Patent GB-1323988-A (GB)
Title: Machine for tying together a group of elongated objects
IPC: B65B27/10
Filed: 1972-05-24
Abstract: 1323988 Machine for applying continuous lacing to a group of elongated articles GOODWILL AUTOMATED DEVICES Inc 24 May 1972 24482/72 Heading B8C A machine for tying together a group of elongated objects such as electrical conductors 114, Fig. 1A, comprises a cable support plate 24 formed of separate halves 24a, 24b for holding the group of conductors adjacent a tie point and a bobbin 34 carried by a plate 30 which is rotatably mounted on the flange 26 of a central opening 25 in the support plate 24 to revolve the bobbin around the group of objects so that lacing, paid out from the bobbin, is passed around the group. A loop former 91 is initially disposed between the group 114 and the path of the bobbin so that the lacing is deposited thereon as the bobbin revolves around the group, means 95, 01 being provided for moving the loop former away from its initial position to form a loop in the lacing through which the bobbin passes as it continues to revolve around the group 114. Means 79 is adapted to engage the bobbin, and rotate it, after it has passed through the loop to take up the excess slack in the lacing and tighten the knot thus formed. In operation an air cylinder 42, Fig. 2, is actuated to open the jaws 24a, 24b and the cable 114 is placed between the jaws which are then closed. Lacing, such as waxed nylon cable, is pulled from a supply within the bobbin 34, which is made of two mating halves 34a, 34b, and the first tie is made manually on the cable 114 which is then advanced to a point on the cable for the next tie. The cable follows longitudinally along the cable 114 and through a notch 117 in the flange 26 to the bobbin 34 which is positioned at a point (118) Fig. 3 (not shown), in advance of the centre line of the bobbin carrier plate 30. A cylinder 70, Fig. 7 is actuated to move a clutch half 55 into engagement with an associated half 50 fast on a shaft 51 so that a reversible air motor 58 transmits rotary motion to the bobbin plate 30 by means of pinions 56, 57, chain drive 50, 48, and gears 46, 27, the latter gear 27 being secured to the bobbin plate 30. As the bobbin revolves it lays lacing in an arcuate groove 92 in the loop former 91 and when it has travelled half-way around the cable to a point 119, Fig. 5, air is introduced into the air cylinder 105 of a helical cam slot 100 and lug 102 mechanism which is connected by a rotary sleeve 98 and a rod 95 to the loop former 91 which is rotated through 270 degrees as it is raised to twist the lacing at the notch 117 to present a loop, Fig. 6, to the bobbin 34. The latter passes through the loop at the top of its path, at 0 degrees, Fig. 5, to form a loose knot in the lacing. The loop former 91 comprises a base (120), Figs. 11-14 (not shown), and a pair of spring loaded members (121a, 121b) which are spread apart by a wedge (128), Fig. 15 (not shown), located above the loop former 91 to enlarge the loop of lacing. After passing through the loop the bobbin continues to rotate to a position 55 degrees from the 0 degree mark where it stops while a spindle 79, rotated by the air motor 58 through a clutch 61, 62, which is engaged by actuation of the cylinder 40, and chain drive 72, 64, is thrust by means of a cylinder 85 into engagement with a notched base 132 on the bobbin 34. At the same time the spindle 79 pushes back a spindle 35, Fig. 1, which supports the bobbin 34, to disengage locking detents 36, Fig. 6, so that the bobbin is rotated to take up excess lacing and tighten the knot, the former 91 also being tilted about a pivot 94 so that the lacing is pulled out of the groove 92. The mechanism of the machine then returns to its start position, the lower jaw 24b is opened, so that the cable 114 can be manually, or automatically, advanced to the next tie point. In an alternative arrangement the cable 114 can remain stationary and the machine is moved relative to it on a sliding mounting. The sequence of operations can be programmed, or controlled, by computer.