Patent ID: 8528603

Claim:
An automatic cable tie installation tool for fastening an individual cable tie around a bundle of wires, comprising: a tool jaw assembly; a guide channel having a top wall and a lower wall, wherein the guide channel receives a supply of individual cable ties at a cable tie receiving end and guides the cable ties individually to a distal end of the guide channel at the tool jaw assembly; a stop located in the tool to limit forward travel of the cable tie and position the cable tie at a cable tie bundling position where it can be fastened; a fixed cable tie guide channel mechanism located along the top wall at the distal end of the guide channel, the cable tie guide channel mechanism controls forward movement of the cable tie through the guide channel and restricts rearward movement of the cable tie back into the guide channel; wherein the cable tie guide channel mechanism includes a fixed ramp surface that forms an interior surface of the guide channel that ramps inward towards the distal end of the guide channel to restrict a guide channel height at the distal end, and a retention wall oriented substantially perpendicular to the guide channel, the retention wall being located at the distal end of the ramp surface and sized to engage a rear surface of the cable tie to restrict rearward movement of the cable tie back into the guide channel, and wherein the retention wall is located at the distal end of the guide channel.