Patent ID: 8607696

Claim:
A binding apparatus defining a wire path for guiding a wire around one or more objects, the binding apparatus comprising: a wire supply for advancing a first free end of the wire into the wire path; and a binding tool forming a passage for the wire into and out of the wire path and being rotatable relative to the wire path, and comprising: a binding head, and an inner tool member slidingly received in the binding head such that the inner tool member and the binding head are locked for relative rotation of one relative to the other whereby any rotation of the inner tool member causes the binding head to rotate concurrently, the inner tool member being threadingly connected to a rotatable spindle such that rotation of the spindle in a first direction relative to the wire path causes the inner tool member to move, axially relative to the binding head, in the direction of a locking position wherein the inner tool member is locked for further axial movement relative to the binding head and wherein a second free end of the wire is retained between the binding head and the inner tool member, whereby further rotation of the spindle in the first direction causes rotation of the inner tool member and thereby concurrent rotation of the binding head without axial movement of the inner tool member, the inner tool member and the binding head rotating in a first direction relative to the wire path thus causing the first and second ends of the wire, which have been guided around the objects by the binding apparatus, to be twisted relative to each other, whereby the wire is bound around the objects, and wherein the binding head is locked for rotation in a direction opposite the first direction, whereby rotation of the spindle in the opposite direction causes the inner tool member to be moved away axially from the locking position.