Wire tying tool

An apparatus for tying reinforcing steel bars together with a wire, the apparatus comprising:

• an elongate housing having a handle at one end and a work end;
• a wire feed configured to contain at least one wire segment;
• a puller arm having a first end and a second end;
• a wire engager coupled with the puller arm at the second end of the puller arm;
• a catch pin disposed in the wire engager;
• a wire forming block located proximate the work end of the elongate housing;
• a wire twisting assembly, the wire twisting assembly comprising:
• a twist head having a first end and a second end;
• a twist hub coupled to the twist head at the second end of the twist head;
• and
• a twist shaft bushing coupled to the twist hub and configured at an opposite end of the twist hub from the twist head;
• a rotatable shaft disposed within the elongate housing and having a first end and a second end, the second end coupled with the wire twisting assembly;
• a channel that transitions from a generally straight section to a generally helical section disposed along a length of the rotatable shaft;
• a slidable actuator coupled with the puller arm and at least one pin disposed in a manner engaging the channel;
• wherein the apparatus for tying reinforcing steel bars configured such that when a wire segment disposed in the wire feed, the wire segment is dropped into the wire engager, the slidable actuator is slid up and away from the work end, which action comprises:
• the wire segment is pulled across the wire forming block bending an end of the wire into a first catch and also causes the at least one pin to travel along the generally straight section of the channel;
• the first catch of the wire segment catches the catch pin in the wire engager, causing the wire segment to be removably coupled with the catch pin of the wire engager;
• the slidable actuator continues up and away from the work end, causing the wire engager to pull additional length of the wire segment out of the wire feed until reaching a desired length that is less than a full length of the wire segment;
• the slidable actuator continues up and away from the work end, causing the at least one pin to enter and travel along the generally helical section, which in turn causes the shaft to rotate and simultaneously cause the wire twisting assembly to rotate in a rotating action;
• the rotating action of the wire twisting assembly causes the wire segment to bend as it moves past an end of the wire feed, creating a second catch at an end of the wire segment opposite the first catch;
• and
• the slidable actuator continues up and away from the work end, causing the shaft to rotate and simultaneously causing the wire twisting assembly to rotate, the wire twisting assembly engaging the first catch and the second catch of the wire segment, and causing the wire to twist about itself.