A wire bending apparatus includes a base portion, a supplying portion configured to move the orthodontic wire along a length direction of the orthodontic wire, a bushing holding portion configured to hold at least a portion of a distal end of the supplied orthodontic wire to restrict the orthodontic wire from moving in a width direction of the orthodontic wire, and a bending portion which is positioned on the base portion so as to be rotatable about a rotation center axis and bends the portion of the distal end of the orthodontic wire held by the bushing holding portion to a predetermined angle with respect to a supply direction of the orthodontic wire as the bending portion is rotated.

A ply (16, 18) comprises metallic monofilaments (46, 46). Each monofilament (46) of a first group has a positive torsional elastic deformation in a first direction about its main axis (G). Each monofilament (46) of a second group has a negative torsional elastic deformation in a second direction about its main axis (G). The absolute value of the torsional elastic deformation C of each monofilament (46, 46) is such that |C|6 turns per ten metres. The mean S of the torsional elastic deformations of the monofilaments (46, 46) of the ply (16, 18) is such that 0.25 turn per ten metresS+0.25 turn per ten metres. The monofilaments (46, 46) are arranged next to one another so as to alternate one or more monofilaments (46) of the first group with one or more monofilaments (46) of the second group.

A method of manufacturing a flexible catheter with a locatable sensor includes simultaneously rotating first and second spools about a common axis, whereby first and second leads of a wire twist together to form a twisted pair of the wire, and rotating a catheter body about a longitudinal axis defined by the catheter body, whereby the twisted pair of the wire wraps about a proximal end portion of the catheter body.

A method of manufacturing a flexible catheter with a locatable sensor includes simultaneously rotating first and second spools about a common axis, whereby first and second leads of a wire twist together to form a twisted pair of the wire, and rotating a catheter body about a longitudinal axis defined by the catheter body, whereby the twisted pair of the wire wraps about a proximal end portion of the catheter body.

A wire stranding apparatus, comprising: a core wire moving mechanism configured to move a core wire in an axial direction; a spool configured to feed a wound wire by rotation; a revolving mechanism configured to revolve the spool about the core wire; a rotation driving mechanism configured to feed the wire by rotating the spool, the wire fed from the spool being spirally wound on an outer periphery of the core wire moving in the axial direction by revolution of the spool; and a control device including a wire speed obtaining unit configured to obtain a speed of the wire to be wound on the core wire and a rotation driving mechanism control unit configured to control the rotation driving mechanism such that the speed of the wire obtained by the wire speed obtaining unit has a predetermined value.

A binding machine includes: an accommodation portion accommodating a reel around which a wire is wound; a wire feeding portion configured to feed the wire in a forward direction, winds the wire around a binding object, feeds the wire in a reverse direction, and wraps the wire around the binding object; and a torsion portion that twists the wire. The accommodation portion accommodates the reel such that the reel is offset in one direction along an axial direction of the reel with respect to the wire feeding portion. The binding machine further includes a restricting portion, in a wire passage between the reel and the wire feeding portion, which protrudes inward of the accommodation portion and has a restricting surface with which the wire bent in the other direction along the axial direction of the reel between the reel and the wire feeding portion comes in contact.

A binding machine includes: an accommodation portion accommodating a reel around which a wire is wound; a wire feeding portion configured to feed the wire in a forward direction, winds the wire around a binding object, feeds the wire in a reverse direction, and wraps the wire around the binding object; and a torsion portion that twists the wire. The accommodation portion accommodates the reel such that the reel is offset in one direction along an axial direction of the reel with respect to the wire feeding portion. The binding machine further includes a restricting portion, in a wire passage between the reel and the wire feeding portion, which protrudes inward of the accommodation portion and has a restricting surface with which the wire bent in the other direction along the axial direction of the reel between the reel and the wire feeding portion comes in contact.

A reinforcing bar binding machine includes a first movable gripping member that is displaced in a direction to come in contact with and separate from one side of a fixed gripping member. A second movable gripping member is displaced in a direction to come in contact with and separate from the other side of the fixed gripping member; and a bending portion brings the first movable gripping member and the second movable gripping member into and out of contact with the fixed gripping member. The fixed gripping member includes a shaft that rotatably supports the first movable gripping member and the second movable gripping member. In addition, the bending portion includes an opening and closing pin that pushes an opening and closing guide hole provided in the first movable gripping member and an opening and closing guide hole provided in the second movable gripping member.

A reinforcing bar binding machine includes a first movable gripping member that is displaced in a direction to come in contact with and separate from one side of a fixed gripping member. A second movable gripping member is displaced in a direction to come in contact with and separate from the other side of the fixed gripping member; and a bending portion brings the first movable gripping member and the second movable gripping member into and out of contact with the fixed gripping member. The fixed gripping member includes a shaft that rotatably supports the first movable gripping member and the second movable gripping member. In addition, the bending portion includes an opening and closing pin that pushes an opening and closing guide hole provided in the first movable gripping member and an opening and closing guide hole provided in the second movable gripping member.

An aluminum alloy wire is composed of an aluminum alloy. The aluminum alloy contains equal to or more than 0.005 mass % and equal to or less than 2.2 mass % of Fe, and a remainder of Al and an inevitable impurity. In a transverse section of the aluminum alloy wire, a surface-layer crystallization measurement region in a shape of a rectangle having a short side length of 50 m and a long side length of 75 m is defined within a surface layer region extending from a surface of the aluminum alloy wire by 50 m in a depth direction, and an average area of crystallized materials in the surface-layer crystallization measurement region is equal to or more than 0.05 m.sup.2 and equal to or less than 3 m.sup.2.