Cable-Tie Straightening Device

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a cable-tie straightening device including a receiving unit for receiving a cable tie, a feed unit for moving the cable tie from the receiving unit into a straightening unit, the straightening unit for straightening a strap of the cable tie, and a discharge unit for discharging the cable tie. The cable tie moved by the feed unit with a head of the cable tie pointing in the direction of the movement. The straightening unit configured to receive the cable tie, guide the strap of the cable tie through guide elements and straighten it, and also to move the cable tie into the discharge unit, with a strap tip of the cable tie pointing in the direction of the movement.

Claims

1. A cable-tie straightening device, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving a cable tie; a feed unit for moving the cable tie from the receiving unit into a straightening unit in a direction of movement, with a head of the cable tie pointing in the direction of the movement; the straightening unit for straightening a strap of the cable tie, wherein the straightening unit is configured to: receive the cable tie; guide the strap of the cable tie through guide elements and straighten the strap; and move the cable tie into a discharge unit, with a strap tip of the cable tie pointing in the direction of the movement; and the discharge unit being configured for discharging the cable tie.

2. The cable-tie straightening device according to claim 1, wherein the straightening unit is arranged movably relative to at least one of the discharge unit, the feed unit, the receiving unit, or a housing of the cable-tie straightening device.

3. The cable-tie straightening device according to claim 1, wherein the straightening unit is configured to: receive the cable tie in a receiving position; and move the cable tie into the discharge unit in a distributor position that is different from the receiving position.

4. The cable-tie straightening device according to claim 3, wherein the distributor position is selected from a plurality of different distributor positions that can be prescribed for the cable tie.

5. The cable-tie straightening device according to claim 3, wherein the straightening unit is configured to move the cable tie by a linear translatory movement from the receiving position to the distributor position.

6. The cable-tie straightening device according to claim 1, wherein the guide elements of the straightening unit comprise walls of a tunnel configured to receive the cable tie.

7. The cable-tie straightening device according to claim 6, wherein the walls of the tunnel are configured to receive the cable tie completely.

8. The cable-tie straightening device according to claim 1, wherein the straightening unit is configured to receive the cable tie pneumatically.

9. The cable-tie straightening device according to claim 8, wherein the straightening unit is configured to move the cable tie into the discharge unit.

10. The cable-tie straightening device according to claim 9, wherein the straightening unit further comprises a receiving space configured for receiving the cable tie.

11. The cable-tie straightening device according to claim 10, wherein the discharge unit further comprises a second receiving space configured for receiving for the cable tie, the second receiving space configured to be sealed off from surroundings in common.

12. The cable-tie straightening device according to claim 1, wherein the straightening unit is configured to move the cable tie into the discharge unit.

13. The cable-tie straightening device according to claim 12, wherein the straightening unit further comprises a receiving space configured for receiving the cable tie.

14. The cable-tie straightening device according to claim 13, wherein the discharge unit further comprises a second receiving space configured for receiving for the cable tie, the second receiving space configured to be sealed off from surroundings in common.

15. The cable-tie straightening device according to claim 1, wherein the feed unit is configured to push the cable tie into the straightening unit by means of a mechanical element.

16. The cable-tie straightening device according to claim 15, wherein the mechanical element comprises at least one of a pin element or a mandrel element.

17. The cable-tie straightening device according to claim 15, wherein the feed unit is configured to push the cable tie into the straightening unit by a distance of 15 mm +/−10 mm

18. A bundling system comprising: a sorting device for sorting loose cable ties; a cable-tie straightening device comprising: a receiving unit connected to the sorting device and receiving a cable tie from the sorting device; a feed unit for moving the cable tie from the receiving unit into a straightening unit in a direction of movement, with a head of the cable tie pointing in the direction of the movement; the straightening unit for straightening a strap of the cable tie, wherein the straightening unit is configured to: receive the cable tie from the feed unit; guide the strap of the cable tie through guide elements and straighten the strap; and move the cable tie into a discharge unit, with a strap tip of the cable tie pointing in the direction of the movement; the discharge unit being configured for discharging the cable tie; and a cable-tie tool coupled with the cable-tie straightening device by way of a conveying hose for conveying the cable ties, the cable-tie tool receiving the cable tie discharged from the discharge unit.

19. The bundling system of claim 18, wherein the cable-tie tool further comprises: an integrated cable-tie reservoir.

20. A method comprising: receiving a cable tie; moving the received cable tie, in a first direction, into a straightening unit; straightening the cable tie in the straightening unit; moving the straightened cable tie, in a second direction opposite to the first direction, out of the straightening unit into a discharge unit; and discharging the cable tie from the discharge unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Cable-tie straightening devices and cable-tie straightening devices suitable for being used in a bundling system for bundling material for binding by means of a cable tie, according to the present disclosure, will be discussed in greater detail with reference to the schematic drawings shown in the following figures, without wishing to restrict it to the specific embodiments shown here.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a bundling system with a cable-tie straightening device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a cable-tie straightening device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] In the different figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Disclosed is a cable-tie straightening device that is suitable for being used in a bundling system for bundling material for binding by means of a cable tie.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a bundling system 10 of a cable-tie straightening device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The bundling system 10 here in the present embodiment first of all has a circular vibratory sorting unit 1 that has a vibratory vessel into which loose cable ties 7 (FIG. 2) can be thrown. As is generally known, then when the circular vibratory sorting unit 1 is operating, cable ties are sorted in or on a linear vibratory unit 2 by way of a chicane 1b. Thereon or therein, the cable ties are then lined up parallel to each other and supplied to the cable-tie straightening device 3. Once the respective cable ties have been straightened there or it has been ensured that they run straight, they are conveyed, generally “fired,” that is to say forced through the conveying hose 5 at a pneumatic pressure, by way of a conveying, guide, or supply hose 5 to a portable cable-binding cable tool 6.

[0027] During operation of the bundling system 10, then upon or after actuating the cable-tie tool 6 by way of a corresponding communication channel 4, which here is embodied as a cable link, corresponding replenishment of cable ties, that is to say the renewed supplying or conveying of a cable tie by way of the supply hose 5, is triggered by the cable-tie straightening device 3.

[0028] If a plurality of different portable cable-tie tools 6 are connected to the cable- tie straightening device 3, then the replenishment can be coordinated by way of the respective control signal, that is to say that it can be ensured that the cable-tie tool 6 is also accordingly supplied with cable ties when required.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows the cable-tie straightening device 3 in detail, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the present embodiment, the cable-tie straightening device 3 here is coupled both to a preceding linear vibratory unit 2 and to a subsequent guide hose 5. The cable-tie straightening device 3 has a receiving unit 3a for receiving a respective cable tie 7 that is in a prescribed position, with its main extent running parallel to the X-axis and the cable-tie head pointing in the negative X-direction and also the cable-tie tip pointing in the positive X-direction.

[0030] A feed unit 3b serves for moving the cable tie 7 from the receiving unit 3a into the straightening unit 3c with at least a head of the cable tie 7. Since the movement into the straightening unit 3c runs in the X-direction, which in the present case is negative, the cable tie 7 thus arrives headfirst in the straightening unit 3c. The cable tie 7 in the example shown is displaced with a mechanical element 3b′ (e.g., a pin element), at its head by a distance of, for example, 15 mm

[0031] If the cable tie 7 is then received partially, in particular with its head or a part of the head, in the straightening unit 3c, the cable tie 7 is sucked by means of an underpressure into the straightening unit 3c and is guided laterally, and is thus straightened, by corresponding guide elements 3c′. It should be noted here that in the embodiment illustrated, the straightening unit 3c is arranged movably relative to the receiving unit 3aand the feed unit 3b, and thus, when used as intended in the present embodiment, at least in part, moves back-and-forth between different settings, a receiving setting for the cable tie and a distributor setting for the cable tie. The straightening unit 3c is illustrated in the distributor setting, which in the embodiment shown is illustrated above, that is to say offset in translation in the positive Y-direction in relation to the receiving setting. The straightening unit 3c, when the cable-tie straightening device 3 shown is used as intended, is thus displaced in the Y-direction between the receiving setting (receiving position) and distributor setting (distributor position). If the straightening unit 3c has thus received and straightened the cable tie 7, it is displaced in the positive Y-direction, so that an opening of a receiving space of the straightening unit is arranged aligned with a corresponding opening of the discharge unit 3d and the cable tie can be discharged into the guide hose 5 from the discharge unit 3d of the cable-tie straightening device 3.

[0032] Overall, thus reliable threading of the cable tie with the cable strap tip in front into the guide hose can be achieved by the cable-tie straightening device described.