Patent Description:
In the related art, a binding machine called as a reinforcing bar binding machine configured to wind a wire around reinforcing bars, and to bind the reinforcing bars by twisting the wire wound on the reinforcing bars has been suggested.

The reinforcing bar binding machine includes a magazine configured to accommodate therein a wire reel on which a wire is wound, a wire feeding unit configured to feed the wire reeled out from the wire reel accommodated in the magazine, a curl guide unit configured to curl the wire fed by the wire feeding unit around an object to be bound (reinforcing bars), and a binding unit configured to bind the object to be bound by twisting the wire curled with the curl guide unit.

The magazine is provided at an outer side of a binding machine main body, the wire feeding unit and the binding unit are provided in the binding machine main body, and the curl guide unit is provided so that a part thereof is exposed from one end of the binding machine main body. The binding machine main body is provided with a handle part extending in a predetermined direction, and a setting unit for setting a variety of operation conditions, such as an adjustment dial configured to adjust torsional torque of the wire, and an LED for notifying an operator of an operating state, and the like are arranged on a surface part (upper surface) opposite to the handle part with respect to the binding machine main body (for example, refer to <CIT>).

According to the above binding machine, since the setting unit, the LED and the like are arranged on the upper surface of the binding machine main body, it is difficult to check (visually recognize) states of the setting unit, the LED and the like while an operator performs a binding operation with gripping the handle part. For this reason, the operator should change a position and an angle of the reinforcing bar binding machine so as to see the setting unit, the LED and the like or change a posture of an upper body of the operator so as to see the upper surface of the binding machine main body. A binding machine disclosing the features of the preamble of claim <NUM> is known from <CIT>.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situations, and an object thereof is to provide a binding machine by which an operator can easily check a setting unit and the like while performing a binding operation.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a binding machine according to claim <NUM>, including: a wire feeding unit configured to feed a wire; a curl guide configured to curl the wire fed by the wire feeding unit around an object to be bound; a binding unit including a twisting shaft provided to be rotatable around a predetermined axis, and a gripping part provided at one end side of the twisting shaft, wherein the gripping part is configured to grip the wire curled by the curl guide and the twisting shaft is configured to twist the gripped wire so as to bind the object; a binding machine main body having a first end side at which the curl guide is arranged and configured to accommodate therein the wire feeding unit and the binding unit; and a setting unit provided at an opposite end side of the binding machine main body and configured to set a predetermined operation condition.

According to the present invention, since the setting unit is provided at the opposite end side, which is opposite to the curl guide unit, of the binding machine main body, the setting unit is arranged at a visually recognizable position at a state where the curl guide unit is made to face the object to be bound.

According to the present invention, since the setting unit is provided at the opposite end side, which is opposite to the curl guide unit, of the binding machine main body, the operator can easily check and operate the setting unit while performing the binding operation.

Hereinafter, an example of a reinforcing bar binding machine, which is an embodiment of the binding machine not according to the invention, will be described with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a view depicting an example of an entire configuration of a reinforcing bar binding machine of an embodiment not according to the invention, as seen from a side, and <FIG> is a view depicting an example of a main configuration of the reinforcing bar binding machine of the embodiment, as seen from a side.

A reinforcing bar binding machine 1A of the embodiment includes a housing to be gripped by an operator's hand. The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A includes a main body part (binding machine main body) 10A and a handle part 11A extending from the main body part 10A. The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is configured to feed a wire W in a forward direction, which is one direction, to wind (curl) the wire around reinforcing bars S, which are an example of the object to be bound, and then, to pull back the wire in a reverse direction to the forward direction and to wind the wire on the reinforcing bars S. The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is configured to bind the reinforcing bars S with the wire W by gripping and twisting a part of the wire W wound on the reinforcing bars S.

The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A includes a magazine 2A, which is an accommodation unit configured to accommodate therein the wire W, a wire feeding unit 3A accommodated in the main body part 10A and configured to feed the wire W, a curl guide unit 5A arranged at one end side of the main body part 10A and configured to form a path along which the wire W fed by the wire feeding unit 3A is to be wound around the reinforcing bars S, a cutting unit 6A configured to cut the wire W wound around the reinforcing bars S, and a binding unit 7A accommodated in the main body part 10A and configured to bind the reinforcing bars S by twisting the wire W curled along the reinforcing bars S with the curl guide unit 5A. The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A includes a first wire guide 4A<NUM> provided upstream of the wire feeding unit 3A and configured to guide the wire W, which is to be fed into the wire feeding unit 3A, and a second wire guide 4A<NUM> provided downstream of the wire feeding unit 3A and configured to guide the wire W, which is to be delivered from the wire feeding unit 3A.

In the magazine 2A, a reel <NUM> on which the long wire W is wound to be reeled out is rotatably and detachably accommodated. In the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A of the embodiment, two wires W are wound to be reeled out on the reel <NUM> so that the reinforcing bars S can be bound with the two wires W. For the wire W, a wire made of a plastically deformable metal wire, a wire having a metal wire covered with a resin, a twisted wire or the like can be used. In the below, a side denoted with an arrow F at which the magazine 2A is provided is referred to as 'front' and a side at which the handle part 11A is provided is referred to as 'rear', with respect to a direction in which the magazine 2A and the handle part 11A are aligned side by side.

<FIG> and <FIG> depict an example of the wire feeding unit. The wire feeding unit 3A includes a first feeding gear <NUM> and a second feeding gear 30R configured to feed the wire W by a rotating operation. The first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R are a pair of feeding members configured to sandwich and feed two wires W aligned in parallel.

The first feeding gear <NUM> has a tooth part <NUM> configured to transmit a drive force. In this example, the tooth part <NUM> has a spur gear shape, and is formed on an entire circumference of an outer periphery of the first feeding gear <NUM>. Also, the first feeding gear <NUM> has a groove portion <NUM> into which the wire W enters. In this example, the groove portion <NUM> is a concave portion of which a sectional shape is a substantial V shape, and is formed on the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the first feeding gear <NUM> along a circumferential direction.

The second feeding gear 30R has a tooth part 31R configured to transmit a drive force. In this example, the tooth part 31R has a spur gear shape, and is formed on an entire circumference of an outer periphery of the second feeding gear 30R. Also, the second feeding gear 30R has a groove portion 32R into which the wire W enters. In this example, the groove portion 32R is a concave portion of which a sectional shape is a substantial V shape, and is formed on the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the second feeding gear 30R along a circumferential direction.

The first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R are provided with the feeding path of the wire W being interposed therebetween so that the groove portion <NUM> and the groove portion 32R are arranged to face each other.

The first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R are pressed as the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R come close to each other so as to sandwich the wire W therebetween. Thereby, the wire feeding unit 3A sandwiches the wire W between the groove portion <NUM> of the first feeding gear <NUM> and the groove portion 32R of the second feeding gear 30R.

Also, at a state where the wire W is sandwiched between the groove portion <NUM> of the first feeding gear <NUM> and the groove portion 32R of the second feeding gear 30R, the tooth part <NUM> of the first feeding gear <NUM> and the tooth part 31R of the second feeding gear 30R are meshed with each other.

The wire feeding unit 3A includes a feeding motor <NUM> configured to drive one of the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R, in this example, the first feeding gear <NUM>, and a drive force transmission mechanism <NUM> configured to transmit a drive force of the feeding motor <NUM> to the first feeding gear <NUM>.

The drive force transmission mechanism <NUM> includes a small gear 33a mounted to a shaft of the feeding motor <NUM> and a large gear 33b configured to mesh with the small gear 33a. Also, the drive force transmission mechanism <NUM> includes a feeding small gear 34a, which the drive force is transmitted thereto from the large gear 33b and is configured to mesh with the first feeding gear <NUM>. The small gear 33a, the large gear 33b and the feeding small gear 34a are respectively configured by a spur gear.

The first feeding gear <NUM> is configured to rotate as a rotating operation of the feeding motor <NUM> is transmitted thereto via the drive force transmission mechanism <NUM>. The second feeding gear 30R is configured to rotate in conjunction with the first feeding gear <NUM> as a rotating operation of the first feeding gear <NUM> is transmitted thereto through engagement between the tooth part <NUM> and the tooth part 31R.

Thereby, the wire feeding unit 3A is configured to feed the wire W sandwiched between the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R along the extension direction of the wire W. In the configuration of feeding the two wires W, the two wires W are fed with being aligned in parallel by a frictional force that is to be generated between the groove portion <NUM> of the first feeding gear <NUM> and one wire W, a frictional force that is to be generated between the groove portion 32R of the second feeding gear 30R and the other wire W, and a frictional force that is to be generated between one wire W and the other wire W.

The wire feeding unit 3A is configured so that the rotation directions of the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R are switched and the feeding direction of the wire W is switched between the forward and reverse directions by switching the rotation direction of the feeding motor <NUM> between the forward and reverse directions.

Subsequently, the wire guide configured to guide the feeding of the wire W is described. As shown in <FIG>, the first wire guide 4A<NUM> is arranged upstream of the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R with respect to the feeding direction of the wire W to be fed in the forward direction. Also, the second wire guide 4A<NUM> is arranged downstream of the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R with respect to the feeding direction of the wire W to be fed in the forward direction.

The first wire guide 4A<NUM> and the second wire guide 4A<NUM> have a guide hole 40A through which the wire W is to pass, respectively. The guide hole 40A has a shape for regulating a radial position of the wire W. In the configuration of feeding the two wires W, the first wire guide 4A<NUM> and the second wire guide 4A<NUM> are respectively formed with the guide hole 40A having a shape through which the two wires W are to pass with being aligned in parallel.

A wire introduction part, which is provided upstream of the guide hole 40A with respect to the feeding direction of the wire W to be fed in the forward direction, has a tapered shape of which an opening area is larger at an upstream side than a downstream side, such as a conical shape, a pyramid shape or the like. Thereby, the wire W can be easily introduced into the first wire guide 4A<NUM> and the second wire guide 4A<NUM>.

Subsequently, the curl guide unit 5A configured to form the feeding path of the wire W along which the wire W is to be wound around the reinforcing bars S is described. The curl guide unit 5A includes a first guide (curl guide) <NUM> configured to curl the wire W, which is being fed by the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R, and a second guide (inductive guide) <NUM> configured to guide the wire W delivered from the first guide <NUM> toward the binding unit 7A.

The first guide <NUM> has a guide groove <NUM> configuring the feeding path of the wire W, and a first guide pin 53a and a second guide pin 53b serving as a guide member for curling the wire W in cooperation with the guide groove <NUM>.

The first guide pin 53a is provided at an introduction part-side of the first guide <NUM>, to which the wire W being fed by the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R is introduced, and is arranged at a radially inner side of a loop Ru to be formed by the wire W with respect to the feeding path of the wire W configured by the guide groove <NUM>. The first guide pin 53a is configured to regulate the feeding path of the wire W so that the wire W being fed along the guide groove <NUM> do not enter the radially inner side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wire W.

The second guide pin 53b is provided at a discharge part-side of the first guide <NUM>, from which the wire W being fed by the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R is discharged, and is arranged at a radially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W with respect to the feeding path of the wire W configured by the guide groove <NUM>.

The curl guide unit 5A includes a retraction mechanism <NUM> configured to retract the first guide pin 53a. The retraction mechanism <NUM> is configured to be displaced in conjunction with the operation of the binding unit 7A after the wire W is wound around the reinforcing bars S, and to retract the first guide pin 53a from a moving path of the wire W before the wire W is wound on the reinforcing bars S.

The second guide <NUM> has a third guide part <NUM> configured to regulate a radial position of the loop Ru, which is formed by the wire W to be wound around the reinforcing bars S, and a fourth guide part <NUM> configured to regulate a position along an axial direction Ru1 of the loop Ru, which is formed by the wire W to be wound around the reinforcing bars S.

The third guide part <NUM> has a wall surface 54a that is provided at a radially outer side of the loop Ru, which is formed by the wire W to be wound around the reinforcing bars S, and is configured by a surface extending along the feeding direction of the wire W. When the wire W is wound around the reinforcing bars S, the third guide part <NUM> regulates a radial position of the loop Ru, which is formed by the wire W to be wound around the reinforcing bars S, by the wall surface 54a.

The fourth guide part <NUM> is provided at an introduction-side of the wire W and has wall surfaces 55a that are provided at both sides in the axial direction Ru1 of the loop Ru, which is formed by the wire W to be wound around the reinforcing bars S, and are configured by surfaces erecting from the wall surface 54a toward the radially inner side of the loop Ru. When the wire W is wound around the reinforcing bars S, the fourth guide part <NUM> regulates a position along the axial direction Ru1 of the loop Ru, which is formed by the wire W to be wound around the reinforcing bars S, by the wall surfaces 55a.

Thereby, the wire W delivered from the first guide <NUM> is guided to the third guide part <NUM> by the fourth guide part <NUM> while a position of the axial direction Ru1 of the loop Ru to be formed around the reinforcing bars S is regulated by the wall surfaces 55a of the fourth guide part <NUM>.

In this example, the second guide <NUM> is supported to the third guide part <NUM> at a state where the third guide part <NUM> is fixed to the main body part 10A of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A and the fourth guide part <NUM> can rotate about a shaft 55b, which is a support point. The fourth guide part <NUM> is configured so that an introduction-side, to which the wire W delivered from the first guide <NUM> is to be introduced, can be opened and closed in directions of separating from and coming close to the first guide <NUM>. Thereby, after binding the reinforcing bars S with the wire W, the fourth guide part <NUM> is retracted during an operation of pulling out the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A from the reinforcing bars S, so that it is possible to easily perform the operation of pulling out the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A from the reinforcing bars S.

Subsequently, the cutting unit 6A configured to cut the wire W wound around the reinforcing bars S is described. The cutting unit 6A includes a fixed blade part <NUM>, a moveable blade part <NUM> configured to cut the wire W in cooperation with the fixed blade part <NUM>, and a transmission mechanism <NUM> configured to transmit an operation of the binding unit 7A to the moveable blade part <NUM>. The fixed blade part <NUM> has an opening 60a through which the wire W is to pass, and an edge portion provided at the opening 60a and capable of cutting the wire W.

The fixed blade part <NUM> is provided downstream of the second wire guide 4A<NUM> with respect to the feeding direction of the wire W that is fed in the forward direction, and the opening 60a configures a third wire guide.

The wire W that is fed by the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R is curled as the radial position of the loop Ru to be formed by the wire W is regulated at least at three points of two points of the radially outer side of the loop Ru formed by the wire W and one point of the radially inner side between the two points.

In this example, a radially outer position of the loop Ru to be formed by the wire W is regulated at two points of the second wire guide 4A<NUM> provided upstream of the first guide pin 53a and the second guide pin 53b provided downstream of the first guide pin 53a with respect to the feeding direction of the wire W that is fed in the forward direction. Also, a radially inner position of the loop Ru to be formed by the wire W is regulated by the first guide pin 53a.

The moveable blade part <NUM> is configured to cut the wire W, which is to pass through the opening 60a of the fixed blade part <NUM>, by a rotating operation about the fixed blade part <NUM>, which is a support point. The transmission mechanism <NUM> is configured to be displaced in conjunction with the operation of the binding unit 7A, and to rotate the moveable blade part <NUM> in conformity to timing at which the wire W is to be twisted after the wire W is wound on the reinforcing bars S, thereby cutting the wire W.

<FIG> and <FIG> depict an example of the binding unit. In the below, the binding unit 7A configured to bind the reinforcing bars S with the wire W is described.

The binding unit 7A includes a gripping part <NUM> configured to grip the wire W curled by the curl guide unit 5A, and a bending part <NUM> configured to bend one end portion WS and the other end portion WE of the wire W toward the reinforcing bars S.

The gripping part <NUM> includes a fixed gripping member 70C, a first moveable gripping member <NUM>, and a second moveable gripping member 70R. The first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the second moveable gripping member 70R are arranged at left and right sides with the fixed gripping member 70C being interposed therebetween. Specifically, the first moveable gripping member <NUM> is arranged at one side along the axial direction of the wire W to be wound and the second moveable gripping member 70R is arranged at the other side, with respect to the fixed gripping member 70C.

The first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the fixed gripping member 70C are configured so that the wire W is to pass between tip ends of the first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the fixed gripping member 70C. Also, the second moveable gripping member 70R and the fixed gripping member 70C are configured so that the wire W is to pass between tip ends of the second moveable gripping member 70R and the fixed gripping member 70C.

The fixed gripping member 70C has a shaft <NUM> configured to rotatably support the first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the second moveable gripping member 70R. The fixed gripping member 70C is configured to support rear ends of the first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the second moveable gripping member 70R with the shaft <NUM>. Thereby, the first moveable gripping member <NUM> is opened and closed in directions in which the tip end thereof separates from and comes close to the fixed gripping member 70C by a rotating operation about the shaft <NUM>, which is a support point. Also, the second moveable gripping member 70R is opened and closed in directions in which the tip end thereof separates from and comes close to the fixed gripping member 70C by a rotating operation about the shaft <NUM>, which is a support point.

The bending part <NUM> has a shape covering a periphery of the gripping part <NUM> and is provided to be moveable along an axial direction of the binding unit 7A. The bending part <NUM> has an opening and closing pin 71a configured to open and close the first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the second moveable gripping member 70R. The first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the second moveable gripping member 70R have an opening and closing guide hole <NUM> configured to open and close the first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the second moveable gripping member 70R by an operation of the opening and closing pin 71a, respectively.

The opening and closing pin 71a passes through an inside of the bending part <NUM> and is perpendicular to a moving direction of the bending part <NUM>. The opening and closing pin 71a is fixed to the bending part <NUM>, and is configured to move in conjunction with movement of the bending part <NUM>.

The opening and closing guide hole <NUM> extends in a moving direction of the opening and closing pin 71a, and has an opening and closing portion <NUM> configured to convert linear movement of the opening and closing pin 71a into an opening and closing operation resulting from the rotation of the second moveable gripping member 70R about the shaft <NUM>, which is a support point. The opening and closing guide hole <NUM> has a first standby portion <NUM> extending in the moving direction of the bending part <NUM> by a first standby distance, and a second standby portion <NUM> extending in the moving direction of the bending part <NUM> by a second standby distance. The opening and closing portion <NUM> extends with being bent obliquely outward from one end portion of the first standby portion <NUM>, and couples to the second standby portion <NUM>. Meanwhile, in <FIG>, the opening and closing guide hole <NUM> provided to the second moveable gripping member 70R is shown. However, the first moveable gripping member <NUM> is also provided with the opening and closing guide hole <NUM> having a bilaterally symmetric shape.

As shown in <FIG>, as the first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the second moveable gripping member 70R move in the directions of getting away from the fixed gripping member 70C, the gripping part <NUM> is formed with a feeding path through which the wire W is to pass between the first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the fixed gripping member 70C and between the second moveable gripping member 70R and the fixed gripping member 70C.

The wire W that is fed by the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R passes between the fixed gripping member 70C and the second moveable gripping member 70R and are guided to the curl guide unit 5A. The wire W curled by the curl guide unit 5A passes between the fixed gripping member 70C and the first moveable gripping member <NUM>.

When the bending part <NUM> is moved in a forward direction denoted with an arrow F in <FIG> and the opening and closing pin 71a thus pushes the opening and closing portion <NUM> of the opening and closing guide hole <NUM>, the first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the second moveable gripping member 70R are moved in the directions of coming close to the fixed gripping member 70C by the rotating operation about the shaft <NUM>, which is a support point.

As shown in <FIG>, the first moveable gripping member <NUM> is moved in the direction of coming close to the fixed gripping member 70C, so that the wire W is gripped between the first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the fixed gripping member 70C. Also, the second moveable gripping member 70R is moved in the direction of coming close to the fixed gripping member 70C, so that a gap in which the wire W is fed in the extension direction is formed between the second moveable gripping member 70R and the fixed gripping member 70C.

The bending part <NUM> has a bending portion 71b1 configured to push one end portion WS of the wire W gripped between the first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the fixed gripping member 70C. Also, the bending part <NUM> has a bending portion 71b2 configured to push the other end portion WE of the wire W gripped between the second moveable gripping member 70R and the fixed gripping member 70C.

The bending part <NUM> is moved in the forward direction denoted with the arrow F, so that one end portion WS of the wire W gripped by the fixed gripping member 70C and the first moveable gripping member <NUM> are pushed by the bending portion 71b1 and are thus bent toward the reinforcing bars S. Also, the bending part <NUM> is moved in the forward direction denoted with the arrow F, so that the other end portion WE of the wire W having passed between the fixed gripping member 70C and the second moveable gripping member 70R is pushed by the bending portion 71b1 and are thus bent toward the reinforcing bars S.

As shown in <FIG>, the binding unit 7A includes a length regulation part <NUM> configured to regulate positions of one end portion WS of the wire W. The length regulation part <NUM> includes a member, to which one end portion WS of the wire W is to be butted, on the feeding path of the wire W having passed between the fixed gripping member 70C and the first moveable gripping member <NUM>.

Also, the binding unit 7A includes a rotary shaft (twisting shaft) <NUM> configured to twist the wire W gripped with the gripping part <NUM>, a moveable member <NUM> configured to be displaced by a rotating operation of the rotary shaft <NUM>, and a rotation regulation member <NUM> configured to regulate rotation of the moveable member <NUM> coupled to the rotating operation of the rotary shaft <NUM>. Also, the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A includes a drive unit 8A configured to drive the binding unit 7A. The drive unit 8A includes a motor <NUM>, and a decelerator <NUM> for deceleration and torsional torque amplification. The rotary shaft <NUM> is driven and rotated by the motor <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the rotary shaft <NUM> is provided to be rotatable around a predetermined axis J. The rotary shaft <NUM> and the moveable member <NUM> are configured so that the rotating operation of the rotary shaft <NUM> is converted into movement in a front and back direction along the rotary shaft <NUM> of the moveable member <NUM> by a screw part provided to the rotary shaft <NUM> and a nut part provided to the moveable member <NUM> and to be screwed to the screw part. The bending part <NUM> is provided integrally with the moveable member <NUM>, so that the drive unit 8A moves the bending part <NUM> in the front and back direction by the movement of the moveable member <NUM> in the front and back direction.

The gripping part <NUM> is provided at a side (one end-side) of the rotary shaft <NUM>, at which the curl guide unit 5A is provided. In an operation area in which the wire W is gripped by the gripping part <NUM> and the wire W is bent by the bending part <NUM>, the moveable member <NUM>, the bending part <NUM>, and the gripping part <NUM> supported to the bending part <NUM> are engaged with the rotation regulation member <NUM>, and are thus moved in the front and back direction with the rotating operation being regulated by the rotation regulation member <NUM>. Also, when the moveable member <NUM>, the bending part <NUM> and the gripping part <NUM> are disengaged from the rotation regulation member <NUM>, they are rotated by the rotating operation of the rotary shaft <NUM>.

The gripping part <NUM> is configured so that the fixed gripping member 70C, the first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the second moveable gripping member 70R gripping the wire W is rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the moveable member <NUM> and the bending part <NUM>.

The retraction mechanism <NUM> of the first guide pin 53a is configured by a link mechanism configured to convert the movement of the moveable member <NUM> in the front and back direction into the displacement of the first guide pin 53a. Also, the transmission mechanism <NUM> of the moveable blade part <NUM> is configured by a link mechanism configured to convert the movement of the moveable member <NUM> in the front and back direction into the rotating operation of the moveable blade part <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view depicting the example of the entire configuration of the reinforcing bar binding machine of the embodiment, as seen from rear, and <FIG> and <FIG> are views depicting the example of the main configuration of the reinforcing bar binding machine of the embodiment, as seen from a side. In the below, a setting unit of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is described.

The handle part 11A extends from the main body part 10A in a direction perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the axis J (refer to <FIG> and <FIG>) coupling one end side of the main body part 10A, at which the curl guide unit 5A is provided, and an opposite end side. The handle part 11A includes a handle gripping part 11a that is to be gripped by an operator, and a battery mounting part 11b at a lower part to which a battery 15A is detachably mounted. The handle part 11A is provided at a front side with a trigger 12A. In correspondence to a state of a switch 13A that is pressed when the trigger 12A is operated, a control unit 14A controls the feeding motor <NUM> and the motor <NUM>. It is noted that the handle part 11A may extend in a direction which is not perpendicular to the axis J as long as the handle part 11A extends in a direction intersecting with the axis J.

A surface of the opposite end side, which is opposite to the curl guide unit 5A, of the main body part 10A, i.e., a rear surface 10b of the main body part 10A is provided with a concave part 10c and a convex part 10d. In the concave part 10c, an adjustment dial <NUM>, a power supply switch <NUM>, and a lamp <NUM> (information notification unit) are provided as a setting unit 9A for setting a predetermined operation condition of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A. The convex part 10d is formed to surround the concave part 10c and the setting unit 9A.

As shown in <FIG>, the setting unit 9A and the convex part 10d protrude with respect to the concave part 10c. The convex part 10d protrudes more backward than the setting unit 9A so that the setting unit 9A is not contacted to an operation place G when the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is put on the operation place G by locating the surface 10b to a bottom.

The convex part 10d is provided at a side with a notch 10e configured to communicate with the surface 10b of the main body part 10A. As shown in <FIG>, the concave part 10c is configured to form a series of paths 10f coupling to the notch 10e by using the convex part 10d and the setting unit 9A as sidewalls.

The adjustment dial <NUM> is connected to the motor <NUM> via the control unit 14A, so that when the adjustment dial <NUM> is turned, the control unit 14A changes a rotation speed of the motor <NUM>. The adjustment dial <NUM> can adjust the rotation speed of the motor <NUM> in multiple steps. In the embodiment, for example, the adjustment dial <NUM> is described thereon with numbers of <NUM> to <NUM>. When the adjustment dial <NUM> is turned so as to match the number to an indicator 91a, the rotation speed can be adjusted in six steps. When the rotation speed of the motor <NUM> is changed, the torsional torque of the wires W to be applied by the binding unit 7A is adjusted.

The power supply switch <NUM> is connected to the control unit 14A. At an off state, the power supply switch <NUM> stops an operation of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A, and at an off state, the power supply switch <NUM> activates the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A to be in a standby state.

The lamp <NUM> is a notification unit configured to notify information, and is configured to emit light so as to notify whether the power supply switch <NUM> of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is at an on state or an off state. When the power supply switch <NUM> is at an on state, the lamp <NUM> is turned on, and when the supply switch <NUM> is at an off state, the lamp <NUM> is turned off.

The lamp <NUM> may be connected to the control unit 14A, and may blink so as to notify an occurrence of abnormality when the driving of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is abnormal. The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is preferably provided with sensors configured to detect an abnormality of at least one of the rotation of the feeding motor <NUM>, the rotation of the motor <NUM> and the rotation of the reel <NUM>. When the respective sensors provided to the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A detect that the driving of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is abnormal, the sensor may transmit an abnormality signal to the control unit 14A, so that the control unit 14A causes the lamp <NUM> to blink for notifying the occurrence of abnormality.

<FIG> illustrate an example of an operation of gripping and twisting the wire in detail. In the below, an operation of binding the reinforcing bars S with the wire W by the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A of the embodiment is described with reference to each drawing.

When the operator pushes the power supply switch <NUM> to be at an on state, the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is activated and is in an standby state. The lamp <NUM> is turned on. The operator turns the adjustment dial <NUM> to set the torsional torque for twisting the wire W, as necessary. The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is in a standby state where the wire W is sandwiched between the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R, and the tip end of the wire W is positioned from the sandwiching position between the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R to the fixed blade part <NUM> of the cutting unit 6A. Also, as shown in <FIG>, when the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is in the standby state, the first moveable gripping member <NUM> opens with respect to the fixed gripping member 70C and the second moveable gripping member 70R opens with respect to the fixed gripping member 70C.

When the reinforcing bars S are inserted between the first guide <NUM> and the second guide <NUM> of the curl guide unit 5A and the trigger 12A is operated, the feeding motor <NUM> is driven in the forward rotation direction, so that the first feeding gear <NUM> is rotated in the forward direction and the second feeding gear 30R is also rotated in the forward direction in conjunction with the first feeding gear <NUM>. Thereby, the two wires W sandwiched between the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R are fed in the forward direction.

The first wire guide 4A<NUM> is provided upstream of the wire feeding unit 3A and the second wire guide 4A<NUM> is provided downstream of the wire feeding unit 3A with respect to the feeding direction of the wire W to be fed in the forward direction, so that the two wires W are fed with being aligned in parallel.

When the wire W is fed in the forward direction, the wire W passes between the fixed gripping member 70C and the second moveable gripping member 70R and passes through the guide groove <NUM> of the first guide <NUM> of the curl guide unit 5A. Thereby, the wire W is curled to be wound around the reinforcing bars S at three points of the second wire guide 4A<NUM> and the first guide pin 53a and the second guide pin 53b of the first guide <NUM>.

The wire W delivered from the first guide <NUM> is guided between the fixed gripping member 70C and the first moveable gripping member <NUM> by the second guide <NUM>. Then, when the tip end of the wire W is fed to a position at which the tip end is butted to the length regulation part <NUM>, the driving of the feeding motor <NUM> is stopped. Thereby, as shown in <FIG>, the wire W is wound in a loop shape around the reinforcing bars S.

After stopping the feeding of the wire W, the motor <NUM> is driven in the forward rotation direction, so that the motor <NUM> moves the moveable member <NUM> in the arrow F direction, which is a forward direction. That is, a rotating operation of the moveable member <NUM> coupled to the rotation of the motor <NUM> is regulated by the rotation regulation member <NUM>, so that the rotation of the motor <NUM> is converted into the linear movement. Thereby, the moveable member <NUM> is moved forward.

In conjunction with the forward movement of the moveable member <NUM>, the bending part <NUM> is moved forward integrally with the moveable member <NUM>, without being rotated. When the bending part <NUM> is moved forward, the opening and closing pin 71a passes through the opening and closing portion <NUM> of the opening and closing guide hole <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

Thereby, the first moveable gripping member <NUM> is moved in the direction of coming close to the fixed gripping member 70C through the rotating operation about the shaft <NUM>, which is a support point. Therefore, one end portion WS of the wire W is gripped between the first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the fixed gripping member 70C. Also, the second moveable gripping member 70R is moved in the direction of coming close to the fixed gripping member 70C through the rotating operation about the shaft <NUM>, which is a support point. Therefore, the other end portion WE of the wire W is gripped to be moveable in the extension direction of the wires S between the second moveable gripping member 70R and the fixed gripping member 70C.

Also, when the moveable member <NUM> is moved forward, the operation of the moveable member <NUM> is transmitted to the retraction mechanism <NUM>, so that the first guide pin 53a is retracted.

After advancing the moveable member <NUM> to a position at which the wire W is gripped through the opening and closing operation of the first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the second moveable gripping member 70R, the rotation of the motor <NUM> is temporarily stopped and the feeding motor <NUM> is driven in the reverse rotation direction. Thereby, the first feeding gear <NUM> is reversed, and the second feeding gear 30R is also reversed in conjunction with the first feeding gear <NUM>.

Therefore, the wire W sandwiched between the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R are fed in the reverse direction. During the operation of feeding the wire W in the reverse direction, the wire W is wound on the reinforcing bars S with being closely contacted thereto, as shown in <FIG>.

After winding the wire W on the reinforcing bars S and stopping the driving of the feeding motor <NUM> in the reverse rotation direction, the motor <NUM> is driven in the forward rotation direction, so that the moveable member <NUM> is moved forward. The forward moving operation of the moveable member <NUM> is transmitted to the cutting unit 6A by the transmission mechanism <NUM>, so that the moveable blade part <NUM> is rotated and the other end portion WE of the wires W gripped with the second moveable gripping member 70R and the fixed gripping member 70C are cut by the operation of the fixed blade part <NUM> and the moveable blade part <NUM>.

When binding the reinforcing bars S with the two wires W, like this example, it is possible to secure the strength equivalent to the case where the reinforcing bars S are bounded with one wire even when making a diameter of the respective wire W thinner. For this reason, it is possible to easily bend the wire W and to bring the wire W into close contact with the reinforcing bars S with the lower force. Therefore, it is possible to wind the wire W on the reinforcing bars S with the lower force. Also, it is possible to reduce the load when cutting the wires W. Accompanied by this, it is possible to miniaturize each motor and the mechanism part of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A, thereby miniaturizing the entire main body part. Also, the motor is miniaturized and the load is reduced, so that it is possible to reduce the power consumption.

After cutting the wire W, the moveable member <NUM> is further moved forward, so that the bending part <NUM> is moved forward integrally with the moveable member <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The bending part <NUM> is moved in the direction of coming close to the reinforcing bars S, which is the forward direction denoted with the arrow F, so that one end portion WS of the wire W gripped with the fixed gripping member 70C and the first moveable gripping member <NUM> is pressed toward the reinforcing bars S by the bending portion 71b1, and is thus bent toward the reinforcing bars S at the gripping position, which is a support point. The bending part <NUM> is further moved forward, so that one end portion WS of the wire W is held with being gripped between the first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the fixed gripping member 70C.

Also, the bending part <NUM> is moved in the direction of coming close to the reinforcing bars S, which is the forward direction denoted with the arrow F, so that the other end portion WE of the wire W gripped with the fixed gripping member 70C and the second moveable gripping member 70R is pressed toward the reinforcing bars S by the bending portion 71b2, and is thus bent toward the reinforcing bars S at the gripping position, which is a support point. The bending part <NUM> is further moved forward, so that the other end portion WE of the wire W is held with being gripped between the second moveable gripping member 70R and the fixed gripping member 70C.

After bending the end portions of the wire W toward the reinforcing bars S, the motor <NUM> is further driven in the forward rotation direction with a number of revolutions corresponding to the torsional torque of the wire W set with the adjustment dial <NUM>. Thereby, the motor <NUM> further moves the moveable member <NUM> in the forward direction denoted with the arrow F. The moveable member <NUM> is moved to a predetermined position in the arrow F direction, so that the moveable member <NUM> is disengaged from the rotation regulation member <NUM> and the rotation regulation state of the moveable member <NUM> by the rotation regulation member <NUM> is released.

Thereby, the motor <NUM> is further driven in the forward rotation direction, so that the gripping part <NUM> gripping the wire W is rotated integrally with the bending part <NUM> and twists the wire W, as shown in <FIG>.

After twisting the wire W, the motor <NUM> is driven in the reverse rotation direction, so that the motor <NUM> moves the moveable member <NUM> in a backward direction denoted with an arrow R. That is, the rotating operation of the moveable member <NUM> coupled to the rotation of the motor <NUM> is regulated by the rotation regulation member <NUM>, so that the rotation of the motor <NUM> is converted into the linear movement.

Thereby, the moveable member <NUM> is moved backward. As the moveable member <NUM> is moved backward, the first moveable gripping member <NUM> and the second moveable gripping member 70R are displaced in the directions of separating from the fixed gripping member 70C, so that the gripping part <NUM> releases the wires W. In the meantime, when the binding operation for the reinforcing bars S is completed, it is preferable to push the power supply switch <NUM> to be at the off state.

For example, when binding the reinforcing bars S forming a base by the wire W, an operation using the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is performed at a state where the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is made to face downward so that an opening between the first guide <NUM> and the second guide <NUM> of the curl guide unit 5A faces the reinforcing bars S.

According to the related-art binding machine, at a state where the operator grips the handle part 11A and makes the curl guide unit 5A face the reinforcing bars S so as to bind the reinforcing bars S with the wire W, it is difficult for the operator to visually recognize the setting unit 9A. For this reason, when the operator wants to check the setting unit 9A for checking whether the power supply is on, whether an error has occurred, which step the torsional torque is set to, or the like, it is necessary to lift the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A from the state where it faces the reinforcing bars S to a position at which the setting unit 9A is seen, or to change a posture of the operator to a posture at which the setting unit 9A of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A can be seen.

In contrast, in the embodiment, since the setting unit 9A is provided on the rear surface 10b opposite to the curl guide unit 5A of the main body part 10A, it is possible to visually recognize the setting unit 9A at the state where the curl guide unit 5A faces the reinforcing bars S. For this reason, the operator can easily check and operate the setting unit 9A while performing the binding operation. Even in a state where the operator tilts the curl guide unit 5A in a direction of facing the reinforcing bars S with gripping the handle part 11A, the operator can operate the setting unit 9A while seeing the same. When the setting unit 9A includes the adjustment dial <NUM> of the torsional torque, the operator can check a set state of the torsional torque and adjust the adjustment dial <NUM> even in the state where the curl guide unit 5A is tilted in the direction of facing the reinforcing bars S. When the setting unit 9A includes the power supply switch <NUM>, the operator can check whether the power supply switch <NUM> is at the on or off state and then operate the power supply switch <NUM> even in the state where the curl guide unit 5A is tilted in the direction of facing the reinforcing bars S. When the setting unit 9A includes the lamp <NUM>, the operator can check the on or off state of the power supply and the notification of an operation error made by the lamp <NUM> even in the state where the curl guide unit 5A is tilted in the direction of facing the reinforcing bars S. In the meantime, the setting unit 9A may be provided at a side surface of the main body part 10A as long as the setting unit 9A is provided on the opposite end side (rear side) of the main body part 10A and can be seen at the state where the curl guide unit 5A faces the reinforcing bars S.

In the meantime, the setting unit 9A is not limited to being provided on the rear surface 10b of the main body part 10A as long as the setting unit 9A is provided at a rear side of the housing of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A. For example, the setting unit 9A may be provided at a rear side of the battery mounting part 11b. Likewise, the concave part 10c and the convex part 10d are not limited to being provided on the surface 10b of the main body part 10A as long as the concave part 10c and the convex part 10d are provided at a rear side of the housing of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A. For example, the concave part 10c and the convex part 10d may be provided at the rear surface of the battery mounting part 11b.

Also, since the operator can operate the setting unit 9A with gripping the handle part 11A and tilting the curl guide unit 5A in the direction of facing the reinforcing bars S, the operator can perform the operation of binding the reinforcing bars S with the wire W by operating the trigger 12A and the operation of operating the setting unit 9A at a state where the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is made to face in the same direction. For this reason, it is not necessary to move the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A between the operation of operating the trigger 12A and the operation of operating the setting unit 9A, and it is possible to shorten the time necessary to move the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A, so that the operation efficiency is improved.

As shown in <FIG>, the setting unit 9A is provided in the concave part 10c of the rear surface 10b of the main body part 10A and the convex part 10d protrudes more from the rear surface 10b than the setting unit 9A. Therefore, even when the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is put at the operation place G by locating the rear surface 10b of the main body part 10A to a bottom, the setting unit 9A is not contacted to the operation place G and the convex part 10d is contacted to the operation place G. For this reason, even when the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is put at the operation place G or the like by locating the rear surface 10b to a bottom, a situation where the setting unit 9A is pressed by the operation place G and an operation content of the setting unit 9A is changed does not occur. Specifically, even when the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is put at the operation place G or the like by locating the rear surface 10b to a bottom, a situation where the power supply switch <NUM> is erroneously pushed or the adjustment dial <NUM> is contacted to the operation place G and the setting thereof is changed does not occur. In the meantime, the convex part 10d of the embodiment is provided to surround the concave part 10c and the setting unit 9A but not limited thereto. For example, the concave part 10c may be omitted, and the convex part 10d may be provided not to surround the setting unit 9A and the concave part 10c and may be instead provided to surround the setting unit 9A or the concave part 10c. Also, the convex part 10d may be omitted and the setting unit 9A may be provided in the concave part 10c.

Also, the concave part 10c is configured to form the series of paths 10f facing toward the notch 10e by using the setting unit 9A and the convex part 10d as walls. Therefore, upon an operation on rainy days, even when water enters into the concave part 10c, the water introduced into the concave part 10c can flow from the paths 10f toward the notch 10e, and can flow outside the concave part 10c from the notch 10e. For this reason, the water does not remain in the concave part 10c. In the meantime, the notch 10e provided to the convex part 10d is not limited to one place, and a plurality of notches 10e may be provided. Also, the present disclosure is not limited to the notch 10e as long as the water introduced into the concave part 10c can flow outside the concave part 10c from the paths 10f. For example, the convex part 10d may be formed at a side with a hole portion configured to communicate with the surface 10b of the main body part 10A. Also, a configuration is possible in which the concave part 10c is formed at a side with a notch or a hole portion configured to communicate with the surface 10b of the main body part 10A and the water introduced into the concave part 10c flows out of the notch or the hole portion.

In the embodiment, as the setting unit 9A, the adjustment dial <NUM>, the power supply switch <NUM> and the lamp <NUM> are provided. However, at least one is preferably provided on the surface 10b of the main body part 10A. Also, the adjustment made by the adjustment dial <NUM> is not limited to the six steps. The rotation speed of the motor <NUM> may be made constant without the adjustment dial <NUM>. Alternatively, an adjustment dial capable of making an adjustment in two or more steps or an adjustment dial capable of adjusting the number of turns of the wires W may also be provided.

Claim 1:
A binding machine comprising:
a wire feeding unit (3A) configured to feed a wire (W);
a curl guide unit (5A) configured to curl the wire fed by the wire feeding unit around an object to be bound;
a binding unit (7A) including a twisting shaft provided to be rotatable around a predetermined axis, and a gripping part provided at one end side of the twisting shaft, wherein the gripping part is configured to grip the wire curled by the curl guide unit and the twisting shaft is configured to twist the gripped wire so as to bind the object;
a housing including:
a binding machine main body (10A) having a first end side at which the curl guide unit is arranged and configured to accommodate therein the wire feeding unit and the binding unit; and
a handle part (11A) extending from the binding machine main body in a direction intersecting with the axis; and
a setting unit including a dial (9A) provided to be rotatable and capable of setting the torsional torque of the wire to be applied by the binding unit by rotation;
characterized in that the setting unit is provided on a rear side of the housing, which rear side is at a second end side of the binding machine body opposite the first end side of the binding machine main body, and opposite to the curl guide unit,
wherein the handle part includes a handle gripping part (11a) grippable by an operator and a battery mounting part (11b) to which a battery (15A) is detachably mounted, and
the setting unit is provided at the battery mounting part.