US3762621A

US3762621A - Binder for grape vines

Info

Publication number: US3762621A
Application number: US00195588A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Nishikawa
Original assignee: Max Co Ltd
Current assignee: Max Co Ltd
Priority date: 1970-11-13
Filing date: 1971-11-04
Publication date: 1973-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-02
Also published as: YU28577A; YU285771A; AU427630B2; CH535101A; YU34178B; NL7115358A; AT309871B; NL157778B; AU2221770A; ES396931A1; IT986821B

Abstract

A device for binding objects, such as grape vines, consisting of a presser equipped with a tape container at its rear end and a base plate which is hinged to the presser and opens and closes through the operation of a handle. By a first operation of the handle, a pawl at the front end of the base plate draws out a specified length of tape from the front end of the presser, and the tape thus drawn out is pressed against and rolls therein an object to be bound. By a second operation of the handle, both ends of the tape are bound together to make a loop and are cut off to accomplish the binding operation.

Description

t States Patent 1 1 Nishiltawa 1 Oct. 2, 1973 l BINDER FOR GRAPE VINES [75] Inventor: Mitsuo Nishikawa, Takasaki, Japan [73] Assignee: Max (10., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan 122] Filed: Nov. 4, 1971 21 App]. No.: 195,588

[51] Int. Cl. 1 r B251: 5/02 [58] Field of Search... 227/64, 76, 120,

3,603,497 9/1971 Nishikawa 227/76 Primary ExaminerGranville Y. Custer, Jr.

Attorney-Woodhams, Blanchard & Flynn [57] ABSTRACT A device for binding objects, such as grape vines, consisting ofa presser equipped with a tape container at its rear end and a base plate which is hinged to the presser and opens and closes through the operation of a handle. By a first operation of the handle, a pawl at the front end of the base plate draws out a specified length of tape from the front end of the presser, and the tape thus drawn out is pressed against. and rolls therein an object to be bound. By a second operation of the ham dle, both ends of the tape are bound together to make a loop and are cut off to accomplish the binding operation. 1

11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED 2 73 SHEET 10F 3 PATENTED 2 3.762.621 sum anr 3 INVENTOR. 44/7800 A/MW/ K14 WA BINDER FOR GRAPE VINES REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT This application relates to an improved binding device which is generally of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,603,497.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a hand-held and operated device for binding objects, such as grape vines, with a SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A device for binding objects, such as grape vines,

consisting of a presser equipped with a tape container at its rear end and a base plate which is hinged to the presser and opens and closes through the operation of a handle. By a first operation of the handle, a pawl at the front end of the base plate draws out a specified length of tape from the front end of the presser, and the tape thus drawn out is pressed against and rolls therein an object to be bound. By a second operation of the handle, both ends of the tape are bound together to make a loop and cut off to accomplish the binding peration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a binder device constructed according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views illustrating therein the different operational stages of the tape holding, securing and severing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a view as taken from the left side of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the disassembled parts contained within the tape holding device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates therein a binder device constructed according to the present invention, which device includes a presser 31 having a tape container 32 adjacent its rear end. A staple container 33, which container has disposed therein a row of conventional channel-shaped staples, is disposed adjacent the front end of the presser 31 and is pivotally connected to the presser by means of a-pivot pin 61, whereby the presser 31 and staple container 33 are thus mounted for limited relative pivotal movement therebetween. This structure is substantially the same as a conventional stapler, and thus further description thereof is not believed necessary.

The binder 30 is also provided with a swingable handle 34 which has a hook on its forward end adapted to coact with a pin 35 which is secured to the presser 31. The center part of the handle 34 is pivotally connected to an elongated base member 36, as by a pivot pin 62. The rearward end of the base member 36 is also hinged to the presser 31, such as by the pin 61, and an extension spring 37 is connected between the base member 36 and the presser 31 for normally urging the binding device into the open position illustrated in FIG. 1, in which open position the front ends of the presser 31 and the base member 36 are spaced a substantial distance apart.

The forward end of the base member 36 has a sub stantially boxlike housing 63 secured thereto, which housing 63 has an upwardly opening recess 64 therein in which ispositioned a tape holding device 38. The tape holding device 38 specifically includes a tape supporting plate 39, a control plate 40 and an actuator or push rod plate 41, which plates are disposed in adjacent side-by-side relationship.

The tape supporting plate 39 is provided with a pointed projection or pawl 42 at its upper end, and also has a sidewardly extending pin 43 fixedly secured thereto substantially adjacent the middle part of the plate 39. The tape supporting plate 39 also has an elongated slot 44 formed therein adjacent its lower end, which slot extends substantially in the elongated direction of the plate.

Considering now the control plate 40, it is provided with an opening or hole 45 extending therethrough,

which opening 45 is located in the middle part of the control plate and has a substantially inverted L-shape which specifically includes two elongated slotlike portions extending at substantially right angles to one another, with one slotlike portion 45a extending downwardly and the other slotlike portion 45b extending sidewardly. The control plate 40 also has a small hole 46 formed in the lower portion thereof.

The push rod or actuator plate 41 also has a guide hole or opening 48 extending therethrough, which guide opening is formed in the middle part of the push rod plate to thus be disposed adjacent the opening 45 formed in the control plate 40. The opening 48 specifically includes an elongated slotlike portion 48a which extends downwardly and a further sidewardly extending slotlike portion 48b. The guide opening 48 is provided with a sloped portion 48c extending between the free end of the sideward portion 48band the upper end 48d of the downwardly extending portion 48a. The push rod plate 41 also has a sidewardly extending projection 47 disposed between the opening 48 and the upper end of the push rod plate 41, and an elongated slot 49 is provided adjacent the lower end of the push rod plate, which slot 49 extends in the longitudinal direction of the plate.

The

plates

39, 40 and 41 are interconnected adjacent their lower ends by means of a pin 50 extending through the hole 46 and

slots

44 and 49. Also, the sidewardly extending pin 43 as secured'to the tape supporting plate 39 extends through the

openings

45 and 48 as formed in the

plates

40 and 41, respectively. A spring 51 is also disposed within the recess 64 and has one end thereof engaged with the inner wall of the recess whereas the other end of the spring is disposed within a slot 65 formed in the forward edge of the tape supporting plate 39, whereby spring 51 thus resiliently urges the plate 39 in a clockwise direction (FIG. 2) about the pin 50. A further spring 52 is positioned within the recess 64, which spring 52 is a compression spring and has the upper end thereof disposed in engagement with the projection 47 and the lower end disposed in engagement with the bottom wall of the recess 64. The rearward wall of the housing 63 also has an internal recess 66 formed therein into which extends a rearwardly extending projection 67 as formed on the upper end of the control plate 40,. whereby the control plate 40 is prevented from being moved upwardly out of the recess.

The upper edge of the rear wall of the housing 63 has a tape clamping member 68 formed thereon, which clamping member 68 also has a conventional slot 69 formed in the upper surface thereof for receiving therein and bending the free ends of a staple. The staple container 33 has the free end thereof disposed directly opposite and positioned for contact with the clamping member 68 when the binder device is utilized. Further, the presser 31 has a conventional staple driving blade or plate 55 provided thereon adjacent the free end thereof, which plate 55 coacts in a conventional manner with the container 33 for ejecting the endmost staple. The end of the presser 31 also has a tape cutting member 56 secured thereto, which member is adapted to extend into a slot 70 formed in the upper surface of the rear wall of the housing 63.

The presser 31 also has a rod pressing plate 53 fixedly secured to and projecting downwardly from the lower surface thereof, which plate 53 is disposed for engagement with the upper end of the push rod plate 41 during operation of the binder device 30. The rod pressing plate 53 is normally disposed adjacent and slightly spaced from a tape guide plate 54 which is fixedly secured to the forward end of the staple container 33, whereby the tape A which is dispensed from the forward end of the presser 31 is thus fed downwardly between the

plates

53 and 54. The housing 63 is provided with a plate 57 extending upwardly directly adjacent the rearward side of the recess 64, which plate 57 has a suitable recess or opening 71 adapted to receive therein the pointed projection 42 for permitting gripping of the free end of the tape A.

OPERATION To permit operation of the binder 30, the base member 36 will be moved into its open position wherein the tape holding device 38 is thus widely spaced from the free end of the presser 31. When in this position, the tape holding device 38 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIG. 2 to thus permit utilization of the device for permitting a tape to be secured around a bundle of objects. Particularly, when the holding device 38 is disposed as illustrated in FIG. 2, the sidewardly extending pin 43 extends through the central part 450 of the opening 45 formed in the control plate 40, and the pin 43 also extends through the lower part 48a of the quide opening 48 formed in the actuator or push rod plate 41. With the pin thus disposed in the lower part 48a, the pin is prevented from moving and accordingly the projection 42 provided on the upper end of the tape holding plate 39 is thus spaced from the plate 57. When in this position, the free end of the tape A is then manually pulled through the guide passage defined by the

plates

53 and 54 so that the tape extends downwardly for a small distance beyond the lower edge of the plate 53.

With the binder 30 positioned as described above, the handle 34 is then grasped to cause the presser 31 and base member 36 to be pivotally swung toward one another so that the tape holding device 38 approaches the free ends of the staple container 33 and the presser 31 substantially as illustrated in FIG. 2. The handle 34 is pressed until the lower edge of rod pressing plate 53 contacts the upper end of the actuator plate 41. When in this position, the lower edge of the tape A is disposed in front of the opening 71. The handle 34 is then pressed still further to move base member 36 further toward the presser 31, whereupon the rod pressing plate 53 causes the plate 41 to be moved downwardly against the urging of the spring 52. This downward movement of the plate 41 causes the opening 48 to be moved downwardly until the side part 48b thereof is disposed in substantial alignment with the side part 45b of the opening 45. When this position is reached, the pin 43 is released so that the plate 39, due to the urging of the spring 51, is then swung toward the plate 57 (clockwise in FIG. 2) about the lower pin 50. The upper projection or pawl 42 thus engages the lower end of the tape A and extends into the opening 71 for securely holding the lower end of the tape A. This swinging movement of the plate 39 also causes the pin 43 to move into the sidewardly extending slot portions 45b and 48b. This condition of the binder 30 is illustrated in FIG. 3.

After the binder has reached the position described above, the handle 34 is released whereby base member 36 then rotates downwardly relative to the presser 31. Since the free end of tape A is now held by the pawl 42, this downward relative movement of the base member 36 causes the tape A to be drawn out and downward from the free end of the presser 31, whereupon the tape assumes a position substantially as illustrated by the single dash-dot line illustrated in FIG. 1. With the free ends of the presser 31 and the base member 36 in the wide open position of FIG. 1, a suitable object or objects to be bound, such as a grape vine and a supporting post, are then inserted into the opening between the base member 36 and presser 31, thereby causing the tape A to be deformed into a substantially looplike shape between the base member 36 and the presser 31. This inward movement of the tape also causes more tape to be pulled from the tape container 32.

The handle 34 is then grasped and is again pressed, with the pressing force applied to the handle 34 in this situation being greater than the pressing force applied to the handle during the tape positioning portion of the operation as described above. The pressing force applied to the handle causes base member 36 to move relatively toward the presser 31 whereby the tape holding device 38 and the free end of the staple container 33 come into contact with one another (FIG. 3), thereby causing the tape A to form a loop as illustrated by the double dash-dot line of FIG. 1.

With the device positioned as illustrated in FIG. 3, a still greater pressing force is exerted on the handle 34, which causes the free end of the base member 36 to be moved further toward the free end of the presser 31. This additional pressing force causes the plate 53 to press the actuator plate 41 still further downwardly in opposition to the urging of the spring 52. This further downward movement of the plate 41 causes the pin 43 to engage the side surface 48b of the guide opening 48, whereupon the pin is cammed forwardly (leftwardly in FIG. 3) to engage the end surface 48b. This leftward camming of the pin 43 causes the tape supporting plate 39 to be rotated about the pin 50 (counterclockwise in FIG. 3) against the urging of spring 51, whereby the pawl 42 is thus released from the opening 71 to thereby set free the lower end of the tape A. This movement of the pin 43 also causes the pin to be moved from the side part 45b of the opening 45 into the central part 450 of the opening. Upon still further downward movement of the actuator plate 41 by the rod pressing plate 53, the pin 43, due to its engagement with the end surface 48d, is then moved downwardly into the downwardly extending slot portion 45a of the opening 45. This latter position is illustrated in FIG. 4.

During the latter described movement, wherein the push actuator plate 41 is moved from the position of FIG. 3 into the position of FIG. 4, the free end of the staple container 33 is disposed in abutting engagement with the clamping member 68, except for the presence of the two layers of tape A which are disposed therebetween. Thus, the further pressing movement of the base member 36 toward the presser 31 causes relative pivotal movement of the presser 31 toward the staple container 33, whereupon the staple driving blade 55 ejects the endmost staple from the container 33 and causes the pointed ends of the staple to penetrate the tape and enter the slot 69, whereupon the free ends of the staple are then bent in a conventional manner. Simultaneous with the ejection and securement of the staple, the tape cutter 56 extends into the slot 70 and severs the tape loop which is bound around the bundle of objects from the roll of tape which is disposed within the container 32. This position of the device is illustrated in FIG. 4.

When the binder 31 has thus reached the fully closed position of FIG. 4, the pressing force imposed on the handle 34 is released, wherebythe base member 36 swingably moves away from the presser 31 and, at the same time, the rod pressing plate 53 releases the pressure imposed on the plate 41. This initial releasing of the closing force also results in the presser 31 being moved away from the staple container 33 to reassume its normal position as illustrated in FIG. 5. However, when in this position, the plate 53 is still in engagement with the upper end of the plate 41, although a portion of the pressure imposed on the plate 41 has been released so that the plate 41 is thus moved upwardly due to the resilient urging of the spring 52. This initial upward movement of plate 41 results in the pin 43 being disposed within the downwardly extending slot portion 48a (FIG; 5). The remaining pressure on the handle 34 is then relieved to thus cause the presser 31 and the staple container 33 to be moved away from and out of engagement with the housing 63, substantially as illustrated in FIG. 2. This results in the driving blade 53 totally disengaging the actuator plate 41, whereupon the spring 52 causes the plate 41 to be urged still further upwardly until the actuator plate again assumes its original position as illustrated in FIG. 2, the upwardly movement of the actuator being limited by the projection 47 engaging the upper wall of the slot into which the projection extends. This additional upward movement of the plate 41, from the position of FIG. 5 into the position of FIG. 2, also causes the pin 43 and the tape holding plate 39 to be moved upwardly into their original positions, whereupon the pin 43 is again disposed within the central part 450 of the opening 45 formed in the control plate 40. The tape holding device 38 has thus reassumed its original position, as illustrated in FIG. 2. With the presser 31 and the base member 36 now widely spaced from one another, the objects bound by the cut looped tape segment can then be removed from the binder 30, thereby completing a complete cycle of operation.

. 6 The binder device 30 is thus in condition to permit initiation of a new binding cycle, which binding cycle will be repeated utilizing the same steps set forth above.

While the invention as described above has utilized a staple for securing the tape loop together, the same desirable mode of operation could be achieved by utilizing an adhesive tape having an adhesive film formed 5 on one side of the tape, so that when the binding loop is formed, the adhesive surfaces of the tape will be pushed into engagement with one another and thus be tightly pressed together due to the engagement of the bottom surface of the container 33 and the upper surface of the clamping member 68, substantially as illustrated in FIG. 4. This would thus result in the formation of a tape loop in surrounding relationship to a bundle of objects without requiring the use of a staple.

Thus, the binder according to this invention not only enables the operator to carry out a quick binding operation but also ensures that the actuator plate, which holds and releases the tape, is not be entangled with the objects to be bound or damaged by striking against other objects in the course of the binding operation the tape can be held and released by the action of the projection on the tape supporting; plate which is interlocked with the reciprocal movement of the opening in the control plate and the guide opening in the actuator plate, which contributes to make the whole mechanism small in size and ensures accurate operation by means of a simple structure. In addition, as there is no projection in the control portion of the base member, the binder according to this invention can bind objects of larger diameters.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A device for binding a plurality of articles with a loop of flexible tape, comprising:

base means;

tape holding means including a tape holding member movably mounted on said base means and adapted for coaction with said base means for securinga portion of said tape relative to said base means; actuator means movably mounted on 'said base means and coacting with said tape holding'member for maintaining same in a released position out of engagement with said tape; I

a presser member connected to said base means and movable toward and away therefrom, said presser member having a portion adapted to contact said actuator means when said presser member is moved toward said base means for causing said actuator means to be moved downwardly relative to said base means; and

control means coacting between said tape holding member and said actuator means in response to said downward movement of said actuator means relative to said base means for enabling said tape holding member to move into an operable position for engaging and holding the tape.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said actuator means comprises a platelike actuator member disposed adjacent said tape holding member, and said control means including a control member mounted on since the plate 41 is attached to the base member. Also,-

said base means and disposed adjacent said tape holding member and said actuator member, and said control means including pin-and-slot means coacting between the tape-holding, actuator and control members for controlling movement of said tape holding member between an operable position wherein it is adapted to engage the tape and an inoperative position wherein it is positioned to not engage the tape.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said pinand-slot means includes a pin fixedly secured to one of said tape-holding, control and actuator members, the remaining two of said members having slotlike openings formed therein with said pin being adapted to extend into the slotlike openings formed in said remaining two members, said pin-and-slot means permitting said tape-holding member to pivotally move between said inoperable and said operable positions while also permitting said tape holding member to linearly translate in a direction substantially parallel to the movement of said actuator member relative to said base means.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said pin is fixedly secured to said tape-holding member and projects sidewardly therefrom in a direction substantially transverse to the plane of pivotal movement of said tape-holding member, the slotlike opening in said control member having substantially transverse elongated slot portions, and the slotlike opening in said actuator member also having substantially transverse elongated slotlike portions which are adapted to be positioned substantially adjacent the slot portion in said control member.

5. A binder for binding grape vines with tape, comprising an elongated presser member, an elongated base member, connecting means pivotally interconnecting the adjacent rearward ends of the base member and the presser member for relative pivotal movement therebetween, means mounted on one of said members for holding a supply of tape, tape gripping means movably mounted on said base member adjacent the front free end thereof for engaging and holding the free end of a length of tape, said tape gripping means including a tape holding member movably mounted on said base member, actuator means movably mounted on said base member and coacting with said tape holding member for maintaining same in a released position out of engagement with said tape, and control means coacting between said tape holding member and said actuator means and responsive to relative pivotal movement of said presser member toward said base member for enabling said tape holding member to move from said released position to an operative position wherein it engages the tape.

6. A binder according to claim 5, wherein said actuator means includes an actuator member movably mounted on said base member adjacent the free end thereof, said actuator member being disposed adjacent said tape holding member, said control means including a control member mounted on said base member adjacent the free end thereof and adjacent said tape holding and actuator members, and said control means including pin-and-slot means coacting between said tape holding, actuator and control members for controlling movement of said tape holding member betweensaid released and operative positions.

7. A binder according to claim 6, wherein said actuator member is mounted solely for linear movement relative to said base member in a direction substantially transverse to the radially extending direction of said base member and said tape holding member also being mounted for linear movement in a direction substantially transverse to the radially extending direction of said elongated base member, said tape holding member also being mounted for pivotal movement within a plane parallel to the radially extending direction of said base member and parallel to the linear translational direction of said tape holding member.

8. A binder according to claim 6, wherein said presser member is provided with a tape guiding member fixedly secured thereto adjacent the free end thereof, said tape guiding member being adapted to contact said actuator member for causing linear translation of said actuator member relative to said base member when said presser member is relatively pivotally moved toward said base member.

9. A binder according to claim 6, further including handle means pivotally mounted on one of said base and presser members and coacting with the other of said base and presser members for pivotal movement of said base and presser members toward and away from one another, said means for mounting a supply of tape comprising mounting means for mounting a roll of tape on said presser member adjacent the rearward end thereof with said tape being fed longitudinally along the length of said presser member and dispensed adjacent the free end thereof, and said base member having wall means adjacent the free end thereof defining a recess which opens in a direction toward the free end of said presser member, said tape holding member and said control member and said actuator member being disposed within said recess in side-by-side relationship, said actuator member extending outwardly from said recess and being disposed for engagement with said presser member at a location adjacent the free end thereof whereby said actuator member is depressed into said recess in response to relative pivotal movement of said presser member toward said base member.

10. A binder according to claim 9, wherein said pinand-slot means includes a pin fixedly secured to one of said trio of members and a substantially L-shaped slot formed in each of the remaining two members with said pin extending through the slots of said remaining two members, said pin-and-slot means permitting both radial translation and pivotal movement of said tape holding member while permitting only linear reciprocation of said actuator member.

11. A binder according to claim 10, further including an elongated container positioned between said presser member and said base member and adapted to have a plurality of staples disposed therein, said elongated container having the rearward end thereof pivotally connected to said presser member adjacent the rearward end thereof, the forward end of said container being disposed adjacent the front free end of said presser member, said presser member having ejection means thereon for ejecting the endmost staple from said container in response to relative pivotal movement of said presser member toward said container, and abutment means formed on said base member for engagement with said container for causing relative pivotal movement of said pressing member toward said container after said pressing member has been initially relatively pivotally moved toward said base member, and cutting means secured to said presser member adjacent the front free end thereof and disposed for severing the tape which is positioned between said container and said abutment means.

Claims

1. A device for binding a plurality of articles with a loop of flexible tape, comprising: base means; tape holding means including a tape holding member movably mounted on said base means and adapted for coaction with said base means for securing a portion of said tape relative to said base means; actuator means movably mounted on said base means and coacting with said tape holding member for maintaining same in a released position out of engagement with said tape; a presser member connected to said base means and movable toward and away therefrom, said presser member having a portion adapted to contact said actuator means when said presser member is moved toward said base means for causing said actuator means to be moved downwardly relative to said base means; and control means coacting between said tape holding member and said actuator means in response to said downward movement of said actuator means relative to said base means for enabling said tape holding member to move into an operable position for engaging and holding the tape.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said actuator means comprises a platelike actuator member disposed adjacent said tape holding member, and said control means including a control member mounted on said base means and disposed adjacent said tape holding member and said actuator member, and said control means including pin-and-slot means coacting between the tape-holding, actuator and control members for controlling movement of said tape holding member between an operable position wherein it is adapted to engage the tape and an inoperative position wherein it is positioned to not engage the tape.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said pin-and-slot means includes a pin fixedly secured to one of said tape-holding, control and actuator members, the remaining two of said members having slotlike openings formed therein with said pin being adapted to extend into the slotlike openings formed in said remaining two members, said pin-and-slot means permitting said tape-holding member to pivotally move between said inoperable and said operable positions while also permitting said tape holding member to linearly translate in a direction substantially parallel to the movement of said actuator member relative to said base means.

6. A binder according to claim 5, wHerein said actuator means includes an actuator member movably mounted on said base member adjacent the free end thereof, said actuator member being disposed adjacent said tape holding member, said control means including a control member mounted on said base member adjacent the free end thereof and adjacent said tape holding and actuator members, and said control means including pin-and-slot means coacting between said tape holding, actuator and control members for controlling movement of said tape holding member between said released and operative positions.

10. A binder according to claim 9, wherein said pin-and-slot means includes a pin fixedly secured to one of said trio of members and a substantially L-shaped slot formed in each of the remaining two members with said pin extending through the slots of said remaining two members, said pin-and-slot means permitting both radial translation and pivotal movement of said tape holding member while permitting only linear reciprocation of said actuator member.