Automatic Bundling Tool Device With Guiding Unit for Deformed and/or Loose One-Piece Ties

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an automatic bundling tool device (ABT) for bundling a bundling good by means of a one-piece-tie (OPT). In aspects, an ABT includes a holding unit configured to receive, hold, and release a respective OPT; a motion guiding unit configured to guide a motion of the holding unit between a receiving position and a releasing position; a claw unit configured to guide a strap of the respective OPT around the bundling good; and a tip guiding unit with at least one guiding flap element configured to guide a tip of the respective OPT towards an entrance of the claw unit.

Claims

1. An automatic bundling tool device (ABT) configured for bundling a bundling good through use of a one-piece-tie (OPT), the device comprising: a holding unit configured to receive, hold, and release a respective OPT provided to the ABT from an external reservoir of OPTs; a motion guiding unit configured to guide a motion of the holding unit between a receiving position of the holding unit where the holding unit receives the respective OPT and a releasing position of the holding unit where the holding unit releases the respective OPT; a claw unit configured to guide a strap of the respective OPT around the bundling good; and a tip guiding unit with at least one guiding flap element configured to guide a tip of the respective OPT towards an entrance of the claw unit when the respective OPT is moved towards the releasing position by the holding unit moving from the receiving position to the releasing position.

2. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 1, wherein at least one distance between the at least one guiding flap element and an OPT track along which the respective OPT is moved from the receiving position to the releasing position decreases in a direction towards the claw unit.

3. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 2, wherein the at least one guiding flap element forms a section of a funnel narrowing towards the claw unit, where a narrow end shapes a gate that is configured to guide the tip into the entrance of the claw unit.

4. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 2, wherein the at least one distance is measured perpendicular to the OPT track as a y-distance in a direction of thickness of the respective OPT.

5. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 4, wherein the at least one distance is measured perpendicular to the OPT track as a y-distance in a direction of thickness of the respective OPT and as a z-di stance in a direction of width of the respective OPT.

6. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 5, wherein the at least one guiding flap element forms a section of a funnel narrowing towards the claw unit, where a narrow end shapes a gate that is configured to guide the tip into the entrance of the claw unit.

7. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 2, wherein the at least one guiding flap element forms a section of a funnel narrowing towards the claw unit, where a narrow end shapes a gate that is configured to guide the tip into the entrance of the claw unit, wherein the at least one guiding flap element is arranged movably relative to a body of the ABT, the guiding flap element movable between a guiding position and a clearing position, wherein in the guiding position an end of the at least one guiding flap element is proximal to a proximal end of the claw unit, the proximal end forms at least one of the gate or a part of the gate that guides the tip of the OPT into the entrance of the claw unit, and wherein in the clearing position a distance of the proximal end and the OPT track is increased as compared to the guiding position.

8. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 7, wherein the at least one guiding flap element is arranged rotatably around a respective rotation axis.

9. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 8, wherein the at least one guiding flap element is arranged rotatably around a respective rotation axis with at least one of the rotation axis running perpendicular to the OPT track or the rotation axis having a non-zero distance from the OPT track.

10. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 8, wherein the at least one distance is measured perpendicular to the OPT track as a y-distance in a direction of thickness of the respective OPT and as a z-distance in a direction of width of the respective OPT, and wherein the rotation axis runs parallel to the width direction of the respective OPT.

11. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 7, wherein the at least one guiding flap element is configured to be held in the guiding position by a spring element and is configured to be moved into the clearing position by the holding unit approaching the claw unit.

12. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 11, wherein the at least one guiding flap element is configured to be moved into the clearing position by a mechanical interaction of the holding unit with the at least one guiding flap element.

13. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 7, wherein the at least one guiding flap element is configured to be locked in the clearing position by a locking element, and wherein the locking element is configured to release the at least one guiding flap element when a distance between the holding unit and the at least one guiding flap element exceeds a preset distance.

14. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 1, wherein at least one distance between the at least one guiding flap element and an OPT track along which the respective OPT is moved from receiving position to releasing position decreases in a direction towards the claw unit, wherein the at least one guiding flap element forms a section of a funnel narrowing towards the claw unit, where a narrow end shapes a gate that is configured to guide the tip into the entrance of the claw unit, and wherein the at least one guiding flap element is arranged movably relative to a body of the ABT, the guiding flap element movable between a guiding position and a clearing position.

15. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 14, wherein in the guiding position an end of the at least one guiding flap element is proximal to a proximal end of the claw unit, the proximal end forms at least one of the gate or a part of the gate that guides the tip of the OPT into the entrance of the claw unit, and wherein in the clearing position a distance of the proximal end and the OPT track is increased as compared to the guiding position.

16. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 15, wherein the at least one distance is measured perpendicular to the OPT track as a y-distance in a direction of thickness of the respective OPT.

17. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 16, wherein the at least one distance is measured perpendicular to the OPT track as a y-distance in a direction of thickness of the respective OPT and as a z-distance in a direction of width of the respective OPT.

18. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the at least one guiding flap element is orientated towards the OPT track.

19. The automatic bundling tool device of claim 18, wherein the inner surface of the at least one guiding flap element includes at least one of a smooth surface or a coated surface.

20. A method for bundling a bundling good through use of a one-piece-tie (OPT) with an automatic bundling tool device (ABT), the method comprising: providing a respective OPT to the ABT from an external reservoir; moving the respective OPT towards the bundling good with a tip of the respective OPT ahead; guiding, if the respective OPT has a bent strap, the tip of the respective OPT towards an entrance of a claw unit, by at least one guiding flap element positioned in a guiding position; moving, after the tip has entered the claw unit, the at least one guiding flap element in a clearing position further away from an OPT track than in the guiding position; and guiding a strap of the respective OPT around the bundling good and through a head of the respective OPT, by the claw unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Example embodiments are further described in the following by means of schematic drawings.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view on an example automatic bundling tool device;

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a side view on the automatic bundling tool device of FIG. 1;

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view on a detail of the automatic bundling tool device of FIG. 1; and

[0033] FIG. 4 shows the detail of FIG. 3 from another perspective.

[0034] In the figures, identical and functionally identical features have the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view on an automatic bundling tool device 1, ABT 1, for bundling a bundling good by means of a one-piece tie 2, OPT 2. The one-piece tie 2 of the present example is a loose cable tie. The OPT 2 has a tip 2a, strap 2b, and a head 2c.

[0036] The ABT 1 further comprises a holding unit 3 configured to receive, hold, and release the respective OPT 2 which is provided to the ABT 1 from an external reservoir of OPTs. In the present example, the holding unit 3 is provided in the form of a slider on which two gripping elements 3a and 3a are mounted. The gripping elements 3a, 3a can be moved from an open position, in which the head 2c of the OPT 2 can be received to a holding position in which a contour 3b defined by the shapes of the individual gripping elements 3a and 3a establishes an at least partial form fit connection to the head 2c of the OPT 2. In the present example, the two gripping elements 3a and 3a can be moved linearly traversely to a forward direction LO, that is, in a z-direction, in the present figure, where the forward direction corresponds to the x-direction.

[0037] The ABT 1 further comprises a motion guiding unit 4 configured to guide a motion of the holding unit 3 between a receiving position of the holding unit 3, where the holding unit 3 receives, during intended use, the respective OPT 2 and a releasing position of the holding unit 3 where the holding unit releases, during intended use, the respective OPT 2. Note that in FIG. 1, the motion guiding unit 4 is shown in the receiving position. The motion guiding unit 4 approaching the releasing position is shown in FIG. 2. In the present example, the motion guiding unit 4 is a linear motion guiding unit 4 with a linear rail 4a which defines an OPT track 5.

[0038] The ABT 1 also comprises a claw unit 6 configured to guide the strap 2b of the respective OPT 2 around the bundling good. The present example, the claw unit 6 comprises an upper jaw as first claw element 6a, which is static as it is not movable with respect to a housing or handle of the ABT 1 and the motion guiding unit 4. The claw unit 6 further comprises a lower jaw as second claw element 6b, which can be moved, in particular, opened and closed in order to form a guide around the bundling good for the loop of the strap 2b.

[0039] The ABT of the present embodiment features a tip guiding unit 7 with at least one guiding flap element 7a configured to guide the tip 2a, and thus also the strap 2b of the respective OPT 2 towards an entrance 6c of the claw unit 6 when the respective OPT 2 is moved in the forward direction LO towards the releasing position of the holding unit 3 by the holding unit 3 moving from the receiving position to the releasing position.

[0040] In the present example at least one distance, here at least two distances are measured perpendicular to the OPT track 5. The first distance is measured as a y-distance in the y-direction, which is a direction of thickness of the respective OPT 2. The second distance is measured as a z-distance in a direction of width of the respective OPT 2. This is shown in detail in FIG. 3. Consequently, in the present example, the at least one guiding flap element 7a forms a section of a funnel narrowing towards the claw unit 6 (in the forward direction LO), where the narrow end of the funnel shapes a gate 7d (e.g., forms said gate 7d or part of it) that is configured to guide the tip 2a to or into the entrance 6c of the claw unit 6. In order to form said section of the funnel, the guiding flap element 7a comprises an upper inner (deflecting) surface 7b as well as two side inner (deflecting) surfaces 7c, 7c, with the inner side surfaces 7c, 7c converging in the positive x-direction, that is, the forward direction LO, and the upper inner surface 7b converging towards the OPT track 4a in the same direction. This is shown in more detail in FIG. 4.

[0041] In the present example, the at least one guiding flap element 7a is arranged movably relative to the body of the ABT 1. It is movable between a guiding position, which is shown in FIG. 1, and a clearing position, which is shown in FIG. 2. In the guiding position, an end 7e of the at least one guiding flap element 7 proximal to the claw unit 6, the proximal end 7e, is forming said gate 7d or part of the gate 7d which guides the tip 2a of the OPT 2 to or into the entrance 6c of the claw unit 6. In the clearing position, a distance dp of the proximal end 7e and the OPT track 5 or, correspondingly, the OPT 2 moved along the OPT track 5 is increased as compared to the guiding position. As shown in FIG. 2, the distance dp may be increased such that holding unit 3 can move into space taken by the guiding flap element 7a before.

[0042] The movement of the at least one guiding flap element 7a can be a linear movement or, as shown in the present example, a rotational movement. Correspondingly, in the present example, the at least one guiding flap element 7a is arranged rotatably about the respective rotation axis R with, in the present example, the rotation axis R running traversely to the OPT track 5. It is advantageous if a distance dr of the rotation axis and the OPT track 5 is nonzero, for instance, more than at least five times or more than at least ten times the thickness of the OPTs to be processed by the ABT 1. In the present example, the rotation axis R is also running parallel to the width direction of the respective OPT 2.

[0043] An alternative solution would be to arrange two movable guiding flap elements, preferably each arranged rotatably around the respective rotation axis, with the two rotation axes running in parallel and the guiding flap elements opening up sideways, that is, in the z-direction. Although the shown embodiment comprises less movable parts, depending on the shape of the holding unit and available space, such an alternative embodiment might be chosen for the respective application at hand.

[0044] As shown the figures, the one or more rotation axes R are preferably arranged, in the x-direction, between claw unit 6 and holding unit 3 when in the holding unit 3 is in the receiving position. The figures also show that, alternatively or in addition, a part (e.g. a half, as viewed in x-direction) of the guiding flap element 7a comprising the proximal end 7e may further away from the one or more rotation axes R than another part (e.g. the other half) of the guiding flap element 7a comprising an end opposite (in x-direction) to the proximal end 7e.

[0045] In the example shown here, the at least one guiding flap element 7a is configured to be held in the guiding position by a spring element 8, and to be moved into the clearing position by the holding unit 3 approaching the claw unit 6, in the present example by a mechanical interaction of the holding unit 3 with the at least one guiding flap element 7a. Furthermore, in the example shown, the at least one guiding flap element 7a is configured to be locked in the clearing position by a locking element 9, which is configured to release the at least one guiding flap element 7a when the distance between the holding unit 3 and the at least one guiding flap element 7a in the forward direction, that is, in the x-direction, exceeds a preset distance when the holding unit 3 is retracted from releasing position to receiving position. The inner surfaces 7b, 7c, and 7c may be smooth surfaces and/or coated surfaces.

[0046] Accordingly, the functioning of the ABT 1 shown here can be described by the following example method steps. First, when the holding unit 3 is in the receiving position (as shown in FIG. 1) the OPT 2 is provided to the ABT 1, from an external reservoir. The OPT 2 is fixed its position, for example by a form fit connection to the two gripping elements 3a and 3a. Then, the respective OPT 2 can be moved towards the bundling good (not shown), with the tip 2a of the respective OPT 2 ahead, in the forward direction LO, which is a positive x-direction. We consider the case when the OPT 2 is not an ideal straight OPT shown in the present FIGS., but a bent OPT 2, which is an OPT 2 with an involuntary nonstraight strap 2b such that there is a nonzero distance between the tip 2a and the OPT track 5 the tip 2a is supposed to take in order to meet the entrance 6c without any additional interaction. With the respective OPT 2 having a bent strap 2b, the tip 2a and the strap 2b of the respective OPT 2 are guided towards the entrance 6c of the claw unit 6 by the at least one guiding flap 7a of the tip guiding unit 7 which is positioned in the guiding position (as shown in FIG. 3). Then, after the tip 2a has entered the claw unit 6, the guidance by the tip guiding unit 7 is no longer required. Therefore, the at least one guiding flap element 7a is moved in a clearing position further away from the OPT track 5 than in the guiding position (as shown in FIG. 2). As the at least one guiding flap element 7a is in the clearing position, the holding unit 3 can approach the entrance 6c of the claw unit 6 to the same extent than without the tip guiding unit 7. Consequently, the strap 2b is guided around the bundling good by the claw elements 6a and 6b back through head 2c of the respective OPT 2 by the claw unit 6, and forms a loop as usual. However, in the present example embodiment, bent OPTs, in particular loose cable ties can be processed reliably and do not lead to failure of the automatic bundling process.

[0047] Unless context dictates otherwise, use herein of the word or may be considered use of an inclusive or, or a term that permits inclusion or application of one or more items that are linked by the word or (e.g., a phrase A or B may be interpreted as permitting just A, as permitting just B, or as permitting both A and B). Also, as used herein, a phrase referring to at least one of a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. For instance, at least one of a, b, or c can cover a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination with multiples of the same element (e.g., a-a, a-a-a, a-a-b, a-a-c, a-b-b, a-c-c, b-b, b-b-b, b-b-c, c-c, and c-c-c, or any other ordering of a, b, and c). Further, items represented in the accompanying figures and terms discussed herein may be indicative of one or more items or terms, and thus reference may be made interchangeably to single or plural forms of the items and terms in this written description.