Binding machine

A binding machine includes a feeding device configured to feed a binding material, a movement passage through which an object to be bound to be moved to a binding executing position passes, a movable member configured to be moved from a premovement position where at least a part thereof is disposed in the movement passage, by being pushed by the to-be-bound object when the to-be-bound object moves toward the binding executing position, a winding member configured to wind the binding material fed to a given position by the feeding device around the to-be-bound object, by rotating while being transmitted power of the movable member moved from the premovement position, and a twisting device configured to twist the binding material wound around the to-be-bound object by the winding member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a binding machine which binds an object to be bound by winding a binding material around the object to be bound and twisting it.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, it is known that one type of binding machines which bind an object to be bound by winding a binding material around the to-be-bound object and twisting it. For example, the binding machine is used for binding a bag opening etc. by a string-shaped binding material.

Patent Document 1 discloses a binding machine which winds a binding material around an article, and twists it tight. The binding machine includes a feeding device which feeds the binding material for article binding, a bending and winding device which winds the fed binding material around the article, a clamping device which further rolls up the bent and wound binding material so as to conform to the article to tighten and fix it, a cutting device which cuts the binding material, a twisting device which twists the bent and wound binding material to tighten it, an insertion slot clamping device which inserts a rear part of the cut binding material to tighten and fix it, and a feeding drum which feeds the binding material to a rear end part of a casing body. This binding machine rotates a feed disk in a given direction to operate the feeding device, the insertion slot clamping device, the cutting device, and the twisting device, couples a linkage to a linkage drive shaft provided to the feed disk so as to be rotatable and transversely movable, and rotates the feed disk in a given direction to operate the bending and winding device and the clamping device.

REFERENCE DOCUMENT OF CONVENTIONAL ART

Patent Document

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Problem to be Solved by the Disclosure

Meanwhile, in the conventional binding machine, in order to drive various devices by a single motor, a motor is provided to the feed disk, and power of the motor is transmitted through the linkage to other devices which need the power. However, the bending and winding device is away from the motor. Thus, in order to transmit the power of the motor to the bending and winding device, it is necessary to provide the components, such as the linkage comprised of long members, and the linkage drive shaft and a clamp drive shaft coupled to the linkage. Therefore, the machine configuration becomes complicated and it is difficult to reduce the manufacturing cost.

The present disclosure is made in view of such a situation, and one purpose thereof is to provide a binding machine with a simplified machine configuration, which binds an object to be bound by winding a binding material around the to-be-bound object and twisting it.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In order to solve the above problem, according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, a binding machine configured to bind an object to be bound by winding a binding material around the to-be-bound object and twisting the binding material, is provided. The binding machine includes a feeding device configured to feed the binding material, a movement passage through which the to-be-bound object to be moved to a binding executing position passes, a movable member configured to be moved from a premovement position where at least a part of the movable member is disposed in the movement passage, by being pushed by the to-be-bound object when the to-be-bound object moves toward the binding executing position, a winding member configured to wind the binding material fed to a given position by the feeding device around the to-be-bound object, by rotating while being transmitted power of the movable member moved from the premovement position, and a twisting device configured to twist the binding material wound around the to-be-bound object by the winding member.

According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, in the first aspect, the binding machine may further include an elastic deforming part configured to return the movable member to the premovement position, and return the winding member to a prerotation position before the winding member rotates to wind the binding material, by a restoring force.

According to the third aspect of the present disclosure, in the second aspect, the movable member may have a transversing part crossing the movement passage, a first slide support part connected to one side of the transversing part with respect to the movement passage and slidably supported, and a second slide support part connected to the other side of the transversing part with respect to the movement passage and slidably supported. The elastic deforming part may have a first spring part configured to cause a restoring force for returning the movable member to the premovement position to act on the first slide support part, and a second spring part configured to cause a restoring force for returning the movable member to the premovement position to act on the second slide support part. In the movable member, a power transmission part configured to transmit power to the winding member may be provided to the first slide support part. The first spring part may have a larger restoring force than the second spring part.

According to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, in any one of the first to third aspects, the movable member may be provided slidably along the movement passage. In a state where the movable member is located at the premovement position, a distance from a rotational center of the winding member to an acting point where a force transmitted from the movable member acts on the winding member may be 0.5 cm or more and 3 cm or less.

According to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the binding machine may include a switch configured to contact the movable member or the winding member at a timing when the to-be-bound object reaches the binding executing position, to be switched to an ON state, and a motor configured to be supplied with electric power when the switch is switched to the ON state to drive the twisting device.

According to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the binding machine may include a switch configured to contact the movable member or the winding member at a timing when the movable member returns to the premovement position, to be switched to an ON state, and a motor configured to be supplied with electric power when the switch is switched to the ON state to drive the feeding device.

According to the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the binding machine may further include a binding material passage configured to guide to the given position the binding material inserted from outside. The binding material fed by the feeding device may advance in an area adjacent to the movement passage along the movement passage, to the given position from an exit of the binding material passage.

According to the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the twisting device may have a twist shaft rotatably provided, and a hooking part fixed to the twist shaft and configured to rotate while the binding material wound around the to-be-bound object being hooked thereon when the twist shaft rotates. The binding machine may further be provided with a putting-aside device configured to bring the binding material closer to the twist shaft before the binding material is twisted by the twisting device, the putting-aside device being moved by power of the movable member moved from the premovement position being transmitted.

Effect of the Disclosure

According to the present disclosure, the movable member is moved by being pushed by the to-be-bound object when the to-be-bound object moves toward the binding executing position, and further the winding member winds the binding material around the to-be-bound object, by rotating while being transmitted the power of the movable member. That is, the binding material is wound around the to-be-bound object by using the force for moving the to-be-bound object to the binding executing position. Thus, unlike the conventional binding machine, it is not necessary to transmit the power of the motor to the winding member, and the components which made the machine configuration of the conventional binding machine complicated can be omitted. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, the binding machine which binds an object to be bound by winding a binding material around the to-be-bound object and twisting it, can be provided, which is capable of simplifying the machine configuration.

According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, since the elastic deforming part configured to return the movable member to the premovement position and return the winding member to the prerotation position is provided, the preparation for the next binding after a binding to the to-be-bound object is finished can be automatically performed.

According to the third aspect of the present disclosure, the restoring force caused to act on the first slide support part to which the power transmitting part for the winding member is provided, is larger than the restoring force caused to act on the second slide support part. Therefore, the movable member can be returned stably since the force for returning the movable member to the premovement position is maintained with balance at both sides of the movement passage.

According to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the distance from the rotational center of the winding member to the acting point where the force transmitted from the movable member acts on the winding member (hereinafter, referred to as a “center-acting point distance”) is 0.5 cm or more and 3 cm or less. Here, in order to wind the binding material, it is necessary to rotate the winding member comparatively largely. For that purpose, it is possible to increase the sliding range of the movable member. However, if the moving range of the movable member is increased, the pushing distance of the movable member becomes longer for a user. Moreover, it is also possible to rotate the winding member largely by shortening the center-acting point distance. However, in this case, the force required for moving the movable member increases. Thus, according to the present disclosure, by setting the center-acting point distance 0.5 cm or more and 3 cm or less, the force required for moving the movable member does not become excessively large, while suppressing the moving range. Therefore, it can be prevented that the burden of the user pushing the movable member increases.

According to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the motor which drives the twisting device is automatically driven by using the motion of the movable member or the winding member when moving the to-be-bound object to the binding executing position. Therefore, the binding machine can be automated with the simple configuration.

According to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the motor which drives the feeding device is automatically driven by using the motion of returning the movable member or the winding member. Therefore, the binding machine can be automated with the simple configuration.

According to the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, the binding material fed by the feeding device advances in an area adjacent to the movement passage along the movement passage, from the exit of the binding material passage to the given position at which the winding to the to-be-bound object by the winding member is possible. Therefore, it is securely prevented that the binding material enters into the movement passage and hinders the movement of the to-be-bound object.

According to the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, by using the force for moving the to-be-bound object to the binding executing position, the binding material is brought closer to the twist shaft before the binding material is twisted. The position of the binding material becomes closer to the rotational center of the hooking part. Therefore, the binding material can securely be twisted by the hooking part.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE DISCLOSURE

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail with reference toFIGS.1to6. Note that the following embodiment is one example of the present disclosure, and therefore, it is not intended to limit the scopes of the present disclosure, applications, and usage.

[Outline Configuration of Binding Machine]

A binding machine10is a machine which winds a string-shaped binding material2around an object1to be bound, and then twists and binds it. The binding machine10illustrated inFIG.1includes a body part11which binds the to-be-bound object1, a body supporting part12which is integrally formed underneath the body part11and supports the body part11, and a reel stand18attached behind the body supporting part12. A movement passage (slot)13, through which the to-be-bound object1is moved to a binding executing position13awhere binding is performed, is formed by notching the body part11. The details of the body part11will be described later.

Below, the entrance side of the movement passage13is referred to as a “front side,” and the opposite side is referred to as a “rear side.” The movement passage13extends straightly in a front-and-rear direction. Moreover, a direction perpendicular to the front-and-rear direction is referred to as a “width direction.” Moreover, the terms “right (side)” or “left (side)” are used as directions when the binding machine10is seen from the front side.

The body supporting part12is covered with an exterior case17together with the body part11. The external surface of the body supporting part12is provided with a power switch and is connected to a power cord.

Electric components (not illustrated) are accommodated in the body supporting part12. Legs are provided underneath the body supporting part12. Moreover, a reel15is attached to the reel stand18. The binding material2is wound around the reel15. As the binding material2, a string-shaped binding material in which a core made of metal or resin is built in a resin string (vinyl string etc.) or paper string may be used.

[Outline Configuration of Body Part]

As illustrated inFIG.2, the body part11includes a feeding device20, a winding device40, a twisting device60, and a cutting device70. An insertion slot16into which the binding material2which is unwound from the reel15is inserted is formed in a rear surface of the body part11. Moreover, inside the body part11, a binding material passage14for guiding an end part of the binding material2inserted from the insertion slot16to a given windable position (given position) is formed. The windable position is a position at which the binding material2can be wound around the to-be-bound object1by a winding arm42(described later).

The binding material passage14extends inside the body part11, horizontally forward from the insertion slot16, and a hole of a stationary blade71(described later) serves as an exit14aof the binding material passage14. The insertion slot16is formed at an outward leftward position side in the width direction. The exit14aof the binding material passage14opens at a position leftward from the movement passage13, near the center in the width direction.

In this embodiment, the binding material passage14etc. is configured so that the binding material2fed by the feeding device20(described later) advances an area adjacent to the movement passage13along the movement passage13, from the exit14aof the binding material passage14to the windable position. In detail, in the top view, the binding material passage14is bent inward at a location rearward of a part being pinched between a driving roller23and a follower roller24(described later), and it extends obliquely as it is up to a location slightly rearward of the exit14a. Then, it extends substantially forward from the location slightly rearward of the exit14aup to the exit14a. In more detail, the exit14aof the binding material passage14is slightly turned to outward (left side). Moreover, a rotary arm91(described later) is disposed forward and leftward of the exit14a. Therefore, the binding material2fed forward from the exit14aof the binding material passage14advances obliquely after it is turned slightly outward, and then hits the rotary arm91so that the advancing direction is corrected to forward. Thus, it is prevented that the binding material2fed forward from the exit14aenters into the movement passage13.

Here, inside the exterior case17of the body part11, a plurality of support plates to which various components (described later) are attached are laminated and fixed (seeFIG.3(b)). A support plate part30comprised of the plurality of support plates is fixed to the exterior case17.

The feeding device20is a device which feeds the binding material2forward after binding of the to-be-bound object1is finished. As illustrated inFIGS.2,3(a) and3(b), the feeding device20includes a motor21, a rotary disk22coupled to a rotation shaft21aof the motor21, the driving roller23to which a rotational force is transmitted from the rotary disk22, the follower roller24which pinches the binding material2with the driving roller23, an elastic member25for rollers which pushes the follower roller24against the driving roller23, a switch mounting plate26which covers the rotary disk22etc. and is provided with a second switch82(described later) at an upper surface thereof, and a switch operating plate27attached to the rotation shaft21aon the switch mounting plate26. The motor21is disposed inside the body supporting part12. Note thatFIG.3(a)illustrates a state where the switch mounting plate26and the switch operating plate27are removed, and formation areas of a backside gear22cand a twist-side gear63are hatched. Moreover, inFIG.3(b), illustration of the elastic member25for rollers etc. is omitted. Moreover, the axis of the rotation shaft21aextends in the up-and-down direction. This is same for other rotation shafts23a,24a,28a,42a, and91a.

The rotary disk22is a plate member of a substantially circular shape in the plan view. As illustrated inFIG.3(b), the rotary disk22is provided with a frontside gear22band the backside gear22c. The frontside gear22bis a gear for rotating the driving roller23. The frontside gear22bis, for example, a spur gear, and is formed only in a partial angle range of the rotary disk22. The backside gear22cis a gear for rotating a twist shaft61(described later). The backside gear22cis, for example, a contrate gear, and is formed only in a partial angle range of the rotary disk22.

The driving roller23is disposed slightly forward of the insertion slot16. The driving roller23is rotatably attached to the rotation shaft23afixed to the support plate part30. The driving roller23is integrally formed with a roller-side gear23bwhich meshes with the frontside gear22b. The roller-side gear23bis, for example, a spur gear and is formed in the entire circumference of the driving roller23.

The follower roller24is disposed at a position which opposes to the driving roller23. Moreover, the follower roller24is rotatably attached to the rotation shaft24afixed to a support member28. The support member28is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft28afixed to the support plate part30. The position of the follower roller24changes, according rotation of the support member28, between a pushing position (a position inFIG.3(a)) where it pushes the driving roller23, and a separated position (a position leftward of the position inFIG.3(a)) where it is separated from the driving roller23. The follower roller24at the pushing position contacts the driving roller23on the binding material passage14.

A lever29which extends rearward from the exterior case17is fixed to the support member28. Moreover, one end part of the elastic member25for rollers is attached to the lever29. The other end part of the elastic member25for rollers is attached to a hook of the switch mounting plate26in a state where it is elongated from the natural length. Thus, in a state where a user does not apply a force to the lever29, a pulling force of the elastic member25for rollers is transmitted to the support member28through the lever29. Therefore, the support member28rotates clockwise inFIG.3(a)so that the follower roller24integrally formed with the support member28is pushed against the driving roller23at the pushing position. Moreover, when the user moves the lever29outwardly against the pulling force of the elastic member25for rollers, the support member28rotates counterclockwise so that the follower roller24moves to the separated position. Thus, the binding material2which is unwound from the reel15and is inserted into the insertion slot16can be pinched between the driving roller23and the follower roller24. Note that a coil spring can be used for the elastic member25for rollers, for example.

By the above configuration, when the motor21rotates, the rotary disk22rotates. Then, in the partial rotation angle range of one revolution of the rotary disk22, the frontside gear22bmeshes with the roller-side gear23b, and the rotational force of the motor21is transmitted to the driving roller23. When the driving roller23rotates while the binding material2is pinched between the driving roller23and the follower roller24, the follower roller24also rotates accordingly, and the binding material2is fed forward.

Moreover, when the motor21rotates, the switch operating plate27also rotates above the switch mounting plate26where the second switch82is attached to the upper surface thereof. The switch operating plate27is a cam in which a distance from the center of the rotation shaft21ato the outer circumference changes in the circumferential direction. In the switch operating plate27, a bulged part27awhich bulges outward in a partial angle range in the circumferential direction is formed. While the switch operating plate27is rotated, the second switch82is switched by the bulged part27aduring a period where the bulged part27aopposes to the second switch82.

The winding device40is a device which automatically winds the binding material2around the to-be-bound object1by using a force for moving the to-be-bound object1to the binding executing position13a. The winding device40includes a sliding member41which is slidably provided, a winding arm42which is rotatably provided, a power transmission part43which transmits power from the sliding member41to the winding arm42, a sliding direction regulating part44which regulates the sliding direction of the sliding member41, and a slide returning part45which biases the sliding member41forward by a restoring force.

The sliding member41corresponds to a movable member which is moved from a premovement position where at least a part thereof is disposed in the movement passage13, by being pushed by the to-be-bound object1which is moving toward the binding executing position13a. Moreover, the winding arm42corresponds to a winding member which winds the binding material2fed to a given position by the feeding device20around the to-be-bound object1, by rotating according to the power transmitted from the sliding member41. The slide returning part45corresponds to an elastic deforming part which returns the sliding member41to the premovement position, and returns the winding arm42to a prerotation position where it is before the winding arm42rotates for winding the binding material2, by the restoring force.

As illustrated inFIG.4(a), the sliding member41includes a transversing part41awhich crosses the movement passage13, a first slide support part41bwhich is connected to one side (left side) of the transversing part41afrom the movement passage13and is slidably supported, and a second slide support part41cwhich is connected to the other side (right side) of the transversing part41afrom the movement passage13and is slidably supported.

The transversing part41ais formed in a straight elongated-plate shape, and extends substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the movement passage13. A recess part41dinto which the to-be-bound object1enters is formed in the transversing part41a, at the front side of the part crossing the movement passage13. Therefore, the to-be-bound object1which pushes the sliding member41is difficult to be offset in the width direction of the movement passage13.

The first slide support part41bincludes an inner part41ewhich spreads toward outside (left side) from the transversing part41a, and an outer part41fof an elongated-plate shape which is formed continuously from the inner part41eand extends in the front-and-rear direction. An elongated hole43awhich constitutes the power transmission part43is formed in the inner part41e. Moreover, a rearward peripheral part92bwhich pushes a projection pin92a(described later) is formed in a rear part of the inner part41e. On the other hand, two elongated holes44awhich constitute the sliding direction regulating part44are formed in the outer part41f. Moreover, a protrusion41hwhich contacts a first switch81(described later) is formed in a rear end part of the outer part41f.

The second slide support part41cis a part of elongated-plate shape which is formed continuously on the outside of the transversing part41aand extends in the front-and-rear direction. An elongated hole44awhich constitutes the sliding direction regulating part44is formed in the second slide support part41c. Moreover, a second elastic member52which constitutes the slide returning part45is attached to a pin41iwhich protrudes from an upper surface of the second slide support part41c.

The sliding direction regulating part44includes the three elongated holes44adescribed above which extend in the front-and-rear direction, and three regulating pins44binserted in the three elongated holes44a, respectively, to regulate the sliding direction of the sliding member41in the front-and-rear direction (the extending direction of the movement passage13). The three elongated holes44aare equal in the length in the front-and-rear direction. Moreover, the three regulating pins44bare disposed so that their positions in the front-and-rear direction with respect to the elongated holes44ainto which the pins are inserted become the same. A sliding range of the sliding member41is regulated within a range from the premovement position (a position inFIG.4(a)) which is before the sliding member41is pushed by the to-be-bound object1to a movement stopped position (a position inFIG.4(b)) rearward of the premovement position. Note that, when the sliding member41reaches the movement stopped position, the position of the to-be-bound object1inside the recess part41dbecomes the binding executing position13a.

The slide returning part45includes a first elastic member51which pulls the first slide support part41bforward, and the second elastic member52which pulls the second slide support part41cforward. The first elastic member51corresponds to a first spring part which applies a restoring force for returning the sliding member41to the premovement position to the first slide support part41b. The second elastic member52corresponds to a second spring part which applies a restoring force for returning the sliding member41to the premovement position to the second slide support part41c. For example, coil springs are used for the elastic members51and52. Note that, although in this embodiment the first spring part and the second spring part are comprised of the elastic members51and52, respectively, each spring part may be comprised of a plurality of elastic members.

The first elastic member51is attached to a support pin30afixed to the support plate part30at one end part, and is attached to an insertion pin43bwhich is inserted into the elongated hole43aof the first slide support part41bat the other end part. On the other hand, the second elastic member52is attached to a support pin30bfixed to the support plate part30at one end part, and is attached to the pin41iof the second slide support part41cat the other end part.

In the slide returning part45, even when the sliding member41is located at the premovement position, the elastic members51and52are in a state where they are longer than their natural lengths, and therefore, the pulling forces act on the sliding member41. Then, when the sliding member41is moved to the movement stopped position, the elastic members51and52are extended and the pulling forces increase. In this state, when the to-be-bound object1is moved outside the movement passage13, the force which pushes the sliding member41rearward is removed, and the sliding member41is returned to the premovement position by the elastic members51and52.

Moreover, the first elastic member51is larger in the spring constant than the second elastic member52. That is, the first spring part has a larger restoring force for retuning the sliding member41to the premovement position than the second spring part. In this embodiment, the restoring force which acts on the first slide support part41bprovided with the power transmission part43to the winding arm42is larger than the restoring force which acts on the second slide support part41cnot provided with the power transmission part43. Therefore, the sliding member41can be returned with sufficient balance at both sides of the movement passage13.

The winding arm42is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft42afixed to the support plate part30. The winding arm42is located at the prerotation position (a position inFIG.5(a)), when the sliding member41is located at the premovement position. In this state, the entire winding arm42is located on the left side of the movement passage13. Then, interlocking with the sliding member41which slides toward the movement stopped position, the winding arm42rotates counterclockwise inFIG.5(a), and the winding arm42reaches the winding finished position (a position inFIG.5(b)), when the sliding member41reaches the movement stopped position. The winding arm42includes a plate-shaped arm part42band a binding material holding part42cattached to a tip-end part of the arm part42b. Note that, inFIG.5(b), the winding arm42and a putting-aside device90(described later) are indicated by solid lines, and members which overlap therewith and the sliding member41are indicated by broken lines.

The arm part42bhas a shape in planar view in which a belt-shaped part extends from a central part of substantially rectangular shape to which the rotation shaft42ais attached and is bent at an intermediate location. The insertion pin43bwhich constitutes the power transmission part43and is inserted into the elongated hole43ais fixed to the arm part42b, at a location near the rotation shaft42a. Moreover, in the arm part42blocated at the prerotation position, the belt-shaped part extends obliquely leftward, and the belt-shaped part extends obliquely rightward from a bent portion. A recess part42dwhich is dented outwardly is formed inside of the arm part42b(the movement passage13side), in order to avoid an interference of the arm part42bwith the to-be-bound object1, when it rotates to the winding finished position. As illustrated inFIG.5(b), the recess part42dlocated at the winding finished position forms, with the recess part41d, a hole through which the to-be-bound object1passes in the up-and-down direction. Moreover, a plate spring member47for suppressing that the binding material2separates from the to-be-bound object1when the binding material2is wound around a relatively small to-be-bound object1, is provided in the recess part42d.

Moreover, a bulged part42efor switching a third switch83is formed at an outward position of a rear end part of the arm part42blocated at the prerotation position. The bulged part42econtacts the third switch83at the prerotation position, and it separates from the third switch83when the winding arm42rotates counterclockwise from the prerotation position.

The binding material holding part42cis a small piece of substantially rectangular plate shape. Inside a broken line at the lower left ofFIG.5(a), a view of the binding material holding part42cseen from the front is illustrated. In the winding arm42located at the prerotation position, the binding material holding part42cis fixed to the tip-end part of the arm part42bso that it protrudes to the movement passage13side. The binding material holding part42cis perpendicular to the arm part42bso that its short sides extend in the up-and-down direction. A recess part42finto which the binding material2fits is formed in a tip-end part of the binding material holding part42c.

When the winding arm42rotates slightly counterclockwise from the prerotation position, the binding material2fed so that an end part thereof reaches a given windable position is caught by the recess part42fof the binding material holding part42c. Then, when the winding arm42is further rotated counterclockwise, the binding material2held by the recess part42fis bent so that it is folded back to the feeding side of the feeding device20, in the plan view. When the winding arm42is rotated to the winding finished position, the binding material2becomes in a state where it is wound around the to-be-bound object1.

The power transmission part43includes the elongated hole43awhich is formed in one of the sliding member41and the winding arm42, and the insertion pin43bwhich is fixed to the other of the sliding member41and the winding arm42and is inserted in the elongated hole43a. The power transmission part43is configured to transmit power from the sliding member41to the winding arm42when the sliding member41slides forward or rearward, to rotate the winding arm42. The power transmission part43converts the motion of the sliding member41in the sliding direction into a rotating motion to transmit power to the winding arm42. In this embodiment, the elongated hole43ais formed in the inner part41eof the first slide support part41b.

The extending direction of the elongated hole43ais slightly oblique to a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the sliding member41(i.e., the width direction), so that the inner side (right side) is located forward of the outer side (left side). Moreover, the insertion pin43bis fixed to the winding arm42.

In detail, as illustrated inFIG.5(a), in the power transmission part43, when the sliding member41is located at the premovement position, the insertion pin43bis located at an outward part of the elongated hole43a. Moreover, in this state, the insertion pin43bis located forward and inward of the rotation shaft42a. From this state, when the sliding member41is slid rearwardly, the insertion pin43bis pushed rearwardly by the front part of the elongated hole43a. Therefore, while the insertion pin43bmoves inside the elongated hole43a, the winding arm42rotates counterclockwise inFIG.5(a). Then, when the sliding member41reaches the movement stopped position, the winding arm42reaches the winding finished position (the position inFIG.5(b)). Since the sliding range of the sliding member41is regulated, the rotating range of the winding arm42is also regulated. The winding arm42is rotatable within a range from the prerotation position to the winding finished position.

Moreover, when the sliding member41is slid forward from the state where the sliding member41is located at the movement stopped position, the insertion pin43bis pushed forward by the rear part of the elongated hole43a. Therefore, while the insertion pin43bmoves inside the elongated hole43a, the winding arm42rotates clockwise inFIG.5(a). Then, when the sliding member41reaches the premovement position, the winding arm42reaches the prerotation position. Thus, the winding arm42rotates so as to be interlocked with the slide movement of the sliding member41. Moreover, at the timing when the winding arm42reaches the prerotation position, the bulged part42eof the arm part42bcontacts the third switch83and switches the third switch83to an ON state.

Here, in order to wind the binding material2, it is necessary to rotate the winding arm42comparatively largely. For that purpose, it is possible to increase the sliding range of the sliding member41. However, if the sliding range of the sliding member41is increased, the pushing distance of the sliding member41becomes longer for the user. Moreover, it is also possible to rotate the winding arm42largely by shortening the distance between axes of the rotation shaft42aand the insertion pin43b. However, in this case, the force required for moving the sliding member41increases. Thus, in this embodiment, in a state where the sliding member41is located at the premovement position so that the force required for moving the sliding member41does not become excessively large, while suppressing the sliding range, a distance X from the rotational center of the winding arm42to an acting point A at which the force transmitted from the sliding member41acts on the winding arm42is set within a numerical value range of 0.5 cm or more and 3 cm or less.

The twisting device60includes, as illustrated inFIG.2, the twist shaft61which is rotatably provided and a hooking part62which is fixed to one end part (front end part) of the twist shaft61, and as illustrated inFIG.3, a twist-side gear63provided to the other end part (rear end part) of the twist shaft61.

The twist shaft61extends in the front-and-rear direction from a position slightly rearward of the movement passages13to a position slightly forward of the rotation shaft21aof the rotary disk22. The twist shaft61overlaps at the other end side with the front side part of the rotary disk22from below. In the top view, the axis of the twist shaft61is located at the center of the movement passage13in the width direction. Moreover, the twist-side gear63is, for example, a spur gear, and meshes with the backside gear22cof the rotary disk22. Note that the backside gear22cand the twist-side gear63are designed so that, when the rotary disk22makes one revolution, the twist shaft61rotates by a multiple of a natural number (e.g., 3 times). Thus, when the rotary disk22makes one revolution, each of the hooking part62and a movable blade72(described below) returns to the same rotational position as before the rotation.

When the twist shaft61rotates, the hooking part62twists the binding material2by rotating while it hooks the binding material2wound around the to-be-bound object1. In detail, the hooking part62hooks the binding material2wound around the to-be-bound object1at a near side and a tip-end side of the folded part, when the twist shaft61rotates. In a broken line at the lower right ofFIG.5(b), a view of the hooking part62seen from the front is illustrated. The hooking part62is a member of a substantially S-shape or Z-shape, having a hook which catches the binding material2at the near side of the folded part, and a hook which catches the binding material2at the tip-end side of the folded part. The hooking part62is disposed slightly rearward of the binding executing position13ain the movement passage13.

As illustrated inFIG.5(a), the cutting device70includes the stationary blade71fixed to the support plate part30, and the movable blade72fixed to the twist shaft61at a position which is forwardly adjacent to the stationary blade71. The cutting device70shares the twist shaft61with the twisting device60. The stationary blade71is located at the exit14aof the binding material passage14in the front-and-rear direction. The cutting device70cuts the near side of the folded part of the binding material2at the exit14aof the binding material passage14.

In this embodiment, the binding machine10is further provided with the putting-aside device90which brings the binding material2closer to the twist shaft61before the binding material2is twisted by the twisting device60. As illustrated inFIG.5(a), the putting-aside device90includes the rotary arm91rotatably supported by the rotation shaft91afixed to the support plate part30, a power transmission part92which transmits power to the rotary arm91from the sliding member41, and an elastic member93which biases the rotary arm91by a restoring force.

When the sliding member41slides rearward, the power of the sliding member41is transmitted to the rotary arm91by the power transmission part92. When the sliding member41is located at the premovement position, the rotary arm91is located at the prerotation position illustrated inFIG.5(a). Then, when the sliding member41slides rearward, the rotary arm91rotates counterclockwise inFIG.5(a)by the power of the sliding member41, and it rotates from a prerotation position to a putting-aside finished position (a position inFIG.5(b)).

The rotary arm91is a plate-shaped member extending forward from the rotation shaft91a. The rotary arm91bends inwardly at an intermediate location. The rotary arm91located at the prerotation position extends obliquely leftward from the rotation shaft91ato the bent part, and extends obliquely forward and rightward from the bent part to a tip-end part. Moreover, a protrusion91bwhich bulges inwardly is formed in a rear part of the rotary arm91. In the rotary arm91located at the putting-aside finished position, each of the protrusion91band a tip-end part91cprojects inwardly (the movement passage13side).

Moreover, the binding material2fed forward from the exit14aof the binding material passage14hits the protrusion91bof the rotary arm91located at the prerotation position. In detail, the binding material2hits a side surface of the protrusion91brearward of the tip end. The rearward side surface of the protrusion91blocated at the prerotation position extends obliquely rightward and forward in the plan view, and corrects the advancing direction of the binding material2fed from the exit14aof the binding material passage14to substantially forward.

The power transmission part92includes a projection pin92afixed at an outward position of the rotary arm91, and a peripheral part92brearward of the inner part41eof the first slide support part41b. The rearward peripheral part92bextends obliquely so that the front side is closer to the inside (the movement passage13side). Therefore, when the sliding member41contacts the projection pin92ain the process of sliding the sliding member41rearward, the projection pin92agradually moves inward, and the rotary arm91rotates the counterclockwise inFIG.5(a). During this rotation, the protrusion91band the tip-end part91cof the rotary arm91contact the binding material2at the near side of the folded part from outside, and push the binding material2inwardly at the two locations.

The elastic member93biases the rotary arm91to the opposite direction for the rotational direction from the prerotation position to the putting-aside finished position. As the elastic member93, a coil spring can be used. The elastic member93is attached at one end part to a support pin30cfixed to the support plate part30, and is attached at the other end part to a protrusion piece provided at an outward position of the rotary arm91. In the process of sliding the sliding member41forward, the elastic member93returns the rotary arm91to the prerotation position.

[Rotation Control of Rotary Disk]

The binding machine10includes the first switch81, the second switch82, and the third switch83in order to turn on and turn off the motor21. Each of the first switch81and the third switch83is a switch for switching the motor21to an ON state, when its contacts close. The second switch82is a switch for switching the motor21to an OFF state, both when its contacts close and open.

The first switch81is pushed by the protrusion41hof the sliding member41at a timing when the sliding member41slides rearward and reaches the movement stopped position, and is then switched to the ON state (seeFIG.4(b)). When the first switch81is switched to the ON state, electric power is supplied to the motor21, and the motor21starts rotating. As a result, each of the rotary disk22and the switch operating plate27begins to rotate clockwise from the state illustrated inFIG.6(a). Then, when the rotary disk22and the switch operating plate27rotate by a given angle, the second switch82is pushed by the bulged part27aof the switch operating plate27, as illustrated inFIG.6(b). Then, the contacts of the second switch82become in the contacted state, and the motor21is switched to the OFF state. The switch operating plate27stops in a state where the front side of the bulged part27ain the rotational direction contacts the second switch82.

Moreover, the third switch83is pushed by the bulged part42eof the winding arm42at a timing when the winding arm42returns to the prerotation position, and it is switched to the ON state (seeFIG.5(a)). When the third switch83is switched to the ON state, electric power is supplied to the motor21, and the motor21starts rotating. As a result, each of the rotary disk22and the switch operating plate27again starts rotating. Then, when the switch operating plate27rotates by a given angle from the state ofFIG.6(b), the bulged part27aof the switch operating plate27separates from the second switch82(seeFIG.6(a)). Then, the contacts of the second switch82also become in the separated state, and the motor21stops.

During a period from the switching of the motor21to the ON state by the first switch81until the motor21stops (hereinafter, referred to as a “first rotation period”), the frontside gear22bdoes not mesh with the roller-side gear23b, above the rotary disk22, but the backside gear22cmeshes with the twist-side gear63below the rotary disk22. During the first rotation period, only the twist shaft61rotates among the driving roller23and the twist shaft61. Note that, inFIG.6, a formation area of each of the backside gear22cand the twist-side gear63is hatched.

During a period from the switching of the motor21to the ON state by the third switch83until the motor21stops (hereinafter, referred to as a “second rotation period”), the frontside gear22bmeshes with the roller-side gear23bat a location above the rotary disk22, and the backside gear22cdoes not mesh with the twist-side gear63at a location below the rotary disk22. During the second rotation period, only the driving roller23rotates among the driving roller23and the twist shaft61.

[Method of Using Binding Machine]

A method of using the binding machine10is described. Below, the description is given from a state where an end part of the binding material2is guided to a position where it is windable around the to-be-bound object1by the winding arm42(the state inFIG.5(a)). In this state, it is in a state immediately before the backside gear22cof the rotary disk22meshes with the twist-side gear63of the twist shaft61(the state inFIG.6(a)).

When the user moves the to-be-bound object1toward the binding executing position13afrom the entrance of the movement passage13, the to-be-bound object1hits the position of the recess part41din the transversing part41aof the sliding member41at an intermediate location of the movement passage13, and the sliding member41pushed by the user starts sliding rearward from the premovement position, as illustrated inFIG.5(a).

Then, the sliding motion of the sliding member41is converted into the rotating motion of the winding arm42through the power transmission part43, and the winding arm42rotates counterclockwise. When the winding arm42rotates slightly from the prerotation position, the recess part42fof the binding material holding part42ccatches the end part of the binding material2. Then, when the winding arm42further rotates, the binding material2held by the recess part42fis bent as illustrated inFIG.5(b)so that it is folded back to the feeding side of the feeding device20, and the to-be-bound object1reaches the binding executing position13a.

When the to-be-bound object1reaches the binding executing position13a, the sliding member41stops sliding at the movement stopped position, and the winding arm42stops the rotation at the winding finished position. In this state, as illustrated inFIG.5(b), the binding material2is in the state where it is wound around the to-be-bound object1.

Moreover, in the putting-aside device90, the rearward peripheral part92bof the sliding member41contacts and begins to push the projection pin92aof the rotary arm91before the sliding member41reaches the movement stopped position. Then, when the sliding member41further slides rearward, the projection pin92amoves inward and the rotary arm91rotates to the putting-aside finished position, as illustrated inFIG.5(b). Therefore, the protrusion91band the tip-end part91cof the rotary arm91contact from outside the binding material2at the near side of the folded part, and bring the binding material2closer to the twist shaft61at the two locations. As a result, the binding material2is securely pushed into the hook of the hooking part62.

Moreover, at the timing when the sliding member41reaches the movement stopped position, the first switch81is pushed by the protrusion41hof the sliding member41to be switched into the ON state, and the motor21drives, as illustrated inFIG.4(b). Therefore, the first rotation period is started, and the rotary disk22rotates from the state ofFIG.6(a). During the first rotation period, the twist shaft61rotates as described above. The first rotation period ends when the second switch82is pushed by the switch operating plate27and the motor21stops, as illustrated inFIG.6(b). During the first rotation period, the twist shaft61rotates by a given number of rotations. As a result, the binding material2is cut, the binding material2hooked on the hooking part62is twisted, and therefore, the binding of the to-be-bound object1is finished.

When the binding of the to-be-bound object1is finished, a preparation for binding a next to-be-bound object1is performed. In detail, when the user moves the to-be-bound object1outside the movement passage13after the binding is finished, the user's force is removed from the sliding member41, and the sliding member41is returned to the premovement position by the first elastic member51and the second elastic member52.

Then, the winding arm42returns to the prerotation position, and the rotary arm91also returns to the prerotation position. At the timing when the winding arm42returns to the prerotation position, the third switch83is pushed by the bulged part42eof the winding arm42, and the motor21again operates, as illustrated inFIG.5(a). Therefore, the second rotation period is started, and the rotary disk22rotates from the state ofFIG.6(b). During the second rotation period, the driving roller23rotates as described above. The second rotation period ends when the switch operating plate27separates from the second switch82and the motor21stops, as illustrated inFIG.6(a). During the second rotation period, the driving roller23rotates by a given number of rotations. Therefore, the end part of the binding material2located near the exit14aof the binding material passage14is fed to the windable position.

In this embodiment, the binding material2is wound around the to-be-bound object1by using the force for moving the to-be-bound object1to the binding executing position13a. Thus, it is not necessary to transmit the power of the motor21to the winding arm42, and the components which made the machine configuration of the conventional binding machine complicated can be omitted. Therefore, the binding machine10which can simplify the machine configuration can be provided.

Moreover, in this embodiment, since the slide returning part45for returning the sliding member41to the premovement position and also returning the winding arm42to the prerotation position is provided, the preparation for the next binding after the binding of the to-be-bound object1is finished can be automatically performed.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the twisting device60is driven by automatically driving the motor21by using the motion of the sliding member41when moving the to-be-bound object1to the binding executing position13a. Moreover, the feeding device20is driven by automatically driving the motor21by using the motion of returning the winding arm42. Therefore, the binding machine10can be automated with the simple configuration.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the binding material2is brought closer to the twist shaft61by using the force of moving the to-be-bound object1to the binding executing position13a, before the binding material2is twisted. Therefore, the binding material2can securely be twisted by the hooking part62.

Other Embodiments

Although in the above embodiment the slide returning part45for causing the restoring force to act on the sliding member41is provided as the elastic deforming part, the elastic member of the elastic deforming part may be connected to the winding arm42to cause the restoring force to act on the winding arm42. In this case, the power is transmitted from the winding arm42to the sliding member41, and the sliding member41returns to the premovement position.

Although in the above embodiment the sliding member41is provided as the movable member, the motion of the movable member is not limited to the sliding motion. For example, the movable member may be a member which is rotated by a force for moving the to-be-bound object1to the binding executing position13a.

Although in this embodiment the slide support parts41band41care provided on both sides of the movement passage13as the movable member, the slide support part may be provided only on one side of the movement passage13. Moreover, the movable member may not transverse the movement passage13, as long as at least a part thereof is disposed in the movement passage13at the premovement position.

Although in the above embodiment, for the power transmission part43, the elongated hole43ais formed in the sliding member41among the sliding member41and the winding arm42, and the insertion pin43bis fixed to the winding arm42, the elongated hole43amay be formed in the winding arm42, and the insertion pin43bmay be fixed to the sliding member41.

In the above embodiment, the first switch81may be switched to the ON state by the winding arm42, instead of the sliding member41. Moreover, the third switch83may be switched to the ON state by the sliding member41, instead of the winding arm42.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure is applicable to the binding machine etc. which binds the to-be-bound object by winding the binding material around the to-be-bound object and twisting it.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS