US3570553A

US3570553A - Tying mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3570553A
Application number: US756557A
Authority: US
Inventors: Benjamin M Bartilson; Gerald A Francis; Michael U Widman
Original assignee: Battelle Development Corp
Current assignee: Battelle Development Corp
Priority date: 1968-08-30
Filing date: 1968-08-30
Publication date: 1971-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-16

Abstract

An apparatus for tightly joining a cluster of wires, cables or combinations thereof. The wires and/or cables may be limited to access from only one side. The cluster of wires or cables are joined together by wrapping a relatively stiff wire around the cluster. The wrapping means includes a rotatable disc having a central opening continuous with a radial opening extending through the periphery of the disc. A pulley is positioned near the periphery of the disc. The opening of the disc is placed over the cluster of wires or cables and the cluster is positioned essentially in the central opening of the disc. One end of a length of tying wire is fed past the cluster and about perpendicular to the long axis of the wires or cables in the cluster. The end of the tying wire that has past the cluster is restrained as the disc rotates. The pulley engages the tying wire and forces it around the cluster pulling the unrestrained and unengaged portion of the tying wire over the periphery of the rotating disc where belt friction is applied to the tying wire thereby increasing the wrapping tightness. Other features of the various embodiments of the invention include: a gathering arm to bring the cluster of wires or cables closer together; a wire feed mechanism for automatically supplying the tying wire; a shearing mechanism for cutting the tying wire to length; a clamping mechanism for restraining one end of the tying wire; and, counter rotating heads to wrap the tie wire in place.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Benjamin M. Bartilson;

Gerald A. Francis; Michael U. Widman, Columbus, Ohio [21] Appl. No. 756,557

[22] Filed Aug. 30, 1968 [45] Patented Mar. 16, 1971 [73] Assignee The Battelle Development Corporation Columbus, Ohio [54] TYING MECHANISM 8 Claims, 13 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 140/93, 140/119, 140/122 6/1968 Richardson Primary Examiner-Lowell A. Larson Attorneys-Charles K. Wright, Col., William G. Gapcynski and Lawrence A. Neureither ABSTRACT: An apparatus for tightly joining a cluster of wires, cables or combinations thereof. The wires and/or cables may be limited to access from only one side. The cluster of wires or cables are joined together by wrapping a relatively stiff wire around the cluster. The wrapping means includes a rotatable disc having a central opening continuous with a radi-' a1 opening extending through the periphery of the disc. A pulley is positioned near the periphery of the disc. The opening of the disc is placed over the cluster of wires or cables and the cluster is positioned essentially in the central opening of the disc. One end of a length of tying wire is fed past the cluster and about perpendicular to the long axis of the wires or cables in the cluster. The end of the tying wire that has past the cluster is restrained as the disc rotates. The pulley engages the tying wire and forces it around the cluster pulling the unrestrained and unengaged portion of the tying wire over the periphery of the rotating disc where belt friction is applied to the tying wire thereby increasing the wrapping tightness.

Other features of the various embodiments of the invention include: a gathering arm to bring the cluster of wires or cables closer together; a wire feed mechanism for automatically supplying the tying wire; a shearing mechanism for cutting the tying wire to length; a clamping mechanism for restraining one end of the tying wire; and, counter rotating heads to wrap the tie wire in place.

Patented March 16, 1971 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 I BENJAMIN M. BARTILSON GERALD A. FRANClS ATTORNEYS Patented March 16, 1971 3,570,553

7 Sheets-Shet 2 BENJAMIN M. BARTILSON GERALD A. FRANCIS MICHAEL U. WIDMAN INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Patented March 16, 1971 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 6

Fig. 8b

Fig. 80

BENJAMIN M. BARTILSON GERALD A. FRANCIS MICHAEL U. WIDMAN INVENTORS POI/9% ATTORNEYS 7 Sheets-Sheet m5 m2 IIW llllll BN mm m: m: m2 8. 5. my H N m2 BENJAMIN M. BARTLSON GERALD A. FRANCIS MICHAEL U. WIDMAN INVENTORS avj/w hwmd ATTORNEYS Patented March 16, 1971 3,570,553

7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Fig.9

BENJAMIN M. BARTILSON GERALD A. FRANCIS MICHAEL U. WIDMAN INVENTORS ATTORNEY "rvruc MECHANISM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention is concerned with apparatus for making a tie in the form of a wire wrapping. It is not an actual manufacturing process since the apparatus is customarily used in the field when it is desirable to join a cluster of wires and/or cables together. Although specifically used to join the wires running along the edge of two mats made of wire and concrete to a cable, the apparatus is also useful to bind together any cluster of wires or cables such as in communication cables and any application where the joint must resist tensile loads on any or all of the wires in the cable or cluster and where the joint must resist slip of the wires or cables in the cluster with respect to each other or with respect to the joint.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The usual method of tying heavy wires or cables together is by hand where the wire is wrapped around the cluster and the two ends twisted together. Another tying method was by the hand application of a preformed U twisted around the cluster and the application of U-bolts to resist slip forces. Other tying machines have been constructed for fastening mats of mesh and other mat wire fabrications together but these do not have the high tensile and slip forces present at the joint as does the present invention. The present invention reduces the time, expense, and labor of previous wire cluster tying methods.

SUMMARY This invention includes apparatus for binding together a cluster of wires and the like, comprising a rotatable, slotted disc with the slot communicating with a central opening in the disc whereby the cluster of wires may be passed through the slot and positioned with their longitudinal axes passing through the central opening. A pulley on the periphery of the slotted disc. Means for passing and guiding a tying wire between the pulley and the cluster of wires. Clamping means for fixedly holding one end of the tying wire. Means for rotating the disc causing the pulley to engage the tying wire, to traverse a circle around the cluster of wires, and to thereby wrap the tying wire around the cluster of wires. Another feature is a gathering means including a pivotal arm that moves across the open end of the slot in the disc pushing the cluster of wires into a bundle at the central opening of the disc. Still another feature is a tying wire feed and a shearing mechanism to supply properly cut lengths of tying wire to the wrapping head. Another embodiment of the invention includes counterrotating wrapping heads that apply the tying wire by wrapping in two directions simultaneously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. la through Id are diagrams of an embodiment of the wrapping head and show four different stages of the application of the tying wire to the cluster of wires;

FIG. 2 is a side view diagram of the driving mechanism for the wrapping head;

FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an embodiment of a complete tying mechanism with the wrapping head and cover plate removed;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4);

FIG. 6 is a view of the shearing mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of the pneumatic system;

FIG. 8a and 8b are diagrams of another embodiment of the wrapping head; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the driving mechanism for the embodiment of the wrapping headillustrated in FIGS. 8a and 8b.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings, the same reference numerals are applied to identical parts in all embodiments, and such identically numbered parts are substantially identical in structure, function,

and operation. Therefore, to eliminate confusing duplication, these parts, their interrelationship and their function, will be described only in conjunction with a single embodiment, such description applying to all embodiments where these parts appear.

Referring to FIG. la, the wrapping head 11 is adisc or spool 13 having a relatively wide slot 15 communicating with a central opening 17. A pulley I9 is mounted at the periphery of the disc 13. A cluster of wires 21 (in the drawings, the cluster includes a cable 23 and two wires 25-25) is moved through the slot 15 into the central opening 17. In practice the cluster 2! is supported slightly above the ground or a platform and the wrapping head 11, with the slot 15 positioned downward, is lowered over the cluster 21 until the cluster 21 is positioned in the central opening l7. The pulley 19 may be fixed or rotatable.

After the cluster 21 is positioned in the central opening 17,

. a tying wire 27 is fed between the cluster 21 and the pulley 19 until the lead end 29 is engaged in a clamping means 31. Preferably the clamping means 31 includes a self locking cam 33 that presses the tie wire 27 against a sharp edge 35 of the frame 37 (only a portion of the frame 37 is shown in FIG. Id- -ld) upon which the wrapping head 11 is mounted. With the tie wire end 29 restrained, the wrapping head 11 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 39. The pulley 19 engages the tie wire 27 and begins to bend the tie wire 27 around the cluster 21. FIG. 1b shows the result of the wrapping head 11 having rotated one-half revolution. The tie wire 27 is restrained at the end 29 and the pulley 19 has bent the tie wire 27 partially around the cluster 21 while the free end is pulled over the periphery of the spool 13. FIG. 1c shows the result of the wrapping head 11 having completed one revolution. Preferably the wire is corrosion-resistant low carbon steel hard-drawn wire of one-eighth inch and copper coated to produce a wire of 0.128 of an inch. Other sizes and types of wire are also suitable, however.

FIG. Id shows the wire after several revolutions and the tie or wrap is almost completed. Although it may appear that the tie or wrap would be rather loose, in reality it is very tight. This is due to the friction produced by the tie wire 27 being bent around the spool 13 and around, the pulley 19. Also the bending work hardens the tie wire 27 and makes it even stiffer. With a wire of the size and type described in the preceding paragraph, a typical tie resists slipping forces of 400 pounds and tension or lateral pulling forces of from 4,000 to 5,500

I pounds.

. head 11. The wrapping head 11 is provided with a circular slot 53 and bearing 55 that matches a circular projection 51 on frame 37 thereby providing rotational mounting.

FIGS; 41 and 5 show a specific embodiment of a complete tying mechanism 56 (the wrapping head It has been omitted) and the various devices that cooperate with the wrapping head 11 to form the combination or integrated tying mechanism 56. A central frame 37, front plate 59, back plate 61, and side plates 63-63 are interconnected and support the various internal operating parts of the wrapping mechanism 56. A handle 65 is attached to the central frame 37 so that tying mechanism 56 can be hand held.

The operator places the tying mechanism over the wire cluster 21 and the cluster 21 passes through the frame slot 67 and wrapping head slot 15. One optional feature of the mechanism in a sensing rod (not shown) that senses the wire cluster and activates pilot valve 69 by exerting pressure on the plunger 71. (Specific details of the valves and features of the pneumatic system may be noted in FIG. 7 as they are referred to in the discussion of FIGS. 4, 5, and 6.) This changes the pilot valve 69 from its rest position (as shown in FIG. 7) and connects pilot line 73 to pilot line 75 by means of passage 77.

The operator pushes plunger 79 activating pilot valve 81 and this connects pilot supply line 83 to pilot line 73 by means of passage 85. The connection is now complete between pilot supply line 83 and pilot line 75 so that main valve 87 is activated. This moves main valve 87 from the rest position (shown in FIG. 7) and connects main air line 89 to line 91 by means of passage 93 and line 95 to atmosphere by means of passage 97. Line 91 connects to the top of the gathering device cylinder 99 and the wire feed cylinder 101. Pressure in the top of cylinder 99 causes piston 103 to move downward and similarly and simultaneously pressure in cylinder 101 causes piston 105 to move downward.

Shaft 107 is connected to piston 105 at one end and a block 109 at the opposite end. Block 109 pivotally supports a cam 111 that is also pivotally mounted in a second block 113. Block 113 is slideably mounted on guide rods 115-115 supported at the top by guide mount 117 and the bottom by guide mount 119. The tying wire 27, supplied from reel 12] passes through an opening in top guide mount 117 through block 113 and through bottom guide mount 119. Downward movement of block 109 causes cam 111 t pivot clockwise and lock the tying wire 27 against the internal rear surface 121 of block 113. Once the wire 27 islocked against surface 121, block 113 forces the guide wire downward through passage 123 until the end of the wire reaches clamping device 31. The tie wire 27 is now in position for the wrapping head 11 to wrap it around the wire cluster 21. Later when the piston 105 is forced upward, the wire is prevented from being moved upward by a stop 125 (consisting of a sharp leaf spring bearing diagonally against wire 27 not shown) attached to guide mount 117.

At the same time that the tie wire 27 is being supplied to the wrapping head 11, piston 103 moves shaft 127 downward. Shaft 127 is connected to a shaft 129 by means of a coupling 131 which allows shaft 129 to pivot slightly. Shaft 129 is also pivotally connected to a gathering plate 131. Gathering plate 131 is pivotally mounted on frame 37. When the shaft 129 moves downward, the plate 131 pivots around pivot point 133 and occupies the position shown by the broken line 135. The point 137 of plate 131 passes beneath the wire cluster 21 gathering the cluster 21 into the throat 139 which moves the cluster 21 into the central opening 17 of the wrapping head 1 1.

At approximately the time that the gathering plate 131 reaches the position of the'broken line 135 and the wire 27 reaches the clamp 31, a ramp 141 on coupling 131 contacts and exerts pressure on plunger 143 of pilot valve 145. Movement of plunger 143 trips pilot valve 145 connecting pilot supply line 83 to pilot line 147 by means of passage 149. This activates valve 149 connecting main air line 91 to line 151 by means of passage 153 and connects line 155 to atmosphere through passage 157. Air through line 151 is supplied to the bottom of clamping cylinder 159 pushing piston 161 upward.

Piston 161 is connected to shaft 163 which is in turn flexibly connected to shaft 165 by coupling 167. Upward movement of shaft 165 activates clamp 31 by pulling upward on a lever 169 and rotating shaft 171 thereby immobilizing the end of tying wire 27. Coupling 67 is provided with a ramp 173 that engages plunger 175 and activates pilot valve 177.

Activation of pilot valve 177 connects pilot supply line 83 to pilot line 179 by means of passage 181. The motor valve 183 is activated connecting air supply line 89 to motor supply line 185 by means of passage 187 thereby causing rotation of air motor 41. Motor 41 rotates the wrapping head 11, as previously described, and also cam 189 through rotation of gear 45 by a gear reduction means (not shown).

Very soon after cam 189 begins to rotate, the edge 191 farthest from the center of rotation 193 releases cam follower 195. This allows spring 197 to push against shear arm 199 pivoting the shear arm 199 around pivot point 201 (FIG. 6). The tie wire 27, which passes through the opening 203, is cut as the opening 203 passes out of alignment with tie wire passage 123. The cam 189 continues to rotate recocking the shear mechanism and is aided by retaining springs 205-205.

As the wrapping head 11 completes the tie on the wire cluster 21, a second cam 207, which rotates with earn 189, eventually comes in contact with plunger 209 on pilot valve 211. Movement of plunger 209 activates pilot valve 211 connecting pilot supply line 83 to line 213 by means of passage 215. Line 213 returns

valves

87, 149, and 183 to their rest positions with the following results: Pistons 103 and are forced upward by connection of line 91 to atmosphere through passage 217 and line 95 to the air supply line through passage 219; piston 161 is forced downward by connecting line 155 to the air supply line 91 through passage 221 and line 151 to atmosphere through passage 223; and the motor 41 is shut off by cutting off the air supply from line 89. The pilot valves are spring loaded to return to their rest position. The entire tying mechanism is thereby reset in preparation for making the next tie.

in the embodiment discussed, the power source was pneumatic; howeverQthe power source could just as easily be hydraulic or electric. If electric, the pilot valves should be replaced by 'microswitches that activate solenoids that replace the valves. it will be seen that other variations are possible, for

example, replacing a pilot valve and power valve combination with a device that directly activates the corresponding mechanism.

FIG. 8a and 8b show another embodiment of the wrapping head 11'. In this embodiment two counterrotating discs 13' and 13" have slots 15' and 15" communicating with central openings 17' and 17", respectively. Preferably the slot sides and 225" that first contact or move toward the wire cluster 21 upon rotation are curved having gathering ends or points 137 and 137". The tie wire 27 is fed between the cluster 21 and the

pulleys

19 and 19", the pulley 19' being mounted on a projection 227 of the outer periphery of disc 13. FIG. 8b indicates the action of the counterrotating discs 13' with each

pulley

19 and 19" wrapping each end of the wire in opposite directions around the wire cluster 21 and at the same time gathering the wires together.

FIG. 9 shows the drive mechanism that operates the counterrotating

discs

13 and 13". The motor 41 rotates the first bevel gear 43 which rotates two second bevel gears 45 and 45" in opposite directions. Attached to the second bevel gears 45 and 45" are

spur gears

47 and 47" which each mesh with and drive two other spur gears 49-49 and 49"-49". Spur gears 49-49' and 49"-49" mesh with and drive spur gears 51 and 51" which are part of the driving heads 11' and 11". Since bevel gear 45' is going in the opposite direction from bevel gear 45", gears 47', 49'-49 and 51' go in opposite directions from corresponding gears 47", 49"49" and 51" causing the discs 13' and 13" to counter rotate.

it will be understood of course that while the forms of the invention herein shown and described constitute the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is not intended herein to illustrate all of the possible and equivalent forms of ramifications of the invention. It will be understood that the words used are words of description rather than of limitation and that various changes, such as changes in shape, relative size, and arrangement of parts may be substituted without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention herein disclosed.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for tying a plurality of wires, cables and combinations thereof together, comprising, in combination:

a. a rotatable slotted disc with the slot in said disc communicating with a central opening said slot and central opening constructed to receive a cluster of wires having their longitudinal axes substantially perpendicular to said disc and passing through said central opening;

. a pulley on the periphery of said disc, the central axis of said pulley being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wires;

c. means for passing and guiding a tying wire between said cluster of wires and said pulley;

d. self-locking clamping means for fixedly holding one end of said tying wire; and

e. means for rotating said disc causing said pulley to engage said tying wire, to traverse in a circle around said cluster of wires and to thereby wrap said tying wire around said cluster of wires.

2. Apparatus for tying a plurality of wires, cables, and combinations thereof, comprising, in combination:

a. a frame;

b. a disc rotatably mounted on said frame, said disc having a slot communicating with a central opening for receiving a cluster of wires having their longitudinal axes substantially perpendicular to said disc and passing through said central opening;

c. a pulley on the periphery of said disc, the central axis of said pulley being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said wires;

d. wire dispensing, feed, and guide means mounted on said frame for passing a tying wire between said cluster of wires and said pulley;

e. self-locking clamping means mounted on said frame engageable with one end of said tying wire for fixedly holding said one end of said tying wire; and

f. means for rotating said disc causing said pulley to engage said tying wire, to traverse in a circle around said cluster of wires and to thereby wrap said tying wire around said cluster of wires.

3. Apparatus for tying a plurality of wires, cables and combinations thereof in accordance with claim 2 wherein said wire feed and guide means includes a linearly moving clamp for engaging the tying wire and pushing it between said cluster of wires and said pulley.

4. Apparatus for tying a plurality of wires, cables and combinations thereof, comprising, in combination:

a. a frame;

d. gathering means including a pivotal arm moveable across the open end of said slot in said disc to push said cluster of wires into said central opening of said disc;

e. means, mounted on said frame, for supplying a properly 'cut length of tying wire between said cluster of wires and said pulley;

f. clamping means mounted on said frame engageable with one end of said tying wire for fixedly holding said one end of said tying wire; and

g. means for rotating said disc causing said pulley to engage said tying wire, to traverse in a circle around said cluster of wires and to thereby wrap said tying wire around said cluster of wires.

5. Apparatus for tying a plurality of wires, cables and combinations thereof in accordance with claim 4 wherein said means for. supplying a properly cut length of tying wire includes a supply reel, a linearly moving clamp for engaging the tying wire, pulling it from said supply reel and pushing it between said cluster of wires and said pulley, and a shear for cutting said tying wire after it is positioned between said cluster of wires and said pulley.

6. Apparatus for tying a plurality of wires, cables and combinations thereof in accordance with claim 5 wherein said (i) gathering means, (ii) means for supplying a properly cut length of tying wire, (iii) clamping means and (iv) means for rotating have a common source of power and are activated and deactivated sequentially in the order (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv).

7. Apparatus for tying a plurality of wires, cables and combinations thereof in accordance with claim 6 wherein said common source of power is pneumatic and sequencing is controlled by mechanically tripped pilot valves.

8. Apparatus for tying a plurality of wires, cables and combinations thereof, comprising, in combination:

a. two counter rotatable slotted discs with the slots in each disc communicating with a central opening, said slots being aligned to receive a cluster of wires having their longitudinal axes substantially perpendicular to said discs and passing through said central opening of each of said discs;

b. a pulley on the periphery of each of said discs the central axis of each said pulley being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cluster of wires;

c. means for passing and guiding a tying wire between said cluster of wires and the pulley of each of said discs;

d. means for rotating said discs in opposite directions causing each pulley to engage opposite ends of said tying wire, to each traverse in a circle around said cluster of wires and to thereby wrap said tying wire around said cluster of wires.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 570 553 Dated March 16 197] Inventor(s) Benjamin M. Bartilson et a1 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet [72] "Benjamin M. Bartilson; Gerald A. Francis; Michael U. Widman, Columbus, Ohio" should read Benjamin M. Bartilson, 7O Sunnyside Lane; Gerald A. Francis, 1810 Lynnhaven Drive; and Michael U. Widman, 5515 North Meadow Blvd., Columbus, Ohio cancel "[73] Assignee The Battelle Development Corporation Columbus, Ohio".

Signed and sealed this 16th day of November 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patent FORM PO-H'ISO (U-69] Usco -Dc 6037

Claims

1. Apparatus for tying a plurality of wires, cables and combinations thereof together, comprising, in combination: a. a rotatable slotted disc with the slot in said disc communicating with a central opening said slot and central opening constructed to receive a cluster of wires having their longitudinal axes substantially perpendicular to said disc and passing through said central opening; b. a pulley on the periphery of said disc, the central axis of said pulley being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wires; c. means for passing and guiding a tying wire between said cluster of wires and said pulley; d. self-locking clamping means for fixedly holding one end of said tying wire; and e. means for rotating said disc causing said pulley to engage said tying wire, to traverse in a circle around said cluster of wires and to thereby wrap said tying wire around said cluster of wires.

2. Apparatus for tying a plurality of wires, cables, and combinations thereof, comprising, in combination: a. a frame; b. a disc rotatably mounted on said frame, said disc having a slot communicating with a central opening for receiving a cluster of wires having their longitudinal axes substantially perpendicular to said disc and passing through said central opening; c. a pulley on the periphery of said disc, the central axis of said pulley being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said wires; d. wire dispensing, feed, and guide means mounted on said frame for passing a tying wire between said cluster of wires and said pulley; e. self-locking clamping means mounted on said frame engageable with one end of said tying wire for fixedly holding said one end of said tying wire; and f. means for rotating said disc causing said pulley to engage said tyiNg wire, to traverse in a circle around said cluster of wires and to thereby wrap said tying wire around said cluster of wires.

4. Apparatus for tying a plurality of wires, cables and combinations thereof, comprising, in combination: a. a frame; b. a disc rotatably mounted on said frame, said disc having a slot communicating with a central opening for receiving a cluster of wires having their longitudinal axes substantially perpendicular to said disc and passing through said central opening; c. a pulley on the periphery of said disc, the central axis of said pulley being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said wires; d. gathering means including a pivotal arm moveable across the open end of said slot in said disc to push said cluster of wires into said central opening of said disc; e. means, mounted on said frame, for supplying a properly cut length of tying wire between said cluster of wires and said pulley; f. clamping means mounted on said frame engageable with one end of said tying wire for fixedly holding said one end of said tying wire; and g. means for rotating said disc causing said pulley to engage said tying wire, to traverse in a circle around said cluster of wires and to thereby wrap said tying wire around said cluster of wires.

5. Apparatus for tying a plurality of wires, cables and combinations thereof in accordance with claim 4 wherein said means for supplying a properly cut length of tying wire includes a supply reel, a linearly moving clamp for engaging the tying wire, pulling it from said supply reel and pushing it between said cluster of wires and said pulley, and a shear for cutting said tying wire after it is positioned between said cluster of wires and said pulley.

8. Apparatus for tying a plurality of wires, cables and combinations thereof, comprising, in combination: a. two counter rotatable slotted discs with the slots in each disc communicating with a central opening, said slots being aligned to receive a cluster of wires having their longitudinal axes substantially perpendicular to said discs and passing through said central opening of each of said discs; b. a pulley on the periphery of each of said discs the central axis of each said pulley being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cluster of wires; c. means for passing and guiding a tying wire between said cluster of wires and the pulley of each of said discs; d. means for rotating said discs in opposite directions causing each pulley to engage opposite ends of said tying wire, to each traverse in a circle around said cluster of wires and to thereby wrap said tying wire around said cluster of wires.