Cable tie tensioning device with cutting assembly

Abstract

A cable tie tensioning device is provided. The cable tie tensioning device includes a tensioning assembly configured to at least partially receive a cable tie and apply tension to the cable tie. The cable tie tensioning device further includes a cutting assembly configured to cut the cable tie after the tension has been applied to the cable tie with the tensioning assembly. The cutting assembly includes a cutting motor configured to actuate a mechanical system to perform a cutting action of the cable tie. The cutting motor is separate from a motor associated with the tensioning assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cable tie tensioning device, comprising:
 a tensioning assembly configured to at least partially receive a cable tie and apply tension to the cable tie; and   a cutting assembly configured to cut the cable tie after the tension has been applied to the cable tie with the tensioning assembly,   wherein the cutting assembly includes a cutting motor configured to actuate a mechanical system to perform a cutting action of the cable tie, and   wherein the cutting motor is separate from a motor associated with the tensioning assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical system of the cutting assembly is substantially in line with the tensioning assembly, and wherein the cutting motor is disposed offset from the mechanical system of the cutting assembly and the tensioning assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 2 , wherein a central longitudinal axis of the cutting motor is oriented parallel and offset from a central longitudinal axis of the mechanical system of the cutting assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical system includes a gear including an inner face with radially spaced pockets formed therein. 
     
     
         5 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 4 , wherein each of the pockets defines a substantially tear-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 4 , wherein each of the pockets includes a first end and an opposing second end separated by an intermediate section, wherein a depth and width at the first end is greater than at the second end. 
     
     
         7 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 6 , wherein the mechanical system includes ball bearings configured to travel at least partially within the respective pockets as the gear is actuated to rotate with the cutting motor. 
     
     
         8 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 7 , wherein the ball bearings travel deeper into the respective pockets at the first end and travel out of the respective pockets at the second end and onto the intermediate section. 
     
     
         9 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical system includes a shroud slidably disposed relative to a shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 9 , wherein the mechanical system includes a passive disc disposed adjacent to the shroud. 
     
     
         11 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 10 , wherein the ball bearings are configured to travel against a surface of the passive disc to apply a force on the shroud. 
     
     
         12 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 11 , wherein application of the force on the shroud slides the shroud along the shaft to compress an actuator member disposed between the shroud and a fixed disc of the mechanical system. 
     
     
         13 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator member is a spring or a wave spring. 
     
     
         14 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator member includes two magnetic plates with opposing poles. 
     
     
         15 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 12 , wherein compression of the actuator member increases a biasing force of the actuator member on the shroud in an opposing direction from the force applied by the ball bearings. 
     
     
         16 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 15 , wherein upon further rotation of the gear and entry of the ball bearings into the first end of the respective pockets, the actuator member biases the shroud away from the fixed disc. 
     
     
         17 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 16 , wherein the cutting assembly includes a linkage coupled to a blade. 
     
     
         18 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 17 , wherein biasing of the shroud away from the fixed disc actuates the linkage to rotate the blade for cutting of the cable tie. 
     
     
         19 . A method of cutting a cable tie, comprising:
 operating a tensioning assembly of a cable tie tensioning device to apply tension to the cable tie; and   after the tension has been applied to the cable tie with the tensioning assembly, actuating a cutting assembly of the cable tie tensioning device to cut the cable tie,   wherein the cutting assembly includes cutting motor configured to actuate a mechanical system to perform a cutting action of the cable tie, and   wherein the cutting motor is separate from a motor associated with the tensioning assembly.   
     
     
         20 . A cable tie tensioning device, comprising:
 a tensioning assembly including a tensioning motor, the tensioning assembly configured to at least partially receive a cable tie and apply tension to the cable tie utilizing the tensioning motor;   a mechanical system configured to perform a cutting action of the cable tie, wherein the mechanical system of the cutting assembly is substantially in line with the tensioning assembly, wherein the mechanical system includes a gear including an inner face with radially spaced pockets formed therein, and wherein each of the pockets defines a substantially tear-shaped configuration; and   a cutting assembly including a cutting motor configured to actuate the mechanical system to perform the cutting action of the cable tie after the tension has been applied to the cable tie with the tensioning assembly, wherein the cutting motor is disposed offset from the mechanical system of the cutting assembly and the tensioning assembly.