Cable tie tensioning device with user interface

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 an actuator in communication with the tensioning assembly for operating the tensioning assembly. The cable tie tensioning device further includes a user interface in communication with the tensioning assembly. The user interface includes an input means for input of a target tension to be applied by the tensioning assembly to the cable tie, and an output means for display of an actual tension being applied by the tensioning assembly to the cable tie during operation of 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 a tension to the cable tie;   an actuator in communication with the tensioning assembly configured to operate the tensioning assembly; and   a user interface in communication with the tensioning assembly, wherein the user interface includes:
 an input means for input of a target tension to be applied by the tensioning assembly to the cable tie; and 
 an output means for display of an actual tension being applied by the tensioning assembly to the cable tie during operation of the tensioning assembly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning assembly includes a motor mechanically coupled to a lead screw drive and configured to axially rotate a screw about the lead screw drive. 
     
     
         3 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 2 , wherein the tensioning assembly includes a pulling shaft mechanically coupled at one end to the lead screw drive and mechanically coupled at an opposing end to a tie handling jaw. 
     
     
         4 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 3 , wherein the tie handling jaw is configured to at least partially receive the cable tie for tensioning. 
     
     
         5 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator includes a trigger. 
     
     
         6 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 5 , wherein actuation of the trigger is configured to drive the motor of the tensioning assembly to apply the tension the cable tie. 
     
     
         7 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 2 , wherein the tensioning assembly includes a load cell configured to measure the tension applied to the cable tie by the tensioning assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 7 , wherein the load cell is in communication with the user interface, and the tension measured by the load cell is transmitted to the user interface as the actual tension being applied by the tensioning assembly to the cable tie. 
     
     
         9 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the actual tension being applied by the tensioning assembly to the cable tie is a real-time tension measurement from a load cell associated with the tensioning assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the input means comprises a bezel rotatably disposed relative to a user interface housing. 
     
     
         11 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 10 , wherein rotation of the bezel relative to the user interface housing changes the target tension to be applied by the tensioning assembly to the cable tie. 
     
     
         12 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 11 , wherein pushing the bezel towards the user interface housing locks selection of the target tension to be applied by the tensioning assembly to the cable tie. 
     
     
         13 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the output means comprises a graphical user interface. 
     
     
         14 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 13 , wherein the graphical user interface includes a mode indication section. 
     
     
         15 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 14 , wherein the mode indication section includes a visual indicator for a tensioning mode and a cutting mode. 
     
     
         16 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 13 , wherein the graphical user interface includes battery status indicator and/or an indicator representative of the actual tension being applied by the tensioning assembly to the cable tie. 
     
     
         17 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 13 , wherein the graphical user interface includes a plurality of presets of saved target tensions. 
     
     
         18 . The cable tie tensioning device of  claim 17 , wherein the input means comprises a bezel rotatably disposed relative to a user interface housing, and wherein rotation of the bezel is configured to provide a selection of one preset of the plurality of presets. 
     
     
         19 . A method for tensioning a cable tie, comprising:
 inputting a target tension to be applied by a tensioning assembly of a cable tie tensioning device to the cable tie using a user interface of the cable tie tensioning device;   actuating an actuator of the cable tie tensioning device to operate the tensioning assembly; and   displaying at the user interface of the cable tie tensioning device an actual tension being applied by the tensioning assembly to the cable tie during operation of the tensioning assembly.   
     
     
         20 . A cable tie tensioning device, comprising:
 a tensioning assembly configured to at least partially receive a cable tie and apply a tension to the cable tie, wherein the tensioning assembly includes a motor mechanically coupled to a lead screw drive and configured to axially rotate a screw about the lead screw drive;   a trigger in communication with the tensioning assembly, wherein actuation of the trigger is configured to drive the motor of the tensioning assembly to apply the tension the cable tie; and   a user interface in communication with the tensioning assembly, wherein the user interface includes:
 a bezel rotatably disposed relative to a user interface housing, wherein rotation of the bezel is configured to select a target tension applied by the tensioning assembly to the cable tie; and 
 a graphical user interface configured to display an actual tension applied by the tensioning assembly to the cable tie during operation of the tensioning assembly.