Wire reel for use in a binding machine

Abstract

A wire reel (3) for winding a binding wire thereround includes, on the outside surface of at least one of two frame plates, a recessed portion (15) consisting of a peripheral wall portion (14) having its center at the axis of the reel and a bottom wall portion (12). An optical sensor detection mark (17) is provided in the recessed portion (15) such that the mark (17) is disposed eccentric from the axis of the reel. The peripheral wall portion (14) of the recessed portion (15) is formed as a rotary shaft portion which is rotatably supported by the reel support portion of a binding tool. Since the recessed portion (15) is completely covered by the reel support portion of the binding tool, the optical sensor detection mark (17) provided in the recessed portion (15) is completely free from the influences of the external environment. Thus, even if the weather and indoor or outdoor operation sites using the binding tool and the like vary, the rotation of the wire reel (3) can be detected accurately to thereby effectively prevent operation errors.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.