Rebar tie wire reels for reinforcing bar binding machinery

Abstract

A rebar tie wire reel (110) for a reinforcing bar binding machine has a first flange (118), a second flange (120) spaced from the first flange, a hub connecting the first and second flanges and a wire (124) wound around the hub. The first flange (118) has an outwardly facing major face (134) and an outer periphery. The outer periphery is defined by a plurality of edges (170, 172, 174, 176). The plurality edges include a first edge (170) and a second edge (172) that are configured such that, in use, an amount of rotation of the rebar tie wire reel can be determined using signals provided by a movable element of a contact sensor when during rotation of the wire reel, the first edge, major face and the second edge successively travel past the movable element.

1 . A rebar tie wire reel for a reinforcing bar binding machine,
 said rebar tie wire reel comprising:
 a first flange; 
 a second flange spaced from said first flange; 
 a hub connecting said first and second flanges; and 
 a rebar tie wire wound around said hub, 
 wherein said first flange has an outwardly facing major face and an outer periphery, 
 said outer periphery is defined by a plurality of edges comprising a first edge and a second edge that faces away from said first edge, and 
 said first and second edges and said outwardly facing major surface are configured such that, in use, an amount of rotation of the tie wire reel can be determined using signals trigged by a movable element of a contact sensor when during rotation of said rebar tie wire reel, said first edge, said major face and said second edge successively travel past said movable element to cause a said signal to be provided. 
   
     
     
         2 . A rebar tie wire reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said major surface is provided with a flat surface portion extending between said first and second edges which, in use, is engaged by said movable element when said first edge, said major face and said second edge successively travel past said movable element. 
     
     
         3 . A rebar tie wire reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said major face comprises a planar surface. 
     
     
         4 . A rebar tie wire reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second edges are straight edges. 
     
     
         5 . A rebar tie wire reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, said first and second edges are disposed in parallel spaced apart relation. 
     
     
         6 . A rebar tie wire reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second edges are joined by a third edge and a fourth edge that is disposed opposite and spaced from said third edge. 
     
     
         7 . A rebar tie wire reel as claimed in  claim 6 , where said third and fourth edges are oppositely curved edges. 
     
     
         8 . A rebar tie wire reel as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said first and second edges define chords of an imaginary circle having a diameter defined by said third and fourth edges. 
     
     
         9 . A rebar tie wire reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first flange, second flange and hub are a plastics moulding. 
     
     
         10 . A rebar tie wire reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hub has a longitudinal axis, first flange has an inner face, said second flange has an inner face and said inner faces are disposed at least substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . A rebar tie wire reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hub comprises an internally disposed transverse wall and at least one through-hole is provided in said transverse wall for the passage of light emitted, in use, by a non-contact sensor of said reinforcing bar binding machine. 
     
     
         12 . A reinforcing bar binding machine comprising a chamber, a reel mounting disposed in said chamber, a contact sensor having a movable element and a rebar tie wire reel mounted on said reel mounting in said chamber,
 wherein:
 said rebar tie wire reel comprises: 
 a first flange having an outwardly facing major face and an outer periphery defined by a plurality of edges comprising a first edge and a second edge; 
 a second flange spaced from said first flange; 
 a hub connecting said first and second flanges; and 
 a rebar tie wire wound around said hub, and 
   wherein, in use, an amount of rotation of the tie wire reel about said reel mounting is determined using signals triggered by said movable element when during rotation of said rebar tie wire reel, said first edge, said major face and said second edge successively travel past said movable element to cause a said signal to be provided.   
     
     
         13 . A method of sensing rotation of a rebar tie wire reel in a reinforcing bar binding machine comprising a contact sensor that has a movable element, said method comprising:
 causing said rebar tie wire reel to rotate so that a surface portion of an outwardly facing major face of a first flange of said rebar tie wire reel engages said movable element between a first edge of an outer periphery of said flange and a second edge of said outer periphery that is spaced apart from said first edge whereby said contact sensor is caused to provide a signal to a processor.   
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said first and second edges are configured to cause said contact sensor to provide two said signals for each 360 degrees of rotation of said rebar tie wire reel. 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising processing signals provided by said contact sensor to determine an amount of rotation of said rebar tie wire reel. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said surface portion is planar. 
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed  claim 13 , further comprising detecting at least one through-hole provided in an internally disposed transverse wall of a hub of said rebar tie wire reel with a non-contact sensor and processing signals provided by said non-contact sensor and said contact sensor with said processor to determine at least one of type and size of a tie wire. 
     
     
         18 . A rebar tie wire reel for a reinforcing bar binding machine, said rebar tie wire reel comprising:
 a first flange;   a second flange spaced from said first flange;   a hub connecting said first and second flanges; and   a rebar tie wire wound around said hub,   wherein said first flange has an outwardly facing major face and an outer periphery,   said first flange is provided with weakening portions whereby a plurality of segments of said first flange can be broken away so that said outer periphery is defined by a plurality of edges comprising a first edge and a second edge that faces away from said first edge, and   said first and second edges and major face are configured such that, in use, an amount of rotation of the rebar tie wire reel can be determined using signals triggered by a movable element of a contact sensor when during rotation of said rebar tie wire reel, said first edge, said major face and said second edge successively travel past said movable element.   
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a rebar tie wire reel for a reinforcing bar binding machine, said method comprising:
 winding a rebar tie wire onto a hub between a first flange and a second flange; and   removing portions of said first flange so that said first flange comprises a plurality of edges including a first edge and a second edge that is spaced apart from said first edge and faces away from said first edge and an outwardly facing surface portion that defines a flat track that extends between said first and second edges,   wherein said first and second edges and flat track are configured so that, in use in a reinforcing bar binding machines, as said rebar tie wire reel is rotated by the reinforcing bar binding machine so that said first edge, said flat track and said second edge successively move past a movable contact element of said reinforcing bar binding machine, said movable contact element is moved to cause triggering of a signal by which an amount of rotation of said rebar tie wire reel is determined.   
     
     
         20 . A rebar tie wire reel for a reinforcing bar binding machine, said rebar tie wire reel comprising:
 a first flange;   a second flange spaced from said first flange;   a hub connecting said first and second flanges; and   a rebar tie wire wound around said hub,   wherein said first flange has an outwardly facing major face and an outer periphery, and   said outer periphery is defined by a plurality of edges comprising a first edge and a second edge that is spaced apart from said first edge such that, in use, as said rebar tie wire reel is rotated a surface portion of said major face extending between said first and second edges engages said movable element to cause said contact sensor to provide a signal to a processor as said first edge, surface portion and second edge successively move past said movable element.   
     
     
         21 . A rebar tie wire reel for a reinforcing bar binding machine, said rebar tie wire reel comprising:
 a first flange;   a second flange spaced from said first flange;   a hub connecting said first and second flanges and defining an axis of rotation of the rebar tie wire reel; and   a rebar tie wire wound around said hub,   wherein said first flange has an outwardly facing major face and an outer periphery, and   said outer periphery is defined by a plurality of edges comprising a first straight edge, a second straight edge disposed opposite and spaced apart from and facing away from said first edge, a third edge extending between said first and second edge and a fourth edge extending between said first and second edges and disposed opposite and spaced apart from said third edge, said first straight edge and said second straight edge being arranged such that, in use, when mounted in a reinforcing bar binding machine having a contact sensor comprising a movable element, rotation of the rebar tie reel through 360 about said axis of rotation causes each of said first and second edges to pass under said movable element.   
     
     
         22 . A rebar tie wire reel as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said first and second edges are parallel edges. 
     
     
         23 . A rebar tie wire reel as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said third and fourth edges are oppositely curved surfaces. 
     
     
         24 . A rebar tie wire reel as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said first and second edges define chords of an imaginary circle having a diameter defined by said third and fourth edges.