Portable Cable Tie Tool

Abstract

An automatic cable tie apparatus tightens and fastens a cable tie around a bundle of cables. A motor imparts rotational movement to a shaft separately in a first direction and a second direction. The first and second directions are one of a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction. A cable tie delivery mechanism is operably joined to the motor such that the cable tie delivery mechanism transfers a cable tie to a cable tie load starting position as the shaft rotates in the first direction. A transporter is also operably joined to the motor such that the transporter transfers the cable tie from the cable tie load starting position to a cable tie tensioning position as the shaft rotates in the second direction.

1 . An automatic cable tie apparatus for tightening and fastening a cable tie around a bundle of cables, comprising:
 a first motor imparting rotational movement to a first shaft separately in a first direction and a second direction wherein the first and second directions are one of a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction, respectively;   a cable tie delivery mechanism operably joined to the first motor such that the cable tie delivery mechanism transfers a cable tie to a cable tie load starting position as the first shaft rotates in the first direction; and   a transporter operably joined to the first motor such that the transporter transfers the cable tie from the cable tie load starting position to a cable tie tensioning position as the first shaft rotates in the second direction.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic cable tie apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first clutch located between the first motor and the cable tie delivery mechanism, the first clutch having an engaged condition wherein rotational movement by the first shaft in the first direction drives a movement by the cable tie delivery mechanism and a disengaged condition wherein rotational movement by the first shaft in the second direction causes the first shaft to freewheel in relation to the cable tie delivery mechanism wherein such rotational movement by the first shaft in the second direction does not impart movement to the cable tie delivery mechanism. 
 
     
     
         3 . The automatic cable tie apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a second clutch located between the first motor and the transporter, the second clutch having an engaged condition wherein rotational movement by the first shaft in the second direction drives a movement by the transporter and a disengaged condition wherein rotational movement by the first shaft in the first direction causes the first shaft to freewheel in relation to the transporter wherein such rotational movement by the first shaft in the first direction does not impart movement to the transporter. 
 
     
     
         4 . The automatic cable tie apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the cable tie delivery mechanism comprises a gearing assembly operably joined to the first motor wherein a first gear in the gearing assembly includes a plurality of chamfered teeth configured to frictionally engage a cable tie carrier to impart movement to the cable tie carrier upon rotation of the first shaft in the first direction to deliver the cable tie to the cable tie load starting position. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic cable tie apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the transporter comprises a gearing assembly operably joined to the first motor wherein a first gear imparts movement to the transporter to convey the cable tie from the cable tie load starting position to the cable tie tensioning position. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic cable tie apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the transporter comprises an auger having a helical channel in which a cable tie head is held to impart a linear movement of the cable tie from the cable tie load starting position to the cable tie tensioning position. 
     
     
         7 . The automatic cable tie apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the auger pushes the cable tie forward around a cable tie supporter of front and rear jaws into an annular shape around the bundle of cables. 
     
     
         8 . The automatic cable tie apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second motor imparting rotational movement to a second shaft separately in the first direction and the second direction; 
 a cable tie guide operably joined to the second motor such that the cable tie guide directs the moving cable tie as the second shaft rotates in a direction corresponding to one of the first direction or the second direction; and 
 a cable tie tensioner operably joined to the second motor such that the cable tie tensioner decreases a circumferential length of the cable tie as the second shaft rotates in an opposite direction to the direction corresponding to one of the first direction or the second direction. 
 
     
     
         9 . The automatic cable tie apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a third clutch located between the second motor and the cable tie guide, the third clutch having an engaged condition wherein rotational movement by the second shaft in the direction corresponding to one of the first direction or the second direction drives a movement by the cable tie guide and a disengaged condition wherein rotational movement by the second shaft in the opposite direction to the direction corresponding to one of the first direction or the second direction causes the second shaft to freewheel in relation to the cable tie guide wherein such rotational movement by the second shaft in the opposite direction to the direction corresponding to one of the first direction or the second direction does not impart movement to the cable tie guide. 
 
     
     
         10 . The automatic cable tie apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a fourth clutch located between the second motor and the cable tie tensioner, the fourth clutch having an engaged condition wherein rotational movement by the second shaft in the opposite direction to the direction corresponding to one of the first direction or the second direction drives a movement by the cable tie tensioner and a disengaged condition wherein rotational movement by the second shaft in the direction corresponding to one of the first direction or the second direction causes the second shaft to freewheel in relation to the cable tie tensioner wherein such rotational movement by the second shaft in the direction corresponding to one of the first direction or the second direction does not impart movement to the cable tie tensioner. 
 
     
     
         11 . The automatic cable tie apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the cable tie guide comprising a support wall operably joined to the second motor such that the support wall moves upwardly in response to the second shaft rotating in the direction corresponding to one of the first direction or the second direction. 
     
     
         12 . The automatic cable tie apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the support wall moves upwardly to a position adjacent the transporter to support the cable tie as the cable tie moves from the cable tie load starting position to the cable tie tensioning position. 
     
     
         13 . The automatic cable tie apparatus of  claim 11  wherein upward movement of the support wall actuates rear jaw closing the rear jaw around the cable bundle. 
     
     
         14 . The automatic cable tie apparatus of  claim 11  wherein upward movement of the support wall cuts the cable tie from a carrier strip and pulls the cable tie into the cable tie load starting position. 
     
     
         15 . An automatic cable tie apparatus for tightening and fastening a cable tie around a bundle of cables, comprising:
 a plurality of mechanical functions performed in sequence to deliver the cable tie from a plurality of cable ties to a cable load starting position, to deliver the cable tie to a cable tie tensioning position, to form the cable tie into an annular form, and to shorten a circumferential length of the annular form;   a first motor imparting rotational movement to a first shaft separately in a first direction and a second direction wherein the first and second directions are one of a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction, the first motor separately providing a mechanical power to a first apparatus function in the plurality of mechanical functions as the first shaft rotates in the first direction and a second apparatus function in the plurality of mechanical functions as the first shaft rotates in the second direction; and   a second motor imparting rotational movement to a second shaft separately in a third direction and a fourth direction wherein the third and fourth directions are one of a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction, the second motor separately providing a mechanical power to a third apparatus function in the plurality of mechanical functions as the second shaft rotates in the third direction and a fourth apparatus function in the plurality of mechanical functions as the second shaft rotates in the fourth direction;   a cable tie delivery mechanism operably joined to one of the first and second motors and performing one of the plurality of mechanical functions wherein the cable tie delivery mechanism delivers the cable tie to the cable load starting position;   a cable tie supporter operably joined to one of the first and second motors and performing one of the plurality of mechanical functions wherein the cable tie supporter guides the cable tie;   a cable tie transporter operably joined to one of the first and second motors and performing one of the plurality of mechanical functions wherein the cable tie transporter moves the cable tie from the cable tie load starting position to the cable tie tensioning position; and   a cable tie tensioner operably joined to one of the first and second motors and performing one of the plurality of mechanical functions wherein the cable tie tensioner shortens the circumferential length of the cable tie and removes excess cable tie.