Binding device and binding system

Abstract

A binding device (100) comprises: a slack formation part (2) that is provided between a reel housing part (200) and a rebar binding machine (1) and that forms slack in a wire W housed in a reel (20); and a wire return suppression part (230) that is provided between the reel housing part (200) and the slack formation part (2) and that suppresses return of the wire W to the reel (20) in a wire path (220) between the reel (20) and the rebar binding machine.

Description

Binding device and binding system

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a binding device that binds reinforcing bars with a wire and a binding system including the binding device.

[0002] Reinforcing bars are used in concrete structures to improve strength, and the reinforcing bars are bound with wires so that they do not deviate from predetermined positions during concrete pouring.

[0003] Conventionally, a binding machine called a reinforcing bar binding machine has been proposed, which is provided with a wire feeding unit, the wire feeding unit feeds a wire to a binding unit, winds the wire around two or more reinforcing bars, twists the wire wound around the reinforcing bars, and binds the two or more reinforcing bars with the wire.

[0004] A technology in which such a reinforcing bar binding machine is applied to installed and used equipment has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0005] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2023-105958

[0006] When applying a reinforcing bar binding machine to equipment, it is conceivable to adopt a configuration in which a reel with a wire wound thereon is provided outside the reinforcing bar binding machine. In binding equipment in which the reel is provided outside the reinforcing bar binding machine, the reel can be made larger than a reel of a size that can be loaded into a conventional hand-held reinforcing bar binding machine, thereby increasing the storage capacity of the wire.

[0007] On the other hand, in a configuration in which the reel is provided outside the reinforcing bar binding machine, the distance between the reel and the reinforcing bar binding machine is longer than that in a configuration in which the reel is accommodated inside the reinforcing bar binding machine. As a result, the wire pulled out from the reel is prone to slackening between the reel and the reinforcing bar binding machine.

[0008] The reel has a configuration including a core around which the wire is wound, and flange portions projecting radially from both end portions of the core in the axial direction. Further, a pulley may be used as a guide for guiding the wire pulled out from the reel and forming a wire path at an appropriate position. The reel and the pulley are provided with a jump-out suppressing portion such as a flange.

[0009] However, if slack forms in the wire at the point where it is pulled out from the reel or pulley, and the wire moves in the direction of returning to the reel or pulley, the wire may come off the wire ejection suppression mechanism. If the wire is fed again while it is off the wire ejection suppression mechanism, the wire may get tangled in the wire ejection suppression mechanism or other parts, potentially causing a wire feeding malfunction. Also, if slack forms in the wire within the reel and the wire is fed, wire entanglement may occur, potentially causing a wire feeding malfunction.

[0010] This disclosure was made to solve these problems and aims to provide a bundling device and bundling system that can suppress the occurrence of wire feeding failures due to wire slack.

[0011] According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the binding device includes a wire supply unit that supplies wires for binding objects to be bound, a binding unit that binds objects to be bound using wires supplied from the wire supply unit, and a wire return suppression unit that prevents wires from returning to the wire supply unit in the wire path between the wire supply unit and the binding unit.

[0012] According to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a binding system comprises a binding device for binding a plurality of objects to be bound with a wire, and a moving body for moving the binding device, wherein the binding device comprises a wire supply unit for supplying wire, a binding unit for binding objects to be bound with wire supplied from the wire supply unit, and a wire return suppression unit for suppressing the return of wire to the wire supply unit in the wire path between the wire supply unit and the binding unit.

[0013] According to this disclosure, in the wire path between the wire supply unit and the binding unit, if a force is applied that causes the wire to move in the direction of returning to the wire supply unit, the return of the wire to the wire supply unit is suppressed by the wire return suppression unit.

[0014] According to this disclosure, the wire is prevented from inadvertently returning to the wire supply unit. This suppresses wire entanglement and reduces the occurrence of wire feeding failures due to wire slack.

[0015] This is a side view showing an example of a binding device according to this embodiment. This is a side view showing an example of a binding device according to this embodiment, with some parts omitted from the illustration. This is a side view showing an example of a binding device according to this embodiment, viewed from the back. This is an internal configuration diagram showing an example of a rebar binding machine, viewed from the side. This is a configuration diagram showing an example of a first embodiment of the wire return restraint unit. This is a configuration diagram showing an example of a first embodiment of the wire return restraint unit. This is a configuration diagram showing an example of a second embodiment of the wire return restraint unit. This is a configuration diagram showing an example of a second embodiment of the wire return restraint unit. This is a perspective view showing an example of a binding system according to this embodiment. This is a side view showing an example of a binding device incorporated into the binding system. This is a side view showing an example of the operation of the binding device according to this embodiment, with some parts omitted from the illustration. This is a side view showing an example of the operation of the binding device according to this embodiment, with some parts omitted from the illustration. This is a side view showing an example of the operation of the binding device according to this embodiment, with some parts omitted from the illustration.

[0016] Embodiments of the binding device and binding system of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0017] <Example of the configuration of the binding device of this embodiment> Figure 1 is a side view showing an example of the binding device of this embodiment, Figure 2 is a side view showing an example of the binding device of this embodiment with some parts omitted from the illustration, and Figure 3 is a side view of an example of the binding device of this embodiment as seen from the back.

[0018] The binding device 100 includes a rebar binding machine 1 that binds the intersections of reinforcing bars S arranged in a grid pattern with wire W as the object to be bound, a slack forming unit 2 that pulls out the wire W from the reel 20 and creates slack in the wire W between the rebar binding machine 1 and the reel 20, and a reel housing unit 200 in which the reel 20 is housed.

[0019] Figure 4 is a side view of the internal configuration of an example of a rebar tying machine. The rebar tying machine 1 is an example of a tying section in which the wire W is fed in the forward direction indicated by arrow F and wrapped around the rebar S, the wire W that has been wrapped around the rebar S is fed in the reverse direction indicated by arrow R and wrapped around the rebar S and cut, the wire W is then twisted and the rebar S is tied with the wire W.

[0020] The rebar tying machine 1 includes a wire feeding unit 3 for feeding the wire W and a wire guide 4 for guiding the wire W, in order to achieve the functions described above. The rebar tying machine 1 also includes a curling 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 for cutting the wire W wound around the rebar S. Furthermore, the rebar tying machine 1 includes a wire twisting unit 7 for twisting the wire W wound around the rebar S, and a drive unit 8 for driving the wire twisting unit 7.

[0021] The wire feeding unit 3 is equipped with a pair of feed gears 30 that grip and feed the wire W. The feed gears 30 rotate when the rotational motion of a feed motor (not shown) is transmitted to the wire feeding unit 3. As a result, the wire feeding unit 3 feeds the wire W, which is gripped between the pair of feed gears 30, along the direction in which the wire W extends. In a configuration in which multiple wires, for example two wires W are fed to tie together reinforcing bars S, the two wires W are fed in parallel.

[0022] The wire feeding unit 3 switches the rotation direction of the feed gear 30 by switching the forward and reverse rotation direction of a feed motor (not shown), thereby switching the forward and reverse feeding direction of the wire W, either feeding the wire W in the forward direction indicated by arrow F or in the reverse direction indicated by arrow R.

[0023] The wire guides 4 are provided at predetermined positions on the upstream and downstream sides of the wire feeding section 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 and reinforcing bars S are tied together, the wire guide 4 provided on the upstream side of the wire feeding section 3 restricts the radial direction of the two wires W and guides the two incoming wires W in parallel between the pair of feeding gears 30. The wire guide 4 provided on the downstream side of the wire feeding section 3 restricts the radial direction of the two wires W and guides the two incoming wires W in parallel to the cutting section 6 and the curl forming section 5. Note that the wire guide on the upstream side of the wire feeding section 3 is not shown in Figure 4.

[0024] The curl-forming section 5 includes a curl guide 50 that gives the wire W, which is fed by the wire feeding section 3, a guide guide 51 that guides the wire W, which has been given a curl by the curl guide 50, to the wire twist section 7. In the rebar tying machine 1, the path of the wire W fed by the wire feeding section 3 is restricted by the curl-forming section 5, so that the trajectory of the wire W becomes a loop Ru as shown by the dashed line in Figure 2, and the wire W is wrapped around the rebar S.

[0025] The cutting unit 6 comprises a fixed blade section 60 and a movable blade section 61 that cuts the wire W in cooperation with the fixed blade section 60. The cutting unit 6 cuts the wire W by the rotational movement of the movable blade section 61 with the fixed blade section 60 as the pivot axis. In the cutting unit 6, the movement of the wire twisting section 7 is transmitted to the movable blade section 61.

[0026] The wire twisting section 7 includes a locking member 70 for securing the wire W and a sleeve 71 for operating the locking member 70. The drive unit 8 includes a torsion motor 80 and a reduction gear 81 for reducing speed and amplifying torque.

[0027] The wire twisting section 7 is driven by the drive unit 8, which causes the sleeve 71 to activate the locking member 70 and lock the wire W. After the wire W is cut by the cutting section 6, which is linked to the movement of the sleeve 71, the wire twisting section 7 twists the wire W through the rotational movement of the locking member 70 and the sleeve 71 to tie the reinforcing bar S.

[0028] The rebar tying machine 1 has a wire twisting section 7 located on a virtual straight line 10L that aligns with the axial direction of the twisting motor 80, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 4. Furthermore, when the orientation of the virtual straight line 10L is aligned with the vertical direction, the rebar tying machine 1 has a curl guide 50 and a guide 51 that protrude from the main body 10 at the lower end.

[0029] Furthermore, the rebar tying machine 1 has a wire feeding section 3 on one side that is aligned with a direction that intersects with a virtual straight line 10L, which is in a direction that intersects with the axial direction of the torsion motor 80.

[0030] Furthermore, the binding device 100 has a slack-forming section 2 on the side of the rebar binding machine 1 where the wire feeding section 3 is provided, that is, on one side of the rebar binding machine 1 that intersects with a virtual straight line 10L which is in a direction that intersects with the axial direction of the torsion motor 80. The slack-forming section 2 is a member that forms slack in the wire W between the rebar binding machine 1 and the reel 20. By forming slack in the wire W, it is possible to reliably wrap the wire around the rebar S by feeding the wire in a way that collects the slack during the binding operation. The slack-forming section 2 may also be called a pull-out roller 2 because it pulls the wire W out from the reel 20 when forming slack in the wire W.

[0031] Furthermore, the binding device 100 is provided with a reel housing section 200 above the rebar binding machine 1, in the direction in which the virtual straight line 10L, which is in the direction along the axial direction of the torsion motor 80, extends.

[0032] The reel housing section 200 is an example of a wire supply section, in which a reel 20, on which a long wire W is wound so as to be able to be unwound, is rotatably and detachably housed. The wire supply section supplies wire to the binding section and includes a wire storage member that stores a large amount of wire, and a wire path forming member (including a wire path changing member that bends the wire path) that is arranged in the wire path between the wire storage member and the binding section to form the wire path. In other words, it is a member that is arranged upstream of the binding section in the wire path formed by the wire sent to the binding section. The wire W is made of a metal wire that can be plastically deformed, a metal wire coated with resin, or a stranded wire. The reel 20 is an example of a wire supply section and includes a core 20a on which the wire W is wound, and flange portions 20b that protrude radially from both ends in the axial direction of the core 20a. The core 20a is an example of a circumferential surface portion on which the wire W is wound, at least in part, and the flange portions 20b are an example of a spout suppression portion that protrudes from the circumferential surface portion. The wire W is wound around the core 20a between a pair of flange portions 20b.

[0033] In a configuration where the rebar tying machine 1 ties rebars S with one wire W, the reel storage section 200 houses one reel 20 with one wire W wound around it, and the reel 20 rotates, allowing one wire W to be pulled out. In a configuration where the rebar tying machine 1 ties rebars S with multiple wires W, the reel storage section 200 houses multiple reels 20 corresponding to the number of wires W, and each reel 20 rotates, allowing multiple wires W to be pulled out. For example, in a configuration where the rebar tying machine 1 ties rebars S with two wires W, the reel storage section 200 houses two reels 20 with one wire W wound around them, in this example, reel 20L shown in Figure 1 and reel 20R shown in Figure 3, and each reel 20L and 20R rotates, allowing a total of two wires W to be pulled out.

[0034] The reel housing section 200 may be equipped with a braking section that allows rotation of the reel 20 in the direction in which the wire W is pulled out (the direction in which it is sent to the rebar tying machine 1), and restricts rotation of the reel 20 in the opposite direction.

[0035] The slack-forming section 2 comprises a first slack-forming section 21 and a second slack-forming section 22. The first slack-forming section 21 comprises a first slack-forming roller 21a, a guide plate 21b, and guide members 21c and 21d.

[0036] The first slack-forming roller 21a is a disc shape with a thickness greater than the diameter of the wire W, and a guide surface 21f is formed on the outer circumference of the disc, in contact with the wire W. The first slack-forming roller 21a is rotatably supported between a pair of guide plates 21b, with the shaft 21g as the pivot point.

[0037] 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 where the reinforcing bars S are bound together with two wires W, the first slack-forming rollers 21a are provided on both sides of one guide plate 21b, and guide plates 21b are provided on the outside of each of the first slack-forming rollers 21a.

[0038] The guide member 21c is provided on the path of the wire W entering the first slack forming portion 21 so as to face the guide surface 21f of the first slack forming roller 21a. The guide member 21c is, for example, a columnar member that is provided between the pair of guide plates 21b in a form extending in a direction intersecting the guide plates 21b.

[0039] The guide member 21d is provided on the path of the wire W exiting from the first slack forming portion 21. For the guide member 21d, for example, a roller rotatable about a shaft 21h as a fulcrum is provided between the pair of guide plates 21b.

[0040] The shaft 21h of the guide member 21c and the guide member 21d also functions as a spacer that defines the interval between the pair of guide plates 21b.

[0041] The guide plate 21b covers at least a part of the side of the first slack forming roller 21a and at least a part of the sides of the guide members 21c and 21d, and has a shape capable of supporting the first slack forming roller 21a and the guide members 21c and 21d.

[0042] The second slack forming portion 22 includes a second slack forming roller 22a, a guide plate 22b, and guide members 22c and 22d.

[0043] The second slack forming roller 22a has a disc shape whose plate thickness is thicker than the diameter of the wire W, and a guide surface 22f with which the wire W is in contact is formed on the outer circumference of the disc. The second slack forming roller 22a is rotatably supported between the pair of guide plates 22b with a shaft 22g as a fulcrum.

[0044] The guide plates 22b are provided on both axial sides of the second slack forming roller 22a with the second slack forming roller 22a interposed therebetween. In a configuration where a reinforcing bar S is bound by two wires W, the second slack forming rollers 22a are provided on both sides of one guide plate 22b, and the guide plates 22b are provided on the outer side of each of the second slack forming rollers 22a, respectively.

[0045] The guide member 22c is provided on the path of the wire W entering the second slack forming portion 22 from the first slack forming portion 21. For the guide member 22c, for example, a roller rotatable around a shaft 22h as a fulcrum is provided between a pair of guide plates 22b.

[0046] The guide member 22d is provided on the path of the wire W exiting from the second slack forming portion 22, so as to face the guide surface 22f of the second slack forming roller 22a. For the guide member 22d, for example, a columnar member is provided between a pair of guide plates 22b in a form extending in a direction intersecting with the guide plates 22b.

[0047] The shaft 22h of the guide member 22c and the guide member 22d also functions as a spacer that defines the spacing between the pair of guide plates 22b.

[0048] The guide plate 22b covers at least a part of a side of the second slack forming roller 22a and at least a part of sides of the guide members 22c and 22d, and has a shape capable of supporting the second slack forming roller 22a and the guide members 22c and 22d.

[0049] The binding device 100 includes a first guide portion 21i that guides movement of the first slack forming portion 21, a second guide portion 22i that guides movement of the second slack forming portion 22, and a driving portion 25 that moves the first slack forming portion 21 and the second slack forming portion 22.

[0050] 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 entering the reinforcing bar binding machine 1 defined by the wire feed portion 3, the wire guide 4, and the like. 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 entering the reinforcing bar binding machine 1. The second guide portion 22i supports the second slack forming portion 22 such that the guide surface 22f of the second slack forming roller 22a is located on an extension line of the feed path WL of the wire W entering the reinforcing bar binding machine 1 defined by the wire feed portion 3, the wire guide 4, and the like.

[0051] The drive unit 25 includes a pair of pulleys 25a and 25b, a belt 25c stretched over the pulleys 25a and 25b, and a motor 25d that drives one of the pulleys 25a. The drive unit 25 also includes a first connecting part 25e that connects the first slack-forming part 21 to the belt 25c, and a second connecting part 25f that connects the second slack-forming part 22 to the belt 25c.

[0052] Pulley 25a is provided on the side closer to the rebar tying machine 1, along the direction of movement of the first slack-forming portion 21 and the second slack-forming portion 22. Pulley 25b is provided on the side further away from the rebar tying machine 1, along the direction of movement of the first slack-forming portion 21 and the second slack-forming portion 22. Belt 25c extends along the direction of movement of the first slack-forming portion 21 and the second slack-forming portion 22. The first connecting portion 25e is connected to one side of the belt 25c extending between the pair of pulleys 25a and 25b, and the second connecting portion 25f is connected to the other side of the belt 25c extending between the pair of pulleys 25a and 25b.

[0053] One side and the other side of the belt 25c, which extends between a pair of pulleys 25a and 25b, move in opposite directions as the pulley 25a rotates, driven by the motor 25d. As a result, depending on the direction of rotation of the motor 25d, the first slack-forming portion 21 and the second slack-forming portion 22 move in directions toward and toward each other.

[0054] As shown in Figure 1, the slack-forming section 2 has a first slack-forming section 21, a second slack-forming section 22, and a drive section 25 on one side of the slack-forming section support section 103, and a control unit 250 for the drive section 25 and the like is provided on the other side of the slack-forming section support section 103. The control unit 250 includes a control board (not shown) and a board housing section 250a in which the control board is housed.

[0055] The bundling device 100 includes a first guide section 23 and a second guide section 24. The first guide section 23 is an example of a wire supply section and is provided in the wire path between the reel 20 and the first slack-forming section 21. The first guide section 23 includes a disc-shaped pulley (not shown) on which the wire W is in contact with the outer surface and on which the wire W is wound at least partially, and guide plates 23b that protrude radially from both ends of the pulley in the axial direction. The guide plates 23b are an example of a sprawl-preventing section that protrudes from the pulley. The first guide section 23 directs the path through which the wire W passes when it is pulled out from the reel 20 toward the first slack-forming section 21, with the wire W passing between the pair of guide plates 23b.

[0056] The second guide section 24 is provided between the second slack-forming section 22 and the rebar tying machine 1. The second guide section 24 may be equipped with a braking section that allows the wire W to pass through when the wire feeding section 3 is feeding the wire W, and restricts the passage of the wire W when the slack-forming section 2 is forming slack in the wire W.

[0057] The wire W pulled out from the reel 20 extends laterally toward the rebar tying machine 1, intersecting the axial direction of the twisting motor 80, and its path is changed toward the slack-forming section 2 by the first guide section 23. The wire W passing through the slack-forming section 2 has its path changed toward the wire feeding section 3 of the rebar tying machine 1 by the second slack-forming roller 22a.

[0058] The bundling device 100 includes a path guide section 26 between the reel 20 and the first guide section 23, which forms a path for the wire W to pass through. The path guide section 26 is, for example, annular, and the wire W passes through the inside of the annular shape. Here, the path guide section 26 may also be called a guide ring 26, and its shape and other aspects are not particularly limited as long as it is a structure that guides the wire W through the inside of the guide ring 26. The path guide section 26 is provided at multiple locations between the reel 20 and the first guide section 23, in this example at two locations, with the path guide section 26a provided on the side closer to the reel 20 and the path guide section 26b provided on the side closer to the first guide section 23.

[0059] The tying device 100 forms a wire path 220 between the reel housing 200 and the rebar tying machine 1, passing through a path guide section 26, a first guide section 23, and a slack-forming section 2. In a configuration where the rebar tying machine 1 ties rebars S with two wires W, a wire path 220L is formed between the reel housing 200 and the slack-forming section 2, through which the wire W drawn from the reel 20L shown in Figure 1 passes, and a wire path 220R is formed between the reel housing 200 and the slack-forming section 2, through which the wire W drawn from the reel 20R shown in Figure 3 passes. The path guide section 26 restricts changes in the wire path 220, such as the wire W moving in a direction intersecting the wire path 220 formed between the reel housing and the wire return restraint section 230, by allowing the wire W to pass through the inside of the annular section. Note that the restriction of changes in the wire path 220 is not to completely prevent movement, and unavoidable movement may occur due to the members used for restriction. In a configuration where the rebar tying machine 1 ties rebars S with two wires W, a path guide section 26 is provided in each of the wire paths 220L and 220R.

[0060] The binding device 100 includes a wire return restraint section 230 between the reel housing section 200 and the rebar binding machine 1. The wire return restraint section 230 is a member that restrains the return of the wire to the wire supply section, that is, a member that restrains the wire W between the rebar binding machine 1 and the reel 20 from moving toward the reel housing section 200. In other words, the wire return restraint section 230 is a member that, in the wire feeding direction, with the reel housing section 200 as the upstream and the rebar binding machine 1 as the downstream, restrains the wire from moving from downstream to upstream. By restraining the return of the wire toward the reel housing section 200 side (upstream side), it prevents the wire between the reel housing section 200 and the rebar binding machine 1 from becoming loose (excessive looseness). If looseness occurs, wire entanglement may occur, or the wire may get caught in some place, which may prevent normal binding. In this embodiment, the wire return restraint section 230 is provided in the wire path 220 between the path guide section 26a and the path guide section 26b, between the reel housing section 200 and the first guide section 23. That is, the wire return restraint section 230 is provided between the reel 20 housed in the reel housing section 200 and the path guide section 26b.

[0061] Figures 5 and 6 are configuration diagrams showing an example of a first embodiment of the wire return restraint unit. The wire return restraint unit 230A of the first embodiment includes a pair of rollers 231 and 232 facing each other across the wire path 220. The rollers 231 and 232 are equipped with a ratchet mechanism, a one-way clutch, a one-way bearing, etc., which allows rotation in the first direction indicated by arrow C1, but restricts rotation in the second direction indicated by arrow C2, which is opposite to the first direction. In other words, the resistance to the movement of the wire W in the direction in which the wire W is fed should be small enough not to affect the wire feed, and the resistance to the movement of the wire W in the direction in which the wire W is fed should be large.

[0062] The wire return restraint section 230A holds the wire W between rollers 231 and 232, with the wire W passing between rollers 231 and 232, while the wire W is in contact with the outer surfaces of rollers 231 and 232.

[0063] As shown in Figure 5, when the wire W, which is sandwiched between rollers 231 and 232, attempts to move in the direction of being pulled out from the reel 20 indicated by arrow D1, a force is applied that causes rollers 231 and 232 to rotate in the first direction indicated by arrow C1. Since rollers 231 and 232 are permitted to rotate in the first direction, they rotate in the first direction in accordance with the forward feeding of the wire W. Therefore, the portion of the wire W that passes through the wire return restraint section 230A is movable in the direction of being pulled out from the reel 20 indicated by arrow D1. Consequently, it is possible to pull out the wire W from the reel 20 housed in the reel housing section 200.

[0064] In contrast, as shown in Figure 6, when the wire W, which is clamped between rollers 231 and 232, attempts to move in the direction of returning to the reel 20 (the direction of moving from the rebar tying machine 1 to the reel housing 200) indicated by arrow D2, a force is applied that attempts to rotate rollers 231 and 232 in the second direction indicated by arrow C2. However, the rotation of rollers 231 and 232 in the second direction is restricted. Therefore, the wire W is prevented from moving in the direction of returning to the reel 20 (indicated by arrow D2) at the point where it passes through the wire return restraint section 230A. Consequently, the wire W is prevented from returning towards the reel 20 housed in the reel housing 200.

[0065] Figures 7 and 8 are configuration diagrams showing an example of a second embodiment of the wire return restraint unit. The wire return restraint unit 230B of the second embodiment includes a pair of clamping members 233 and 234 facing each other across the wire path 220, and a return restraint drive unit 235 that moves the clamping members 233 and 234 in directions toward and toward relative proximity. Here, the pair of clamping members 233 and 234 may also be referred to as clamps 233 and 234. The return restraint drive unit 235 is an actuator 235 having a structure that applies driving force to the pair of clamping members 233 and 234, and its driving method is electric, compressed air, hydraulic, etc., but is not particularly limited.

[0066] When the clamping members 233 and 234 of the wire return restraint section 230B move in the direction of relative separation indicated by arrow E1, a gap is formed between the clamping members 233 and 234 through which the wire W can pass. Also, when the clamping members 233 and 234 of the wire return restraint section 230B move in the direction of relative proximity indicated by arrow E2, the wire W is clamped between the clamping members 233 and 234 in a state where its movement is restrained.

[0067] The wire return restraint unit 230B increases the resistance to movement of the wire W when the wire W is moving in the direction to be returned to the reel 20, compared to the resistance to movement of the wire W when the wire W is moving in the direction to be pulled out from the reel 20.

[0068] Therefore, as shown in Figure 7, at the moment when the wire W attempts to move in the direction of being pulled out from the reel 20 indicated by arrow D1, the wire return restraint unit 230B moves the clamping members 233 and 234 in the direction of being separated relative to each other, indicated by arrow E1. When the clamping members 233 and 234 move in the direction of being separated relative to each other, a gap is formed between the clamping members 233 and 234 through which the wire W can pass. Thus, the portion of the wire W that passes through the wire return restraint unit 230B can move in the direction of being pulled out from the reel 20 indicated by arrow D1. Consequently, it is possible to pull out the wire W from the reel 20 housed in the reel housing unit 200.

[0069] In contrast, as shown in Figure 8, at the moment when the wire W attempts to move in the direction to be returned to the reel 20 indicated by arrow D2, the wire return restraint unit 230B moves the clamping members 233 and 234 toward relative proximity, indicated by arrow E2. When the clamping members 233 and 234 move toward relative proximity, the wire W is clamped between the clamping members 233 and 234 in a state where its movement is restrained. Therefore, the wire W is prevented from moving in the direction to be returned to the reel 20 indicated by arrow D2 at the point where it passes through the wire return restraint unit 230B. Consequently, the wire W is prevented from returning toward the reel 20 housed in the reel housing unit 200.

[0070] In a configuration where the rebar tying machine 1 ties rebars S with two wires W, the wire return restraints 230 (230A, 230B) are provided in the wire path 220L through which the wire W drawn out from the reel 20L shown in Figure 1 passes, and in the wire path 220R through which the wire W drawn out from the reel 20R shown in Figure 3 passes.

[0071] The binding device 100 has the rebar binding machine 1 attached to the binding machine support part 101, and the reel housing part 200 attached to the housing part support part 102. The binding machine support part 101 is also attached to the housing part support part 102. Furthermore, the binding device 100 has the slack-forming part 2 attached to the slack-forming part support part 103. In addition, the binding device 100 has the housing part support part 102 and the slack-forming part support part 103 attached to the support part 104.

[0072] The binding device 100 has a support portion 104 provided above the rebar binding machine 1 and the reel storage section 200, along the axial direction of the torsion motor 80, and the support portion 104 is provided with a mounting portion 105 to which the robot arm 300, which will be described later, is attached.

[0073] <Example of the configuration of the binding system of this embodiment> Figure 9 is a perspective view showing an example of the binding system of this embodiment, and Figure 10 is a side view showing an example of a binding device incorporated into the binding system. The binding system 301 comprises the binding device 100 described above, a robot arm 300, and a frame 311 on which the robot arm 300 is mounted.

[0074] In the description of the binding system 301, the XYZ directions refer to the orientations shown in Figure 9. The XYZ directions are mutually orthogonal, the XY plane is approximately horizontal, and the Z direction is approximately vertical.

[0075] The frame 311 comprises four support columns 312 erected at the four corners in the X and Y directions, and a plurality of beams 313 that span across the upper ends of the support columns 312 in the X and Y directions.

[0076] The binding system 301 holds a workpiece B, which consists of multiple reinforcing bars S arranged in a grid pattern, in a workpiece holding section 302. The workpiece holding section 302 includes a holding base 321 for holding the workpiece B.

[0077] The support base 321 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate with its four sides aligned in the X and Y directions. Support plates 321a are erected on the four sides of the support 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 these U-shaped grooves 321b. The plurality of reinforcing bars S are arranged in a grid pattern along the X and Y directions with their ends inserted into the U-shaped grooves 321b of the support plates 321a.

[0078] The robot arm 300 is an example of a moving body, supported by the moving mechanism 346, and moves the binding device 100 to a desired position. As shown in Figure 10, the robot arm 300 is connected to the mounting part 105 of the binding device 100.

[0079] The moving mechanism 346 includes a Y-direction slider 346a that spans the beam 313 of the frame 311. The Y-direction slider 346a moves the robot arm 300 in the Y direction. The moving mechanism 346 may also include a mechanism for moving the robot arm 300 in the X direction, for example. Furthermore, if the operating range of the robot arm 300 can cover the entire binding area without relying on the moving mechanism 346, the moving mechanism 346 may not be provided.

[0080] The robot arm 300 is a ceiling-mounted, articulated robot, installed facing downwards on a Y-axis slider 346a suspended over a beam 313. Specifically, the robot arm 300 comprises a base 341, multiple arms 342, an end effector 343, and multiple joints 344. Note that the robot arm 300 is not limited to an articulated robot.

[0081] Multiple arms 342 are connected in series to each other with a base portion 341 as their base end. The base portion 341 is supported by a Y-direction slider 346a of the moving mechanism 346 and is movable in the Y direction.

[0082] Multiple joints 344 rotatably connect the base 341, multiple arms 342, and end effector 343. Each joint 344 is equipped with a motor (not shown) and rotates when driven by the motor.

[0083] The end effector 343 is connected to the ends of multiple arms 342. The binding device 100 is supported on the end effector 343 via the mounting portion 105.

[0084] The binding system 301 uses a robot arm 300 to move the binding device 100 to the position of the intersection point P to be bound, and then performs the binding operation.

[0085] The tying system 301 may be configured to include an overall imaging unit that photographs the entire workpiece B at once or in multiple divided regions, and an individual imaging unit that photographs the intersections P of the reinforcing bars S to be tied individually with a higher resolution than that of the overall imaging unit. Furthermore, the tying system 301 may obtain positional information for the intersections P of each reinforcing bar S to be tied from the image information obtained by the individual imaging unit, which is more accurate than the positional information for each intersection P of the reinforcing bars S obtained by photographing the entire workpiece B with the overall imaging unit, and use the robot arm 300 to move the tying device 100.

[0086] <Example of operation of the binding device of this embodiment> Figures 11, 12, and 13 are side views showing an example of the operation of the binding device of this embodiment, with some parts omitted from the illustration.

[0087] In the binding device 100, depending on the direction of rotation of the motor 25d, the first slack-forming section 21 and the second slack-forming section 22 move from the standby position shown in Figures 1 and 3 to the slack-forming position shown in Figure 11, moving in a direction away from each other, and then move from the slack-forming position shown in Figure 11 to the standby position shown in Figure 12, moving in a direction closer to each other.

[0088] When the first slack-forming unit 21 of the binding device 100 moves from the standby position to the slack-forming position, the first slack-forming roller 21a moves in a direction toward the rebar binding machine 1. When the first slack-forming roller 21a moves toward the rebar binding machine 1, the guide surface 21f comes into contact with the wire W, and the portion of the wire W in contact with the guide surface 21f is pulled toward the rebar binding machine 1.

[0089] When the second slack-forming section 22 of the binding device 100 moves from the standby position to the slack-forming position, the second slack-forming roller 22a moves away from the rebar binding machine 1. When the second slack-forming roller 22a moves away from the rebar binding machine 1, the guide surface 22f comes into contact with the wire W, and the portion of the wire W in contact with the guide surface 22f is pulled away from the rebar binding machine 1.

[0090] The wire W entering the rebar tying machine 1 is held between a pair of feed gears 30. The pair of feed gears 30 are prevented from rotating by external forces while the drive of the feed motor (not shown) is stopped. As a result, even if the second slack-forming roller 22a moves away from the rebar tying machine 1 and a force is applied to pull the portion of the wire W in contact with the guide surface 22f away from the rebar tying machine 1, the wire W is prevented from being pulled out from between the pair of feed gears 30.

[0091] The wire W pulled out from the reel 20 has its path changed by the first guide portion 23 between the reel 20 and the first slack-forming roller 21a, so that it is directed toward the slack-forming portion 2. As a result, the first slack-forming roller 21a moves toward the rebar tying machine 1, and the portion of the wire W in contact with the guide surface 21f is pulled toward the rebar tying machine 1, thereby applying a force to pull the wire W out from the reel 20.

[0092] Furthermore, as the second slack-forming roller 22a moves away from the rebar tying machine 1, the portion of the wire W in contact with the guide surface 22f is pulled away from the rebar tying machine 1, thereby applying a force to pull the wire W out of the reel 20 via the first slack-forming roller 21a.

[0093] As shown in Figure 5, in the configuration with the wire return restraint unit 230A, when the slack formation unit 2 operates and a force is applied to pull the wire W from the reel 20, the wire W, which is held between the roller 231 and the roller 232, attempts to move in the direction of being pulled out from the reel 20, as indicated by arrow D1.

[0094] When the wire W, which is sandwiched between rollers 231 and 232, attempts to move in the direction of being pulled out from the reel 20 indicated by arrow D1, a force is applied that causes rollers 231 and 232 to rotate in the first direction indicated by arrow C1. Since rollers 231 and 232 are permitted to rotate in the first direction, they rotate in the first direction in accordance with the forward feeding of the wire W. As a result, the portion of the wire W that passes through the wire return restraint section 230A moves in the direction of being pulled out from the reel 20 indicated by arrow D1. This applies a force that pulls the wire W out of the reel 20 housed in the reel housing section 200.

[0095] As shown in Figure 7, in the configuration with the wire return restraint unit 230B, the control unit 250 controls the return restraint drive unit 235 to move the clamping members 233 and 234 in the relative separation direction indicated by arrow E1, in time with the timing of the movement of the wire W attempting to move in the direction to be pulled out from the reel 20 indicated by arrow D1, that is, the timing of the movement of forming a slack portion in the wire W between the reel 20 and the rebar tying machine 1. When the clamping members 233 and 234 move in the relative separation direction, a gap is formed between the clamping members 233 and 234 through which the wire W can pass.

[0096] Therefore, in the configuration equipped with the wire return restraint section 230B, when the slack-forming section 2 operates and a force is applied to pull the wire W from the reel 20, the portion of the wire W passing through the wire return restraint section 230B moves in the direction indicated by arrow D1, pulling it out from the reel 20. This applies a force to pull the wire W out from the reel 20 housed in the reel housing section 200.

[0097] The reel 20 is rotatable when a force is applied to pull out the wire W. As a result, the first slack-forming roller 21a moves toward the rebar tying machine 1 due to the operation of the slack-forming unit 2, and the second slack-forming roller 22a moves toward the rebar tying machine 1, causing the reel 20 to rotate in the direction of arrow C, and the wire W to be pulled out from the reel 20.

[0098] When the first slack-forming section 21 of the tying device 100 moves from the slack-forming position to the standby position, the first slack-forming roller 21a moves away from the rebar tying machine 1. As the first slack-forming roller 21a moves away from the rebar tying machine 1, the guide surface 21f moves away from the wire W. Also, when the second slack-forming section 22 of the tying device 100 moves from the slack-forming position to the standby position, the second slack-forming roller 22a moves towards the rebar tying machine 1. As the second slack-forming roller 22a moves towards the rebar tying 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 tying machine 1.

[0099] The second slack-forming section 22 is supported by a second guide section 22i such that its guide surface 22f is positioned on the extension of the wire feeding path WL of the wire W entering the rebar tying machine 1, which is defined by the wire feeding section 3 and the wire guide 4. The second slack-forming section 22 is also guided by the second guide section 22i so that it can move in a direction along the wire feeding path WL of the wire W entering the rebar tying machine 1. This suppresses large changes in the wire W entering the rebar tying machine 1 relative to the feeding path WL during the movement of the second slack-forming section 22 from the standby position to the slack-forming position and from the slack-forming position back to the standby position.

[0100] When the first slack-forming section 21 moves from the slack-forming position to the standby position, the guide member 21c guides the wire W between a pair of guide plates 21b. As a result, the pair of guide plates 21b prevent the wire W entering the first slack-forming section 21 from moving in the axial direction of the first slack-forming roller 21a. Therefore, the wire W entering the first slack-forming section 21 is prevented from becoming entangled with the first guide section 23, etc. Furthermore, in a configuration in which two wires W are used to tie together the reinforcing bars S, the entanglement of the two wires W in the slack-forming section 2 is prevented.

[0101] Furthermore, the wire W exiting the first slack-forming section 21 is guided between a pair of guide plates 21b by a guide member 21d. As a result, the pair of guide plates 21b prevent the wire W exiting the first slack-forming section 21 from moving in the axial direction of the first slack-forming roller 21a. Also, the guide member 21d prevents the wire W exiting the first slack-forming section 21 from moving toward the second slack-forming section 22. Therefore, entanglement of the wire W exiting the first slack-forming section 21 with the second slack-forming section 22 and the like is prevented. In addition, in a configuration where two wires W are used to tie the reinforcing bars S together, entanglement of the two wires W in the slack-forming section 2 is prevented.

[0102] Furthermore, the wire W entering the second slack-forming section 22 is guided between a pair of guide plates 22b by a guide member 22c. As a result, the pair of guide plates 22b prevent the wire W entering the second slack-forming section 22 from moving in the axial direction of the second slack-forming roller 22a. Also, the guide member 22c prevents the wire W entering the second slack-forming section 22 from moving toward the first slack-forming section 21. Therefore, the wire W entering the second slack-forming section 22 is prevented from becoming entangled with the first slack-forming section 21 or the like. In addition, in a configuration where the reinforcing bars S are bound together with two wires W, the entanglement of the two wires W in the slack-forming section 2 is prevented.

[0103] Furthermore, the wire W exiting the second slack-forming section 22 is guided between a pair of guide plates 22b by a guide member 22d. As a result, the pair of guide plates 22b prevent the wire W exiting the second slack-forming section 22 from moving in the axial direction of the second slack-forming roller 22a. Therefore, in a configuration where the reinforcing bars S are bound together with two wires W, entanglement of the two wires W in the slack-forming section 2 is prevented.

[0104] As shown in Figure 12, when a slack portion WB is formed in the wire W at the slack-forming section 2, the rebar tying machine 1 feeds the wire W in the forward direction indicated by arrow F at the wire feeding section 3 shown in Figure 4, and wraps it around the rebar S at the curl-forming section 5. When the wire feeding section 3 feeds the wire W in the forward direction indicated by arrow F, the slack portion WB of the wire W is fed as shown in Figure 13. As a result, the force of the wire feeding section 3 feeding the wire W in the forward direction indicated by arrow F does not need to rotate the reel 20, reducing the load on the wire feeding section 3 and suppressing the occurrence of wire feeding defects by the wire feeding section 3.

[0105] In the rebar tying machine 1, when the wire feeding section 3 feeds the wire W in the forward direction indicated by arrow F, the rigidity of the wire W may cause the entire wire W to move toward the rebar tying machine 1 while maintaining the shape of the slack portion WB of the wire W formed in the slack formation section 2.

[0106] As shown in Figure 6, in the configuration with the wire return restraint section 230A, the portion of the wire W sandwiched between the roller 231 and the roller 232 attempts to move in the direction that returns it to the reel 20, as indicated by arrow D2.

[0107] When the wire W, which is held between rollers 231 and 232, attempts to move in the direction that returns it to the reel 20, as indicated by arrow D2, a force is applied that attempts to rotate rollers 231 and 232 in the second direction, as indicated by arrow C2. However, the rotation of rollers 231 and 232 in the second direction is restricted. Therefore, the wire W is prevented from moving in the direction that returns it to the reel 20, as indicated by arrow D2, at the point where it passes through the wire return restraint section 230A. Consequently, even if the entire wire W attempts to move in the direction that approaches the rebar tying machine 1, the wire W between the reel 20 and the wire return restraint section 230A is prevented from returning towards the reel 20.

[0108] As shown in Figure 8, in the configuration equipped with the wire return suppression unit 230B, the clamping members 233 and 234 move in the direction of relative approach indicated by arrow E2 at the timing when the wire W does not move in the direction indicated by arrow D1, that is, at the timing when the wire feeding unit 3 has completed feeding the wire W in the forward direction indicated by arrow F (the feeding operation in the forward direction indicated by arrow F has finished). In detail, there are various reasons why the wire W may move in the direction that returns it to the reel 20, indicated by arrow D2, such as the influence of movement associated with wire feeding and the influence of the elasticity of the wire W. For this reason, it is better to suppress movement other than when the wire feeding unit 3 is feeding the wire W in the forward direction. When the clamping members 233 and 234 move in the direction that returns them to the reel 20, indicated by arrow D2, the wire W is prevented from moving in the direction that returns it to the reel 20, indicated by arrow D2, at the point where it passes through the wire return suppression unit 230B. Therefore, even if the entire wire W tries to move toward the rebar tying machine 1, the wire W between the reel 20 and the wire return restraint unit 230B is prevented from returning toward the reel 20.

[0109] As described above, in the operation of winding the wire W around the reinforcing bar S, the wire W is fed in the forward direction indicated by arrow F by the wire feeding unit 3, which reduces the amount of slack in the slack portion WB of the wire W formed in the slack formation unit 2. Next, in order to wrap the wire W that has been wound around the reinforcing bar S around the reinforcing bar S, the wire feeding unit 3 is fed in the reverse direction indicated by arrow R, and the amount of slack in the slack portion WB increases in proportion to the amount the wire W is fed in the reverse direction. As a result, the force of the wire feeding unit 3 feeding the wire W in the reverse direction indicated by arrow R does not need to rotate the reel 20, the load on the wire feeding unit 3 is reduced, and the occurrence of defects in wire feeding by the wire feeding unit 3 is suppressed.

[0110] <Example of the operation and effect of the binding device of this embodiment> In the binding device 100 in which the reel 20 on which the wire W is wound is provided on the outside of the rebar binding machine 1, it is possible to increase the amount of wire W that can be stored by making the reel 20 larger than the reel that can be loaded into the conventional rebar binding machine that is used by hand. In this configuration in which the reel 20 is provided on the outside of the rebar binding machine 1, the distance between the reel 20 and the rebar binding machine 1 is longer compared to the configuration in which the reel 20 is housed inside the rebar binding machine 1. As a result, the portion of the wire W that has been pulled out from the reel 20 is more likely to slacken between the reel 20 and the rebar binding machine 1.

[0111] Furthermore, if the amount of wire W that can be stored in the reel 20 is increased, the wire feeding unit 3 provided in the rebar tying machine 1 may not be able to pull the wire W out of the reel 20. Therefore, a slack-forming unit 2 is provided between the reel housing unit 200 in which the reel 20 is housed and the rebar tying machine 1, so that a slack portion WB can be formed in the wire W between the reel 20 and the rebar tying machine 1. As a result, the wire feeding unit 3 can feed the slack portion WB of the wire W, reducing the load on the wire feeding unit 3 and suppressing the occurrence of wire feeding defects by the wire feeding unit 3.

[0112] On the other hand, in the tying device 100, a slack-forming section 2 is provided on one side along a direction intersecting the imaginary straight line 10L connecting the reel 20 and the rebar tying machine 1, and the path through which the wire W pulled out from the reel 20 passes is directed towards the slack-forming section 2 by the first guide section 23. As a result, the portion of the wire W pulled out from the reel 20 is prone to slackening between the reel 20 and the first guide section 23.

[0113] Therefore, in the rebar tying machine 1, when the wire feeding unit 3 feeds the wire W in the forward direction indicated by arrow F, the rigidity of the wire W may cause the entire wire W to move toward the rebar tying machine 1 while maintaining the shape of the slack portion WB. Furthermore, vibrations caused by moving the tying device 100 with the robot arm 300 may also cause the entire wire W to move toward the rebar tying machine 1 while maintaining the shape of the slack portion WB.

[0114] The reel 20 is not designed to rotate by receiving a driving force on its own. Therefore, even if the entire wire W moves toward the rebar tying machine 1 while the shape of the slack portion WB of the wire W is maintained, the reel 20 does not rotate in accordance with the movement of the wire W, or rotates with difficulty. As a result, the portion of the wire W that has been pulled out from the reel 20 tends to slacken outward in the unwinding direction, opposite to the winding direction of the wire W relative to the reel 20.

[0115] If the portion of the wire W pulled out from the reel 20 slackens outward in the unwinding direction, opposite to the winding direction of the wire W relative to the reel 20, the wire W may come off the flange portion 20b. If the wire W is detached from the flange portion 20b and an attempt is made to pull the wire W out from the reel 20 again, the wire W may become entangled with the flange portion 20b or other parts, potentially causing a wire feeding malfunction.

[0116] Therefore, the binding device 100 is equipped with a wire return restraint section 230 between the reel housing section 200 and the rebar binding machine 1. The wire return restraint section 230 does not obstruct the pulling of the wire W from the reel 20 by the operation of the slack-forming section 2. As a result, the wire W is pulled out from the reel 20 by the operation of the slack-forming section 2, and a slack portion WB is formed in the wire W.

[0117] In contrast, even if the wire feed unit 3 feeds the wire W in the forward direction indicated by arrow F, causing the entire wire W to move towards the rebar tying machine 1 while maintaining the shape in which the slack portion WB is formed, the wire return restraint unit 230 prevents the wire W from moving in the direction that returns it to the reel 20 indicated by arrow D2.

[0118] Therefore, even if the entire wire W tries to move toward the rebar tying machine 1, the wire W between the reel 20 and the wire return restraint unit 230 is prevented from returning toward the reel 20.

[0119] This prevents the portion of the wire W pulled out from the reel 20 from slackening outward in the release direction opposite to the winding direction of the wire W on the reel 20, and prevents the wire W from coming off the flange portion 20b. Therefore, in the next operation of pulling the wire W from the reel 20, it is prevented the wire W from getting tangled in the flange portion 20b, and the occurrence of wire feeding failures can be suppressed.

[0120] Furthermore, a path guide portion 26a is provided between the reel 20 housed in the reel housing portion 200 and the wire return restraint portion 230. This restricts changes in the wire path 220 that would cause the wire W to move radially between the reel 20 and the wire return restraint portion 230. This also prevents the portion of the wire W pulled out from the reel 20 from slackening outward in the open direction opposite to the winding direction of the wire W relative to the reel 20, and prevents the wire W from coming off the flange portion 20b.

[0121] Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these examples. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications or alterations can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and these will naturally also fall within the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the components of the above embodiments may be combined in any way without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0122] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2025-055000 filed on March 28, 2025, and its contents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0123] 100...Binding device 1...Rebar binding machine (binding section) 2...Slack formation section 20 (20L, 20R)...Reel (wire supply section) 20a...Core (circumferential section) 20b...Flange section (protrusion suppression section) 200...Reel housing section 21...First slack formation section 22...Second slack formation section 23...First guide section (wire supply section) 23b...Guide plate (protrusion suppression section) 25...Drive section 26 (26a, 26b)...Path guide section 220 (220L, 220R)...Wire path 230 (230A, 230B)...Wire return suppression section 231, 232...Roller 233, 234...Clamping member 235...Return suppression drive section 250...Control unit 300...Robot arm (moving body) 301... Binding system

Claims

1. A binding device comprising: a wire supply unit for supplying wires for binding objects to be bound; a binding unit for binding the objects to be bound using the wires supplied from the wire supply unit; and a wire return suppression unit in the wire path between the wire supply unit and the binding unit for suppressing the return of wires to the wire supply unit.

2. The binding device according to claim 1, wherein the wire supply unit supplies a plurality of wires to the binding unit, the binding unit binds the objects to be bound using the plurality of wires supplied from the wire supply unit, and the wire return suppression unit is provided in each wire path of the plurality of wires.

3. The bundling device according to claim 1, further comprising a path guide section between the wire supply section and the wire return suppression section for restricting changes in the wire path.

4. The binding device according to claim 1, wherein the wire return restraint unit allows the wire to move in the direction of being pulled out from the wire supply unit and restrains the wire to move in the direction of being returned to the wire supply unit.

5. The binding device according to claim 4, wherein the wire return restraint unit comprises a pair of rollers facing each other across the wire path, the pair of rollers are permitted to rotate due to the movement of the wire in the direction of being pulled out from the wire supply unit, and rotation due to the movement of the wire in the direction of being returned to the wire supply unit is restrained.

6. The binding device according to claim 4, wherein the wire return suppression unit increases the wire's movement resistance when the wire is moving in the direction to be returned to the wire supply unit, compared to the wire's movement resistance when the wire is moving in the direction to be pulled out from the wire supply unit.

7. The binding device according to claim 6, wherein the wire return restraint unit comprises a pair of clamping members facing each other across the wire path, and a return restraint drive unit that moves the pair of clamping members in a direction toward relative approach and a direction toward relative distance, wherein the return restraint drive unit moves the pair of clamping members toward relative distance at the timing when the wire moves toward the direction of being pulled out from the wire supply unit, and moves the pair of clamping members toward relative approach at the timing when the wire moves toward the direction of being returned to the wire supply unit.

8. The binding device according to claim 1, wherein a slack-forming unit is provided between the wire supply unit and the binding unit to form slack in the wire, and the wire return-preventing unit is provided between the wire supply unit and the slack-forming unit.

9. The binding device according to claim 8, wherein the slack-forming portion is provided laterally along a direction intersecting the straight line connecting the wire supply portion and the binding portion.

10. The binding device according to claim 1, wherein the wire return restraint portion comprises a pair of members facing each other across the wire path, and the pair of members has an outer peripheral surface that sandwiches the wire between the pair of members and contacts the wire.

11. A binding system comprising a binding device for binding multiple objects to be bound together with wire, and a moving body for moving the binding device, wherein the binding device comprises a wire supply unit for supplying wire, a binding unit for binding objects to be bound together with wire supplied from the wire supply unit, and a wire return suppression unit for suppressing the return of wire to the wire supply unit in the wire path between the wire supply unit and the binding unit.

Images