Patent ID: 6648378
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
An apparatus for tying a flexible filament into a discrete knot around a workpiece, having a longitudinal axis, comprising:a housing, said housing defining an opening for the workpiece and an interior working area within the opening, a supply of flexible filament linked to the housing such that the filament is threaded into the interior working area of the housing, a mechanism mounted within the interior working area of the housing, comprising a plurality of generally arcurate wrapping elements mounted to the housing such that the wrapping elements are capable of circumscribing the workpiece by rotating around the interior working area, at least one of said wrapping elements defining a shuttle receptacle, a plurality of hooks mounted to the housing, said hooks extending into the proximity of the workpiece and being capable of being spaced away from the workpiece, and at least one shuttle slidably mounted within the shuttle receptacle of at least one of the wrapping elements, said shuttle also including a cutting blade and a clamp for clamping the lead end of the filament, and a power source connection attached to the housing and linked to the mechanism within the housing.