452,622. Bundling-machines. WITHERS, J. S., 51, Chancery Lane, London.-(Evans, M. A. ; 3412, Hunter Boulevard, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.) Nov. 21, 1935, No. 32309. [Class 94 (i)] A bundling - machine comprises means for supporting an article, cord gripping means, means for passing the cord about the article to bring it into overlapping relation, and means for applying holding clips to the overlapping portions. The rotary cord carrier is reversely movable for rotation in one direction for one binding operation, and in the opposite direction for the next operation. The operations are diagrammatically shown in Figs. 18.. 21. The article B is held by clamps 300, 301, Fig. 1, on a table 2 beneath which two gripping devices G<1>, G<2> operate. A rotary shuttle R is mounted for rotation about the article and passes through slots in the table. The cord 6 is disposed about guide rollers 13 mounted at intervals on the shuttle, and passes between rollers 14, 141 to the gripper G<1> which is actuated to hold the end. The shuttle now rotates through an arc of 396‹ in a counterclockwise direction, passing through the phase shown in Fig. 19 to the position shown in Fig. 20. During this rotation, the gripper G2 does not catch the cord when it first passes, but is actuated to grip it when an overlap as shown in Fig. 20 has been formed. The cords are held while a clip or clips are applied to the overlap, and a cutter on the gripper G<2> severs the cord between it and the gripper G<1>. The bundled article may now be removed and the shuttle rotates through about a right angle in a clockwise direction, to be ready for the next cycle, which takes place in a clockwise direction, the end of the cord now being held by the gripper G<2> and the parts in the position shown in Fig. 21. The rotary shuttle R comprises a ring mounted on spaced guide rollers 5, Fig. 1, revolubly held in the frame 3 by stubs 51. The cord 6 is drawn from a supply through a tension device 7 and passes several times about take-up sheaves 8, 9 the lower series of which is downwardly urged by a spring 20. The cord passes thence past rolls 10, 12, 13, 14, 141 to the gripping mechanism. The shuttle driving gear and reversing means is shown in Fig. 7. The gear 29, which engages gearing on the periphery of the shuttle, is mounted on a transmission shaft 28 connected through reducing gear to a motor. The motor is supplied with current from power lines 44 .. 46 through leads 41 .. 43 with a primary stopping switch 40 and leads 35 .. 37 and 32 .. 34 with a reversing switch 30. A pedal 75 is depressed and through links 70, 48 closes the main switch 40 and the shuttle commences to rotate. A cam 65 is rotated by gearing 51, 52 and the shuttle continues in movement until a lobe 67 opens the main switch. During this movement, the shuttle rotates in one direction through 396‹ until reversing gear comprising a cam block 55, acts on a lever 57 and links 59, 50 to operate the reversing switch 30 and reverse the shuttle. A cam block 66 again reverses the shuttle and the previously described cycle is completed. The clip forming and applying operations and the actuation of the grippers G<1>, G<2> are effected through a similarly arranged motor on the shaft 104 in connection with a control switch 110. The grippers comprise horizontally disposed bars 159, Figs. 16, 17 sliding in slots 160 below a cover plate 162. The bars are spaced symmetrically on each side of the vertical axial plane of the shuttle, and are formed at the ends with gripper hooks 163 adapted to coact with spring-mounted plungers 164 having knurled faces. A knife edge 1681 is associated with each gripper. A bar 175 is operated by a cam and lever to cause the grippers to assume four positions at the appropriate times, in extended cord-catching position, a release position, a gripping position, and a cutting position. In the latter position, the gripper is drawn in to contact with the knife edge and severs the cord and at the same time grips the portion pressed against the knurled surface. The grippers 159, 1591 are shown on the right of Figs. 18 .. 21 in the positions appropriate to the phase of the shuttle shown. In Fig. 18, the cord 6 is gripped by gripper 159 and slips past gripper 159<1>, which is in the release position, but is extended to the cord catching position in Fig. 19 and is retracted with both cords in Fig. 20 while clips are applied. Subsequently the gripper 159 moves to release position and gripper 159<1> to cutting position. The clip-applying operation takes place immediately after the ends of the cord have been brought into overlapping relation and prior to the release of the grippers. For the formation of the clips, two strips of metal band 194, Figs. 1, 17 and 22a are fed from a supply into the housing 100, through slots - 199 in a cutter plate 165a, and into abutment with extensions 198 of the forming bars 200. The bars are advanced and extensions 212 co-operate with the cutter plate 165a to shear off a length 218, which is held in place by horizontally acting members 219 which bend the clips as shown in Fig. 24a. Rope register bars 186, 186<1>, Figs. 18.. 21, have meanwhile forced the cord within the clips. Anvils 230 with guides 231 complete the formation and clinching of the clips as shown in Fig. 26a.