Binding Machine Planet Cage Support for Stable Gear Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The planet cage in existing reinforcing bar binding machines is prone to inclination relative to the axis direction, leading to potential misalignment and interference between gears, which affects the binding process.

Innovation Solution

The binding machine incorporates a decelerator design with a planet cage that is rotatably supported on both sides along the axis direction, preventing inclination and reducing gear misalignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a planet gear decelerator is used to perform deceleration and amplification of torque, then the binding machine can achieve sufficient torque for binding operations, but the planet cage may become inclined due to clearance in gear mesh, leading to gear misalignment and interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetorque amplificationVSAvoidplanet cage alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the counterweight principle by introducing a support structure that counteracts the inclination tendency of the planet cage. The support structure provides a counterbalancing force or geometric constraint that prevents the planet cage from tilting due to clearance in the gear mesh, thereby maintaining proper alignment while preserving torque amplification capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a support structure as an intermediary element between the planet cage and the decelerator housing. This intermediary component absorbs or compensates for the clearance-induced inclination, mediating between the moving planet cage and the fixed housing to maintain stable gear mesh alignment while allowing the planet cage to rotate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If clearance is provided for gear mesh between planetary gear and internal gear, then smooth operation and accommodation of manufacturing tolerances are achieved, but the planet cage becomes prone to inclination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegear mesh smoothnessVSAvoidgear alignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a support structure that anticipates and prevents planet cage inclination before it can cause gear misalignment. The support structure acts as a preventive measure, cushioning against the potential harmful effect of clearance-induced inclination and maintaining alignment precision throughout operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS12397944B2Binding machine

Publication Date: 2025.08.26 MAX CO LTD

AI summary

A binding machine includes a wire feeding unit that feeds a wire, a curl forming unit that forms a path along which the wire fed by the wire feeding unit is to be wound around an object, a cutting unit that cuts the wire wound on the object, a binding unit that twists the wire wound on the object and cut by the cutting unit, and a drive unit that drives the binding unit. The drive unit includes a motor and a decelerator that perform deceleration and amplification of torque. The decelerator includes a sun gear, a planetary gear in mesh with the sun gear, a planet cage that supports the planetary gear, and an internal gear in mesh with the planetary gear. The planet cage is rotatably supported on one side and the other side along an axis direction.