Binding machine

Abstract

This reinforcing bar binding machine comprises a curl guide for forming a curl in a plurality of wires. The curl guide comprises a first wire guide for regulating the position of the wire toward the radial outer circumferential side of an annular feed path, a second wire guide for regulating the position of the wire toward one side in the axial direction of the annular feed path, and a third wire guide for regulating the position of the wire toward the other side in the axial direction. The curl guide also comprises a suppression part for suppressing movement of one wire among the plurality of wires in a direction toward another wire.

Description

Binding machine

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a binding machine that binds objects to be bound, such as reinforcing bars, with wire.

[0002] Steel bars are used in concrete structures to increase their strength, and are tied together with wire to prevent the bars from shifting from their designated positions when the concrete is poured.

[0003] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a binding machine known as a reinforcing bar binding machine has been proposed, which wraps wire around two or more reinforcing bars and twists the wire wrapped around the reinforcing bars to bind the two or more reinforcing bars with the wire.

[0004] When tying rebars together with wire, if the tie is loose, the rebars will slip apart, so it is necessary to tie and hold the rebars together firmly. By using a wire with a large diameter, the strength of the tie can be ensured. However, when a wire with a large diameter is used, the rigidity of the wire increases, so a large force is required to tie the rebars together.

[0005] Therefore, a binding machine has been proposed that includes a feeding means capable of feeding two or more wires and winding them around the object to be bound, and a binding means that binds the object to be bound by grasping and twisting the two or more wires wound around the object to be bound by the feeding means, and the feeding means feeds the two or more wires in parallel in the axial direction of the feeding path of the wires that form a loop (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0006] Japanese Patent No. 6791141

[0007] In a bundling machine that feeds two or more wires in parallel, if one of the wires moves toward another wire within a curl guide that curls the wires, it affects the position of the wire in the air after it is fed out of the curl guide. If the position of the wire in the air varies, the landing point of the wire on the guide that guides the wire to the bundling means will vary.

[0008] As the diameter of the rebars to be bundled with wire increases, the diameter of the wire feed path that is wound around the rebars in a circular shape must be increased. However, the larger the diameter of the circular feed path, the greater the variation in the landing point at the guide. This means that the wire may not enter the guide. On the other hand, if the guide is enlarged to allow the wire to enter the guide, the bundling machine would become larger and heavier, which could worsen operability.

[0009] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and aims to provide a binding machine that can prevent any of multiple wires from moving in a direction toward other wires within a curl guide.

[0010] One aspect of the present disclosure is a bundling machine comprising: a wire feeding unit that feeds multiple wires; a curl forming unit that forms a circular feed path along which the multiple wires fed by the wire feeding unit are wound around a material to be bundled; and a bundling unit that twists the multiple wires wound around the material to be bundled. The curl forming unit comprises a curl guide that imparts a curl to the multiple wires fed by the wire feeding unit; and a guide guide that guides the multiple wires that have been curled by the curl guide to the bundling unit. The curl guide comprises a first wire guide that regulates the position of the wire toward the outer periphery in the radial direction of the circular feed path, a second wire guide that regulates the position of the wire toward one axial side in the axial direction of the circular feed path, and a third wire guide that regulates the position of the wire toward the other axial side. The curl guide allows the multiple wires to be in contact with each other and lined up between the second wire guide and the third wire guide along the axial direction of the circular feed path, and the bundling machine comprises a suppression unit that suppresses movement of one of the multiple wires in a direction toward the other wires.

[0011] In the present disclosure, a suppression section suppresses the movement of one of multiple wires that are fed to a curl forming section by a wire feeding section and arranged between a second wire guide and a third wire guide along the axial direction of the annular feeding path in a direction toward the other wires.

[0012] In the present disclosure, by preventing one of the wires arranged between the second wire guide and the third wire guide from moving toward the other wires, it is possible to prevent the order of the wires arranged along the axial direction of the annular feed path from being changed. This allows the wire to maintain a stable position in the air after being fed out of the curl guide. Therefore, even if the diameter of the annular feed path is increased, the multiple wires can be fed from the curl guide to enter the guide without increasing the size of the guide. This prevents the size and weight of the binding machine from increasing, and prevents deterioration of operability.

[0013] 3A is a diagram showing an internal configuration as seen from the side, illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a reinforcing bar binding machine of this embodiment. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an internal configuration as seen from the front, illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a reinforcing bar binding machine of this embodiment. FIG. 3C is a side view showing an example of the overall configuration of a reinforcing bar binding machine of this embodiment. FIG. 3D is a side view showing an example of a curl guide with some components removed. FIG. 3E is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3A. FIG. 3F is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 3A. FIG. 3G is a top view showing an example of a curl guide. FIG. 3H is a side view showing another example of a curl guide with some components removed. FIG. 3I is a side view showing another example of a curl guide. FIG. 3I is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG. 5A. FIG. 3I is a side view showing a modified example of another example of a curl guide with some components removed. FIG. 3I is a side view showing yet another example of a curl guide with some components removed. FIG. 3I is a side view showing yet another example of a curl guide. FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E of FIG. 8A. FIG. 8I is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F of FIG. 8A.

[0014] Hereinafter, an example of a reinforcing bar binding machine as an embodiment of the binding machine of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] <Configuration example of a reinforcing bar binding machine according to this embodiment> Figure 1A is a diagram of the internal configuration as seen from the side showing an example of the overall configuration of a reinforcing bar binding machine according to this embodiment, Figure 1B is a diagram of the internal configuration as seen from the front showing an example of the overall configuration of a reinforcing bar binding machine according to this embodiment, and Figure 1C is a side view showing an example of the overall configuration of a reinforcing bar binding machine according to this embodiment.

[0016] The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is designed to be held by an operator and includes a main body 10 and a handle 11. The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A feeds a wire W in the forward direction indicated by an arrow F to wind it around the reinforcing bar S to be bound, and then feeds the wire W wound around the reinforcing bar S in the reverse direction indicated by an arrow R to wind it around the reinforcing bar S, and then twists the wire W to bind the reinforcing bar S with the wire W. The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A binds the reinforcing bars S with multiple wires W, two wires W in this example.

[0017] To achieve the above-described functions, the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A includes a magazine 2 that stores wire W, a wire feeding unit 3 that feeds two wires W at a time aligned in the radial direction of the wire W, and a wire guide unit 4 that guides the two wires W fed to the wire feeding unit 3. The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A also includes a curl forming unit 5 that forms a circular feeding path for winding the two wires W fed by the wire feeding unit 3 once around the reinforcing bar S, and a cutting unit 6 that cuts the two wires W wound around the reinforcing bar S. The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A further includes a binding unit 7 that twists the two wires W wound around the reinforcing bar S, and a drive unit 8 that drives the binding unit 7. The circular feeding path for winding the two wires W fed by the wire feeding unit 3 once around the reinforcing bar S is the path along which the wires are fed when winding two wires at a time once around the object to be bound.

[0018] The magazine 2 is an example of a storage section, and rotatably and detachably stores a reel 20 around which a long wire W is wound so as to be able to be unwound. The wire W may be a wire made of a metal wire that can be plastically deformed, a metal wire coated with resin, or a twisted wire.

[0019] The reel 20 includes a cylindrical hub portion 21 around which the wire W is wound, and a pair of flange portions 22, 23 integrally formed on both axial ends of the hub portion 21. The flange portions 22, 23 are generally disk-shaped with a larger diameter than the hub portion 21 and are formed concentrically with the hub portion 21. Two wires W are wound around the hub portion 21 of the reel 20, and the two wires W can be pulled out from the reel 20 at the same time.

[0020] As shown in Figure 1B, in the rebar tying machine 1A, the reel 20 is attached in a state where it is offset in one direction along the axial direction of the reel 20, which is along the axial direction of the hub portion 21, with respect to the feed path FL of the wire W defined by the wire feed portion 3, the wire guide portion 4, etc.

[0021] The wire feeding unit 3 includes a pair of feed gears 30 (30L, 30R) that clamp and feed two parallel wires W. In the wire feeding unit 3, the rotational motion of a feed motor 31 is transmitted to one of the feed gears 30L. Furthermore, the rotational motion of one of the feed gears 30L is transmitted to the other feed gear 30R by meshing of gear portions provided on the outer peripheries of the feed gears 30L and 30R. As a result, one of the feed gears 30L is the driving side, and the other feed gear 30R is the driven side.

[0022] The wire feeding unit 3 aligns the two wires W in the direction in which the pair of feed gears 30L, 30R are aligned. In the wire feeding unit 3, one wire W contacts a groove in one feed gear 30L, and the other wire W contacts a groove in the other feed gear 30R, so that one wire W and the other wire W contact each other. As a result, the wire feeding unit 3 feeds the two wires W sandwiched between the pair of feed gears 30 (30L, 30R) in the extension direction of the wires W by frictional forces generated between one feed gear 30L and one wire W, frictional forces generated between the other feed gear 30R and the other wire W, and frictional forces generated between the two wires W, as the pair of feed gears 30 (30L, 30R) rotate.

[0023] In addition, the wire feeding unit 3 switches the rotation direction of the feed motor 31 between forward and reverse, thereby switching the rotation direction of the feed gear 30 and switching the feed direction of the wire W between forward and reverse.

[0024] The wire guide portions 4 are disposed on the upstream and downstream sides of the feed gears 30 with respect to the feed direction of the wire W fed in the forward direction. The wire guide portions 4 guide the two entering wires W between the pair of feed gears 30 by aligning them in the direction in which the pair of feed gears 30 are aligned.

[0025] The wire guide 4 is configured so that the opening on the upstream side with respect to the feeding direction of the wire W fed in the forward direction is larger in opening area than the opening on the downstream side, and part or all of the inner surface of the opening is tapered. This makes it easy to insert the wire W pulled out from the reel 20 stored in the magazine 2 into the wire guide 4.

[0026] The curl forming unit 5 includes a curl guide 50a that curls the two wires W fed by the wire feeding unit 3 and restricts the movement of each wire W in a direction in which the two wires W are aligned parallel to one another, and an guiding guide 50b that guides the two wires W that have been curled by the curl guide 50a to the bundling unit 7. The curl forming unit 5 curls the two wires W that are fed by the wire feeding unit 3 and pass through the curl guide 50a, thereby forming a circular feed path Ru as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1A , which runs from the curl guide 50a through the guiding guide 50b to the bundling unit 7. The curl guide 50a restricts one of the two wires W from moving toward the other wire. The curl guide 50a also restricts one of the two wires W from moving toward the other wire W due to the action of the other wire W. As a result, the curl guide 50a prevents the order in which the two wires W fed by the wire feeding unit 3 are arranged in the axial direction of the circular feeding path Ru from being changed.

[0027] The cutting unit 6 includes a fixed blade unit 60 , a movable blade unit 61 that cuts the wire W in cooperation with the fixed blade unit 60 , and a transmission mechanism 62 that transmits the operation of the binding unit 7 to the movable blade unit 61 .

[0028] The bundling unit 7 includes a wire locking body 70 to which the wire W is locked, and a sleeve 71 that operates the wire locking body 70. The driving unit 8 includes a torsion motor 80 and a reducer 81 that reduces speed and amplifies torque.

[0029] The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A includes a feed restricting unit 90 against which the tip of the wire W abuts at the end of the feed path of the wire W, which passes through the annular feed path Ru and is locked by the wire locking body 70. The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A also includes the curl guide 50a and the guiding guide 50b of the curl forming unit 5, which are provided at the front end of the main body 10. Furthermore, the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A includes an abutting unit 91, against which the reinforcing bar S abuts, which is provided at the front end of the main body 10, between the curl guide 50a and the guiding guide 50b.

[0030] The rebar binding machine 1A has a handle 11 that extends downward from the main body 10. Furthermore, a battery 15 is detachably attached to the lower part of the handle 11. Furthermore, the rebar binding machine 1A has a magazine 2 provided in front of the handle 11.

[0031] The rebar binding machine 1A has a trigger 12 provided on the front side of a handle portion 11, and a switch 13 provided inside the handle portion 11. In the rebar binding machine 1A, the control unit 100 controls the feed motor 31 and the torsion motor 80 according to the state of the switch 13 pressed by operating the trigger 12.

[0032] <Example of main configuration of a rebar binding machine according to this embodiment> - Example of curl guide configuration Fig. 2 is a side view of an example of a curl guide with some parts removed, Fig. 3A is a side view of an example of a curl guide, Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 3A, Fig. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of Fig. 3A, and Fig. 3D is a top view of an example of a curl guide. Fig. 2 shows the state in which the second wire guide 52, which will be described later, has been removed. Next, an example of a curl guide 50a will be described with reference to the respective figures.

[0033] The curl guide 50a includes a first wire guide 51 that regulates the position of the wire W toward the radially outer periphery of the annular feed path Ru shown by arrow D1 in Figure 2, along the circumferential direction of the annular feed path Ru shown by arrow D2.

[0034] In addition, the curl guide 50a is provided with a second wire guide 52 that regulates the position of the wire W heading toward one side of the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru shown by arrow D3 in Figures 3B and 3C along the circumferential direction of the circular feed path Ru shown by arrow D2.

[0035] Furthermore, the curl guide 50a is provided with a third wire guide 53 that regulates the position of the wire W heading toward the other side of the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D3 along the circumferential direction of the circular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D2.

[0036] In the curl guide 50a, the first wire guide 51 is sandwiched between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53. The second wire guide 52 protrudes inward from the first wire guide 51 in the radial direction of the annular feed path Ru. The third wire guide 53 protrudes inward from the first wire guide 51 in the radial direction of the annular feed path Ru. As a result, in the curl guide 50a, the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53 face each other with a gap equal to the thickness of the first wire guide 51. The gap Ra1 between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53 is at least twice the diameter R of the wire W.

[0037] The distance Ra1 between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53 may be set to about 1.5 times or more the diameter R of the wire W. In order to allow the two wires W to be in contact with each other and aligned along the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru, the distance Ra1 between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53 may be set to about 1.9 times or more the diameter R of the wire W.

[0038] In the curl guide 50a, the first wire guide 51, the second wire guide 52, and the third wire guide 53 do not bend in the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru indicated by the arrow D3, and the first wire guide 51, the second wire guide 52, and the third wire guide 53 extend linearly as a whole toward the discharge section 50e from which the wire W fed in the forward direction by the wire feed section 3 is fed. The curl guide 50a includes a guide member 50g at the discharge section 50e. The guide member 50g is, for example, cylindrical. The second wire guide 52 includes a hole 52h into which the guide member 50g is press-fitted. The third wire guide 53 includes a hole 53h into which the guide member 50g is press-fitted. Furthermore, the first wire guide 51 includes a recess 51h into which the guide member 50g fits. When the first wire guide 51 is sandwiched between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53, the holes 52h and 53h of the curl guide 50a are aligned with the recesses 51h. The guide member 50g passes through the holes 52h and 53h and is press-fitted into the curl guide 50a, exposing the circumferential surface of the guide member 50g to the guide surface of the first wire guide 51.

[0039] The curl guide 50a includes a suppression portion 54 that suppresses one of the multiple wires W, in this example, one wire W1 of two wires W, from moving in a direction toward the other wire W2. The suppression portion 54 includes a guide portion 54a whose height varies along the radial direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by the arrow D1 in the width direction of the first wire guide 51 along the axial direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by the arrow D3.

[0040] The guide portion 54a is provided on the first wire guide 51. In the width direction of the first wire guide 51 along the axial direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D3, the guide portion 54a includes an inclined surface 54b that slopes outward along the radial direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D1 toward the second wire guide 52, which is opposite the side to which the reel 20 is offset. In addition, in the circumferential direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D2, the guide portion 54a is formed of a concave curved surface or the like that follows the annular feed path Ru.

[0041] The curl guide 50a includes a parallel guide portion 55 that feeds two wires W in parallel along the axial direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D3. The parallel guide portion 55 is provided on the first wire guide 51 downstream of the suppression portion 54 with respect to the feed direction of the wire W, which is fed in the forward direction indicated by arrow F. The parallel guide portion 55 is configured with a surface along the axial direction of the annular feed path Ru in the width direction of the first wire guide 51 along the axial direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D3. The surface along the axial direction of the annular feed path Ru refers to a surface along the extension direction of the guide member 50g. Furthermore, the parallel guide portion 55 is configured with a concave curved surface or the like that follows the annular feed path Ru in the circumferential direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D2. Alternatively, a portion of the parallel guide may be configured with the peripheral surface of a cylindrical guide member 50g.

[0042] The height of the suppression portion 54 along the radial direction of the annular feed path Ru, indicated by the arrow D1, gradually changes toward the parallel guide portion 55. That is, the inclination of the guide portion 54a gradually decreases from the upstream side to the downstream side with respect to the feed direction of the wire W, which is fed in the forward direction, indicated by the arrow F, and the guide portion 54a is connected to the parallel guide portion 55.

[0043] The suppression portion 54 is preferably provided in a range of at least one-quarter of the annular feed path Ru in the circumferential direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by the arrow D2. The suppression portion 54 is also preferably provided on the upstream side of the curl guide 50a with respect to the feed direction of the wire W, which is fed in the forward direction indicated by the arrow F. The range in which the guide portion 54a is provided is approximately half the length of the curl guide 50a in the circumferential direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by the arrow D2.

[0044] - Example of effect of curl guide When the trigger 12 of the rebar binding machine 1A is operated, the feed motor 31 is driven in the forward rotation direction, and the two wires W are fed in the forward direction indicated by the arrow F by the wire feed section 3.

[0045] The two wires W fed in the forward direction by the wire feeding unit 3 are oriented in parallel along the axial direction of the circular feeding path Ru by the wire guide unit 4 upstream of the curl guide 50a.

[0046] The two wires W fed in the forward direction are fed to the curl guide 50a of the curl forming unit 5. As the two wires W pass through the curl guide 50a, they come into contact with the first wire guide 51 and are given a curl that causes them to be wound around the reinforcing bar S along the circular feed path Ru.

[0047] The two wires W wound around the reel 20 are connected together by twisting or crimping their ends before use to facilitate the operation of inserting them between a pair of feed gears 30.

[0048] The parallel orientation of the two wires W guided by the curl guide 50 a is determined by the pair of feed gears 30 of the wire feed unit 3 and the wire guide unit 4 .

[0049] If the distance Ra1 between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53 is at least twice the diameter of the wire W, the integrally connected tip portions of the two wires W can be placed between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53 by the operation of feeding the wire W with the wire feed 3.

[0050] Furthermore, if the distance Ra1 between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53 is 1.5 times or more the diameter of the wire W, the integrally connected tip portions of the two wires W can be tilted with respect to the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru shown by arrow D3 and can enter between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53.

[0051] The two wires W passing through the curl guide 50a in parallel along the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru indicated by the arrow D3 contact the guide portion 54a on the upstream side of the curl guide 50a, as shown in FIG. 3B.

[0052] When one of the wires W1 passing on the side closer to the second wire guide 52 comes into contact with the guide portion 54a during the process of feeding the wire W through the wire feeding section 3, the inclined surface 54b of the guide portion 54a prevents the wire W1 from moving in the direction toward the third wire guide 53 indicated by the arrow D31.

[0053] This prevents one wire W1 from moving in the direction toward the other wire W2, which passes closer to the third wire guide 53, and prevents the positions of the two wires W from being swapped between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53.

[0054] Furthermore, the inclined surface 54b of the guide portion 54a applies a force to the wire W1, which tends to move the wire W1 in the direction indicated by the arrow D32 toward the second wire guide 52. When the wire W1 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow D32 toward the second wire guide 52, the wire W1 comes into contact with the second wire guide 52, and its movement in the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru indicated by the arrow D3 is restricted.

[0055] When the other wire W2 attempts to move in the direction toward the second wire guide 52 as indicated by the arrow D32, the other wire W2 comes into contact with the one wire W1. By contacting the second wire guide 52, the movement of the one wire W1 in the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru as indicated by the arrow D3 is restricted. As a result, the other wire W2 is prevented from further moving in the direction toward the second wire guide 52 as indicated by the arrow D32 via the one wire W1.

[0056] Therefore, the other wire W2 is prevented from moving in the direction toward the one wire W1, and the positions of the two wires W are prevented from being swapped between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 3C , the two wires W passing through the curl guide 50a contact a parallel guide portion 55 downstream of the curl guide 50a. The parallel guide portion 55 is formed of a surface along the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru. The distance Ra1 between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53 is at least twice the diameter R of the wires W.

[0058] As a result, the two wires W pass through the curl guide 50a, and are fed without swapping positions within the annular feed path Ru by the suppression unit 54. Furthermore, the two wires W are aligned in the axial direction of the annular feed path Ru by the parallel guide unit 55, and pass through the curl guide 50a.

[0059] As described above, when the wire W1 contacts the inclined surface 54b of the guide portion 54a, the wire W1 is restrained from moving in the direction toward the third wire guide 53 indicated by arrow D31, and is restrained from moving in the direction toward the other wire W2. Furthermore, when the wire W1 contacts the inclined surface 54b of the guide portion 54a, a force acts on the wire W1 to move it in the direction toward the second wire guide 52 indicated by arrow D32, and the wire W1 is able to move in the direction of arrow D32 to a position where the wire W1 contacts the second wire guide 52. In other words, the restraining portion 54 including the guide portion 54a functions as a guiding portion that guides the wire W1 toward the second wire guide 52. When the wire W2 contacts the inclined surface 54b of the guide portion 54a, the wire W2 is restrained from moving in the direction toward the third wire guide 53 indicated by arrow D31. Furthermore, by contacting the first wire W1, the second wire W2 is inhibited from moving in the direction toward the second wire guide 52, indicated by arrow D32, via the first wire W1. Therefore, the first wire W1 and the second wire W2 are inhibited from moving in the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru, indicated by arrow D3. This reduces the amount of left-right movement of the wire W within the curl guide 50a. Therefore, the operation of feeding the wire W in the forward direction prevents the positions of the two wires W that have been curled by the curl guide 50a from being swapped, stabilizing the position of the wire W fed out of the curl guide 50a and reducing the amount of left-right deviation, thereby reducing the width dimension required for the induction guide 50b.

[0060] As a result, even if the diameter of the annular feed path Ru is increased, the multiple wires W can be fed from the curl guide 50a to enter the leading guide 50b. Therefore, there is no need to increase the size of the leading guide 50b, and it is possible to prevent the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A from becoming larger and its weight from increasing, thereby preventing a deterioration in operability.

[0061] The parallel guide portion 55 extends in a direction along the axial direction of the annular feed path Ru, indicated by arrow D3, substantially perpendicular to the plate-like members constituting the first wire guide 51, the second wire guide 52, and the third wire guide 53. The curl guide 50a is provided with the parallel guide portion 55 and a guide member 50g at the discharge portion 50e in the circumferential direction of the annular feed path Ru, indicated by arrow D2. This allows a force to be applied substantially perpendicular to the surfaces of the plate-like members constituting the second wire guide 52 when the guide member 50g is press-fitted into the hole 52h of the second wire guide 52, the recess 51h of the first wire guide 51, and the hole 53h of the third wire guide 53. This facilitates the provision of the guide member 50g.

[0062] Furthermore, the guide portion 54a may be configured with an inclined surface that slopes outward along the radial direction of the annular feed path Ru, indicated by arrow D1, toward the third wire guide 53 in the width direction of the first wire guide 51 along the axial direction of the annular feed path Ru, indicated by arrow D3. In other words, the suppression portion 54 including the guide portion 54a may function as a guide portion that guides one of the multiple wires toward the third wire guide 53. Furthermore, the guide portion 54a may be configured with an inclined surface that slopes outward along the radial direction of the annular feed path Ru, indicated by arrow D1, from near the center toward the second wire guide 52 in the width direction of the first wire guide 51 along the axial direction of the annular feed path Ru, indicated by arrow D3, and an inclined surface that slopes outward along the radial direction of the annular feed path Ru, indicated by arrow D1, from near the center toward the third wire guide 53. In other words, the suppression portion 54 including the guide portion 54 a may function as a guide portion that guides one of the multiple wires toward the second wire guide 52 or the third wire guide 53 .

[0063] Other Configuration Examples of the Curl Guide Figure 4 is a side view of another example of the curl guide with some parts removed, Figure 5A is a side view of another example of the curl guide, and Figure 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in Figure 5A. Figure 4 shows the state with the second wire guide 52 removed. Next, another example of the curl guide 50c will be described with reference to the respective figures.

[0064] The curl guide 50c includes a first wire guide 51c that regulates the position of the wire W toward the radially outer periphery of the annular feed path Ru shown by arrow D1 in Figure 4 along the circumferential direction of the annular feed path Ru shown by arrow D2.

[0065] In the curl guide 50c, the first wire guide 51c is sandwiched between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53 in the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru, indicated by arrow D3 in Fig. 5B. As a result, in the curl guide 50c, the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53 face each other with a gap equal to the thickness of the first wire guide 51c. The gap Ra1 between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53 is at least twice the diameter R of the wire W.

[0066] The curl guide 50c includes a suppression portion 56 that suppresses movement of one of the multiple wires W, in this example, one wire W1 of two wires W, in a direction toward the other wire W2. The suppression portion 56 includes a guide portion 56a whose height varies along the radial direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by the arrow D1 in the width direction of the first wire guide 51c along the axial direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by the arrow D3.

[0067] The guide portion 56a is provided on the first wire guide 51c. In the width direction of the first wire guide 51 along the axial direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D3, at least a side closer to the second wire guide 52 (in this example, approximately half of the side closer to the second wire guide 52) is configured with an inclined surface 56b that slopes outward along the radial direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D1 toward the second wire guide 52. Note that approximately a half of the guide portion 56a closer to the third wire guide 53 may be configured with an inclined surface that slopes outward along the radial direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D1 toward the third wire guide 53. In the circumferential direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D2, the inclined surface 56b is formed over the entire area of ​​the guide portion 56a. Further, the guide portion 56a is configured with a concave curved surface or the like that fits along the circular feed path Ru in the circumferential direction of the circular feed path Ru indicated by the arrow D2.

[0068] Fig. 6 is a side view showing a modified example of another curl guide with some parts removed. Fig. 6 shows a state in which the second wire guide 52 shown in Fig. 5B and other figures is removed. The curl guide 50c2 includes a first wire guide 51c2 that restricts the position of the wire W heading toward the outer periphery in the radial direction of the annular feed path Ru, as indicated by arrow D1 in Fig. 6, along the circumferential direction of the annular feed path Ru, as indicated by arrow D2. The first wire guide 51c2 includes the suppression portion 56 described above, and the suppression portion 56 includes a guide portion 56a.

[0069] The curl guide 50c2 has the guide portion 56a formed therein in the circumferential direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by the arrow D2 up to the vicinity of the discharge portion 50e of the curl guide 50c2. The curl guide 50c2 also has a parallel guide portion 57 formed at the discharge portion 50e.

[0070] The parallel guide portion 57 is formed by a surface along the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru in the width direction of the first wire guide 51c indicated by the arrow D3.

[0071] The guide portion 56 a is connected to the parallel guide portion 57 with its inclination gradually decreasing downstream with respect to the feeding direction of the wire W, which is fed in the forward direction indicated by the arrow F.

[0072] The effect of the curl guides 50c and 50c2 will be described below. Of the two wires W that are fed in the forward direction by the wire feed unit 3 and pass through the curl guides 50c and 50c2, the wire W1 that passes closer to the second wire guide 52 contacts the guide portion 56a as shown in Fig. 5B. When the wire W1 contacts the guide portion 56a while being fed by the wire feed unit 3, the slope 56b of the guide portion 56a prevents the wire W1 from moving in the direction toward the third wire guide 53, as indicated by arrow D31.

[0073] This prevents one wire W1 from moving in the direction toward the other wire W2, and prevents the positions of the two wires W from being swapped between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53.

[0074] Furthermore, the inclined surface 56b of the guide portion 56a applies a force to the wire W1, tending to move it in the direction indicated by the arrow D32 toward the second wire guide 52. When the wire W1 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow D32 toward the second wire guide 52, it comes into contact with the second wire guide 52, thereby restricting its movement in the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru indicated by the arrow D3.

[0075] When the other wire W2 attempts to move in the direction toward the second wire guide 52 as indicated by the arrow D32, the other wire W2 comes into contact with the one wire W1. By contacting the second wire guide 52, the movement of the one wire W1 in the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru as indicated by the arrow D3 is restricted. As a result, the other wire W2 is prevented from further moving in the direction toward the second wire guide 52 as indicated by the arrow D32 via the one wire W1.

[0076] Therefore, the other wire W2 is prevented from moving in the direction toward the one wire W1, and the positions of the two wires W are prevented from being swapped between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53.

[0077] Therefore, by passing through the curl guides 50c and 50c2, the two wires W are guided in a state in which the suppressing portion 56 prevents the wires W from swapping positions in the axial direction of the annular feed path Ru.

[0078] As described above, when the wire W1 contacts the inclined surface 56b of the guide portion 56a, the wire W1 is restrained from moving in the direction toward the third wire guide 53 indicated by arrow D31, and is restrained from moving in the direction toward the other wire W2. Furthermore, when the wire W1 contacts the inclined surface 56b of the guide portion 56a, a force acts on the wire W1 to move it in the direction toward the second wire guide 52 indicated by arrow D32, allowing the wire W1 to move in the direction of arrow D32 until it contacts the second wire guide 52. In other words, the restraining portion 56 including the guide portion 56a functions as a guiding portion that guides the wire W1 toward the second wire guide 52. When the other wire W2 contacts the wire W1, the wire W1 is restrained from moving in the direction toward the second wire guide 52 indicated by arrow D32. Therefore, the wire W1 and the wire W2 are restrained from moving in the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D3. This reduces the amount of lateral movement of the wire W within the curl guides 50c, 50c2. Therefore, the operation of feeding the wire W in the forward direction prevents the two wires W curled by the curl guides 50c, 50c2 from swapping positions, stabilizing the position of the wire W fed out of the curl guides 50c, 50c2 and reducing the amount of lateral deviation, thereby reducing the width dimension required for the induction guide 50b. The suppression unit 56, including the guide unit 56a, may also function as a guide unit that guides one of the multiple wires toward the third wire guide 53.

[0079] Fig. 7 is a side view with some parts removed showing yet another example of a curl guide, Fig. 8A is a side view showing yet another example of a curl guide, Fig. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E of Fig. 8A, and Fig. 8C is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F of Fig. 8A. Fig. 7 shows the state with the second wire guide 52 removed. Next, yet another example of a curl guide 50d will be described with reference to the respective figures.

[0080] The curl guide 50d includes a first wire guide 51d that regulates the position of the wire W toward the radially outer periphery of the annular feed path Ru shown by arrow D1 in Figure 7, along the circumferential direction of the annular feed path Ru shown by arrow D2.

[0081] In the curl guide 50d, the first wire guide 51d is sandwiched between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53 in the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru, indicated by arrow D3 in Fig. 8B. As a result, in the curl guide 50d, the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53 face each other with a gap equal to the thickness of the first wire guide 51d. The gap Ra1 between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53 is at least twice the diameter R of the wire W.

[0082] The curl guide 50d includes a suppressing portion 58 that suppresses movement of one of the multiple wires W, in this example, one wire W1 of two wires W, in the axial direction of the annular feed path. The suppressing portion 58 includes a guide portion 58a whose height varies along the radial direction of the annular feed path indicated by arrow D1 in the width direction of the first wire guide 51d along the axial direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D3.

[0083] The guide portion 58a is provided on the first wire guide 51d. The guide portion 58a includes a vertical wall 58b facing the second wire guide 52. To form the vertical wall 58b, the guide portion 58a is recessed outward in the radial direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D1 on the side closer to the second wire guide 52 in the width direction of the first wire guide 51 along the axial direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D3, providing a step for receiving one wire W1. The guide portion 58a has a width along the axial direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D3 that is slightly larger than the diameter R of the wire W, and a depth along the radial direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D1 that is approximately half the diameter R of the wire W. This allows the vertical wall 58b to face the second wire guide 52 with a gap equal to or larger than the diameter of the wire W. The guide portion 58a is formed with a concave curved surface or the like that conforms to the annular feed path Ru in the circumferential direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by the arrow D2. In the circumferential direction of the annular feed path Ru indicated by the arrow D2, the guide portion 58a has a vertical wall 58b that is formed up to the vicinity of the discharge portion 50e of the curl guide 50d.

[0084] The curl guide 50d has a parallel guide portion 59 formed in the discharge portion 50e.

[0085] The parallel guide portion 59 is formed by a surface along the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru in the width direction of the first wire guide 51d along the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru indicated by the arrow D3.

[0086] The guide portion 58 a has a vertical wall 58 b whose height gradually decreases toward the downstream side with respect to the feeding direction of the wire W, which is forwardly fed as indicated by an arrow F, and is connected to the parallel guide portion 59 .

[0087] The effect of the curl guide 50d will be described below. Of the two wires W that are fed in the forward direction by the wire feed unit 3 and pass through the curl guide 50d, the wire W1 that passes closer to the second wire guide 52 enters the guide unit 58a as shown in FIG. 8B . When the wire W1 enters the guide unit 58a during the process of feeding the wire W, the vertical wall 58b of the guide unit 58a prevents the wire W1 from moving in the direction toward the third wire guide 53, as indicated by arrow D31. Therefore, the wire W1 is prevented from moving in the direction toward the other wire W2, and the positions of the two wires W are prevented from being swapped between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53.

[0088] Furthermore, when one wire W1 attempts to move in the direction toward the second wire guide 52 indicated by arrow D32, when it comes into contact with the second wire guide 52, its movement in the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru indicated by arrow D3 is restricted.

[0089] When the other wire W2 attempts to move in the direction toward the second wire guide 52 as indicated by the arrow D32, the other wire W2 comes into contact with the one wire W1. By contacting the second wire guide 52, the movement of the one wire W1 in the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru as indicated by the arrow D3 is restricted. As a result, the other wire W2 is prevented from further moving in the direction toward the second wire guide 52 as indicated by the arrow D32 via the one wire W1.

[0090] Therefore, the other wire W2 is prevented from moving in the direction toward the one wire W1, and the positions of the two wires W are prevented from being swapped between the second wire guide 52 and the third wire guide 53.

[0091] By passing through the curl guide 50d, the two wires W are guided in a state in which the suppressing portion 58 prevents the wires W from swapping positions in the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru.

[0092] As described above, the wire W1 is restrained from moving in the direction toward the third wire guide 53 indicated by the arrow D31 by contacting the vertical wall 58b of the guide portion 58a, and is restrained from moving in the direction toward the other wire W2. The wire W can move in the direction toward the second wire guide 52 indicated by the arrow D32 until it contacts the second wire guide 52. The wire W2 is restrained from moving in the direction toward the second wire guide 52 indicated by the arrow D32 by contacting the wire W1. Therefore, the wire W1 and the wire W2 are restrained from moving in the axial direction of the circular feed path Ru indicated by the arrow D3. This reduces the amount of left-right movement of the wire W within the curl guide 50d. Therefore, the action of feeding the wire W in the forward direction prevents the positions of the two wires W that have been curled by the curl guide 50d from being swapped, and the amount of left-right deviation of the wire sent out from the curl guide 50d is reduced, thereby reducing the width dimension required for the induction guide 50b.

[0093] This application is based on a Japanese patent application (Patent Application No. 2023-222766) filed on December 28, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0094] According to the present disclosure, a binding machine can be provided that can prevent any of a plurality of wires from moving in a direction toward the other wires within a curl guide.

[0095] 1A... rebar binding machine, 10... main body, 2... magazine, 20... reel, 3... wire feeding section, 30 (30L, 30R)... feed gear, 31... feed motor, 5... curl forming section, 50a, 50c, 50c2, 50d... curl guide, 50b... induction guide, 51, 51c, 51d... first wire guide, 52... second wire guide, 53... third wire guide, 54, 56, 58... suppression section, 54a, 56a, 58a... guide section, 54b, 56b... inclined surface, 58b... vertical wall, 55, 57, 59... parallel guide section, 6... cutting section, 7... binding section, 8... drive section, 80... torsion motor, 81... reducer, W (W1, W2)... wire

Claims

1. A bundling machine comprising: a wire feeding unit that feeds a plurality of wires; a curl forming unit that forms an annular feeding path for winding the plurality of wires fed by the wire feeding unit around an object to be bundled; and a bundling unit that twists the plurality of wires wound around the object to be bundled, wherein the curl forming unit includes: a curl guide that imparts a curl to the plurality of wires fed by the wire feeding unit; and a guiding guide that guides the plurality of wires imparted with the curl by the curl guide to the bundling unit, the curl guide includes: a first wire guide that restricts the position of a wire toward the outer peripheral side in the radial direction with respect to the radial direction of the annular feeding path; a second wire guide that restricts the position of a wire toward one side in the axial direction with respect to the axial direction of the annular feeding path; and a third wire guide that restricts the position of a wire toward the other side in the axial direction, and the curl guide includes a restricting unit that enables the plurality of wires to be arranged side by side between the second wire guide and the third wire guide along the axial direction of the annular feeding path while being in contact with each other, and restricts movement of one wire among the plurality of wires in a direction toward the other wires.

2. The bundling machine according to claim 1, wherein the restricting unit includes a guide portion having different heights along the radial direction of the annular feeding path in the width direction of the first wire guide along the axial direction of the annular feeding path.

3. The bundling machine according to claim 1, wherein the curl guide restricts movement of other wires in a direction toward the one wire through the one wire whose movement is restricted by the restricting unit.

4. The bundling machine according to claim 2, wherein the guide portion includes an inclined surface that inclines in a direction toward the outside along the radial direction of the annular feeding path in the width direction of the first wire guide along the axial direction of the annular feeding path.

5. The bundling machine according to claim 4, wherein the guide portion includes an inclined surface that inclines in a direction toward the outside along the radial direction of the annular feeding path on a side close to the second wire guide, a side close to the third wire guide, or both a side close to the second wire guide and a side close to the third wire guide in the width direction of the first wire guide along the axial direction of the annular feeding path.

6. The binding machine according to claim 2, wherein the guide portion includes a step along the radial direction of the annular feed path in the width direction of the first wire guide along the axial direction of the annular feed path.

7. The binding machine according to claim 6, wherein the guide portion includes a vertical wall facing the second wire guide.

8. The binding machine according to claim 2, wherein the restraining portion is formed on the first wire guide along the circumferential direction of the annular feed path.

9. The binding machine according to claim 8, wherein the restraining portion is provided upstream of the curl guide with respect to the feeding direction of the wire fed in the forward direction by the wire feeding portion.

10. The binding machine according to claim 9, wherein the restraining portion is provided in at least 1 / 4 range of the annular feed path in the circumferential direction of the annular feed path.

11. The binding machine according to claim 9, wherein the curl guide includes a parallel guide portion formed by a surface along the axial direction of the annular feed path on the downstream side of the restraining portion with respect to the feeding direction of the wire fed in the forward direction by the wire feeding portion.

12. The binding machine according to claim 11, wherein the height of the restraining portion along the radial direction of the annular feed path gradually changes toward the parallel guide portion.

13. A wire feeding portion for feeding a plurality of wires, a curl forming portion for forming an annular feed path for winding a plurality of wires fed by the wire feeding portion around an object to be bound, and a binding portion for twisting a plurality of wires wound around the object to be bound. The curl forming portion includes a curl guide for imparting a curl to a plurality of wires fed by the wire feeding portion, and a guiding guide for guiding a plurality of wires imparted with a curl by the curl guide to the binding portion. The curl guide includes a first wire guide for restricting the position of a wire toward the outer peripheral side in the radial direction with respect to the radial direction of the annular feed path, a second wire guide for restricting the position of a wire toward one side in the axial direction with respect to the axial direction of the annular feed path, and a third wire guide for restricting the position of a wire toward the other side in the axial direction. The curl guide includes a guiding portion for guiding one of the plurality of wires toward the second wire guide or the third wire guide while allowing the plurality of wires to be arranged in contact with each other between the second wire guide and the third wire guide along the axial direction of the annular feed path. Binding machine.

14. A wire feeder that feeds a plurality of wires, a curl forming unit that forms an annular feed path for winding the plurality of wires fed by the wire feeder around a bundle, and a bundling unit that twists the plurality of wires wound around the bundle. The curl forming unit includes a curl guide that imparts a curl to the plurality of wires fed by the wire feeder, and a guide guide that guides the plurality of wires imparted with a curl by the curl guide to the bundling unit. The curl guide includes a first wire guide that restricts the position of the wire heading toward the outer peripheral side in the radial direction with respect to the radial direction of the annular feed path, a second wire guide that restricts the position of the wire heading toward one side in the axial direction with respect to the axial direction of the annular feed path, and a third wire guide that restricts the position of the wire heading toward the other side in the axial direction. The curl guide is provided with a suppression portion including a step along the radial direction of the annular feed path in the width direction of the first wire guide along the axial direction of the annular feed path, such that the plurality of wires can be arranged side by side between the second wire guide and the third wire guide along the axial direction of the annular feed path while being in contact with each other. Bundling machine.

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