Reel, binding device, and binding system

Abstract

A reel (20) comprises a columnar part (20a) which constitutes a rotating shaft and around which a wire W that is a metal wire can be wound, a pair of flange parts (20b) that are provided at both axial-direction ends of the columnar part (20a) and protrude in the radial direction from the columnar part (20a), and an information recording unit (20c) disposed in the center along the radial direction and closer to the flange-part (20b) side than one end section of the columnar part (20a).

Description

Reel, binding device and binding system

[0001] The present invention relates to a reel wound with wire, a binding device for binding reinforcing bars with wire, and a binding system equipped with the binding device.

[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] Conventionally, a binding machine called a rebar binding machine has been proposed that feeds wire wound on a reel, winds the wire around two or more rebars, and twists the wire wound around the rebars to bind the two or more rebars with the wire.

[0004] A reel used in such a binding machine is described as a wire disk consisting of an integrally molded shaft tube and two side plates located at both ends of the shaft tube, with an anti-counterfeiting mark using a two-dimensional code in the inner hole of the shaft tube (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0005] China Utility Model Registration No. 219044430

[0006] In order for an identification device to stably identify an anti-counterfeit mark provided on a wire disk that rotates using a wire, the anti-counterfeit mark needs to be provided in a position where the identification device can identify it even when the wire disk rotates. Also, if the anti-counterfeit mark is a two-dimensional code, it can be read optically and is not affected by magnetism caused by the wire, which is a metal wire wound around the barrel.

[0007] However, if the anti-counterfeit mark is made into a medium that can read and write information without contact using radio waves, it will be susceptible to the magnetic influence of the wire, making it difficult to read and write information stably.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and provides a reel that allows stable reading and writing of information, a binding device that uses a wire wound on the reel, and a binding system that includes the binding device.

[0009] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a reel that includes a columnar portion that forms a rotating shaft and can wind a metal wire around, flange portions that are provided at both axial ends of the columnar portion and protrude radially beyond the columnar portion, and an information recording portion that is located closer to the flange portion than one end of the columnar portion and in the radial center.

[0010] The present invention also provides a binding device that includes a reel storage section that stores a reel wound with wire for binding reinforcing bars, the reel having a columnar section that forms a rotation axis and is capable of winding metal wire, flange sections that are provided at both axial ends of the columnar section and protrude radially beyond the columnar section, and an information recording section that is located closer to the flange section than one end of the columnar section and in the center in the radial direction, and the reel storage section is equipped with an information reading and writing section that reads and writes information from and to the information recording section.

[0011] Furthermore, the present invention is a binding system comprising a binding device and a moving body for moving the binding device, wherein the binding device comprises a reel accommodating section for accommodating a reel wound with wire for binding reinforcing bars, the reel comprising a columnar section forming a rotation axis and capable of winding metal wire, flange sections provided at both axial ends of the columnar section and protruding radially from the columnar section, and an information recording section located radially in the center and closer to the flange section than one end of the columnar section, and the reel accommodating section comprises an information reading and writing section for reading and writing information from and to the information recording section.

[0012] In the present invention, information relating to the reel is recorded in the information recording section in a readable and writable manner.

[0013] According to the present invention, the information recording section is positioned at the radial center of the reel, so that its radial position does not change significantly when the reel housed in the reel housing section rotates. Furthermore, the information recording section is suppressed from being affected by magnetism due to the metal wire wound around the columnar section. This allows information related to the reel to be stably written to the information recording section of the reel. Furthermore, information related to the reel can be stably read from the information recording section of the reel. Furthermore, information related to the reel read from the information recording section of the reel and information related to the wire wound on the reel can be updated and written to the information recording section.

[0014] 1 is a side view with essential parts cut away showing an example of a reel and a binding device of the present embodiment; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a reel of the present embodiment; FIG. 3 is a side view showing an example of a binding device of the present embodiment; FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of a binding device of the present embodiment, seen from the back, showing an example of a binding device of the present embodiment; FIG. 5 is a rear view showing an example of a binding device of the present embodiment; FIG. 6 is a side view showing an example of a binding system of the present embodiment; FIG. 7 is an internal configuration diagram showing an example of a reinforcing bar binding machine, seen from the side; FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a binding device of the present embodiment; FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a binding system of the present embodiment; FIG. 10 is a side view showing an example of an operation of the binding device of the present embodiment, with some parts omitted; FIG. 11 is a side view showing an example of an operation of the binding device of the present embodiment, with some parts omitted;

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the reel of the present invention, the binding device using the reel of the present invention, and the binding system including the binding device will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] <Configuration Example of Reel and Binding Device of the Present Embodiment> Fig. 1 is a side view with essential parts broken away showing an example of a reel and binding device of the present embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a reel of the present embodiment. Fig. 3A is a side view showing an example of a binding device of the present embodiment, Fig. 3B is a side view of the example of a binding device of the present embodiment as seen from the rear, and Fig. 3C is a rear view of the example of a binding device of the present embodiment. Fig. 4 is a side view of the example of a binding device of the present embodiment with some components omitted, and Fig. 5 is a side view of an example of a binding system of the present embodiment.

[0017] First, the reel 20 used in the binding device 100 will be described. The reel 20 includes a cylindrical columnar portion 20a that forms a rotation axis and is capable of winding the wire W therearound, flange portions 20b that are provided on both axial ends of the columnar portion 20a and that protrude radially beyond the columnar portion 20a, and an information recording portion 20c that is located closer to the flange portion 20b than one end of the columnar portion 20a and in the center in the radial direction. In other words, the information recording portion 20c may be located in a position that overlaps with the flange portion 20b in the axial direction. The wire W is wound around the columnar portion 20a between the pair of flange portions 20b.

[0018] The information recording unit 20c is a medium that can read and write information without contact using radio waves, such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification).

[0019] The information recording unit 20c includes a recording unit main body 20d and a base 20e. The recording unit main body 20d includes a semiconductor memory, an antenna, and the like (not shown). The recording unit main body 20d is, for example, rectangular in shape and fits within a circle having a diameter r1 of the outer periphery of the columnar unit 20a. The base 20e is made of a magnetic material capable of blocking magnetism. This allows the magnetic material to suppress the influence of magnetism from the wire W, which is a metal wire wound around the columnar unit 20a, on the recording unit main body 20d. The base 20e is, for example, rectangular in shape and is larger than the recording unit main body 20d.

[0020] The information recording unit 20c has a base portion 20e located between the recording unit main body 20d and the reel 20, and the recording unit main body 20d is attached to the end surface 20s of one of the flange portions 20b via the base portion 20e at a position where the recording unit main body 20d is inside a circle the size of the outer diameter of the columnar portion 20a.

[0021] The reel 20 has a hole 20f that penetrates the columnar portion 20a in the radial direction from the outer periphery to the inner periphery. The reel 20 is configured so that the wire W wound around the columnar portion 20a can be seen from the inner periphery of the columnar portion 20a through the hole 20f.

[0022] Next, a description will be given of a binding device 100 that uses a reel 20. The binding device 100 includes a reinforcing bar binding machine 1 that binds the intersections of reinforcing bars S arranged in a grid pattern with wire W, a slack forming unit 2 that pulls out the wire W from the reel 20 and forms slack in the wire W between the reinforcing bar binding machine 1 and the reel 20, and a reel housing unit 200 that houses the reel 20. Note that the slack forming unit 2 does not need to have the function of pulling out the wire W from the reel 20 as long as it can form slack.

[0023] 6 is a side view of the internal configuration of an example of a reinforcing bar binding machine. The reinforcing bar binding machine 1 is an example of a binding machine, and feeds a wire W in the forward direction indicated by an arrow F to wind it around a reinforcing bar S, 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 cut it, and then twists the wire W to bind the reinforcing bar S with the wire W.

[0024] To achieve the above-mentioned functions, the rebar binding machine 1 includes a wire feeding unit 3 that feeds the wire W and a wire guide 4 that guides the wire W. The rebar binding machine 1 also includes a curl forming unit 5 that forms a path for winding the wire W fed by the wire feeding unit 3 around the rebar S, and a cutting unit 6 that cuts the wire W wound around the rebar S. The rebar binding machine 1 further includes a binding unit 7 that twists the wire W wound around the rebar S, and a drive unit 8 that drives the binding unit 7.

[0025] The wire feeding unit 3 includes a pair of feed gears 30 that sandwich and feed the wire W. The rotation of a feed motor 31 (described later) is transmitted to the wire feeding unit 3, causing the feed gear 30 to rotate. As a result, the wire feeding unit 3 feeds the wire W sandwiched between the pair of feed gears 30 along the extension direction of the wire W. In a configuration in which multiple pieces of wire W, for example, two pieces of wire W, are fed to bind the reinforcing bars S, the two pieces of wire W are fed in a parallel state.

[0026] The wire feed 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, i.e., feeding the wire W in the forward direction indicated by arrow F or in the reverse direction indicated by arrow R.

[0027] The wire guides 4 are provided at predetermined positions upstream and downstream of the wire feeding unit 3 with respect to the feeding direction in which the wire W is fed in the forward direction. In a configuration in which two wires W are fed to bind reinforcing bars S, the wire guide 4 provided upstream of the wire feeding unit 3 regulates the radial orientation of the two wires W, aligns the two incoming wires W in parallel, and guides them between a pair of feed gears 30. The wire guide 4 provided downstream of the wire feeding unit 3 regulates the radial orientation of the two wires W, aligns the two incoming wires W in parallel, and guides them to the cutting unit 6 and the curl forming unit 5. Note that the wire guide upstream of the wire feeding unit 3 is not shown in FIG. 6 . The reinforcing bar binding machine 1 is provided with an insertion port 40 through which the wire W enters from outside into a wire guide (not shown) upstream of the wire feeding unit 3.

[0028] The curl forming unit 5 includes a curl guide 50 that curls the wire W fed by the wire feeding unit 3, and an guiding guide 51 that guides the wire W curled by the curl guide 50 to the bundling unit 7. In the rebar bundling machine 1, the path of the wire W fed by the wire feeding unit 3 is regulated by the curl forming unit 5, so that the trajectory of the wire W becomes a loop Ru as shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 6, and the wire W is wound around the rebar S.

[0029] The cutting unit 6 includes a fixed blade unit 60 and a movable blade unit 61 that cuts the wire W in cooperation with the fixed blade unit 60. The cutting unit 6 cuts the wire W by the rotation of the movable blade unit 61 around the fixed blade unit 60 as a fulcrum axis. In the cutting unit 6, the operation of the binding unit 7 is transmitted to the movable blade unit 61.

[0030] The bundling unit 7 includes a locking member 70 that locks the wire W, and a sleeve 71 that operates the locking member 70. The driving unit 8 includes a torsion motor 80 and a reducer 81 that reduces speed and amplifies torque.

[0031] When the binding unit 7 is driven by the drive unit 8, the sleeve 71 activates the locking member 70 to lock the wire W. After the cutting unit 6 cuts the wire W in conjunction with the operation of the sleeve 71, the binding unit 7 twists the wire W by rotating the locking member 70 and the sleeve 71 to bind the reinforcing bar S.

[0032] In the rebar binding machine 1, the binding unit 7 is provided on an imaginary straight line 10L that is along the axial direction of the torsion motor 80, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 6. In addition, when the imaginary straight line 10L of the rebar binding machine 1 is oriented in the vertical direction, a curl guide 50 and an induction guide 51 are provided at the lower end of the machine in a form that protrudes from the main body 10.

[0033] In addition, the rebar binding machine 1 has a wire feeding unit 3 provided on one side along a direction intersecting with the imaginary line 10L, which is a direction intersecting with the axial direction of the twisting motor 80.

[0034] Furthermore, in the binding device 100, a slack forming unit 2 is provided on the side of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1 where the wire feeding unit 3 is provided, i.e., on one side of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1 along a direction intersecting with the imaginary line 10L, which is a direction intersecting with the axial direction of the torsion motor 80. The slack forming unit 2 forms slack in the wire W between the reinforcing bar binding machine 1 and the reel 20.

[0035] In addition, the binding device 100 has a reel storage section 200 provided above the reinforcing bar binding machine 1 in the direction in which the imaginary line 10L, which is the direction along the axial direction of the torsion motor 80, extends.

[0036] The reel housing 200 rotatably and detachably houses a reel 20 around which a long wire W is wound so as to be able to be unwound. The wire W is a wire made of a metal wire that can be plastically deformed, a metal wire coated with resin, or a twisted wire.

[0037] In a configuration in which the reinforcing bar binding machine 1 binds reinforcing bars S with multiple wires W, the reel storage unit 200 stores multiple reels 20 corresponding to the number of wires W, and each reel 20 is configured to rotate and pull out multiple wires W. For example, in a configuration in which the reinforcing bar binding machine 1 binds reinforcing bars S with two wires W, the reel storage unit 200 stores two reels 20 around which one wire W is wound, and each reel 20 is configured to rotate and pull out two wires W. The reel storage unit 200 includes a shaft (not shown) that rotatably supports the reels 20, and rotatably stores the two reels 20 arranged coaxially.

[0038] The reel housing unit 200 includes an information reading / writing unit 201 that reads and writes information from and to the information recording unit 20c. The reel housing unit 200 houses the reel 20 with the information recording unit 20c facing outward. The information reading / writing unit 201 is provided at a position facing but not in contact with the information recording unit 20c of the reel 20 housed in the reel housing unit 200.

[0039] In a configuration in which the rebar tying machine 1 ties rebars S with two wires W, as shown in Figure 3C, the information reading and writing unit 201 is supported on the axial outside of each reel 20 via a support portion 201a, and is positioned opposite the information recording unit 20c of the reel 20 without contact.

[0040] The information recording unit 20c is disposed at the center in the radial direction of the reel 20, so that its radial position does not change significantly when the reel 20 accommodated in the reel accommodating unit 200 rotates. This prevents the information recording unit 20c from moving out of a position where information can be read and written by the information reading and writing unit 201 when the reel 20 rotates due to the drawing out of the wire W.

[0041] The reel accommodating section 200 may be provided with a braking section that allows rotation of the reel 20 in the direction in which the wire W is pulled out, but restricts rotation of the reel 20 in the opposite direction.

[0042] The slack forming unit 2 is an example of a drawing unit, and includes a first slack forming unit 21 and a second slack forming unit 22. The first slack forming unit 21 is an example of a slack forming mechanism, and includes a first slack forming roller 21a, a guide plate 21b, and guide members 21c and 21d.

[0043] The first slack forming roller 21a is an example of a wire pull-out member, and is provided on one side of the wire W extending between the reel 20 stored in the reel storage section 200 and the rebar binding machine 1. The first slack forming roller 21a is in the shape of a disk with a thickness greater than the diameter of the wire W, and a guide surface 21f with which the wire W comes into contact is formed on the outer periphery of the disk. The first slack forming roller 21a is supported between a pair of guide plates 21b so as to be rotatable about a shaft 21g as a fulcrum.

[0044] The guide plates 21b are provided on both sides of the first slack forming roller 21a in the axial direction, sandwiching the first slack forming roller 21a. In a configuration in which the reinforcing bars S are bound with two wires W, the first slack forming rollers 21a are provided on both sides of one guide plate 21b, and a guide plate 21b is provided on the outer side of each of the first slack forming rollers 21a.

[0045] The guide member 21c is provided opposite the guide surface 21f of the first slack forming roller 21a in the path of the wire W entering the first slack forming unit 21. The guide member 21c is provided between the pair of guide plates 21b in the form of, for example, a cylindrical member extending in a direction intersecting with the guide plates 21b.

[0046] The guide member 21d is provided on the path of the wire W exiting the first slack forming portion 21. The guide member 21d is, for example, a roller that is rotatable about a shaft 21h as a fulcrum and is provided between the pair of guide plates 21b.

[0047] The shafts 21h of the guide members 21c and 21d also function as spacers that define the gap between the pair of guide plates 21b.

[0048] The guide plate 21b is shaped to cover at least a portion of the side of the first slack forming roller 21a and at least a portion of the side of the guide members 21c and 21d, and to support the first slack forming roller 21a and the guide members 21c and 21d.

[0049] The second slack forming unit 22 is an example of a slack forming mechanism, and includes a second slack forming roller 22a, a guide plate 22b, and guide members 22c and 22d.

[0050] The second slack forming roller 22a is an example of a wire pull-out member, and is provided on the other side of the wire W extending between the reel 20 stored in the reel storage section 200 and the rebar binding machine 1. The second slack forming roller 22a is in the shape of a disk with a thickness greater than the diameter of the wire W, and a guide surface 22f with which the wire W comes into contact is formed on the outer periphery of the disk. The second slack forming roller 22a is rotatably supported between a pair of guide plates 22b, with a shaft 22g as a fulcrum.

[0051] The guide plates 22b are provided on both sides of the second slack forming roller 22a in the axial direction, sandwiching the second slack forming roller 22a. In a configuration in which the reinforcing bars S are bound with two wires W, the second slack forming rollers 22a are provided on both sides of one guide plate 22b, and a guide plate 22b is provided on the outer side of each of the second slack forming rollers 22a.

[0052] The guide member 22c is provided on the path of the wire W that enters the second slack forming portion 22 from the first slack forming portion 21. The guide member 22c is, for example, a roller that is rotatable about an axis 22h as a fulcrum and is provided between the pair of guide plates 22b.

[0053] The guide member 22d is provided opposite the guide surface 22f of the second slack forming roller 22a in the path of the wire W exiting the second slack forming unit 22. The guide member 22d is provided between the pair of guide plates 22b in the form of, for example, a cylindrical member extending in a direction intersecting with the guide plates 22b.

[0054] The shafts 22h of the guide members 22c and 22d also function as spacers that define the distance between the pair of guide plates 22b.

[0055] The guide plate 22b is shaped to cover at least a portion of the side of the second slack forming roller 22a and at least a portion of the side of the guide members 22c and 22d, and to support the second slack forming roller 22a and the guide members 22c and 22d.

[0056] The binding device 100 includes a first guide portion 21i that guides the movement of the first slack forming portion 21, a second guide portion 22i that guides the movement of the second slack forming portion 22, and a drive portion 25 that moves the first slack forming portion 21 and the second slack forming portion 22.

[0057] The first guide portion 21i, the second guide portion 22i and the drive portion 25 are examples of moving portions, which move the first slack forming portion 21 equipped with the first slack forming roller 21a and the second slack forming portion 22 equipped with the second slack forming roller 22a relatively in directions toward and away from each other along a direction intersecting the extension direction of the wire W.

[0058] The first guide portion 21i movably guides the first slack forming portion 21 in a direction along the feed path WL of the wire W, which is defined by the wire feed portion 3, wire guide 4, etc., as the wire W enters the rebar binding machine 1 from the insertion port 40. The second guide portion 22i movably guides the second slack forming portion 22 in a direction along the feed path WL of the wire W as it enters the rebar binding machine 1. The second guide portion 22i supports the second slack forming portion 22 so that the guide surface 22f of the second slack forming roller 22a is positioned on an extension of the feed path WL of the wire W as it enters the rebar binding machine 1, which is defined by the wire feed portion 3, wire guide 4, etc.

[0059] The drive unit 25 includes a pair of pulleys 25 a, 25 b, a belt 25 c wound around the pulleys 25 a, 25 b, and a motor 25 d that drives one of the pulleys 25 a. The drive unit 25 also includes a first connecting portion 25 e that connects the first slack forming portion 21 and the belt 25 c, and a second connecting portion 25 f that connects the second slack forming portion 22 and the belt 25 c.

[0060] Pulley 25a is provided on the side closer to the rebar binding machine 1 in the movement direction of the first slack forming unit 21 and the second slack forming unit 22. Pulley 25b is provided on the side farther from the rebar binding machine 1 in the movement direction of the first slack forming unit 21 and the second slack forming unit 22. Belt 25c extends in the movement direction of the first slack forming unit 21 and the second slack forming unit 22. First connecting portion 25e is connected to one side of belt 25c extending between the pair of pulleys 25a, 25b, and second connecting portion 25f is connected to the other side of belt 25c extending between the pair of pulleys 25a, 25b.

[0061] One side and the other side of the belt 25c stretching between the pair of pulleys 25a, 25b move in the opposite direction as the pulley 25a is driven by the motor 25d to rotate, whereby the first slack forming portion 21 and the second slack forming portion 22 move relatively toward or away from each other depending on the direction of rotation of the motor 25d.

[0062] The first slack forming roller 21a contacts the wire W from one side as the first slack forming portion 21 and the second slack forming portion 22 move relatively toward and away from each other along a direction intersecting the extension direction of the wire W. The second slack forming roller 22a contacts the wire W from the other side as the first slack forming portion 21 and the second slack forming portion 22 move relatively toward and away from each other along a direction intersecting the extension direction of the wire W.

[0063] The binding device 100 includes a first path changing unit (also referred to as a first guide unit) 23 and a second path changing unit (also referred to as a second guide unit) 24. The first guide unit 23 is provided between the reel 20 and the first slack forming unit 21. The first guide unit 23 directs the path along which the wire W passes between a pair of guide plates 23 a and is pulled out from the reel 20 toward the first slack forming unit 21.

[0064] The second guide portion 24 is provided between the second slack forming portion 22 and the rebar binding machine 1. The second guide portion 24 allows the wire W to pass through when the wire feeding portion 3 feeds the wire W, and may include a braking portion that restricts the passage of the wire W when the slack forming portion 2 forms slack in the wire W.

[0065] The wire W unwound from the reel 20 extends laterally across the axial direction of the torsion motor 80 relative to the rebar binding machine 1, and its path is changed by the first guide unit 23 toward the slack forming unit 2. The wire W passing through the slack forming unit 2 has its path changed by the second slack forming roller 22a toward the wire feed unit 3 of the rebar binding machine 1.

[0066] The binding device 100 includes a guide portion 26 that forms a path through which the wire W passes between the reel 20 and the first guide portion 23. In a configuration in which the reinforcing bars S are bound with two wires W, the first guide portion 23 and the guide portion 26 are provided corresponding to each reel 20. Furthermore, in order to accommodate the difference between the spacing between the two reels 20 and the spacing between the two first guide portions 23, the guide portion 26 guides the path through which the two wires W pass so that the spacing between the paths gradually narrows from each reel 20 toward the first guide portion 23.

[0067] The binding device 100 is equipped with various parts such as a rebar binding machine 1, a reel storage section 200 that stores multiple reels 20, and a slack forming section 2 so that the rebar binding machine 1, the reel storage section 200, and the slack forming section 2 can move as a single unit.

[0068] Therefore, in the binding device 100, the rebar binding machine 1 is attached to the binding machine support portion 101, and the reel storage portion 200 is attached to the storage portion support portion 102. In addition, the binding machine support portion 101 is attached to the storage portion support portion 102. Furthermore, in the binding device 100, the slack forming portion 2 is attached to the slack forming portion support portion 103. In addition, in the binding device 100, the storage portion support portion 102 and the slack forming portion support portion 103 are attached to the support portion 104.

[0069] In the binding device 100, a support part 104 is provided above the rebar binding machine 1 and the reel storage part 200 in the axial direction of the torsion motor 80, and an attachment part 105 to which the robot arm 300 is attached is provided on the support part 104. In addition, a support part 201a that supports the information reading and writing part 201 is provided in a form that extends downward from the support part 104.

[0070] The slack forming unit 2 includes a first slack forming unit 21, a second slack forming unit 22, and a drive unit 25 on one side of the slack forming unit support unit 103, and a control unit 250 for the drive unit 25 on the other side opposite the one side of the slack forming unit support unit 103. The control unit 250 includes a control board (not shown) and a board housing unit 250a in which the control board is housed. The binding device 100 includes a control unit that controls the drive unit 25. Here, the control unit may include a processor, system memory, storage memory, and an input / output interface. The processor may be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU). The system memory may be, for example, a random access memory (RAM). The storage memory may be, for example, a read-only memory (ROM) such as a hard disk or flash memory. The program relating to the binding method is stored in the storage memory and loaded into the system memory. The processor executes the operation of the binding device 100 based on the loaded program.

[0071] As shown in Fig. 6 , the rebar tying machine 1 has the binding unit 7 provided on an imaginary line 10L that is aligned with the axial direction of the torsion motor 80. The imaginary line 10L is coaxial with the rotation axis of the binding unit 7, and the rotation axis of the binding unit 7 is coaxial with the rotation axis of the torsion motor 80. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 5 , the binding device 100 has an attachment unit 105 provided on the imaginary line 10L. As a result, the binding device 100 has the binding unit 7 and the attachment unit 105 provided on the same imaginary line 10L. Therefore, when the rebar tying machine 1 is oriented in the up-down direction with the curl forming unit 5 facing downward, the binding unit 7 is provided vertically below the attachment unit 105.

[0072] In addition, when the binding device 100 is viewed from the side, the reel storage section 200 stores the reel 20 so that the axis of rotation of the reel 20 is located on an imaginary straight line 10L passing through the binding section 7 and the mounting section 105.

[0073] 7 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a binding device according to this embodiment. The control unit 250 controls the feed motor 31 that drives the wire feed unit 3, the torsion motor 80 of the drive unit 8 that drives the binding unit 7, the motor 25d of the drive unit 25 that drives the slack forming unit 2, and the information read / write unit 201 that reads and writes information from and to the information recording unit 20c. The control unit 250 executes control of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1 to bind the reinforcing bars S with the wire W, control of the slack forming unit 2 to pull out the wire W from the reel 20 and form slack in the wire W between the reel 20 and the reinforcing bar binding machine 1, and control of the information read / write unit 201 to read and write information from and to the information recording unit 20c.

[0074] 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a bundling system according to this embodiment. The bundling system 301 includes the bundling device 100 described above, a robot arm 300, and a stand 311 on which the robot arm 300 is mounted.

[0075] In the description of the binding system 301, the X, Y, and Z directions refer to the directions shown in Fig. 8. The X, Y, and Z directions are perpendicular to each other, the XY plane is a substantially horizontal plane, and the Z direction is a direction substantially along the vertical.

[0076] The mount 311 includes four support columns 312 erected at the four corners in the X and Y directions, and a plurality of beams 313 spanning the upper ends of the support columns 312 in the X and Y directions.

[0077] In the bundling system 301, a workpiece B, which is made up of a plurality of reinforcing bars S arranged in a lattice pattern, is held by a workpiece holding unit 302. The workpiece holding unit 302 includes a holding table 321 for holding the workpiece B.

[0078] The holding base 321 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate with four sides aligned along the X and Y directions. Support plates 321a are provided on the four sides of the holding base 321 to support a plurality of reinforcing bars S that constitute the workpiece B. The support plates 321a have a plurality of U-shaped grooves 321b that open upward, and the reinforcing bars S are inserted into the U-shaped grooves 321b. The multiple reinforcing bars S are arranged in a lattice pattern along the X and Y directions with their ends inserted into the U-shaped grooves 321b of the support plates 321a.

[0079] The robot arm 300 is an example of a moving body, and is supported by a moving mechanism 346 to move the binding device 100 to a desired position.

[0080] The moving mechanism 346 includes a Y-direction slider 346a suspended on the beam 313 of the stand 311. The Y-direction slider 346a moves the robot arm 300 in the Y direction. Note that the moving mechanism 346 may include, for example, a mechanism for moving the robot arm 300 in the X direction. Furthermore, if the operating range of the robot arm 300 can cover the entire binding area E2 without relying on the moving mechanism 346, the moving mechanism 346 does not need to be provided.

[0081] The robot arm 300 is a ceiling-suspended articulated robot, and is installed facing downward on a Y-direction slider 346a suspended on a beam 313. Specifically, the robot arm 300 includes a base 341, a plurality of arms 342, an end effector 343, and a plurality of joints 344. Note that the robot arm 300 is not limited to an articulated robot.

[0082] The arms 342 are connected in series with the base portion 341 as a base end portion. The base portion 341 is supported by a Y-direction slider 346a of a movement mechanism 346 and is movable in the Y direction.

[0083] The plurality of joints 344 rotatably connect the base 341, the plurality of arms 342, and the end effector 343. Each joint 344 is provided with a motor (not shown) and is driven by the motor to rotate.

[0084] The end effector 343 is connected to the tips of the multiple arms 342. The binding device 100 is supported on the end effector 343 via the attachment portion 105.

[0085] The binding system 301 moves the binding device 100 with the robot arm 300 along the XY plane along the installation surface of the reinforcing bar S, and also moves the binding device 100 with the robot arm 300 in directions approaching and moving away from the installation surface of the reinforcing bar S, thereby moving the binding device 100 with the robot arm 300 to the position of the intersection P of the object to be bound and performing the binding operation.

[0086] The bundling system 301 may be configured to include an overall photographing unit that photographs the entire work B all at once or for each of its divided areas, and an individual photographing unit that photographs the intersections P of the rebars S to be bound individually at a higher resolution than that of the overall photographing unit.The bundling system 301 may then obtain, from the image information obtained by the individual photographing unit, positional information of the intersections P of the rebars S for each bundling target, which is more accurate than the positional information of each intersection P of the rebars S obtained by photographing the entire work B with the overall photographing unit, and move the bundling device 100 with the robot arm 300.

[0087] <Example of Operation of Binding Device of Present Embodiment> FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are side views showing an example of operation of the binding device of this embodiment, with some components omitted.

[0088] In the binding device 100, depending on the direction of rotation of the motor 25d, the first slack forming unit 21 and the second slack forming unit 22 move relatively away from each other from the standby position shown in Figure 4, etc. to the slack forming position shown in Figure 9A, and also move relatively closer to each other from the slack forming position shown in Figure 9A to the standby position shown in Figure 9B.

[0089] In the binding device 100, when the first slack forming unit 21 moves from the standby position to the slack forming position, the first slack forming roller 21a moves in a direction approaching the rebar binding machine 1. When the first slack forming roller 21a moves in a direction approaching the rebar binding machine 1, the guide surface 21f of the first slack forming roller 21a comes into contact with the wire W from one side of the wire W extending between the reel 20 and the rebar binding machine 1, and pulls the portion of the wire W in contact with the guide surface 21f in a direction approaching the rebar binding machine 1.

[0090] In the binding device 100, when the second slack forming unit 22 moves from the standby position to the slack forming position, the second slack forming roller 22a moves in a direction away from the rebar binding machine 1. When the second slack forming roller 22a moves in a direction away from the rebar binding machine 1, the guide surface 22f of the second slack forming roller 22a comes into contact with the wire W from the other side of the wire W extending between the reel 20 and the rebar binding machine 1, and pulls the portion of the wire W in contact with the guide surface 22f in a direction away from the rebar binding machine 1.

[0091] The wire W entering the rebar binding machine 1 is clamped between a pair of feed gears 30. The pair of feed gears 30 are prevented from rotating due to an external force while the drive of the feed motor 31 is stopped. As a result, even if the second slack forming roller 22a moves in a direction away from the rebar binding machine 1 and a force is applied to the portion of the wire W in contact with the guide surface 22f in a direction away from the rebar binding machine 1, the wire W is prevented from being pulled out from between the pair of feed gears 30 in a direction that would cause it to slip out.

[0092] The path of the wire W pulled out from the reel 20 is changed by the first guide portion 23 between the reel 20 and the first slack forming roller 21a toward the slack forming portion 2. As a result, the first slack forming roller 21a moves in a direction approaching the rebar binding machine 1, and the portion of the wire W in contact with the guide surface 21f is pulled in a direction approaching the rebar binding machine 1, thereby applying a force to pull the wire W out from the reel 20.

[0093] In addition, when the second slack forming roller 22a moves in a direction away from the rebar binding machine 1, the wire W in contact with the guide surface 22f is pulled in a direction away from the rebar binding machine 1, and a force is applied via the first slack forming roller 21a to pull the wire W from the reel 20.

[0094] The reel 20 can rotate when a force is applied to pull out the wire W. As a result, when the first slack forming roller 21 a moves in a direction toward the rebar binding machine 1 and the second slack forming roller 22 a moves in a direction away from the rebar binding machine 1, the reel 20 is rotated in the direction of arrow C and the wire W is pulled out from the reel 20.

[0095] In the binding device 100, when the first slack forming unit 21 moves from the slack forming position to the standby position, the first slack forming roller 21a moves in a direction away from the rebar binding machine 1. When the first slack forming roller 21a moves in a direction away from the rebar binding machine 1, the guide surface 21f moves away from the wire W. Also, in the binding device 100, when the second slack forming unit 22 moves from the slack forming position to the standby position, the second slack forming roller 22a moves in a direction approaching the rebar binding machine 1. When the second slack forming roller 22a moves in a direction approaching the rebar binding machine 1, the guide surface 22f moves away from the wire W. As a result, a slack portion WB is formed in the wire W between the reel 20 and the rebar binding machine 1.

[0096] The second slack forming unit 22 is supported by the second guide unit 22i so that the guide surface 22f is located on an extension of the feed path WL of the wire W entering the rebar binding machine 1, which is defined by the wire feed unit 3, the wire guide 4, etc. The second slack forming unit 22 is also guided by the second guide unit 22i so as to be movable in a direction along the feed path WL of the wire W entering the rebar binding machine 1. This prevents the wire W entering the rebar binding machine 1 from changing significantly with respect to the feed path WL when the second slack forming unit 22 moves from the standby position to the slack forming position, and from the slack forming position to the standby position.

[0097] As shown in Fig. 9B , in the rebar binding machine 1, when a slack portion WB is formed in the wire W by the slack forming unit 2, the wire feeding unit 3 shown in Fig. 6 feeds the wire W in the positive direction indicated by arrow F, and the curl forming unit 5 winds the wire W around the rebar S. When the wire feeding unit 3 feeds the wire W in the positive direction indicated by arrow F, the slack portion WB of the wire W is fed as shown in Fig. 9C . As a result, the force used by the wire feeding unit 3 to feed the wire W in the positive direction indicated by arrow F does not need to rotate the reel 20, reducing the load on the wire feeding unit 3 and suppressing the occurrence of wire feeding defects by the wire feeding unit 3.

[0098] In order to wind the wire W wound around the reinforcing bar S onto the reinforcing bar S, the wire feeding unit 3 feeds the wire W in the reverse direction indicated by the arrow R, and slack is formed in the wire W according to the amount of reverse feeding. This eliminates the need to rotate the reel 20 with the force of the wire feeding unit 3 feeding the wire W in the reverse direction indicated by the arrow R, thereby reducing the load on the wire feeding unit 3 and suppressing the occurrence of wire feeding defects by the wire feeding unit 3.

[0099] In addition, in the binding device 100, the slack forming unit 2 forms a slack WB corresponding to the amount of wire W required in the operation of binding the reinforcing bar S with the reinforcing bar binding machine 1, and then the operation of binding the reinforcing bar S is performed with the reinforcing bar binding machine 1. In addition, the slack forming unit 2 may be operated while the operation of binding the reinforcing bar S with the reinforcing bar binding machine 1 is being performed, and the slack forming unit 2 may form a slack WB corresponding to the amount of wire W required in the operation of binding the next reinforcing bar S.

[0100] The information recording unit 20c records the type of wire W wound around the reel 20, the length of the wire W wound during production, the production date when the wire W was wound around the reel 20, a lot number assigned by the production date, by type of wire W, etc. This information is recorded when the reel 20 is manufactured. The control unit 250 can read this information from the information recording unit 20c using the information reading / writing unit 201.

[0101] The information recording unit 20c may also write information related to the bundling operation, such as the remaining amount of wire W. In a bundling operation in which reinforcing bars S are bundled with wire W, the length (amount) of wire W used in one bundling operation is roughly determined depending on the diameter of the reinforcing bars S. Therefore, the control unit 250 reads the length of the wire W wound around the reel 20 before the bundling operation is performed from the information recording unit 20c using the information reading / writing unit 201. When the control unit 250 performs the bundling operation, it calculates the length of the wire W used depending on the number of bundling operations, subtracts this length from the length of the wire W before the bundling operation, and calculates the remaining amount (length) of wire W wound around the reel 20, and writes this to the information recording unit 20c using the information reading / writing unit 201. This allows the control unit 250 to notify the remaining number of bundling operations possible, etc.

[0102] The information recording unit 20c is attached to the reel 20 in such a position that the base portion 20e is located between the recording unit main body 20d and the reel 20, and the recording unit main body 20d is located inside a circle the size of the outer diameter of the columnar portion 20a.

[0103] This allows the information reading and writing unit 201 to read and write information from and to the information recording unit 20c while suppressing the influence of magnetism from the wire W wound around the reel 20.

[0104] Furthermore, when the wire W is used in the bundling operation, the remaining amount (winding diameter) of the wire W wound around the reel 20 decreases. When the remaining amount of the wire W wound around the reel 20 decreases, the magnetism changes. In response to this, the information recording unit 20c can read and write information using the information reading and writing unit 201 in a state where the influence of the change in magnetism caused by the decrease in the remaining amount of the wire W wound around the reel 20 is suppressed.

[0105] Furthermore, by arranging the information recording section 20c in the center of the radial direction of the reel 20, the radial position does not change significantly when the reel 20 housed in the reel housing section 200 rotates.

[0106] As a result, even if the reel 20 rotates during the bundling operation, the information reading / writing unit 201 can read and write information from and to the information recording unit 20c.

[0107] In addition, the binding device may be configured to have a reel storage section, no slack forming section that forms slack in the wire, and the reel used in a reinforcing bar binding machine that can be held by hand, equipped with the above-mentioned information recording section, and the reel storage section of the reinforcing bar binding machine equipped with the above-mentioned information reading and writing section.

[0108] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing other examples of the reel according to the present embodiment. In the reel 20G shown in Fig. 10A, the information recording unit 20c has a base 20e located between the recording unit main body 20d and the reel 20, and the recording unit main body 20d is attached to the columnar portion 20a, located inside the end surface 20s of one flange 20b, via the base 20e, at a position where the recording unit main body 20d is inside a circle having a diameter equal to the outer periphery of the columnar portion 20a.

[0109] In the reel 20H shown in FIG. 10B, the information recording section 20c does not have a base section 20e, and is attached to the end surface 20s of one flange section 20b at a position inside a circle the size of the outer diameter of the columnar section 20a.

[0110] Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications or alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the components of the above-described embodiments may be combined in any manner without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0111] This application is based on a Japanese patent application (Patent Application No. 2024-105688) filed on June 28, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0112] The present disclosure has the effect of enabling stable reading and writing of information, and is useful for reels, binding devices, binding systems, and the like.

[0113] 100... Binding device, 101... Binding machine support section, 102... Storage section support section, 103... Slack forming section support section, 104... Support section, 105... Mounting section, 1... Rebar binding machine (binding machine), 2... Slack forming section, 20, 20G, 20H... Reel, 20a... Columnar section, 20b... Flange section, 20s... End surface, 20c... Information recording section, 20d... Recording section main body, 20e... Base section, 20f... Hole section, 200... Reel accommodating section, 201... Information reading and writing section, 201a... Support section, 21... First slack forming section (slack forming mechanism section), 21a... First slack forming roller (wire drawing member), 21b... Guide plate, 21c, 21d... Guide member, 21f . . . Guide surface, 21g... shaft, 21h... shaft, 21i... first guide portion, 22... second slack forming portion (slack forming mechanism portion), 22a... second slack forming roller (wire drawing member), 22b... guide plate, 22c, 22d... guide member, 22f... guide surface, 22g... shaft, 22h... shaft, 22i... second guide portion, 23... first guide portion, 23a... guide plate, 24... second guide portion, 25... drive portion, 25a, 25b... pulley, 25c... belt, 25d... motor, 25e... first connecting portion, 25f... second connecting portion, 26... guide portion, 300... robot arm (moving body), 301... binding system

Claims

1. A reel comprising: a columnar portion that forms a rotation axis and can be wound with a metal wire; flange portions provided on both axial ends of the columnar portion and protruding radially beyond the columnar portion; and an information recording portion located on the flange portion side of one end of the columnar portion and in the center of the radial direction.

2. The reel according to claim 1, wherein the information recording section is shaped to fit within a circle whose diameter is the outer periphery of the columnar section.

3. The reel according to claim 1, wherein the information recording unit comprises a recording unit main body and a base part, the base part being made of a magnetic material capable of shielding from magnetism, and the recording unit main body being attached to the reel via the base part.

4. The reel according to claim 3, wherein the recording unit body is shaped to fit within a circle whose diameter is the outer periphery of the columnar portion.

5. The reel according to claim 1, wherein the information recording section is attached to the end face of the flange section.

6. The reel according to claim 1, wherein the columnar portion has a hole passing through it radially from the outer periphery to the inner periphery.

7. A binding device comprising: a reel storage section for storing a reel wound with metal wire for binding reinforcing bars; said reel comprising: a columnar section forming a rotation axis and capable of winding said metal wire; flange sections provided at both axial ends of said columnar section and protruding radially from said columnar section; and an information recording section located at the radial center and closer to said flange section than one end of said columnar section; and said reel storage section comprising an information reading and writing section for reading and writing information from and to said information recording section.

8. A binding system comprising: a binding device; and a moving body for moving the binding device, wherein the binding device comprises a reel accommodating section for accommodating a reel wound with metal wire for binding reinforcing bars, wherein the reel comprises: a columnar section forming a rotation axis and capable of winding the metal wire; flange sections provided on both axial ends of the columnar section and protruding radially beyond the columnar section; and an information recording section located radially center and closer to the flange section than one end of the columnar section, wherein the reel accommodating section comprises an information reading and writing section for reading and writing information from and to the information recording section.

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