 in between. Each of the first passage 21 and the second passage 22 penetrates the head shaft 14. In FIG. 5, the first passage 21 passes the wire 7 that is fed out by the forward rotation of the wheel 13a of the feeder 13 (see FIG. 2). The second passage 22 passes the first tip portion 71 of the wire 7 that has passed through the first passage 21 and the guide track 11.

[0030] The front wall surface 21a constituting the first passage 21 can contact a part of the wire 7 passing through the first passage 21, and restricts the forward movement of the part. The front wall surface 22a constituting the second passage 22 can contact a part of the wire 7 passing through the second passage 22, and restricts the forward movement of the part. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the first passage 21 and the second passage 22 open at the front surface 14a of the head shaft 14 through a common slit 23. That is, the first passage 21 and the second passage 22 formed by holes are open in directions other than the longitudinal direction of the holes. The opening on the front surface 14a is indicated by the symbol "24". As will be described later (see Fig. 14), the twist 8 is formed by twisting both ends 71, 72 of the wire 7. The twist 8 can be released from the head shaft 14 through the slit 23 and the opening 24.

[0031] [Drive mechanism] As shown in FIG. 2A, the driving mechanism 16 has a motor (motor with a reducer) 34. The motor 34 has a bevel gear 34b formed on its output shaft 34a. The motor 34 is controlled by a control device (not shown). The bevel gear 34b meshes with a bevel gear 15c fixed to the outer cylinder 15b. The output shaft 34a rotates in one direction (first direction V1 described later) around the center line C1, so that the bevel gear 15c rotates in a positive direction (first direction R1 described later). The output shaft 34a rotates in the other direction (second direction V2 described later) around the center line C1, so that the bevel gear 15c rotates in a negative direction (second direction R2 described later). The driving mechanism 16 rotates the bevel gear 15c and the outer cylinder 15b in positive and negative directions around the center line C0, and displaces the inner cylinder 15a back and forth in the axial direction. In this embodiment, the axis (center line C1) of the motor 34 is arranged perpendicular to the axis (center line C0) of the outer tube 15b, and the driving force of the drive mechanism 16 is transmitted to the outer tube 15b by bevel gears 34b, 15c. However, the configuration of the drive mechanism 16 is not limited to this, and for example, the drive mechanism may be arranged so that the axis of the motor and the axis of the outer tube are parallel.

[0032] [Regulatory Mechanism] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the restriction mechanism 17 has an actuator 36, an arm body 37, and a rotating shaft 38. The restriction mechanism 17 includes an engaged portion 14c of the head shaft 14 in which a recess 14d is formed. The arm body 37 is supported by the rotating shaft 38 so as to be able to swing. The axis of the rotating shaft 38 is parallel to the axis (center line C0) of the head shaft 14. This allows the arm body 37 to swing along a plane perpendicular to the center line C0. A locking portion 39 is formed on the end of the arm body 37 opposite the rotating shaft 38 side.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 2B, the arm body 37 is configured to be able to swing between a first position Q1 where the locking portion 39 enters the recess 14d and a second position Q2 where the locking portion 39 exits the recess 14d. When the locking portion 39 enters the recess 14d, the head shaft 14 is restricted from rotating about the center line C0. When the locking portion 39 exits the recess 14d, the head shaft 14 is released from the restriction by the restriction mechanism 17 and becomes rotatable about the center line C0. In this way, in the first binding unit 12A, the restriction mechanism 17 can switch the head shaft 14 between a state in which it is rotatable about the center line C0 and a state in which it is not rotatable.

[0034] [Cam mechanism] 2A, the bundling unit 12 further includes a cam mechanism 40. In the cylindrical body 15 of the bundling unit 12, an inner cylinder 15a and an outer cylinder 15b are connected via the cam mechanism 40. The cam mechanism 40 is a cylindrical cam including a pin 41 and a bearing 42 provided on the inner cylinder 15a, and an outer cylinder 15b in which a cam groove 43 is formed. The cam mechanism 40 converts the rotation of the outer cylinder 15b, which is the driver, about the center line C0 into a displacement in the direction (axial direction) of the center line C0 of the inner cylinder 15a, which is the driven member.

[0035] The pin 41 is a shaft-shaped part that protrudes radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder 15a. The bearing 42 is fitted to the radially outer side of the pin 41. The cam groove 43 is a spiral groove portion formed on the outer circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 15b, into which the pin 41 and the bearing 42 are inserted. The pin 41 contacts the inner wall of the cam groove 43 via the bearing 42. Note that the configuration of the cam mechanism in the binding unit of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and for example, a cam groove may be provided on the inner cylinder side and a pin may be provided on the outer cylinder side.

[0036] When the pin 41 is located behind the front end and forward of the rear end of the cam groove 43, the cam mechanism 40 converts the rotational displacement of the outer tube 15b about the center line C0 into the axial displacement of the inner tube 15a. In the binding unit 12, when the outer tube 15b is displaced in the first direction R1 (see FIG. 3), the inner tube 15a is displaced forward, and when the outer tube 15b rotates in the second direction R2 (see FIG. 3), the inner tube 15a is displaced backward.

[0037] In the cam mechanism 40, as the outer cylinder 15b continues to rotate around the center line C0 in the direction in which the pin 41 is displaced forward, the pin 41 eventually reaches the front end of the cam groove 43. The inner cylinder 15a can be displaced forward until the pin 41 reaches the front end of the cam groove 43, but cannot be displaced further forward than that. The cam mechanism 40 regulates the position of the pin 41 in the front-rear direction by the cam groove 43.

[0038] When the outer cylinder 15b rotates further from the state where the pin 41 is located at the front end of the cam groove 43 to the side displacing the pin 41 forward, the inner wall of the cam groove 43 presses the pin 41 in the rotation direction, and as a result, the inner cylinder 15a and the outer cylinder 15b rotate together around the center line C0. Specifically, in the first bundling unit 12A, when the pin 41 is located at the front end of the cam groove 43 and the outer cylinder 15b rotates in the first direction R1, the inner cylinder 15a rotates together with the outer cylinder 15b in the first direction R1 (see FIG. 17A). In other words, when the pin 41 is located at the midpoint of the cam groove 43 in the front-rear direction, the cam mechanism 40 plays a role of converting the rotational displacement of the outer cylinder 15b into the axial displacement of the inner cylinder 15a, and when the pin 41 is located at the front end of the cam groove 43, it plays a role of transmitting the rotation of the outer cylinder 15b to the inner cylinder 15a as it is.

[0039] In the bundling unit 12, the position of the inner cylinder 15a when the pin 41 is located at the rear end of the cam groove 43 is referred to as a standby position P0, and the position of the inner cylinder 15a when the pin 41 is located at the front end of the cam groove 43 is referred to as a second position P2 (see FIG. 16). In addition, in the bundling unit 12, a first position P1 is further set between the standby position P0 and the second position P2 (see FIG. 16). In this description, the position of the inner cylinder 15a is represented by the position of the pin 41.

[0040] In the binding unit 12, the distance in the front-rear direction from the standby position P0 to the first position P1 is defined as a first stroke S1, and the distance in the front-rear direction from the first position P1 to the second position P2 is defined as a second stroke S2. In other words, in the binding unit 12, the length of the cam groove 43 in the front-rear direction is equal to the sum of the first stroke S1 and the second stroke S2. When the inner cylinder 15a is displaced from the standby position P0 to the second position P2, it advances by the sum of the first stroke S1 and the second stroke S2 ​​(S1+S2).

[0041] In the bundling unit 12, when the outer cylinder 15b rotates in the first direction R1, the inner cylinder 15a moves forward from the standby position P0 to the second position P2, and after reaching the second position P2, rotates in the first direction R1 together with the outer cylinder 15b. Note that in the bundling unit 12, when the outer cylinder 15b rotates in the second direction R2, the inner cylinder 15a is displaced backward from the second position P2 to the standby position P0.

[0042] [About the operation of the bundling unit] When the output shaft 34a (bevel gear 34b) of the motor 34 rotates a predetermined amount around the center line C1 of the output shaft 34a from the state of FIG. 2A, the inner cylinder 15a moves forward. When the pin 41 is located at the first position P1 from the state of FIG. 2A, the motor 34 stops once. At this time, the inner cylinder 15a moves forward in the first stroke S1 (see FIG. 5 to FIG. 6) leaving the head shaft 14 behind. When the output shaft 34a (bevel gear 34b) further rotates a predetermined amount around the center line C1 of the output shaft 34a, the motor 34 stops once again. At this time, the inner cylinder 15a moves forward in the second stroke S2 ​​(see FIG. 6 to FIG. 7) leaving the head shaft 14 behind. As described above, the drive mechanism 16 advances the inner cylinder 15a forward in the first stroke S1, which is the direction toward the long material 5 side, and further advances it in the second stroke S2.

[0043] When the output shaft 34a (bevel gear 34b) of the motor 34 rotates a predetermined amount around the center line C1, the inner cylinder 15a moves rearward by a total stroke of the first stroke S1 and the second stroke S2. The drive mechanism 16 may have a form other than that described above. As shown in Fig. 5, in a state before the inner cylinder 15a moves forward (standby state), the first passage 21 and the second passage 22 are not covered by the inner cylinder 15a on both longitudinal sides thereof and are open.

[0044] [Stopper and cutter block] 2A, the stopper 27 and the cutter block 18 are provided 180° apart from each other around the center line C0. The stopper 27 is attached (fixed) to a base 29 in the vicinity (radially outward) of the inner cylinder 15a. The wire 7 sent out from the supplier 13 to the bundling unit 12 first passes through the first passage 21 of the head shaft 14 and is made into a loop by the guide track 11. Thereafter, the first tip 71 of the wire 7 passes through the second passage 22 and the tip 71a comes into contact with the stopper 27.

[0045] As described above (see Figs. 5 and 6), the forward movement of the part of the wire 7 that has passed through the second passage 22 is restricted by the front wall surface 22a. Therefore, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the first tip portion 71 of the wire 7 is pushed forward by the advancing inner cylinder 15a and bent forward.

[0046] In FIG. 2A, the cutter block 18 is attached (fixed) to the base 29 at a position where the wire 7 fed from the feeder 13 passes through. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 7, the cutter block 18 cuts a part of the wire 7 (a part on the second tip portion 72 side). For this purpose, the cutter block 18 is provided near (radially outward from) the inner tube 15a. The cutting of the wire 7 will be described later, but as described above, the forward movement of the part of the wire 7 passing through the first passage 21 is restricted by the front wall surface 21a. For this reason, when the inner tube 15a advances, the wire 7 is cut (sheared) between the part 15d of the tip of the inner tube 15a (part 15d of the outer peripheral surface of the tip) and the cutter block 18.

[0047] As described above, the first groove 19 and the second groove 20 are provided on the inner peripheral side of the inner tube 15a. The second groove 20 is provided at the same circumferential position as the first passage 21. The first groove 19 is provided at the same circumferential position as the second passage 22. When the inner tube 15a advances in the first and second strokes S1 and S2 (see FIG. 7), the first tip portion 71 of the wire 7 is sandwiched between the first groove 19 and the outer peripheral surface 14b of the head shaft 14 (a portion of the outer peripheral surface 14b facing the first groove 19 in the radial direction). As a result, the first tip portion 71 is clamped by the inner tube 15a and the head shaft 14. Similarly, when the inner tube 15a advances in the first and second strokes S1 and S2, the second tip portion 72 is sandwiched between the second groove 20 of the inner tube 15a and the outer peripheral surface 14b of the head shaft 14 (a portion of the outer peripheral surface 14b facing the second groove 20 in the radial direction). As a result, the second tip portion 72 is clamped by the inner cylinder 15a and the head shaft 14.

[0048] In order to clamp the tips 71, 72 of the wire 7 as described above, the groove depth (diameter of the groove) and groove width (circumferential dimension of the groove) of the first groove 19 and the second groove 20 are slightly larger than the diameter of the wire 7 (up to 20% larger than the diameter of the wire 7). As described above, the first groove 19 has a groove cross-sectional shape that allows the first tip 71 to be clamped between the first groove 19 and the outer circumferential surface 14b of the head shaft 14. The second groove 20 has a groove cross-sectional shape that allows the second tip 72 to be clamped between the first groove 19 and the outer circumferential surface 14b of the head shaft 14.

[0049] [About the binding operation] The operation of the binding machine 10 having the above-mentioned configuration binding a bundle of long materials 5 using the wire 7 will be described. Fig. 8 to Fig. 15 are diagrams for sequentially explaining the binding operation. Fig. 16 and Fig. 17 are explanatory diagrams of the states of the cam mechanism 40 and the regulating mechanism 17 at each timing of the binding operation. The binding operation is performed in sequence from the state shown in Fig. 8 to the state shown in Fig. 15.

[0050] The wire 7 is sent to the bundling unit 12 by forward rotation of the wheel 13a of the feeder 13 (see FIG. 2). The wire 7 passes through the first passage 21 of the head shaft 14 (see FIG. 8), and loops along the guide track 11, and the tip portion (first tip portion 71) passes through the second passage 22. The tip portion 71a of the first tip portion 71 contacts the stopper 27. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 16(A), the pin 41 (inner cylinder 15a) of the cam mechanism 40 is located at the standby position P0. Also, at this time, the arm body 37 of the regulating mechanism 17 is located at the first position Q1, and the locking portion 39 enters the recess 14d, thereby regulating the rotation of the head shaft 14 and the inner cylinder 15a. In addition, when the pin 41 is positioned at the standby position P0 (see FIG. 16(A)), even if an attempt is made to rotate the outer tube 15b in the second direction R2 around the center line C0, the outer tube 15b (cam groove 43) is engaged by the pin 41, so that the outer tube 15b cannot rotate in the second direction R2.

[0051] Next, as shown in Fig. 9, the bevel gear 34b rotates a predetermined number of times in the first direction V1, the outer cylinder 15b rotates in the first direction R1, and the inner cylinder 15a (pin 41) advances in the first stroke S1, and the pin 41 is located at the first position P1 (see Fig. 16(B)). At this time, the first contact portion 31 of the inner cylinder 15a pushes the first tip portion 71 forward and bends it forward. The first tip portion 71 is sandwiched and held between the first contact portion 31 and the head shaft 14.

[0052] 10, with the pin 41 located at the first position P1, the wheel 13a is rotated in the reverse direction to pull the wire 7 back from the bundling unit 12. As a result, the bundle of long materials 5 is clamped by the wire 7.

[0053] Next, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the bevel gear 34b rotates a predetermined number of times in the first direction V1, and the inner cylinder 15a (pin 41), which has already advanced in the first stroke S1, advances, and finally advances in the second stroke S2 ​​(see FIG. 16C). As a result, the first contact portion 31 of the inner cylinder 15a pushes the first tip portion 71 further forward to bend it further forward. As shown in FIG. 11, while the inner cylinder 15a advances in the second stroke S2, the wire 7 is cut (sheared) between a part of the tip of the inner cylinder 15a and the cutter block 18. The wire 7 is cut to obtain a second tip portion 72. As shown in FIG. 12, after the cutting, while the inner cylinder 15a advances in the second stroke S2, the second contact portion 32 of the inner cylinder 15a pushes the second tip portion 72 forward to bend it forward. When the inner cylinder 15a advances in the second stroke S2, the first and second tip portions 71, 72 of the wire 7 are sandwiched between the inner cylinder 15a and the head shaft 14 and clamped.

[0054] Next, as shown in FIG. 13, the locking portion 39 is located at the second position Q2, the bevel gear 34b rotates a predetermined number of times in the first direction V1, and the outer cylinder 15b rotates further in the first direction R1. At this time, as shown in FIG. 17(A), the regulating mechanism 17 rotates the arm body 37 to the second position Q2, causing the locking portion 39 to come out of the recess 14d, and releasing the rotation restriction of the head shaft 14. At this time, the pin 41 (inner cylinder 15a) of the cam mechanism 40 is located at the second position P2. Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 13, the outer cylinder 15b rotates in the first direction R1, and the head shaft 14 rotates in the first direction R1 together with the inner cylinder 15a around the center line C0. The number of rotations of the head shaft 14 at this time is 1.5 to 2 rotations. As a result, a twist 8 is formed in the wire 7. 18, the twist 8 is formed along the front-rear direction, and the tip portions 71, 72 have an M-shape with U-turns such that the tips 71a, 72a face forward. That is, an M-shaped twist 8 is formed. The twist 8 extends forward from the slit 23 and the opening 24.

[0055] Next, the bevel gear 34b rotates a predetermined number of times in the second direction V2, and as shown in FIG. 17B, the outer cylinder 15b (cam groove 43) rotates in the second direction R2. The direction of this small rotation is the second direction R2, which is opposite to the rotation direction (first direction R1) when forming the twist loop 8. At this time, the regulating mechanism 17 keeps the arm body 37 rotated to the second position Q2, and releases the rotation restriction of the head shaft 14. Therefore, the head shaft 14 also rotates in the same small direction as the bevel gear 34b rotates in the second direction V2. In conjunction with this small rotation, the binding unit 12 is swung by the actuator 26 (see FIG. 1). These small rotations and swings are intended to separate the twist loop 8 from the head shaft 14, as will be described next (see FIG. 15). That is, as described above (see Figs. 3 and 18), the first passage 21 and the second passage 22 of the head shaft 14 open on the front surface 14a of the head shaft 14 through the slit 23 that connects the first passage 21 and the second passage 22 together. The slit 23 and the opening 24 are formed forward in the direction in which the head shaft 14 rotates to form the twisted loop 8 (the direction of the arrow R1 in Fig. 3) from the position of the wire 7 in the first passage 21 and the second passage 22 when the twisted loop 8 is formed (see Fig. 3). Therefore, the head shaft 14 is rotated slightly in the opposite direction (the direction of the arrow R2 in Fig. 3). Then, the binding unit 12 is swung in the direction in which the head shaft 14 moves away from the bundle of long materials 5. As a result, the twisted loop 8 is released from the head shaft 14 as shown in Figs. 14 and 15.

[0056] Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 14, the bevel gear 34b further rotates a predetermined number of times in the second direction V2, and the inner cylinder 15a retreats as shown in Fig. 15. At this time, as shown in Fig. 17(C), the regulating mechanism 17 rotates the arm body 37 to the first position Q1, bringing the locking portion 39 into the recess 14d, and restricts the rotation of the head shaft 14. The retreat stroke at this time is the sum of the first stroke S1 and the second stroke S2, and the pin 41 (inner cylinder 15a) is positioned at the standby position P0 and enters the standby state.

[0057] In this manner, a predetermined number of long materials 5 are bundled together by the wire 7. The bundle of bundled long materials 5 is carried out by the discharge conveyor.

[0058] (Second embodiment of the bundling unit) Fig. 19 is a configuration diagram of a bundling unit according to a second embodiment as seen from the side. The wire bundling machine 10 of the present disclosure may use a second bundling unit 12B shown in Fig. 19 instead of the first bundling unit 12A (see Fig. 2) described above. The second bundling unit 12B is a second embodiment of the bundling unit 12.

[0059] 19, the second bundling unit 12B differs from the first bundling unit 12A in that it includes a rotation mechanism 50 instead of the regulating mechanism 17, and in that it does not include a connecting portion 30 (see FIG. 2) that connects the inner tube 15a and the head shaft 14. Therefore, in the second bundling unit 12B, the inner tube 15a and the head shaft 14 are relatively displaceable in the axial direction (the direction of the center line C0 of the head shaft 14) and relatively rotatable around the center line C0.

[0060] The second binding unit 12B has a drive mechanism 16. The drive mechanism 16 in the second binding unit 12B rotates the bevel gear 15c and the outer cylinder 15b forward and backward around the center line C0, and displaces the inner cylinder 15a back and forth in the axial direction. However, the drive mechanism 16 in the second binding unit 12B cannot rotate the head shaft 14 forward and backward around the center line C0. In this respect, the drive mechanism 16 in the second binding unit 12B differs from the drive mechanism 16 in the first binding unit 12A.

[0061] The rotation mechanism 50 has a motor (motor with a reducer) 51. The head shaft 14 is coaxially fixed to an output shaft 52 of the motor 51. The motor 51 is controlled by a control device (not shown). When the output shaft 52 rotates in a first direction R1, the head shaft 14 rotates in the first direction R1, and when the output shaft 52 rotates in a second direction R2, the head shaft 14 rotates in the second direction R2. The rotation mechanism 50 rotates the head shaft 14 forward and backward around a center line C0.

[0062] The second bundling unit 12B can rotate the head shaft 14 around the center line C0 by the rotation mechanism 50. In the second bundling unit 12B, the inner cylinder 15a cannot be driven by the rotation mechanism 50 because the inner cylinder 15a and the head shaft 14 are not connected to each other.

[0063] In the second bundling unit 12B, the drive mechanism 16 advances the inner tube 15a in a first stroke S1 and a second stroke S2 ​​to cut and bend the wire 7, and the rotation mechanism 50 rotates the head shaft 14 to form the twist 8.

[0064] Even though such a second binding unit 12B does not have a link mechanism as in conventional binding units, it can cut and bend the wire 7 by the drive mechanism 16 and form the twist 8 by the rotation mechanism 50. Therefore, the binding machine 10 equipped with the second binding unit 12B can be configured more compactly than binding machines equipped with conventional binding units.

[0065] Regarding the binding machine 10 of the present disclosure The binding unit 12 included in the binding machine 10 of the present disclosure has a head shaft 14, a cylindrical body 15, and a drive mechanism 16. The head shaft 14 is provided with a first passage 21 through which the wire 7 fed by the feeder 13 passes, and a second passage 22 through which the first tip 71 of the wire 7 that passes through the first passage 21 and via the guide track 11 passes, and is configured to rotate around a center line C0. The head shaft 14 has a cylindrical body 15 including an inner tube 15a provided on the outer periphery of the head shaft 14 and an outer tube 15b provided on the outer periphery of the inner tube 15a, a cam mechanism 40 that converts the rotational displacement of the outer tube 15b around the center line C0 of the head shaft 14 into the displacement of the inner tube 15a in the direction of the center line C0, and a drive mechanism 16 that rotates the outer tube 15b around the center line C0 of the head shaft 14 to advance the inner tube 15a forward in the direction of the long material 5 side in a first stroke S1 and further advances it in a second stroke S2.

[0066] As the inner cylinder 15a advances in the first stroke S1, the first contact portion 31 of the inner cylinder 15a pushes the first tip portion 71 of the wire 7 that has passed through the second passage 22 forward to bend it forward. As the inner cylinder 15a further advances in the second stroke S2, the second contact portion 32 of the inner cylinder 15a pushes the second tip portion 72 of the wire 7 that has been cut on the first passage 21 side forward to bend it forward. At the same time, the first and second tip portions 71, 72 are sandwiched between the inner cylinder 15a and the head shaft 14 and are clamped. In this way, with the wire 7 with both tip portions 71, 72 bent forward being clamped, the drive mechanism 16 rotates the head shaft 14 and the cylinder body 15, and a twist 8 is formed in the wire 7.

[0067] According to this binding machine 10, the outer cylinder 15b is rotated by the drive mechanism 16, so that the inner cylinder 15a advances in a first stroke S1 and a second stroke S2, and the inner cylinder 15a and the head shaft 14 rotate, forming an inward M-shape in the twist 8 of the wire 7. This eliminates the need for a link mechanism for converting the rotation of the drive mechanism 16 into the axial displacement of the cylinder 15, making it possible to construct a compact binding machine 10 capable of forming an M-shaped twist.

[0068] Moreover, the first bundling unit 12A of the present disclosure further includes a restriction mechanism 17 in which the head shaft 14 and the inner tube 15a are connected by a connection part 30 so as to rotate together about the center line C0 and to be relatively displaceable in the direction of the center line C0, and which restricts the rotation of the head shaft 14 about the center line C0. With the head shaft 14 restricted by the restriction mechanism 17, the first bundling unit 12A is capable of displacing the inner tube 15a in the direction of the center line C0 by the drive mechanism 16, and with the restriction of the head shaft 14 by the restriction mechanism 17 released, the head shaft 14 is capable of rotating by the drive mechanism 16 about the center line C0.

[0069] The binding machine 10 equipped with the first binding unit 12A can be switched between an operation of rotating the outer tube 15b about the center line C0 by the drive mechanism 16 to displace the inner tube 15a in the axial direction and an operation of rotating the outer tube 15b about the center line C0 by the drive mechanism 16 to rotate the head shaft 14 about the center line C0 by the regulating mechanism 17. This makes it possible to form an M-shaped twist by the drive mechanism 16 having one motor, and makes it possible to configure the binding machine 10 more compactly.

[0070] In addition, in the first binding unit 12A of the present disclosure, when the inner tube 15a is advancing in the first stroke S1 and the second stroke S2 ​​(when located at the second position P2), the outer tube 15b rotates around the center line C0 toward the side moving the inner tube 15a forward (first direction R1), and the cam mechanism 40 transmits the rotation of the outer tube 15b to the inner tube 15a, causing the inner tube 15a and the head shaft 14 to rotate around the center line C0. With this configuration, the head shaft 14 can be rotated about the center line by the driving mechanism 16. As a result, an M-shaped twist can be formed by driving one motor 34 of the driving mechanism 16, and the binding machine 10 can be made more compact.

[0071] Moreover, the second bundling unit 12B of the present disclosure is configured so that the head shaft 14 and the inner cylinder 15a are relatively rotatable about the center line C0, and further includes a rotation mechanism 50 that rotates the head shaft 14 about the center line C0.

[0072] The binding machine 10 equipped with the second binding unit 12B can rotate the outer tube 15b about the center line C0 by the drive mechanism 16 to displace the inner tube 15a in the axial direction, and can rotate the head shaft 14 about the center line C0 by the rotation mechanism 50. As a result, in the wire binding machine 10 capable of forming an M-shaped twist, even if the drive mechanism 16 and the rotation mechanism 50 each have a motor, there is no need to use a link mechanism, and the binding machine 10 can be made more compact.

[0073] The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes all modifications within the scope of the equivalents of the configurations described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 5: Long material 7: Wire 8: Twist 10: Wire binding machine 11: Guide track 12: Binding unit 12A: First bundling unit 12B: Second bundling unit 13: Supply unit 14: Head shaft 15: Cylinder body 15a: Inner cylinder 15b: Outer tube 15e: First through hole 15f: Second through hole 16: Drive mechanism 17: Regulating mechanism 18: Cutter block 19: First groove 20: Second groove 21: First passage 22: Second passage 23: Slit 24: Opening 31: First contact portion 32: Second contact portion 40: Cam mechanism 50: Rotation mechanism 71: First tip portion 72: Second tip portion C0: Center line S1: First stroke S2: Second stroke

Claims

1. A feeder that feeds and retracts the wire; a guide track for guiding the wire around a plurality of elongated members to form a loop; a bundling unit for twisting both ends of the wire in a loop shape to form a twist; Equipped with The bundling unit includes: a head shaft having a center line and configured to rotate about the center line, the head shaft being provided with a first passage through which the wire fed by the feeder passes and a second passage through which a first tip portion of the wire passes through the first passage and via the guide track; a cylinder body including an inner cylinder provided on an outer circumferential side of the head shaft and an outer cylinder provided on an outer circumferential side of the inner cylinder; a cam mechanism that converts a rotational displacement of the outer cylinder about a center line of the head shaft into a displacement of the inner cylinder in a direction toward the center line; a drive mechanism that rotates the outer tube around a center line of the head shaft to advance the inner tube forward in a first stroke toward the elongated material side and further advances the inner tube forward in a second stroke; having As the first stroke advances, a first contact portion of the inner cylinder pushes forward the first tip portion of the wire that has passed through the second passage, thereby bending the first tip portion forward, As the second stroke advances, the second contact portion of the inner cylinder pushes the second end portion of the wire cut on the first passage side forward and bends it forward.

2. the head shaft and the inner cylinder are connected to each other so as to rotate together about the center line and to be relatively displaceable in the direction of the center line, a restricting mechanism for restricting rotation of the head shaft about the center line, The inner cylinder can be displaced in the direction of the center line by the drive mechanism while the head shaft is regulated by the regulation mechanism, The wire binding machine according to claim 1 , wherein the head shaft can be rotated about the center line by the drive mechanism in a state where the restriction of the head shaft by the restriction mechanism is released.

3. 3. The wire binding machine of claim 2, wherein when the inner tube is moving forward in the first stroke and the second stroke, the outer tube rotates around the center line toward a side moving the inner tube forward, and the cam mechanism transmits the rotation of the outer tube to the inner tube, thereby rotating the inner tube and the head shaft around the center line.

4. The head shaft and the inner cylinder are configured to be relatively rotatable about the center line, The wire tie machine of claim 1 , further comprising a rotation mechanism for rotating the head shaft about the centerline.

5. The wire binding machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion are spaced 180° apart from each other about the center line, and the first contact portion is located forward of the second contact portion.

6. The bundling unit further includes a cutter block disposed adjacent the inner tube for cutting a portion of the wire, A wire tying machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, as the second stroke advances, a portion of the wire just before passing through the first passage is cut by the inner tube and the cutter block to form the second tip portion.

7. the first passage and the second passage are connected to each other through a slit, the first passage and the second passage are opened at a front surface of the head shaft, A wire tying machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the slit and the opening are formed forward in the direction in which the head shaft rotates to form the twist, relative to the position of the wire in the first passage and the second passage when forming the twist.

8. A first groove for positioning the first tip end of the wire and a second groove for positioning the second tip end of the wire are formed on the inner circumferential side of the inner tube, the first groove has a groove cross-sectional shape that enables the first tip portion to be clamped between the first groove and an outer circumferential surface of the head shaft, The wire binding machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second groove has a groove cross-sectional shape that enables the second tip portion to be clamped between the second groove and the outer peripheral surface of the head shaft.

Images