Patent ID: 6968779
Filing Date: 2005-11-29
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. A feed and tension mechanism for use with a wire-tying machine, comprising: an accumulator wheel to accept wire during tensioning of the wire about one or more objects; a wire guide rotationally mounted to the accumulator wheel and positioned to receive and route the wire; a feed wheel to receive the wire from the wire guide and directing the wire to an outlet region; a primary nip mechanism biasly engaged against the feed wheel to form a primary nip contact region to frictionally engage the wire; a feed wheel gearmotor to rotationally drive the feed wheel; an accumulator gearmotor to rotationally drive the accumulator wheel independent of the feed wheel; and a supplemental nip mechanism being controllably movable into and out of contact with the feed wheel to selectively aid the threading of the wire into the feed and tension mechanism.