US 6,981,528 B2
Anti-jam tensioning gear mechanism for automatic tie tool head
Paul Bartholomew, Somerville, Tenn. (US)
Assigned to Thomas & Betts International, Inc., Wilmington, Del. (US)
Filed on Oct. 07, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/680,891.
Prior Publication US 2005/0072486 A1, Apr. 07, 2005
Int. Cl. B21F 9/02 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 140—93.2 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tool head for installation of a cable tie about a bundle of elongate articles, the tool head being adapted for use with a remote dispenser, cable tie bandolier and cable tie delivery hose of an automatic cable tie installation system, said cable tie including a head and an elongate tail extending therefrom, said tail having a width T, the tool head comprising:
a housing;
a jaw assembly for grasping and directing said cable tie about said articles;
a tie passage communicating at one end with said cable tie delivery hose and at the other end with said jaw assembly whereby a cable tie supplied by said remote dispenser is delivered to said jaw assembly;
a tie tensioning assembly for tensioning said cable tie, said tie tensioning assembly including a drive train and a pawl gear mechanism; and
wherein said pawl gear mechanism includes a tension gear having at least one tail-engaging surface extending thereabout, said tail-engaging surface having a width R and defining a circumference C1 having a diameter D1 with respect to the center of said tension gear, said pawl gear mechanism also including a tie guide cooperating with said tension gear to define a first passage, said tie guide including a second passage communicating with and extending between said first passage and said housing, said first passage being sized to receive said tail of said tie from said jaw assembly upon installation of said tie about said elongate articles, said pawl gear mechanism further including a first auxiliary ramp located adjacent said tail-engaging surface, and wherein said width T of said tail is greater than said width R of said tail-engaging surface whereby said tail contacts said first auxiliary ramp as said tail moves therepast, and wherein said first auxiliary ramp has a leading edge defining a circumference C2 having a diameter D2 with respect to the center of said tension gear, and wherein said diameter D2 is less than said diameter D1 whereby said first auxiliary ramp guides said tail from said first passage into said second passage.