Wire binding machine

Abstract

A wire binding machine with a twisting head (22), which is rotatable to bind portions of a wire (2) together by twisting and which comprises two wire gripping members (27a, 27b). A first drive member (41) is non-rotatably fixed to the twisting head and rotatable by a first electric motor (24) in order to rotate the twisting head. A second drive member (42) is rotatable in relation to the twisting head by a second electric motor (44) from a rotary starting position to a rotary end position. A motion transferring mechanism (50, 51a, 51b) is configured to transfer a rotary movement of the second drive member (42) in relation to the twisting head (22) from the rotary starting position to the rotary end position 10 into sequential movements of the gripping members (27a, 27b) from a wire releasing position to a wire gripping position.

1 . A wire binding machine comprising:
 a wire guide track arrangement, by which a wire is guidable in one or more loops around a space configured for receiving one or more objects to be bound;   a twisting device, which comprises a housing, a twisting head rotatably mounted in the housing so as to be rotatable in relation to the housing about an axis of rotation and a first electric motor for rotating the twisting head in relation to the housing, the twisting head being rotatable by the first electric motor to bind portions of said wire together by twisting to thereby secure the wire around said one or more objects, wherein the twisting head is provided with:
 a first wire guide channel that extends through the twisting head at a front end thereof,. 
 a second wire guide channel that extends through the twisting head at the front end thereof, 
 a first gripping member for gripping and locking a wire portion received in the first wire guide channel, and 
 a second gripping member for gripping and locking a wire portion received in the second wire guide channel, wherein the first and second gripping members are individually moveable in the twisting head from a wire releasing position to a wire gripping position; and 
   a feeding device for feeding the wire through the first wire guide channel in the twisting head, into the wire guide track arrangement, along the wire guide track arrangement around said space in one or more loops and into the second wire guide channel in the twisting head and subsequently retracting the wire to draw it tightly around one or more objects received in said space,   wherein the twisting device comprises:   a first drive member, which is non-rotatably fixed to the twisting head and which is configured to be rotated by the first electric motor in order to rotate the twisting head;   a first transmission mechanism for transmitting torque from the first electric motor to the first drive member;   a second drive member, which is rotatably mounted in the housing so as to be rotatable in relation to the housing about said axis of rotation, wherein the second drive member is rotatable in relation to the twisting head from a rotary starting position to a rotary end position;   a second electric motor for rotating the second drive member in relation to the twisting head from said rotary starting position to said rotary end position;   a second transmission mechanism for transmitting torque from the second electric motor to the second drive member; and   a motion transferring mechanism, which is configured to transfer a rotary movement of the second drive member in relation to the twisting head from said rotary starting position to said rotary end position into sequential movements of the second gripping member and the first gripping member from its wire releasing position to its wire gripping position.   
     
     
         2 . A wire binding machine according to  claim 1 , that wherein the first gripping member and the second gripping member are both configured to be in its wire releasing position when the second drive member is in the rotary starting position in relation to the twisting head, wherein the motion transferring mechanism is configured:
 to move the second gripping member from its wire releasing position to its wire gripping position and allow the first gripping member to remain its wire releasing position when the second drive member is rotated in relation to the twisting head by the second electric motor from said rotary starting position to an intermediate rotary position between the rotary starting position and said rotary end position, and   to move the first gripping member from its wire releasing position to its wire gripping position and keep the second gripping member in its wire gripping position when the second drive member is rotated in relation to the twisting head by the second electric motor from said intermediate rotary position to said rotary end position.   
     
     
         3 . A wire binding machine according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 that the first wire guide channel has an inlet opening that is connected to an outlet opening of a wire inlet channel in the housing;   that at least one cutting edge is provided at an interface between the outlet opening of the wire inlet channel and the inlet opening of the first wire guide channel, wherein the at least one cutting edge is configured to cut off the wire at this interface when the twisting head is rotated in relation to the housing; and   that the twisting device comprises a third transmission mechanism capable of transmitting torque from the second drive member to the twisting head when the second drive member is in said rotary end position in relation to the twisting head, wherein the second electric motor, via the second transmission mechanism, the second drive member and the third transmission mechanism, is configured to assist the first electric motor in rotating the twisting head at an initial phase of a rotation of the twisting head in relation to the housing.   
     
     
         4 . A wire binding machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the third transmission mechanism comprises a first torque transmitting member that is fixed to the second drive member and an associated second torque transmitting member that is fixed to the twisting head or to the first drive member, wherein the first torque transmitting member is configured to be in torque transmitting contact with the second torque transmitting member only when the second drive member is in said rotary end position in relation to the twisting head. 
     
     
         5 . A wire binding machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the first torque transmitting member is formed by a shoulder at an end of a track in the second drive member, wherein the second torque transmitting member comprises a projection that is received in and moveable along said track. 
     
     
         6 . A wire binding machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the second torque transmitting member is formed by a shoulder at an end of a track in the twisting head or in first drive member, wherein the first torque transmitting member comprises a projection that is received in and moveable along said track. 
     
     
         7 . A wire binding machine according to  6   claim 1 , wherein:
 that the first gripping member is moveable from its wire releasing position to its wire gripping position against the action of a spring force from a first spring member that is arranged in the twisting head; and   that the second gripping member is moveable from its wire releasing position to its wire gripping position against the action of a spring force from a second spring member that is arranged in the twisting head.   
     
     
         8 . A wire binding machine according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 that the first gripping member is linearly moveable between its wire releasing position and its wire gripping position in the axial direction of the twisting head, wherein the first gripping member is in a retracted position in the twisting head in its wire releasing position and in an advanced position in the twisting head in its wire gripping position; and   that the second gripping member is linearly moveable between its wire releasing position and its wire gripping position in the axial direction of the twisting head, wherein the second gripping member is in a retracted position in the twisting head in its wire releasing position and in an advanced position in the twisting head in its wire gripping position.   
     
     
         9 . A wire binding machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the motion transferring mechanism comprises:
 a cam member, which is non-rotatably fixed to the second drive member;   a first cam follower, which bears against a first guide surface on the cam member and which is mounted to the twisting head and connected to the first gripping member, wherein the first gripping member is moveable from its wire releasing position to its wire gripping position under the effect of the cam member and the first cam follower; and   a second cam follower, which bears against a second guide surface on the cam member and which is mounted to the twisting head and connected to the second gripping member, wherein the second gripping member is moveable from its wire releasing position to its wire gripping position under the effect of the cam member and the second cam follower.   
     
     
         10 . A wire binding machine according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 that the first gripping member is linearly moveable between its wire releasing position and its wire gripping position in the axial direction of the twisting head, wherein the first gripping member is in a retracted position in the twisting head in its wire releasing position and in an advanced position in the twisting head in its wire gripping position;   that the second gripping member is linearly moveable between its wire releasing position and its wire gripping position in the axial direction of the twisting head, wherein the second gripping member is in a retracted position in the twisting head in its wire releasing position and in an advanced position in the twisting head in its wire gripping position;   that the first cam follower is moveable in relation to the first gripping member in the axial direction of the twisting head;   that the motion transferring mechanism comprises a first compression spring acting between the first cam follower and the first gripping member, wherein the first cam follower is configured to push the first gripping member from its wire releasing position to its wire gripping position via the first compression spring when the second drive member is moved by the second electric motor from said intermediate rotary position to said rotary end position;   that the second cam follower is moveable in relation to the second gripping member in the axial direction of the twisting head; and   that the motion transferring mechanism comprises a second compression spring acting between the second cam follower and the second gripping member, wherein the second cam follower is configured to push the second gripping member from its wire releasing position to its wire gripping position via the second compression spring when the second drive member is moved by the second electric motor from said rotary starting position to said intermediate rotary position.   
     
     
         11 . A wire binding machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first drive member has the form of an externally toothed wheel or ring, wherein the first transmission mechanism comprises a toothed drive belt or a gear that is in driving engagement with the first drive member. 
     
     
         12 . A wire binding machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the second drive member has the form of an externally toothed wheel or ring, wherein the second transmission mechanism comprises a toothed drive belt or a gear that is in driving engagement with the second drive member. 
     
     
         13 . A wire binding machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the second drive member is arranged between a rear end of the twisting head and a rear wall of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . A wire binding machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the first drive member is arranged at the rear end of the twisting head, wherein the first and second drive members are arranged side by side with a rear face of the first drive member facing a front face of the second drive member. 
     
     
         15 . A wire binding machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the second drive member is rotatably mounted to a shaft that is fixed to the twisting head or the first drive member.