Mechanical Cable Tie Tool With Reel Feed and Locking Head Magazine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable tie tools are cumbersome, expensive, and inaccurate, often requiring electronic components and power sources, making them prone to failure and wear.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held cable tie tool with a pistol-shaped design, featuring a trigger mechanism, tension mechanism, locking mechanism, cut-off mechanism, reel magazine assembly, feeder guide mechanism, and locking heads magazine assembly, all operated without the need for power sources, allowing for efficient tensioning and cutting of cable ties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If electronic components and power sources are used in cable tie tools, then automation and power are improved, but weight, complexity, and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic components and powered actuators with a purely mechanical system. The trigger mechanism activates a spring-loaded tensioning system that uses mechanical energy storage and release to tension the cable tie, eliminating the need for batteries, motors, or electronic controls while maintaining automated operation through mechanical means
Solution Approach 2:
The tool uses self-contained mechanical components that automatically perform tensioning and cutting functions without external power sources. The spring mechanism stores energy during handle compression and automatically releases it to tension the cable tie, while the cutting blade is automatically positioned and actuated through mechanical linkages triggered by the user
2Extent of automation
If electronic components and power sources are used in cable tie tools, then automation is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates heavy electronic components, batteries, and motors by substituting them with lightweight mechanical elements including springs, levers, and linkages. The spring-loaded tensioning system provides sufficient force for cable tie installation without the weight penalty of powered actuators
3Extent of automation
If electronic components are used in cable tie tools, then automation is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive electronic components with inexpensive mechanical parts that can be manufactured using traditional machining and assembly processes. The mechanical trigger and spring system uses common materials and standard manufacturing techniques, significantly reducing production costs compared to electronic-powered alternatives
4Power
If powered components are used in cable tie tools, then power is improved, but reliability decreases due to wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces powered components with a mechanical spring system that has no electrical connections, motors, or electronic circuits to fail. The spring mechanism provides consistent tensioning power through elastic deformation, and the purely mechanical linkages have fewer failure points compared to powered systems, enhancing overall reliability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The tool provides efficient, accurate, and reliable tensioning and cutting of cable ties, reducing complexity and cost while minimizing the risk of failure, and is suitable for both manual and powered operation.
Implementation Method 1
provide for a spring-biased rotation of the cable strap reel about a cable strap reel center axis, wherein the spring-biased rotation is directed so as to wind up a cable tie strap coiled up onto the cable strap reel
Implementation Method 2
configured to guidingly receive an end portion of the cable tie strap of the cable strap reel and move the cable tie strap from the cable strap reel through the barrel portion
Data Source
AI summary
A tool for tensioning and severing a cable tie comprising, inter alia, a reel magazine assembly, configured to retainingly receive at least one cable strap reel and provide for a spring-biased rotation of said at least one cable strap reel about a cable strap reel center axis, wherein said spring-biased rotation is directed so as to wind up a cable tie strap coiled up onto said cable strap reel; a feeder guide mechanism, provided within said barrel portion, configured to guidingly receive an end portion of said cable tie strap of said cable strap reel and move said cable tie strap from said cable strap reel through said barrel portion towards said distal housing end portion, but prevent movement of said cable tie strap back towards said cable strap reel; a locking heads magazine assembly, configured to store a plurality of locking heads and supply one locking head at the time for use with said cable tie strap, and a blade guard, operably coupled between said cut-off mechanism and said locking heads magazine assembly, configured to receive and move said locking head from said locking heads magazine assembly into a loading position, ready for engagement with said cable tie strap.