Binding Machine Wire Path Stabilization via Local Restriction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional binding machines experience issues with wire looseness and buckling due to lack of means to prevent deviation from the reel, leading to instability and increased machine size, especially when using small-diameter flexible wires.

Innovation Solution

A binding machine with a feeding unit that includes first and second restriction units to control the wire path, ensuring it remains aligned and preventing deviation, combined with a curl guide design that offsets the virtual plane of the wire's arc formation to stabilize the wire path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the wire is forced to be pulled back at the feeding unit, then the wire is fed out and pulled back to reduce the amount of wire used per binding, but looseness of the wire occurs between the feeding unit and the reel inside the housing unit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of binding times per reelVSAvoidwire alignment stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the feeding unit and the reel. This guide member restricts the wire from deviating from its entering route, thereby preventing looseness and maintaining stable wire alignment during the feeding and pullback operations that enable multiple binding times per reel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a curve is formed on the wire loosened inside the housing unit, then the wire is curled to form a loop for binding, but the deformation resistance of the wire is lowered and the wire buckles easily due to the force of the feeding unit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire curling for bindingVSAvoidwire deformation resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The guide member performs a preliminary action by restricting the wire from deviating before the wire reaches the curling position. By maintaining proper wire alignment and tension in advance, the guide member prevents the wire from becoming loosened and buckling when curvature is subsequently applied during the binding operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the wire is restricted from deviating using a guide member, then wire alignment is stabilized and buckling is prevented, but the housing unit size increases to accommodate the guide member

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire path stabilityVSAvoidhousing unit volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of providing comprehensive restrictions throughout the entire housing unit, the guide member is positioned at the specific local area where wire deviation occurs - between the feeding unit and the reel. This localized approach provides necessary wire path stability without requiring the housing unit to be enlarged throughout its entire structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4707183A2Binding machine
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 MAX CO LTD
  • EP4707183A2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4707183A2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4707183A2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The wire fed or pulled back from the reel by the feeding unit can be properly restricted. The invention relates to a binding machine (2) having a feeding unit (16) for feeding out a wire (3) from a reel (12) provided in a housing unit (11). With respect to the entering route (81) of the wire (3) when the wire (3) drawn out from the reel (12) by the feeding unit (16) is guided to the feeding unit (83), the first restriction unit (83) that restricts the drawing portion (3a) of the wire (3) disposed between the reel (12) and the feeding unit (16) from being deviating from the entering route (81) is provided inside the housing unit (11).