Patent Description:
In the related art, a binding machine called as a reinforcing bar binding machine configured to wind a wire on two or more reinforcing bars, and to bind the two or more reinforcing bars with the wire by twisting the wire wound on the reinforcing bars is suggested.

The binding machine causes the wire fed by a drive force of a motor to pass through a guide called as a curl guide or the like configured to curl the wire, thereby winding the wire around the reinforcing bars. The curled wire is guided to a binding unit configured to twist a wire by a guide called as an inductive guide or the like and the wire wound around the reinforcing bars is twisted by the binding unit, so that the reinforcing bars is bound with the wire.

In the binding machine, when the wire is continuously fed in a state in which the wire cannot be normally fed, the wire deviates from the feeding path and is bent, which is called buckling. When the buckled wire is pinched in a narrow place, it is difficult to remove the remaining wire. Therefore, a binding machine capable of removing a wire even when the wire deviates from the feeding path and is buckled is suggested (for example, refer to <CIT>).

<CIT> relates to binding machines and discloses a curl guide with two guide pins and a retraction space for the wire behind the binding unit.

<CIT> also relates to binding machines and provides a rebar binding machine that reliably performs a gripping operation on a wire using a simple configuration.

If the wire is fed to a guide called a curl guide and the like in a state in which there is an obstacle in a position in which it blocks the feeding path of the wire, the wire comes into contact with the obstacle and cannot be thus fed to a further forward side than the curl guide, so that a feeding trouble of the wire may occur. When the feeding trouble of the wire accompanied by the buckling occurs, it is difficult to remove the wire for which the feeding trouble has occurred.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situations, and an object thereof is to provide a binding machine capable of easily removing a wire even when a feeding trouble occurs.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides in a first aspect a binding machine according to claim <NUM>. In particular, it includes a wire feeding unit configured to feed a wire to be wound on an object to be bound, a binding unit configured to twist the wire wound on the object to be bound, a curl guide configured to curl the wire being fed by the wire feeding unit, an inductive guide configured to guide the wire curled by the curl guide toward the binding unit, and a retraction guide part configured to retract the wire downstream of the binding unit with respect to a feeding direction of the wire that is fed by the wire feeding unit in a direction of curling the wire by the curl guide. In a second aspect, the invention provides a binding machine according to claim <NUM>.

In the present invention, if the wire is fed to the curl guide in a state in which there is an obstacle in a position in which it blocks a feeding path of the wire, the wire coming into contact with the obstacle is retracted through the retraction guide part.

According to the present invention, even in a state in which there is an obstacle in a position in which it blocks the feeding path of the wire, the wire can be fed to the curl guide, so that it is possible to suppress occurrence of buckling and to easily remove the wire even if a feeding trouble occurs. Therefore, it is possible to suppress occurrence of a failure due to the feeding trouble of the wire.

Hereinbelow, an example of a reinforcing bar binding machine as an embodiment of the binding machine of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a view depicting an example of an entire structure of a reinforcing bar binding machine, as seen from a side, <FIG> is a view depicting an example of a main structure of the reinforcing bar binding machine, as seen from a side, <FIG> is a partially broken perspective view depicting an example of the main structure of the reinforcing bar binding machine, <FIG> is a view depicting an example of the entire structure of the reinforcing bar binding machine, as seen from front, and <FIG> is a sectional view taken along a line A-A in <FIG>. Also, <FIG> is a side view depicting an outer shape of the reinforcing bar binding machine, <FIG> is a top view depicting the outer shape of the reinforcing bar binding machine, and <FIG> is a front view depicting the outer shape of the reinforcing bar binding machine.

A reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is configured to feed wires W in a forward direction denoted with an arrow F, to wind the wires around reinforcing bars S, which are an object to be bound, to feed the wires W wound around the reinforcing bars S in a reverse direction denoted with an arrow R, to wind the wires on the reinforcing bars S, and to twist the wires W, thereby binding the reinforcing bars S with the wires W.

In order to realize the above functions, the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A includes a magazine 2A in which the wires W are accommodated, and a wire feeding unit 3A configured to feed the wires W. Also, the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A includes a first wire guide 4A<NUM> configured to guide the wires W that are to be fed into the wire feeding unit 3A and a second wire guide 4A<NUM> configured to guide the wires W that are to be delivered from the wire feeding unit 3A, in an operation of feeding the wires W in the forward direction by the wire feeding.

Also, the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A includes a curl forming unit 5A configured to form a path along which the wires W fed by the wire feeding unit 3A are to be wound around the reinforcing bars S. Also, the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A includes a cutting unit 6A configured to cut the wires W wound on the reinforcing bars S during an operation of feeding the wires W in the reverse direction by the wire feeding unit 3A, a binding unit 7A configured to twist the wires W wound on the reinforcing bars S, and a drive unit 8A configured to drive the binding unit 7A.

The magazine 2A is an example of an accommodation unit in which a reel <NUM> on which the long wires W are wound to be reeled out is rotatably and detachably accommodated. 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 and the like are used.

The reel <NUM> has a cylindrical hub part <NUM> on which the wires W are wound, and a pair of flange parts <NUM> and <NUM> provided integrally on both axial ends of the hub part <NUM>. The flange parts <NUM> and <NUM> each have a substantially circular plate shape having a larger diameter than the hub part <NUM>, and are provided coaxially with the hub part <NUM>. The reel <NUM> is configured so that two wires W are wound on the hub part <NUM> and can be reeled out from the reel <NUM> at the same time.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the magazine 2A is mounted with the reel <NUM> with being offset in one direction along an axis direction of the reel <NUM> following an axial direction of the hub part <NUM> with respect to a feeding path FL of the wires W defined by the first wire guide 4A<NUM> and the second wire guide 4A<NUM>. In the present example, the entire hub part <NUM> of the reel <NUM> is offset in one direction with respect to the feeding path FL of the wires W.

<FIG> is a front view depicting an example of the wire feeding unit, and <FIG> is a plan view depicting an example of the wire feeding unit. Subsequently, a structure of the wire feeding unit 3A is described. The wire feeding unit 3A includes, as a pair of feeding members configured to sandwich and feed two wires W aligned in parallel, a first feeding gear <NUM> and a second feeding gear 30R configured to feed the wires W by a rotating operation.

The first feeding gear <NUM> has a tooth part <NUM> configured to transmit a drive force. In the present 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 is to enter. In the present 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 the present 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 is to enter. In the present 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.

In the wire feeding unit 3A, the groove portion <NUM> of the first feeding gear <NUM> and the groove portion 32R of the second feeding gear 30R are arranged to face each other, so that the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R are provided with the feeding path FL of the wires W defined by the first wire guide 4Ai and the second wire guide 4A<NUM> being interposed therebetween. The feeding path FL of the wires W becomes a width center position of the wire feeding unit 3A configured by the pair of first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R. As shown in <FIG> and the like, the reel <NUM> is arranged with being offset in one direction with respect to the width center position of the wire feeding unit 3A.

The wire feeding unit 3A is configured so that the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R can be displaced toward and away from each other. In the present example, the second feeding gear 30R is displaced relative to the first feeding gear <NUM>.

The first feeding gear <NUM> is rotatably supported to a support member <NUM> of the wire feeding unit 3A by a shaft <NUM>. Also, the wire feeding unit 3A includes a first displacement member <NUM> configured to displace the second feeding gear 30R toward and away from the first feeding gear <NUM>. The first displacement member <NUM> is configured to rotatably support the second feeding gear 30R to one end portion-side by a shaft 300R. Also, the other end portion of the first displacement member <NUM> is supported to the support member <NUM> so as to be rotatable about a shaft 36a serving as a support point.

The wire feeding unit 3A includes a second displacement member <NUM> configured to displace the first displacement member <NUM>. The second displacement member <NUM> is coupled on one end portion-side to the first displacement member <NUM>. Also, the second displacement member <NUM> is coupled on the other end portion-side to a spring <NUM>. Also, the second displacement member <NUM> is supported to the support member <NUM> between one end portion-side and the other end portion-side so as to be rotatable about a shaft 37a serving as a support point.

The first displacement member <NUM> is pressed via the second displacement member <NUM> by the spring <NUM>, and is displaced in a direction of an arrow V1 by a rotating operation about the shaft 36a serving as a support point. Thereby, the second feeding gear 30R is pressed toward the first feeding gear <NUM> by a force of the spring <NUM>.

In a state in which the two wires W are mounted between the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R, the wires W are sandwiched between the groove portion <NUM> of the first feeding gear <NUM> and the groove portion 32R of the second feeding gear 30R in such an aspect that one wire W is put in the groove portion <NUM> of the first feeding gear <NUM> and the other wire W is put in the groove portion 32R of the second feeding gear 30R.

In the wire feeding unit 3A, the tooth part <NUM> of the first feeding gear <NUM> and the tooth part 31R of the second feeding gear 30R are in mesh with each other in a state in which the wires W are sandwiched between the groove portion <NUM> of the first feeding gear <NUM> and the groove portion 32R of the second feeding gear 30R. Thereby, the drive force is transmitted between the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R by rotation.

In the wire feeding unit 3A of the present example, the first feeding gear <NUM> is a drive side, and the second feeding gear 30R is a driven side.

The first feeding gear <NUM> is configured to rotate as a rotating operation of a feeding motor (not shown) is transmitted thereto. 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 wires W sandwiched between the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R along an extension direction of the wires W. In the structure of feeding the two wires W, the two wires W are fed with being aligned in parallel by a frictional force that is generated between the groove portion <NUM> of the first feeding gear <NUM> and one wire W, a frictional force that is generated between the groove portion 32R of the second feeding gear 30R and the other wire W, and a frictional force that is 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 wires W is switched between the forward and reverse directions by switching the rotation direction of the feeding motor (not shown) between the forward and reverse directions.

Subsequently, the wire guide configured to guide the feeding of the wires 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 wires 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 wires W to be fed in the forward direction.

The first wire guide 4A<NUM> and the second wire guide 4A<NUM> each have a guide hole 40A through which the wires W are to pass. The guide hole 40A has a shape for regulating a radial position of the wire W. In the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A, a path of the wires W that are fed by the wire feeding unit 3A is regulated by the curl forming unit 5A, so that a locus of the wires W becomes a loop Ru as shown with a broken line in <FIG> and the wires W are thus wound around the reinforcing bars S.

When a direction intersecting with a radial direction of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W is set as an axial direction, the guide holes 40A of the first wire guide 4A<NUM> and the second wire guide 4A<NUM> are respectively formed so that the two wires W are to pass therethrough with being aligned in parallel along the axial direction of the loop Ru. In the meantime, the direction in which the two wires W are aligned in parallel is also a direction in which the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R are arranged.

The first wire guide 4A<NUM> and the second wire guide 4A<NUM> have the guide holes 40A provided on the feeding path L of the wires W to pass between the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R. The first wire guide 4A<NUM> is configured to guide the wires W to pass through the guide hole 40A to the feeding path L between the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R.

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

Subsequently, the curl forming unit 5A configured to form the feeding path of the wires W along which the wires W are to be wound around the reinforcing bars S is described. The curl forming unit 5A includes a curl guide <NUM> configured to curl the wires W that are fed by the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R, and an inductive guide 51A configured to guide the wires W curled by the curl guide <NUM> toward the binding unit 7A.

The curl guide <NUM> has a guide groove <NUM> configuring the feeding path of the wires W, and a first guide pin 53a, a second guide pin 53b and a third guide pin 53c serving as a guide member for curling the wires W in cooperation with the guide groove <NUM>. The curl guide <NUM> has such a structure that a guide plate <NUM>, a guide plate 50C and a guide plate 50R are stacked, and a guide surface of the guide groove <NUM> is configured by the guide plate 50C. Also, sidewall surfaces that are upright from the guide surface of the guide groove <NUM> is configured by the guide plates <NUM> and 50R.

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

The second guide pin 53b is provided between the first guide pin 53a and the third guide pin 53c. The second guide pin 53b is arranged on a radially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W with respect to the feeding path of the wires W configured by the guide groove <NUM>. A part of a circumferential surface of the second guide pin 53b protrudes from the guide groove <NUM>. Thereby, the wires W that are guided by the guide groove <NUM> come into contact with the second guide pin 53b at a part at which the second guide pin 53b is provided.

The third guide pin 53c is provided on a discharge part-side of the curl guide <NUM>, from which the wires W being fed in the forward direction by the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R are discharged. The third guide pin 53c is arranged on a radially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W with respect to the feeding path of the wires W configured by the guide groove <NUM>. A part of a circumferential surface of the third guide pin 53c protrudes from the guide groove <NUM>. Thereby, the wires W that are guided by the guide groove <NUM> come into contact with the third guide pin 53c at a part at which the third guide pin 53c is provided.

The curl forming unit 5A includes a retraction mechanism <NUM> configured to retract the first guide pin 53a. The retraction mechanism <NUM> is configured to retract the first guide pin 53a from a moving path of the wires W wound on the reinforcing bars S by an operation of moving laterally the first guide pin 53a with respect to an axial direction of the first guide pin 53a to feed the wires W in the reverse direction by the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R.

Subsequently, an operation of curling the wires W is described. The wires W that are fed in the forward direction by the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R are curled in a loop shape as the radial position of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W is regulated at least at three points of two points on the radially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W and one point on the radially inner side between the two points.

In the present example, a radially outer position of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W is regulated at two points of the second wire guide 4A<NUM> provided upstream of the first guide pin 53a and the third guide pin 53c provided downstream of the first guide pin 53a with respect to the feeding direction of the wires W that are fed in the forward direction. Also, a radially inner position of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W is regulated by the first guide pin 53a. Thereby, the wires W that are fed in the forward direction by the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R are curled in a loop shape.

In the meantime, in the radially outer position of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W, the guide groove <NUM> in a position in which the wires W being fed to the third guide pin 53c is contacted is provided with the second guide pin 53b, so that the wear of the guide groove <NUM> can be prevented.

<FIG> is a plan view depicting an inductive guide of a first embodiment, <FIG> is a perspective view depicting the inductive guide of the first embodiment, <FIG> is a front view depicting the inductive guide of the first embodiment, and <FIG> is a side view depicting the inductive guide of the first embodiment. Also, <FIG> is a sectional view taken along a line B-B in <FIG>, <FIG> is a sectional view taken along a line D-D in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a broken perspective view depicting the inductive guide of the first embodiment.

Subsequently, an inductive guide 51A of a first embodiment is described. As shown in <FIG>, the inductive guide 51A is provided in a position offset in the other direction that is an opposite direction to the one direction in which the reel <NUM> is offset, with respect to the feeding path FL of the wires W defined by the first wire guide 4A<NUM> and the second wire guide 4A<NUM>.

The inductive guide 51A has a first guide part <NUM> configured to regulate an axial position of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W curled by the curl guide <NUM> and a second guide part <NUM> configured to regulate a radial position of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W.

The first guide part <NUM> is provided on an introduction-side to which the wires W curled by the curl guide <NUM> are to be introduced, with respect to the second guide part <NUM>. The first guide part <NUM> has a side surface part <NUM> provided on one side that is a side on which the reel <NUM> is positioned with being offset in one direction. Also, the first guide part <NUM> has a side surface part 55R facing the side surface part <NUM> and provided on the other side that is a side located in an opposite direction to one direction in which the reel <NUM> is offset. Also, the first guide part <NUM> has a bottom surface part 55D on which the side surface part <NUM> is erected on one side thereof and the side surface part 55R is erected on the other side thereof, the bottom surface part 55D connecting the side surface part <NUM> and the side surface part 55R.

The second guide part <NUM> has a guide surface 57a provided on a radially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W and configured by a surface extending toward the binding unit 7A along the feeding direction of the wires W.

The side surface part <NUM> on one side of the first guide part <NUM> has a first guiding part 55L1 configured to guide the wires W to the guide surface 57a of the second guide part <NUM> and a second guiding part 55L2 configured to guide the wires W along the guide surface 57a.

The side surface part 55R on the other side of the first guide part <NUM> has a third guiding part 55R1 configured to guide the wires W to the guide surface 57a of the second guide part <NUM> and a fourth guiding part 55R2 configured to guide the wires W along the guide surface 57a.

The inductive guide 51A configures a converging passage SSS by a space surrounded by the pair of side surface parts <NUM> and 55R and the bottom surface part 55D. Also, the inductive guide 51A is formed with an opening end portion 55E1 from which the wires W are to be introduced into the converging passage <NUM>. The opening end portion 55E1 is an end portion of the first guide part <NUM> on a side distant from the second guide part <NUM>, and is opened toward the space surrounded by the pair of side surface parts <NUM> and 55R and the bottom surface part 55D.

The first guide part <NUM> is formed so that an interval between the first guiding part 55L1 and the third guiding part 55R1 gradually decreases from the opening end portion 55E1 toward the guide surface 57a of the second guide part <NUM>. Thereby, the first guide part <NUM> is formed so that the interval between the first guiding part 55L1 and the third guiding part 55R1 is greatest between an opening end portion 55EL1 of the first guiding part 55L1 and an opening end portion 55ER1 of the third guiding part 55R1, which are located at the opening end portion 55E1.

Also, the first guide part <NUM> is formed so that the second guiding part 55L2 connecting to the first guiding part 55L1 is located on one side of the guide surface 57a of the second guide part <NUM> and the fourth guiding part 55R2 connecting to the third guiding part 55R1 is located on the other side of the guide surface 57a. The second guiding part 55L2 and the fourth guiding part 55R2 face in parallel to each other with a predetermined interval equal to or greater than a radial width of two wires W aligned in parallel.

Thereby, the interval between the first guiding part 55L1 and the third guiding part 55R1 is narrowest at a part at which the first guiding part 55L1 connects to the second guiding part 55L2 and the third guiding part 55R1 connects to the fourth guiding part 55R2. Therefore, the part at which the first guiding part 55L1 and the second guiding part 55L2 connect each other becomes a narrowest part 55EL2 of the first guiding part 55L1 with respect to the third guiding part 55R1. Also, the part at which the third guiding part 55R1 and the fourth guiding part 55R2 connect each other becomes a narrowest part 55ER2 of the third guiding part 55R1 with respect to the first guiding part SSL1.

Thereby, the inductive guide 51A is formed so that a part between the narrowest part 55EL2 of the first guiding part 55L1 and the narrowest part 55ER2 of the third guiding part 55R1 becomes a narrowest part 55E2 of the converging passage <NUM>. The inductive guide 51A is formed so that a cross-sectional area of the converging passage <NUM> gradually decreases from the opening end portion 55E1 toward the narrowest part 55E2 along an entry direction of the wires W.

The inductive guide 51A has an entry angle regulation part 56A configured to change an entry angle of the wires W entering the converging passage <NUM> so as to face toward the narrowest part 55E2.

In the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A, the reel <NUM> is arranged with being offset in one direction. The wires W that are fed from the reel <NUM> offset in one direction by the wire feeding unit 3A and are curled by the curl guide <NUM> are directed toward the other direction that is an opposite direction to one direction in which the reel <NUM> is offset.

For this reason, the wires W to enter the converging passage <NUM> between the side surface part <NUM> and the side surface part 55R of the first guide part <NUM> first enters toward the third guiding part 55R1 of the side surface part 55R. Tip ends of the wires W entering toward the third guiding part 55R1 of the side surface part 55R are directed toward between the narrowest part 55EL2 of the first guiding part 55L1 and the narrowest part 55ER2 of the third guiding part 55R1, i.e., toward the narrowest part 55E2 of the converging passage <NUM>. Therefore, the first guiding part 55L1 of the side surface part <NUM> facing the side surface part 55R is provided with the entry angle regulation part 56A.

The entry angle regulation part 56A is provided in a position protruding toward an inner side of a virtual line interconnecting the opening end portion 55E1 of the converging passage <NUM> and the narrowest part 55E2, in the present example, a virtual line 55EL3 interconnecting the opening end portion 55E1 of the converging passage <NUM> and the narrowest part 55E2, the inner side being located closer to the side surface part 55R than the virtual line 55EL3. In the present example, the entry angle regulation part 56A has such a shape that an intermediate portion of the first guiding part 55L1 between the opening end portion 55EL1 and the narrowest part 55EL2 is made convex toward the third guiding part 55R1. Thereby, the first guiding part 55L1 has a bent shape, as seen from top (<FIG>).

The wires curled by the curl guide <NUM> are introduced between the pair of side surface parts <NUM> and 55R of the first guide part <NUM>. The inductive guide 51A is configured to regulate an axial position of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W by the first guiding part 55L1 and the third guiding part 55R1 of the first guide part <NUM> and to guide the same to the guide surface 57a of the second guide part <NUM>.

Also, the inductive guide 51A is configured to regulate an axial position of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W guided to the guide surface 57a of the second guide part <NUM> by the second guiding part 55L2 and the fourth guiding part 55R2 of the first guide part <NUM>, and to regulate a radial position of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W by the guide surface 57a of the second guide part <NUM>.

In the inductive guide 51A of the present example, the second guide part <NUM> is fixed to a main body part 10A of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A, and the first guide part <NUM> is fixed to the second guide part <NUM>. In the meantime, the first guide part <NUM> may be supported to the second guide part <NUM> in a state in which it can rotate about a shaft 55b as a support point. In this structure, the first guide part <NUM> is configured to be openable/closable in directions of contacting and separating with respect to the curl guide <NUM> in a state in which the opening end portion SSE1-side is urged toward the curl guide <NUM> by a spring (not shown). Thereby, after binding the reinforcing bars S with the wires W, the first guide part <NUM> is retracted by an operation of pulling out the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A from the reinforcing bars S, so that the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A can be easily pulled out from the reinforcing bars S.

Subsequently, the cutting unit 6A configured to cut the wires W wound on the reinforcing bars S is described. The cutting unit 6A includes a fixed blade part <NUM>, a movable blade part <NUM> configured to cut the wires 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 movable blade part <NUM>. The fixed blade part <NUM> has an opening 60a through which the wires W are to pass, and an edge portion provided at the opening 60a and capable of cutting the wires W.

The movable blade part <NUM> is configured to cut the wires W passing 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 transmit an operation of the binding unit 7A to the movable blade part <NUM> and to rotate the movable blade part <NUM> in conjunction with an operation of the binding unit 7A, thereby cutting the wires W.

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

<FIG> are plan views depicting an example of the binding unit and the drive unit, and <FIG> is a side view depicting an example of the binding unit and the drive unit. In the below, the binding unit 7A configured to bind the reinforcing bars S with the wires W and the drive unit 8A configured to drive the binding unit 7A are described.

The binding unit 7A includes an engaging member <NUM> to which the wires W are to be engaged, an actuating member <NUM> configured to open/close the engaging member <NUM>, and a rotary shaft <NUM> for actuating the engaging member <NUM> and the actuating member <NUM>.

The engaging member <NUM> includes a first movable engaging member <NUM>, a second movable engaging member 70R, and a fixed engaging member 70C. The engaging member <NUM> is configured so that a tip end-side of the first movable engaging member <NUM> is positioned on one side with respect to the fixed engaging member 70C and a tip end-side of the second movable engaging member 70R is positioned on the other side with respect to the fixed engaging member 70C.

The engaging member <NUM> is configured so that rear ends of the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the second movable engaging member 70R are supported to the fixed engaging member 70C so as to be rotatable about a shaft <NUM>. Thereby, the engaging member <NUM> opens/closes in directions in which the tip end-side of the first movable engaging member <NUM> contacts and separates with respect to the fixed engaging member 70C by a rotating operation about the shaft <NUM> as a support point. Also, the engaging member opens/closes in directions in which the tip end-side of the second movable engaging member 70R contacts and separates with respect to the fixed engaging member 70C.

The actuating member <NUM> and the rotary shaft <NUM> are configured so that a rotating operation of the rotary shaft <NUM> is converted into movement of the actuating member <NUM> in a front and rear direction along an axial direction of the rotary shaft <NUM> shown with arrows A1 and A2 by a screw part provided on an outer periphery of the rotary shaft <NUM> and a screw part provided on an inner periphery of the actuating member <NUM>. The actuating member <NUM> has an opening/closing pin 71a for opening/closing the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the second movable engaging member 70R.

The opening/closing pin 71a is inserted in opening/closing guide holes <NUM> formed in the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the second movable engaging member 70R. The opening/closing guide hole <NUM> extends in a moving direction of the actuating member <NUM>, and has a shape of converting linear movement of the opening/closing pin 71a moving in conjunction with the actuating member <NUM> into an opening/closing operation by rotation of the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the second movable engaging member 70R about the shaft <NUM> as a support point. In <FIG>, the opening/closing guide hole <NUM> formed in the first movable engaging member <NUM> is shown. However, the second movable engaging member 70R is also provided with the similar opening/closing guide hole <NUM> having a bilaterally symmetrical shape.

In the binding unit 7A, a side on which the engaging member <NUM> is provided is referred to as a front side, and a side on which the actuating member <NUM> is provided is referred to as a rear side. The engaging member <NUM> is configured so that, when the actuating member <NUM> is moved rearward (refer to the arrow A2), the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the second movable engaging member 70R move away from the fixed engaging member 70C by a rotating operation about the shaft <NUM> as a support point, due to a locus of the opening/closing pin 71a and a shape of the opening/closing guide hole <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

Thereby, the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the second movable engaging member 70A are opened with respect to the fixed engaging member 70C, so that a feeding path through which the wires W are to pass is formed between the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the fixed engaging member 70C and between the second movable engaging member 70R and the fixed engaging member 70C.

In a state in which the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the second movable engaging member 70R are opened with respect to the fixed engaging member 70C, the wires W that are fed by the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R are guided to the first wire guide 4A<NUM> and the second wire guide 4A<NUM> and passes between the fixed engaging member 70C and the first movable engaging member <NUM>. The wires W passing between the fixed engaging member 70C and the first movable engaging member <NUM> are guided to the curl forming unit 5A. Also, the wires W curled by the curl forming unit 5A and guided to the binding unit 7A passes between the fixed engaging member 70C and the second movable engaging member 70R.

The engaging member <NUM> is configured so that, when the actuating member <NUM> is moved in the forward direction denoted with the arrow A1, the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the second movable engaging member 70R move toward the fixed engaging member 70C by the rotating operation about the shaft <NUM> as a support point, due to the locus of the opening/closing pin 71a and the shape of the opening/closing guide hole <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Thereby, the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the second movable engaging member 70A are closed with respect to the fixed engaging member 70C.

When the first movable engaging member <NUM> is closed with respect to the fixed engaging member 70C, the wires W sandwiched between the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the fixed engaging member 70C are engaged in such an aspect that the wires can move between the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the fixed engaging member 70C. Also, when the second movable engaging member 70R is closed with respect to the fixed engaging member 70C, the wires W sandwiched between the second movable engaging member 70R and the fixed engaging member 70C are engaged in such an aspect that the wires cannot come off between the second movable engaging member 70R and the fixed engaging member 70C.

The actuating member <NUM> has a bending part 71b1 configured to push and bend tip ends WS (one end portions) of the wires W in a predetermined direction, and a bending part 71b2 configured to push and bend termination ends WE (other end portions) of the wires W cut by the cutting unit 6A in a predetermined direction.

The actuating member <NUM> is moved in the forward direction denoted with the arrow A1, so that the tip ends WS of the wires W engaged by the fixed engaging member 70C and the second movable engaging member 70R are pushed and are thus bent toward the reinforcing bars S by the bending part 71b1. Also, the actuating member <NUM> is moved in the forward direction denoted with the arrow A1, so that the termination ends WE of the wires engaged by the fixed engaging member 70C and the second movable engaging member 70R and cut by the cutting unit 6A are pushed and are thus bent toward the reinforcing bars S by the bending part 71b2.

The binding unit 7A includes a rotation regulation part <NUM> configured to regulate rotations of the engaging member <NUM> and the actuating member <NUM> in conjunction with the rotating operation of the rotary shaft <NUM>. The rotation regulation part <NUM> is provided to the actuating member <NUM>. The rotation regulation part <NUM> is engaged to an engaging part (not shown) from an operating area in which the wires W are engaged by the engaging member <NUM> to an operating area in which the wires W are bent by the bending parts 71b1 and 71b2 of the actuating member <NUM>. Thereby, the rotation of the actuating member <NUM> in conjunction with the rotation of the rotary shaft <NUM> is regulated, so that the actuating member <NUM> is moved in the front and rear direction by the rotating operation of the rotary shaft <NUM>. Also, in an operating area in which the wires W engaged by the engaging member <NUM> are twisted, the rotation regulation part <NUM> is disengaged from the engaging part (not shown), so that the actuating member <NUM> is rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the rotary shaft <NUM>. The first movable engaging member <NUM>, the second movable engaging member 70R and the fixed engaging member 70C of the engaging member <NUM> engaging the wires W are rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the actuating member <NUM>.

The drive unit 8A includes a motor <NUM>, and a decelerator <NUM> for deceleration and torque amplification. The binding unit 7A and the drive unit 8A are configured so that the rotary shaft <NUM> and the motor <NUM> are coupled via the decelerator <NUM> and the rotary shaft <NUM> is driven via the decelerator <NUM> by the motor <NUM>.

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

Subsequently, the feeding regulation unit 9A configured to regulate the feeding of the wires W is described. The feeding regulation unit 9A is configured by providing a member, to which the tip ends WS of the wires W are to be butted, on the feeding path of the wires W to pass between the fixed engaging member 70C and the second movable engaging member 70R. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the feeding regulation unit 9A of the present example is configured integrally with the guide plate 50R configuring the curl guide <NUM> and protrudes from the guide plate 50R in a direction intersecting with the feeding path of the wires W.

The feeding regulation unit 9A includes a parallel alignment regulation part <NUM> configured to guide a parallel alignment direction of the wires W. The parallel alignment regulation part <NUM> is configured by providing a surface of the feeding regulation unit 9A that the wires W are to come into contact with a concave part extending in a direction intersecting with a parallel alignment direction of the two wires W to be regulated by the first wire guide 4A<NUM> and the second wire guide 4A<NUM>.

Subsequently, a shape of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is described. The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A has such a shape that an operator grips with a hand, and includes a main body part 10A and a handle part 11A. The main body part 10A of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is provided at an end portion on a front side thereof with the curl guide <NUM> and the inductive guide 51A of the curl forming unit 5A. Also, the handle part 11A of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A extends downwardly from the main body part 10A. Also, a battery 15A is detachably mounted to a lower part of the handle part 11A. Also, the magazine 2A of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is provided in front of the handle part 11A. In the main body part 10A of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A, the wire feeding unit 3A, the cutting unit 6A, the binding unit 7A, and the drive unit 8A configured to drive the binding unit 7A are accommodated.

Subsequently, an operation unit of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is described. A trigger 12A is provided on a front side of the handle part 11A of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A, and a switch 13A is provided inside of the handle part 11A. The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is configured so that a control unit 14A controls the motor <NUM> and the feeding motor (not shown), in accordance with a state of the switch 13A pressed as a result of an operation on the trigger 12A.

<FIG> illustrate an example of an operation of binding reinforcing bars with wires. In the below, an operation of binding the reinforcing bars S with the two wires W by the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is described with reference to the drawings.

The reinforcing bar binding machine 1A is in a standby state in which the two wires W are sandwiched between the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R and the tip ends WS of the wires W are positioned from the sandwiched 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 movable engaging member <NUM> is opened with respect to the fixed engaging member 70C and the second movable engaging member 70R is opened with respect to the fixed engaging member 70C.

When the reinforcing bars S are inserted between the curl guide <NUM> and the inductive guide 51A of the curl forming unit 5A and the trigger 12A is operated, the feeding motor (not shown) 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 denoted with the arrow F.

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 wires W being fed in the forward direction by the wire feeding unit 3A, so that the two wires W are fed with being aligned in parallel along the axial direction of the loop Ru formed by the wires W.

When the wires W are fed in the forward direction, the wires W pass between the fixed engaging member 70C and the first movable engaging member <NUM> and pass through the guide groove <NUM> of the curl guide <NUM> of the curl forming unit 5A. Thereby, the wires W are 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 third guide pin 53c of the curl guide <NUM> and at the second guide pin 53b upstream of the third guide pin 53c.

The wires W curled by the curl guide <NUM> are guided to the second guide part <NUM> by the first guide part <NUM> of the inductive guide 51A. As shown in <FIG>, the tip ends WS of the wires W guided to the second guide part <NUM> come into contact with the guide surface 57a of the second guide part <NUM>. The wires W curled by the curl guide <NUM> are further fed in the forward direction by the wire feeding unit 3A, so that the wires are guided between the fixed engaging member 70C and the second movable engaging member 70R by the inductive guide 51A. The wires W are fed until the tip ends WS are butted to the feeding regulation unit 9A. When the wires W are fed to a position in which the tip ends WS are butted to the feeding regulation unit 9A, the drive of the feeding motor (not shown) is stopped.

In the meantime, there is a slight time lag after the tip ends WS of the wires W come into contact with the feeding regulation unit 9A until the drive of the wire feeding unit 3A is stopped. Therefore, as shown in <FIG>, the loop Ru formed by the wires W is bent in a radially expanding direction until it comes into contact with the bottom surface part 55D of the first guide part <NUM> of the inductive guide 51A.

After the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction is stopped, the motor <NUM> is driven in the forward rotation direction. The rotating operation of the rotary shaft <NUM> of the actuating member <NUM> in conjunction with the rotation of the motor <NUM> is regulated by the rotation regulation part <NUM>, so that the rotation of the motor <NUM> is converted into linear movement. Thereby, the actuating member <NUM> is moved in the forward direction denoted with the arrow A1.

When the actuating member <NUM> is moved in the forward direction, the opening/closing pin 71a passes through the opening/closing guide hole <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Thereby, the first movable engaging member <NUM> is moved toward the fixed engaging member 70C by the rotating operation about the shaft <NUM> as a support point. When the first movable engaging member <NUM> is closed with respect to the fixed engaging member 70C, the wires W sandwiched between the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the fixed engaging member 70C are engaged in an aspect of capable of moving between the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the fixed engaging member 70C.

Also, the second movable engaging member 70R is moved toward the fixed engaging member 70C by the rotating operation about the shaft <NUM> as a support point. When the second movable engaging member 70R is closed with respect to the fixed engaging member 70C, the wires W sandwiched between the second movable engaging member 70R and the fixed engaging member 70C are engaged is such an aspect that the wires cannot come off between the second movable engaging member 70R and the fixed engaging member 70C.

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

After the actuating member <NUM> is advanced to a position in which the wires W are engaged by the closing operation of the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the second movable engaging member 70R, the rotation of the motor <NUM> is temporarily stopped and the feeding motor (not shown) 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 wires W sandwiched between the first feeding gear <NUM> and the second feeding gear 30R are fed in the reverse direction denoted with the arrow R. Since the tip ends WS of the wires W are engaged in such an aspect that the wires cannot come off between the second movable engaging member 70R and the fixed engaging member 70C, the wires W are wound with closely contacting the reinforcing bars S by the operation of feeding the wires W in the reverse direction, as shown in <FIG>.

After the wires W are wound on the reinforcing bars S and the drive of the feeding motor (not shown) in the reverse rotation direction is stopped, the motor <NUM> is driven in the forward rotation direction, so that the actuating member <NUM> is moved in the forward direction denoted with the arrow A1. The movement of the actuating member <NUM> in the forward direction is transmitted to the cutting unit 6A by the transmission mechanism <NUM>, so that the movable blade part <NUM> is rotated and the wires W engaged by the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the fixed engaging member 70C are cut by the operation of the fixed blade part <NUM> and the movable blade part <NUM>.

After the wires W are cut, the actuating member <NUM> is further moved in the forward direction, so that the bending parts 71b1 and 71b2 are moved toward the reinforcing bars S, as shown in <FIG>. Thereby, the tip ends WS of the wires W engaged by the fixed engaging member 70C and the second movable engaging member 70R are pressed toward the reinforcing bars S and bent toward the reinforcing bars S at the engaging position as a support point by the bending part 71b1. The actuating member <NUM> is further moved in the forward direction, so that the wires W engaged between the second movable engaging member 70R and the fixed engaging member 70C are maintained as being sandwiched by the bending part 71b1.

Also, the termination ends WE of the wires W engaged by the fixed engaging member 70C and the first movable engaging member <NUM> and cut by the cutting unit 6A are pressed toward the reinforcing bars S and are bent toward the reinforcing bars S at the engaging point as a support point by the bending part 71b2. The actuating member <NUM> is further moved in the forward direction, so that the wires W engaged between the first movable engaging member <NUM> and the fixed engaging member 70C are maintained as being sandwiched by the bending part 71b2.

After the tip ends WS and the termination ends WE of the wires W are bent toward the reinforcing bars S, the motor <NUM> is further driven in the forward rotation direction, so that the actuating member <NUM> is further moved in the forward direction. The actuating member <NUM> is moved to a predetermined position, so that the engaging by the rotation regulation part <NUM> is released.

Thereby, the motor <NUM> is further driven in the forward rotation direction, so that the actuating member <NUM> is rotated in conjunction with the rotary shaft <NUM> and the engaging member <NUM> holding the wires W are rotated integrally with the actuating member <NUM>, thereby twisting the wires W, as shown in <FIG>.

After the wires W are twisted, the motor <NUM> is driven in the reverse rotation direction. The rotating operation of the rotary shaft <NUM> of the actuating member <NUM> in conjunction with the rotation of the motor <NUM> is regulated by the rotation regulation part <NUM>, so that the rotation of the motor <NUM> is converted into linear movement. Thereby, the actuating member <NUM> is moved in the backward direction denoted with the arrow A2.

When the actuating member <NUM> is moved in the backward direction, the bending parts 71b1 and 71b2 separate from the wires W, so that the holding state of the wires W by the bending parts 71b1 and 71b2 is released. Also, when the actuating member <NUM> moved in the backward direction, the opening/closing pin 71a passes through the opening/closing guide hole <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Thereby, the first movable engaging member <NUM> is moved away from the fixed engaging member 70C by the rotating operation about the shaft <NUM> as a support point. Also, the second movable engaging member 70R is moved away from the fixed engaging member 70C by the rotating operation about the shaft <NUM> as a support point. Thereby, the wires W come off from the engaging member <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate movement of the wires in the inductive guide of the first embodiment. In the below, an operational effect of guiding the wires W by the inductive guide 51A is described.

As described above, the wires W cured by the curl guide <NUM> are directed toward the other direction that is an opposite direction to one direction in which the reel <NUM> is offset. For this reason, in the inductive guide 51A, the wires W entering between the side surface part <NUM> and the side surface part 55R of the first guide part <NUM> are first introduced toward the third guiding part 55R1 of the side surface part 55R.

In the reinforcing bar binding machine of the related art, when it is assumed that a locus of wires curled to form a loop by the curl guide is a circle, a diameter thereof is about <NUM> to <NUM>. In contrast, according to the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A, when it is assumed that a locus of wires W curled to form the loop Ru by the curl guide <NUM> is an ellipse, a length in a long axis direction is about equal to or greater than <NUM> and equal to or less than <NUM>.

In this way, when the length in the long axis direction is about equal to or greater than <NUM> and equal to or less than <NUM>, on the assumption that the locus of wires W curled to form the loop Ru by the curl guide <NUM> is an ellipse, an entry angle α1 of the wires W entering toward the third guiding part 55R1 of the side surface part 55R increases, as compared to the reinforcing bar binding machine of the related art.

For this reason, when the tip ends WS of the wires W entering toward the third guiding part 55R1 of the side surface part 55R of the inductive guide 51A come into contact with the third guiding part 55R1, a resistance increases upon guiding of the tip ends WS of the wires W along the third guiding part 55R1. Therefore, a feeding defect that the wires W are not directed toward between the narrowest part 55EL2 of the first guiding part 55L1 and the narrowest part 55ER2 of the third guiding part 55R1 may occur.

Therefore, the entry angle regulation part 56A is provided to cause the tip ends of the wires W entering toward the third guiding part 55R1 of the side surface part 55R to be directed toward between the narrowest part 55EL2 of the first guiding part 55L1 and the narrowest part 55ER2 of the third guiding part 55R1.

That is, when the wires W entering between the side surface part <NUM> and the side surface part 55R of the first guide part <NUM> are introduced toward the third guiding part 55R1 of the side surface part 55R, the wires W at a part located between the side surface part <NUM> and the side surface part 55R come into contact with the entry angle regulation part 56A, as shown in <FIG>. When the wires W come into contact with the entry angle regulation part 56A, a force of rotating the wires W in a direction in which the tip ends WS of the wires W are caused to be directed toward between the narrowest part 55EL2 of the first guiding part 55L1 and the narrowest part 55ER2 of the third guiding part 55R1 is applied to the wires W with the entry angle regulation part 56A as a support point.

Thereby, as shown in <FIG>, an entry angle α2 of the wires W (α2<α1) entering toward the third guiding part 55R1 of the side surface part 55R decreases and the tip ends WS of the wires W are directed toward between the narrowest part 55EL2 of the first guiding part 55L1 and the narrowest part 55ER2 of the third guiding part 55R1. Therefore, the wires W curled by the curl guide <NUM> can be introduced between the pair of second guiding part 55L2 and fourth guiding part 55R2 of the first guide part <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate engaged state of the wires in the engaging member. In the below, when engaging the two wires W in the engaging member <NUM>, an operational effect of guiding a parallel alignment direction of the two wires W is described.

In the reinforcing bar binding machine of the related art, the wires W are guided to the engaging member <NUM> of the binding unit 7A without the wires W contacting the guide surface 57a of the second guide part <NUM>. In contrast, according to the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A, the wires W guided to the second guide part <NUM> by the first guiding part 55L1 and the third guiding part 55R1 of the first guide part <NUM> of the inductive guide 51A are contacted to the guide surface 57a and are thus guided to the engaging member <NUM> of the binding unit 7A, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

When the two wires W come into contact with the guide surface 57a, the wires W are guided between the fixed engaging member 70C and the second movable engaging member 70R in a state in which the parallel alignment direction of the two wires W is regulated by the guide surface 57a.

Since the guide surface 57a is planar, when the two wires W are fed with being in contact with the guide surface 57a, the two wires W are aligned in parallel in a direction following the axial direction of the loop Ru formed by the wires W.

For this reason, as shown in <FIG>, the two wires W are aligned in parallel along the direction in which the second movable engaging member 70R is opened/closed with respect to the fixed engaging member 70C, and the two wires W are engaged between the fixed engaging member 70C and the second movable engaging member 70R in a state in which an interval corresponding two wires is formed. Thereby, a load to be applied to the engaging member <NUM> increases.

Therefore, the parallel alignment direction of the two wires W is guided with the feeding regulation unit 9A. <FIG> illustrate movement of the wires in the feeding regulation unit. In the below, an operational effect of guiding the wires W with the feeding regulation unit 9A is described.

The feeding regulation unit 9A has the parallel alignment regulation part <NUM> provided on a surface with which the wires W come into contact and extending in a direction intersecting with a parallel alignment direction of the two wires W to be regulated by the first wire guide 4A<NUM> and the second wire guide 4A<NUM>.

The parallel alignment regulation part <NUM> has such a shape that it is concave in the feeding direction of the wires W being fed in the forward direction. Therefore, when the tip ends WS of the wires W are pressed to the feeding regulation unit 9A, the tip ends WS of the wires W are guided toward an apex of the concave portion configuring the parallel alignment regulation part <NUM>.

Thereby, as shown in <FIG>, when the two wires W are fed in the forward direction until the tip ends WS of the two wires W having passed between the fixed engaging member 70C and the second movable engaging member 70R are contacted and pressed to the feeding regulation unit 9A, the tip ends WS of the two wires W are guided along the extension direction of the parallel alignment regulation part <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Therefore, a direction in which the two wires W are aligned in parallel between the fixed engaging member 70C and the second movable engaging member 70R is guided to the radial direction of the loop Ru shown in <FIG>.

For this reason, as shown in <FIG>, it is possible to guide the two wires W so that the wires are to be aligned in parallel in a direction intersecting with the opening/closing direction of the second movable engaging member 70R with respect to the fixed engaging member 70C. Therefore, as shown in <FIG>, the two wires W are engaged between the fixed engaging member 70C and the second movable engaging member 70R in such an aspect that an interval corresponding to one wire is formed therebetween. As a result, it is possible to reduce the load to be applied to the engaging member <NUM>, thereby securing engaging the two wires W.

<FIG> is a perspective view of main parts depicting a curl guide of the first embodiment, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of main parts depicting the curl guide of the first embodiment, <FIG> is a side view of main parts depicting the curl guide of the first embodiment, and <FIG> is an exploded side view of main parts depicting the curl guide of the first embodiment.

In the curl guide <NUM>, if the wires W are fed in a state in which there is an obstacle in a position in which it blocks the feeding path of the wires W formed by the guide groove <NUM>, the wires W cannot be fed to a further forward side than the curl guide <NUM>, so that a feeding trouble of the wires W may occur.

Therefore, the curl guide 50A of the first embodiment has a retraction guide part 54A configured to retract the wires W downstream of the engaging member <NUM> of the binding unit 7A with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction. The retraction guide part 54A is provided to the curl guide 50A, and is configured to retract the wires W from the curl guide 50A downstream of the feeding path of the wires W formed between the fixed engaging member 70C and the first movable engaging member <NUM> configuring the engaging member <NUM>.

The guide plate <NUM> located on one side part of the curl guide 50A has a convex part 50AL that further protrudes toward a downstream side with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction denoted with the arrow F than the guide plate 50C located at a center of the curl guide 50A. Also, the guide plate 50R located on the other side part of the curl guide 50A has a convex part 50AR that further protrudes toward a downstream side with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction than the guide plate 50C. The convex part 50AL of the guide plate <NUM> and the convex part 50AR of the guide plate 50R further protrude in the same upward direction than the guide plate 50C by a length greater than a diameter of one wire W.

The guide plate <NUM> and the guide plate 50R are inclined in a direction in which the convex part 50AL and the convex part 50AR further protrude than the guide plate 50C toward a radially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W.

Thereby, the convex part 50AL of the guide plate <NUM> and the convex part 50AR of the guide plate 50R further protrude than the guide plate 50C toward the downstream side with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction.

Therefore, the retraction guide part 54A is configured by providing a space, through which the wires W can pass toward the radially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W, between the convex part 50AL of the guide plate <NUM> and the convex part 50AR of the guide plate 50R at a tip end of the curl guide 50A with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction.

Thereby, in the curl guide 50A, if the wires W are fed in a state in which there is an obstacle in a position in which it blocks the feeding path of the wires W formed by the guide groove <NUM>, the wires W coming into contact with the obstacle passes through the retraction guide part 54A toward the radially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W, and are then fed outside of the curl guide 50A. Therefore, occurrence of buckling and the like is suppressed, and even when a feeding trouble occurs, the wires W can be easily removed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress occurrence of a failure due to the feeding trouble of the wires W.

<FIG> is a perspective view of main parts depicting a curl guide of a second embodiment, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of main parts depicting the curl guide of the second embodiment, <FIG> is a side view of main parts depicting the curl guide of the second embodiment, and <FIG> is an exploded side view of main parts depicting the curl guide of the second embodiment. In a curl guide 50B of the second embodiment, the structures that are equivalent to those of the curl guide 50A of the first embodiment are denoted with the same reference signs, and the detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

The curl guide 50B of the second embodiment has a retraction guide part 54B configured to retract the wires W downstream of the engaging member <NUM> of the binding unit 7A with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction. The retraction guide part 54B is provided to the curl guide 50B, and is configured to retract the wires W from the curl guide 50B downstream of the feeding path of the wires W formed between the fixed engaging member 70C and the first movable engaging member <NUM> configuring the engaging member <NUM>.

The guide plate <NUM> located on one side part of the curl guide 50B has a convex part 50BL that further protrudes toward a downstream side with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction denoted with the arrow F than the guide plate 50C located at a center of the curl guide 50B. Also, the guide plate 50R located on the other side part of the curl guide 50B has a convex part 50BR that further protrudes toward a downstream side with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction than the guide plate 50C. The convex part 50BL of the guide plate <NUM> and the convex part 50BR of the guide plate 50R further protrude in the same upward direction than the guide plate 50C by a length greater than a diameter of one wire W.

The convex part 50BL of the guide plate <NUM> and the convex part 50BR of the guide plate 50R further protrude in a semicircular shape than the guide plate 50C toward the downstream side with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction.

Thereby, the convex part 50BL of the guide plate <NUM> and the convex part 50BR of the guide plate 50R further protrude than the guide plate 50C toward the downstream side with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction.

Therefore, the retraction guide part 54B is configured by providing a space, through which the wires W can pass toward the radially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W, between the convex part 50BL of the guide plate <NUM> and the convex part 50BR of the guide plate 50R at a tip end of the curl guide 50B with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction.

Thereby, in the curl guide 50B, if the wires W are fed in a state in which there is an obstacle in a position in which it blocks the feeding path of the wires W formed by the guide groove <NUM>, the wires W coming into contact with the obstacle passes through the retraction guide part 54B toward the radially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W, and are then fed outside of the curl guide 50B. Therefore, occurrence of buckling and the like is suppressed, and even when a feeding trouble occurs, the wires W can be easily removed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress occurrence of a failure due to the feeding trouble of the wires W.

<FIG> is a perspective view of main parts depicting a curl guide of a third embodiment of a binding machine, according to the invention, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of main parts depicting the curl guide of the third embodiment, <FIG> is a side view of main parts depicting the curl guide of the third embodiment, and <FIG> is an exploded side view of main parts depicting the curl guide of the third embodiment. In a curl guide 50D of the third embodiment, the structures that are equivalent to those of the curl guide 50A of the first embodiment are denoted with the same reference signs, and the detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

A curl guide 50D of the third embodiment has retraction guide parts 54DL and 54DR configured to retract the wires W downstream of the engaging member <NUM> of the binding unit 7A with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction. The retraction guide parts 54DL and 54DR are provided to the curl guide 50D, and are configured to retract the wires W from the curl guide 50D downstream of the feeding path of the wires W formed between the fixed engaging member 70C and the first movable engaging member <NUM> configuring the engaging member <NUM>.

The guide plate 50C located between the guide plates <NUM> and 50R and also located at a center of the curl guide 50D has a convex part 50DC that further protrudes toward a downstream side with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction denoted with the arrow F than the guide plates <NUM> and 50R. The convex part 50DC of the guide plate 50C further protrudes in the same upward direction than the guide plates <NUM> and 50R by a length greater than a diameter of one wire W.

The guide plate 50C is inclined in a direction in which the convex part 50DC further protrudes than the guide plates <NUM> and 50R toward the radially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W.

Thereby, the convex part 50DC of the guide plate 50C further protrudes than the guide plates <NUM> and 50R toward the downstream side with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction.

Therefore, the retraction guide part 54DL is configured by providing a space, through which the wires W can pass toward an axially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W, on the guide plate <NUM>-side with respect to the convex part 50DC of the guide plate 50C at a tip end of the curl guide 50D with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction. Also, the retraction guide part 54DR is configured by providing a space, through which the wires W can pass toward the axially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W, on the guide plate 50R-side with respect to the convex part 50DC of the guide plate 50C at a tip end of the curl guide 50D with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction.

Thereby, in the curl guide 50D, if the wires W are fed in a state in which there is an obstacle in a position in which it blocks the feeding path of the wires W formed by the guide groove <NUM>, the wires W coming into contact with the obstacle passes through the retraction guide part 54DL or the retraction guide part 54DR toward the axially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W, and are then fed outside of the curl guide 50D. Therefore, occurrence of buckling and the like is suppressed, and even when a feeding trouble occurs, the wires W can be easily removed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress occurrence of a failure due to the feeding trouble of the wires W.

<FIG> is an exploded side view of main parts depicting a curl guide of a fourth embodiment of a binding machine, according to the invention. embodiment. In a curl guide 50E of the fourth embodiment, the structures that are equivalent to those of the curl guide 50A of the first embodiment are denoted with the same reference signs, and the detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

The curl guide 50E of the fourth embodiment has a retraction guide part 54CE configured to retract the wires W from the curl guide 50E downstream of the engaging member <NUM> of the binding unit 7A with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction, specifically, downstream of the feeding path of the wires W formed between the fixed engaging member 70C and the first movable engaging member <NUM> configuring the engaging member <NUM>.

The retraction guide part 54CE is configured by providing the guide plate 50C located at a center of the curl guide 50E with a concave part that is widened from the guide groove <NUM> in a radial direction of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W. The retraction guide part 54CE is provided upstream of the third guide pin 53c. In a structure in which the second guide pin 53b is provided, the retraction guide part 54CE is provided between the second guide pin 53b and the third guide pin 53c upstream of the third guide pin 53c.

Thereby, in the curl guide 50E, if the wires W are fed in a state in which there is an obstacle K in a position in which it blocks the feeding path of the wires W formed by the guide groove <NUM>, a part, on the downstream side of the first guide pin 53a, of the wires W upon coming into contact with the obstacle in the feeding path of the wire is bent toward the radially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W and are then introduced into the retraction guide part 54CE. Therefore, it is possible to suppress occurrence of a failure due to the feeding trouble of the wires W.

<FIG> is an exploded side view of main parts depicting a curl guide of a fifth embodiment of a binding machine, according to the invention. In a curl guide 50F of the fifth embodiment, the structures that are equivalent to those of the curl guide 50A of the first embodiment are denoted with the same reference signs, and the detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

The curl guide 50F of the fifth embodiment has a retraction guide part 54CF configured to retract the wires W from the curl guide 50F downstream of the engaging member <NUM> of the binding unit 7A with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction, specifically, downstream of the feeding path of the wires W formed between the fixed engaging member 70C and the first movable engaging member <NUM> configuring the engaging member <NUM>.

The retraction guide part 54CF is configured by providing the guide plate 50C located at a center of the curl guide 50F with a hole portion expanding from the guide groove <NUM> in the radial direction of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W and penetrating the guide plate 50C. The retraction guide part 54CF is provided upstream of the third guide pin 53c, and is configured to communicate with an outside of the curl guide 50E toward the radially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W. In a structure in which the second guide pin 53b is provided, the retraction guide part 54CF is provided between the second guide pin 53b and the third guide pin 53c upstream of the third guide pin 53c, and communicates with an outside of the curl guide 50E toward the radially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W.

Thereby, in the curl guide 50F, if the wires W are fed in a state in which there is an obstacle K in a position in which it blocks the feeding path of the wires W formed by the guide groove <NUM>, a part, on the downstream side of the first guide pin 53a, of the wires W upon coming into contact with the obstacle in the feeding path of the wire is bent toward the radially outer side of the loop Ru to be formed by the wires W, are introduced into the retraction guide part 54CF and are then fed outside of the curl guide 50F. Therefore, it is possible to suppress occurrence of a failure due to the feeding trouble of the wires W.

<FIG> illustrates an operation of extracting reinforcing bars from the curl forming unit. In the reinforcing bar binding machine 1A, in the curl guide <NUM> configuring the curl forming unit 5A, a space between the tip end <NUM> of the curl guide <NUM> with respect to the feeding of the wires W in the forward direction and the opening end portion 55E1 of the introduction guide 51A becomes an insertion/extraction opening <NUM> of the reinforcing bars S. The insertion/extraction opening <NUM> is formed so that a center O<NUM> between the tip end <NUM> of the curl guide <NUM> and the opening end portion 55E1 of the introduction guide 51A is offset toward the inductive guide 51A-side with respect to a binding axis O that is a center of rotation of the binding unit 7A.

The inductive guide 51A is configured so that a part facing the curl guide <NUM> is inclined away from the curl guide <NUM> with respect to the binding axis O as it faces toward the insertion/extraction opening <NUM>. In the meantime, the curl guide <NUM> is also provided with a first discharge guide surface 50E1 that is provided at a part facing the inductive guide 51A and is inclined by a predetermined angle β in a direction coming closer to the inductive guide 51A with respect to the binding axis O as it faces toward the insertion/extraction opening <NUM>, i.e., in an offset direction of the insertion/extraction opening <NUM>. Also, a second discharge guide surface 50E2 interconnecting the first discharge guide surface 50E1 and the insertion/extraction opening <NUM> is provided.

Thereby, in an operation of extracting the reinforcing bars S bound with the wires W from the curl forming unit 5A, even when the reinforcing bars S come into contact with the curl guide <NUM>, the reinforcing bars S are guided to the second discharge guide surface 50E2 along an inclination of the first discharge guide surface 50E1 and are extracted from the insertion/extraction opening <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A binding machine (1A) comprising:
a wire feeding unit (3A) configured to feed a wire (W) to be wound on an object to be bound;
a binding unit (7A) configured to twist the wire (W) wound on the object to be bound;
a curl guide (50D) configured to curl the wire (W) being fed by the wire feeding unit (3A), wherein the curl guide comprises: a first guide plate, a second guide plate, and a third guide plate located between the first and second guide plates; and
an inductive guide (S1A) configured to guide the wire (W) curled by the curl guide toward the binding unit (7A);
whereby the binding machine further comprises:
a retraction guide part (54DL, 54DR), the retraction guide part (54DL, 54DR) being configured to retract the wire (W) on a downstream side of the binding unit (7A) with respect to a feeding direction of the wire that is fed by the wire feeding unit (3A) in a direction of curling the wire by the curl guide, so that in a state in which there is an obstacle in a position in which it blocks a feeding path of the wire (W), the wire coming into contact with the obstacle is retracted through the retraction guide part (54DL, 54DR),
wherein the retraction guide part (54DL, 54DR) is provided on an axially outer side of a loop to be formed by the wire (W), and
the retraction guide part (54DL, 54DR) is configured by providing the third guide plate (50C) as protruding further than the first and second guide plates (<NUM>, 50R) toward a downstream side with respect to the feeding direction and by the resulting space on both sides of the third guide plate with regard to the first and second guide plates, through which the wire can pass toward the axially outer sides of the loop to be formed by the wire, with respect to the feeding of the wire in the forward direction.