Method and apparatus for binding metal wires and similar products

A method for binding metal wires around a first element and possibly a second element, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing an apparatus for binding said metal wires against said first element and/or said second element, said apparatus comprising:
• a body for receiving at least one said wire unwinding,
• a calendering assembly held at the front by said body and arranged around a longitudinal being axis (A, A′), to guide said wire whilst winding around said first element and/or said second element in a respective calendering operating space defined within said calendering assembly,
• a binding head carried by said body along said binding axis (A, A′), enclosed within said calendering assembly, for mutually twisting branches of said wound wire, around said binding axis (A, A′),
• said binding head comprising a first operating member, said first operating member forming a plurality of fingers spaced angularly around said binding axis (A, A′), defining between them a first passage and a second passage for said wire to be wound,
• said binding head comprising a second operating member, inserted axially around said first operating member,
• said second operating member forming a plurality of separator elements spaced angularly around the same binding axis (A, A′) and defining between them a first space and a second space for the passage of said wire to be wound,
• said first operating member and said second operating member being movable with a relative rotational and/or translational motion around and/or along said binding axis (a, A′), between an open configuration, in which said first passage and said first space, said second passage and said second space are respectively arranged at least partially facing each other in a direction transversal to said binding axis (A, A′) so as to allow a free passage of said wire through them, and a holding configuration in which said first passage and said first space, said second passage and said second space are displaced with respect to each other, rotated and/or translated, as a result of said relative motion so as to hold opposite portions of said wire,
• a cutting assembly for cutting said wire and an actuation member for rotating said binding head around said binding axis (A, A′);
• b. feeding at least one said wire into said apparatus moved close to said first element, guiding a respective end through said first passage and said first space, arranged at least partially facing each other in said open configuration;
• c. guiding and winding said fed wire annularly around said first element and/or said second element by means of said calendering assembly, said end of said wire passing through said second passage and said second space arranged at least partially facing each other in said open configuration;
• d. before or after the step b. of feeding said wire, activating said first operating member and said second operating member of said binding head in said relative rotational and/or translational motion around/along said binding axis (A, A′), to arrange said binding head from said open configuration to said holding configuration and thus hold opposite portions of wire;
• e. at the same time or later to activating said first operating member and said second operating member, cutting said wire at a respective portion arranged upstream, relative to a feeding direction of said wire to said binding head, of said first passage and said first space by means of a cutting assembly comprising a fixed knife and a movable knife, by moving said movable knife with said binding head;
• f. binding said wire wound and held in said opposite portions by said binding head, by rotating said binding head, arranged in said holding configuration, around said binding axis (A, A′) by means of said actuation member.