Drive assembly

Abstract

A tool to bundle a plurality of elongate articles using a weldable tape includes a guide block, a motor assembly, and a drive block. The motor assembly can include a motor and a gear train. The drive block can include a first bracket, a second bracket, a first wheel assembly, a second wheel assembly, and a spring element. The drive block can connect to the gear train of the motor assembly using a slot and tooth arrangement. A rotation of the motor can cause a rotation of the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly of the drive block to feed the weldable tape through the tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drive apparatus for a tool to bundle a plurality of elongate articles using a weldable tape, the drive apparatus having a first side and a second side and comprising:
 a guide block;   a motor assembly including:
 a motor on the guide block at the first side, 
 a gear train connected to a drive end of the motor and extending through the guide block; and 
   a drive block on the guide block at the second side in engagement with the gear train, the drive block including:
 a first bracket, 
 a second bracket, 
 a first wheel assembly, 
 a second wheel assembly, 
 a channel extending through the drive block and configured to receive the weldable tape, and 
 a spring element,
 wherein the spring element provides a compression force onto the first bracket and the second bracket; 
 
   wherein the drive block engages the weldable tape at the channel based on the compression force to move the weldable tape through the tool.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller,
 wherein the controller can control a motor torque of the motor to apply a desired tension to the weldable tape by the drive block. 
   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a motor block disposed on the first side of the guide block about the first worm gear, the second worm gear, the first gear train, and the second gear train.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first wheel assembly comprises:
 a first feed axle extending through the first bracket from the first side to the second side,   a first wheel element fixedly disposed about the first feed axle in the first bracket,
 wherein the first wheel element extends into the channel and is configured to engage an upper surface of the weldable tape, and 
   a first tape gear fixedly disposed about the first feed axle on the second side of the first bracket,   wherein the first feed axle is configured to engage the drive axle,   wherein the first feed axle rotates the first tape gear and the first wheel element in response to the rotation of the motor to feed the weldable tape through the tool.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a surface of the first wheel element engaging the weldable tape is substantially smooth. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a surface of the first wheel element engaging the weldable tape includes a ridged surface. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second wheel assembly comprises:
 a second feed axle extending through the second bracket from the first side to the second side,   a second wheel element fixedly disposed about the first feed axle in the second bracket,
 wherein the second wheel element extends into the channel to engage a bottom surface of the weldable tape, and 
   a second tape gear fixedly disposed about the first feed axle on the on the second side of the second bracket,   wherein the second tape gear is configured to engage the first tape gear,   wherein the second feed axle rotates the second wheel element in response to the rotation of the first tape gear to feed the weldable tape through the tool.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein a surface of the second wheel element engaging the weldable tape is substantially smooth. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein a surface of the second wheel element engaging the weldable tape includes a ridged surface. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drive block includes a gap between the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly in the channel. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drive block further includes:
 a pin assembly laterally extending through the first bracket and the second bracket to allow the second bracket to pivotably move about the pin assembly relative to the first bracket,   wherein the first wheel bracket and the second wheel bracket engage the weldable tape disposed in the channel of the drive block based on the compression force from the spring element.   
     
     
         12 . A tool for bundling a plurality of elongate articles using weldable tape, the tool having a first side and a second side and including a body, a handle, and a trigger, the tool comprising:
 a drive assembly in communicable connection with the trigger and including:
 a guide block, 
 a motor assembly disposed on the guide block, the motor assembly including:
 a motor, and 
 a gear train in engagement with a drive end of the motor and extending through the guide block, and 
 
 a drive block opposite from the motor assembly on the guide block, the drive block including:
 a first bracket, 
 a second bracket, 
 a first wheel assembly configured to engage the drive axle and rotate based on a rotation of the motor, 
 a second wheel assembly configured to engage the first wheel assembly and rotate based on the rotation of the first wheel assembly, 
 a channel extending through the drive block and configured to receive the weldable tape, and 
 a spring element providing a compression force onto the first bracket and the second bracket, 
 
 wherein the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly engage the weldable tape in the channel, 
 wherein a rotation of the motor causes the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly to feed the weldable tape through the tool. 
   
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 12 , wherein the first wheel assembly comprises:
 a first feed axle extending through the first bracket from the first side to the second side,   a first wheel element fixedly disposed about the first feed axle in the first bracket,
 wherein the first wheel element extends into the channel and is configured to engage an upper surface of the weldable tape, and 
   a first tape gear fixedly disposed about the first feed axle on the second side of the first bracket,   wherein the first feed axle is configured to engage the drive axle,   wherein the first feed axle rotates the first tape gear and the first wheel element in response to the rotation of the motor to feed the weldable tape through the tool.   
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 13 , wherein a surface of the first wheel element engaging the weldable tape is substantially smooth. 
     
     
         15 . The tool of  claim 13 , wherein a surface of the first wheel element engaging the weldable tape includes a ridged surface. 
     
     
         16 . The tool of  claim 12 , wherein the second wheel assembly comprises:
 a second feed axle extending through the second bracket from the first side to the second side,   a second wheel element fixedly disposed about the first feed axle in the second bracket,
 wherein the second wheel element extends into the channel to engage a bottom surface of the weldable tape, and 
   a second tape gear fixedly disposed about the first feed axle on the on the second side of the second bracket,   wherein the second tape gear is configured to engage the first tape gear,   wherein the second feed axle rotates the second wheel element in response to the rotation of the first tape gear to feed the weldable tape through the tool.   
     
     
         17 . The tool of  claim 16 , wherein a surface of the second wheel element engaging the weldable tape is substantially smooth. 
     
     
         18 . The tool of  claim 16 , wherein a surface of the second wheel element engaging the weldable tape includes a ridged surface. 
     
     
         19 . The tool of  claim 12 , wherein the drive block includes a gap between the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly at the channel. 
     
     
         20 . The tool of  claim 12 , wherein the tool further includes:
 a controller,
 wherein the controller can control a motor torque of the motor to apply a desired tension to the weldable tape by the drive block.