Method and apparatus for automatically binding cables, by a continuous strip

An automatic apparatus for forming separate bindings around a bundle of cables or the like in which the binding of the cables is formed by a plastic strap having a longitudinal axis and two sets of indentations arranged parallel to said axis, said plastic strap being continuously fed to the binding apparatus, a toothed retaining element provided in a strip made of several interconnected retaining elements, said apparatus including:

• a reversible feeding mechanism for feeding and drawing the plastic strap;
• guiding means for guiding the plastic strap toward a looped guiding path encircling a bundle of cables, cutting means for cutting a retaining element from said strip and positioning the same in alignment with said path, and means for cutting the indented strap, said cutting means and feeding mechanism being operatively connected to act sequentially;
• a body provided with fixed and movable jaws having a guiding channel for the indented strap defining said looped path for the strap encircling the bundle of cables;
• means for guiding and for step-feeding each individual retaining element from said strip in a first operative position in close vicinity to said looped path for the indented strap;
• second guiding means for providing a path for the indented strap and for feeding the same along a linear path from a rear inlet aperture to said looped path, said second guiding means including a carriage running along said linear path to move said retaining element from said first to a second operative position in line with the ends of said guiding channel control means, acting in sequence to hold the carriage in a forward position while the indented strap is made to advance through the retaining element and along said looped path, and a stop memeber to stop the front end of the strap after it has passed again in an opposite direction through the retaining element, said stop member being supported and allowed to slide by the carriage, and operative means to cause reverse pulling action of the strap by said second guiding means, sensing means for sensing return motion and stretching of the strap, control means acted on by said sensing means to allow for return movement of the carriage, and a cutting device actuated by the control means for cutting the indented strap in correspondence with the retaining element.

An automatic binding apparatus for forming a tightening strap of indeterminate length into a loop around a bundle of cables and locking the loop with a locking element that is cut from a row of locking elements, each locking element having opposed resilient arms provided with guide surfaces and teeth for engaging indentations in the strap, said apparatus comrpsing:

• a body having upper and lower jaws defining a space between them, at least one of said jaws being pivotably connected to said body, said jaws having guide channels for said tightening strap, first feeding means for feeding and tightening said strap, second feeding means for feeding and positioning each of said locking elements in alignment with the guide channels in the jaws for engaging the same with a strap tightened against the bundle of cables,
• said second feeding means comprising a guide channel in the body opening near an end of the guide channel of a jaw and pushing means for advancing said locking elements towards the jaws, said first and second feeding means including a guiding carriage for said strap, said carriage being provided with a channel sahped guide element having a protruding cutting edge and forwardly located shoulder surfaces for cutting and supporting a locking element, said carriage being movable between a retracted position and an advanced position to cut a locking element from said row and position the same in alignment with the guide channels in the jaws;
• a retractor device on said carriage for retracting at least one of the resilient arms of the locking element, sensing means on said carriage for sensing and stopping a leading end of a strap emerging from said locking element, second cutting means for cutting the strap immediately behind a locking element;
• a manually actuable control lever operatively connected to said pivotable jaw, said carriage and said second cutting means;
• the apparatus having electrically actuated and reversible power means, and switch means actuated by said control lever and by said sensing means to control forward and reverse movement of the tightening strap.