SE546529C2 - A wire tying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a wire tying machine (100) adapted to tie wire knots (153) that secure reinforcement bars (105, 106) together. The wire tying machine (100) comprises a main body part (102), a trigger (140) for activating a knot tying procedure, a wire tying head (101) at a front end (F) of the wire tying machine (100), a battery receptacle (108) in the main body part (102) for receiving a battery (104), and a spool compartment (155) that is adapted to accommodate a wire spool (150) comprising a length of wire (151). The wire tying machine (100) is arranged to feed (110) a free end (152) of the wire (151) out from an opening in the wire tying head (101) and to receive the free end (152) into another opening of the wire tying head (101), and the wire tying machine (100) is arranged to perform a tying procedure such that a knot (153) is formed on the wire (151). The battery receptacle (108) is arranged at a rear end (R) of the wire tying machine (100), opposite to the front end (F).

Description

A WIRE TYING MACHINE TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to wire tying machines for tying reinforcement bars (rebars) together to form a rebar structure for reinforcing, e.g., concrete and other solidifiable materials.

BACKGROUND Concrete is strong under compression but often has relatively weak tensile strength. Reinforcing bars, or rebars, are therefore often used to strengthen concrete structures, where they significantly increase the tensile strength of the concrete.

The most common type of rebar is carbon steel, typically consisting of hot- rolled round bars with deformation patterns. Other readily available types include stainless steel, and composite bars made of glass fibre, carbon fibre, or basalt fibre. The steel reinforcing bars may also be coated in an epoxy resin designed to resist the effects of corrosion mostly in saltwater environments, but also in land-based constructions.

The rebar elements are normally connected into a rebar structure or lattice by tying the elements together with steel wire. For tying epoxy coated or galvanised rebars, epoxy coated, or galvanized wire is normally used. The wire may also be coated in plastic or the like to prevent corrosion.

Due to the large number of connection points between rebar elements in a larger rebar structure, it is desired to automate the wire tying.

EP 2666932 B1 and WO 2021086253 A1 disclose automatic rebar wire tying machines for tying rebars together. Such wire tying machines use wire on a coil or spool as a consumable part which needs to be replaced when the wire spool is empty. This wire spool is secured behind a lid to make sure it is held in place and operates correctly during the tie processes, where the lid serves as a protection for a user as well as for the wire tying machine. This lid needs to be opened when replacing the wire spoo|, during this time it is important that the protection for a user and the wire tying machine is maintained.

There is thus a need for improved automatic wire tying machines.

SUMMARY lt is an object of the present disclosure to provide improved automatic wire tying machines.

This object is at least in part obtained by a wire tying machine adapted to tie wire knots that secure reinforcement bars together, where the wire tying machine comprises a lid, a main body part, a trigger for activating a knot tying procedure, a wire tying head at a front end F of the wire tying machine, a battery receptacle in the main body part for receiving a battery, and a spoo| compartment that is adapted to accommodate a wire spoo| comprising a length of wire. The wire tying machine is arranged to feed a free end of the wire out from an opening in the wire tying head and to receive the free end into another opening of the wire tying head. The wire tying machine is arranged to perform a tying procedure such that a knot is formed on the wire, where the battery receptacle is arranged at a rear end R of the wire tying machine, opposite to the front end F. The wire is held in the tying head and brought to rotate about a wire tying head axis H such that a knot is formed on the wire. The wire tying head axis intersects with the battery when the battery is inserted into the battery receptacle.

This means that the inserted battery is mounted opposite the wire tying head, conferring a high degree of balance for the tool, such that if is easily handled by a user for the most common use cases, still enabling the battery to be easily removed and re-placed for charging.

Further advantages are conferred by the features disclosed in the dependent claims.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc." are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated. Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. The skilled person realizes that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, where Figure 1 shows an example wire tying machine; Figure 2A shows how a lid of the wire tying machine about to be opened; Figure 2B shows how a lid of the wire tying machine is opened; Figure 3 shows how new spool of wire is loaded; Figure 4 shows how wire is loaded and thread into the wire tying machine; Figure 5 shows an example of how reinforcement bars are joined by means of knots formed by the wire tying machine; Figure 6A shows a perspective view of the wire tying machine with the lid in a partly opened position; Figure 6B shows an enlarged portion of Figure 6A; Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the wire tying machine with the lid in a more opened position.

Figure 8 schematically illustrates a control unit arrangement; Figure 9 schematically illustrates a computer program product; Figure 10 shows a flowchart i||ustrating methods according to the present disclosure; and Figure 11 shows a flowchart i||ustrating methods according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain aspects of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments and aspects set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description. lt is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 5, there is a wire tying machine 100 adapted to tie wire knots 153 that secure reinforcement bars 105, 106, or rebars, together, such that a rebar structure 107 can be secured. With reference also to Figure 4 that shows how wire is loaded and thread into the wire tying machine, when pressing a trigger 140 comprised in the wire tying machine 100, the wire tying machine 100 is arranged to feed 156, 110 a free end 152 of a wire 151 out from an opening in a tying head 101 of the wire tying device 100. The wire 151 is rolled prior to being fed out from the wire tying head 101, and therefore assumes an arcuate form due to the rolling inside the tying head 101. EP 2666932 discusses rolling wire such that it extends in an arcuate form when exiting a wire tying head. Rolling arrangements for rolling rebar tying wire will therefore not be discussed in more detail herein.

The wire 151 extends along an arcuate path to encircle the reinforcement bars 105, 106 which are to be tied together and is then received 111 back in the tying head 101, where it is held and brought to rotate 112 about a wire tying head axis H, which rotation forms a knot 153 on the wire 151. The wire 151 is for example held by awire locking mechanism comprised in the wire tying head 101 in a previously known manner, where the wire locking mechanism is brought to rotate 112 about the wire tying head axis H for forming the knot The wire tying machine 100 is according to some aspects also arranged to cut the wire The whole knot tying process is automatically executed in sequence when the wire tying machine is triggered by an operator using the trigger 140. Thus, the wire tying machine 100 allows for conveniently and efficiently tying together rebar structures 107. The knot tying process has been described to comprise that the wire is held and brought to rotate 112 about a wire tying head axis H, which rotation forms a knot 153 on the wire 151, but the knot tying process can be performed in many other ways, and generally the wire tying machine 100 is arranged to perform a tying procedure such that a knot 153 is formed on the wire With reference also to Figure 2A, Figure 2B and Figure 3, the wire tying machine 100 comprises a main body part 102 and a lid 160 that according to some aspects is connected to the main body part 102 by means of at least one hinge arrangement 125, 126. The main body part 102 comprises a handle 103, according to some aspects the trigger 140 is positioned on, or adjacent to, the handle The wire tying machine 100 further comprises a spool compartment 155 adapted to accommodate a wire spool 150 comprising a length of wire 151 behind the lid 160. According to some aspects the spool compartment 155 is positioned adjacent to the handle 103. The wire spool 150 is secured in the spool compartment 155 behind the lid 160 to make sure it is held in place and operates correctly during the tie processes, where the lid 160 serves as a protection for a user as well as for the wire tying machine 100. The wire spool 150 needs to be replaced when the wire 151 is depleted, and the lid 160 needs to be opened when replacing the wire spool 150. During the replacement procedure it is important to prevent that the wire tying machine 100 accidentally starts a tie operation, which may lead to injury of an operator, and/or to damage to the wire tying machine 100, and which at least may lead to a tangled wire According to the present disclosure, the wire tying machine 100 comprises a control unit arrangement 130 and a sensor arrangement 120, where the sensor arrangement 120 is adapted to detect if the lid 160 is in a closed position, as indicated by an or in an opened position, as indicated by a and to output a signal to the control unit arrangement 130, which signal is indicative of if the lid 160 is in the closed position A or in the opened position B. ln Figure 2A, it is indicated by an arrow how the lid 160 is brought from the closed position A to the opened position B.

This means that the control unit arrangement 130 is informed about the lid's position, and is enabled to set a certain appropriate operational state in dependence of the lid's position.

According to some aspects, in case the sensor arrangement 120 detects that the lid 160 has been set in the closed position A, this is communicated to the control unit arrangement 130 that is adapted to set the wire tying machine 100 in a normal running state. According to some further aspects, the normal running state includes that when the trigger 140 is pressed, the automatic knot tying process described above is executed. The normal running state is maintained as long as the sensor arrangement 120 detects that the lid 160 is in the closed position A.

This means that when the lid 160 is detected to be in the closed position A, the wire tying machine 100 is enabled to perform normal running procedures. ln case the sensor arrangement 120 detects that the lid 160 has been set in an opened position B, this is communicated to the control unit arrangement 130 which sets the wire tying machine 100 in a reload state, such that when the trigger 140 is pressed, the wire tying machine 100 is arranged to feed 156, 110 a free end 152 of the wire 151 towards and, according to some aspects, out from the opening in the tying head 101, without forming a knot 153 on the wire 151. This means that a complete tying process is not executed. The reload state is maintained as long as the sensor arrangement 120 detects that the |id 160 is in the opened position B.

This means that the function of the trigger 140 is different in dependence of if the |id 160 is in the opened position B or in the closed position A, the same trigger 140 having two different functional states depending on the detected position of the |id ln particular this means that the function of the trigger is different in dependence of if the |id is in the opened position or in the closed position, the same trigger having two different functional states, depending on the detected position of the |id. Since no knot is tied when the sensor arrangement detects that the |id has been set in the opened position, the risk for tangling of the wire and also the risk for personal injuries during loading of a new wire spool is greatly reduced. Furthermore, since the wire tying machine is arranged to feed the free end of the wire towards the tying head when pressing in the reload state, the loading of the new wire is simplified.

According to some aspects, the |id 160 comprises a first |id part 160a and a second |id part 160b, where the first |id part 160a is adapted to cover the spool compartment 155 and the second |id part 160b is adapted to cover the wire 152 when fed from the wire spool 150 towards the opening in the tying head According to some aspects, with reference also to Figure 6A, Figure 6B and Figure 7, the sensor arrangement 120 comprises a first magnet 120a, positioned on the |id 160, and a hall-sensor element arrangement 120b mounted in a fixed position on the main body part 102. Figure 6A shows the |id 160 in a partly opened position, Figure 6B shows an enlarged portion of Figure 6A, and Figure 7 shows the |id 160 in an even more opened position.

For explanatory reasons, wall parts of the main body part 102 are here removed to at least partly expose the hall-sensor element arrangement 120b. This means that in the case of a wired connection to the hall-sensor element arrangement, no wires are needed to run to and from the lid.

The hall-sensor element arrangement 120b is adapted to measure a magnetic field generated by the first magnet 120a, and to output a signal to the control unit arrangement 130, which signal is indicative of if the lid 160 is in the closed position A or in the opened position B. The control unit arrangement 130 is adapted to set and maintain the function of the trigger 140 accordingly.

This means that standard components can be used, providing reliability and low cost.

The first magnet 120a and the hall-sensor element arrangement 120b may be mounted in reversed positions such that the hall-sensor element arrangement 120b is mounted to the lid 160 and the first magnet 120a is mounted to the main body part 102. Therefore, generally, the sensor arrangement 120 comprises a first magnet 120a and a hall-sensor element arrangement 120b which are adapted to be separated when the lid 160 is brought from the closed position A to the opened position B.

According to some aspects the hall-sensor element arrangement 120b comprises two or more hall sensor elements 120b mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) 127. Having more than one hall sensor element 120b provides redundancy that results in a more reliable detection of if the lid 160 is in the closed position A or in the opened position B, for example if one hall sensor element 120b malfunctions.

According to some aspects, the sensor arrangement 120 is connected to the control unit arrangement 130 by means of one or more wires, or by means of a wireless connection. Optical connections are also conceivable.

According to some aspects, when the lid 160 is in the closed position A, the hall-sensor element arrangement 120b detects a magnetic field from the first magnet 120a, and an electric current is output to the control unit arrangement 130. When the lid 160 is in the opened position B, the hall-sensor element arrangement 120b ceases to detect a magnetic field from the first magnet 120a, and no electric current is output to the control unit arrangement 130. This provides extra security, since if the electric current signal is interrupted by accident, the wire tying machine 100 is set in the reload state irrespective of if the lid 160 is in the opened positioned B or in the closed position A. ln this manner, the risk for tangled wires and personal injuries is reduced.

Generally, according to some aspects, the signal that is indicative of if the lid 160 is in the closed position A or in the opened position B is constituted by the presence or absence of an electric current. Many other alternatives are of course conceivable, the above example only being one of many possible examples.

By means of the present disclosure, a plurality of advantages are obtained. For example, the interface between the wire tying machine 100 and a user can be streamlined and kept to a minimum, only one trigger 140 is needed. This makes it easy for a new user to use the wire tying machine 100 with less learning required. Furthermore, the risk for a user to believe that the wire tying machine 100 is in the reload state, when the wire tying machine 100 actually is in the normal running state is kept to a minimum. Any accidental cavitation of the trigger 140 in the reload state will only lead to that the wire tying machine 140 feeds a free end 152 of the wire 151 towards and possibly out from the opening in the tying head 101, heavily reducing the risk of injury during wire spool change operation.

According to some aspects, the wire tying machine 100 comprises an optional on-off switch 141 that enables the trigger 140 to be operational in the "on" setting, and in the "off" setting the trigger 140 is disengaged and thus not operational.

According to some aspects, the wire tying machine 100 comprises a first metal pad 122 that is adapted to attract the first magnet 120a such that the lid 160 is adapted to be retained in the closed position A by means of magnetic attraction force between the first magnet 120a and the first metal pad 122. The first metal pad 122 can for example be mounted on a first pin 128a that is formed in the main body part 102, and the first magnet 120a can for example be mounted on a second pin 128b that is formed in the |id This means that the same magnet 120a can be used in the sensor arrangement 120 and for retaining the |id 160 in the closed position A. ln this example, the first metal pad 122 is mounted in a fixed position on the main body part 102. As mentioned above, the first magnet 120a and the hall- sensor element arrangement 120b may be mounted in reversed positions, and then the first metal pad 122 is mounted to the |id According to some aspects, the wire tying machine 100 comprises a second metal pad 123 that is mounted to the |id 160 and a second magnet 124 that is mounted in a fixed position on the main body part 102 and is adapted to attract the second magnet 124 such that the |id 160 is adapted to be retained in the closed position A by means of magnetic attraction force between the second magnet 124 and the second metal pad 123. ln this way, the |id 160 can be retained in the closed position A in an even more reliable manner. For example, the second magnet 124 can be mounted to a centre pin 129 that is adapted to engage a centre aperture 154 of the wire spool 150 as shown in Figure The second metal pad 123 and the second magnet 124 may be mounted in reversed positions such that the second magnet 124 is mounted to the |id 160 and the second metal pad 123 is mounted to the main body part According to some aspects, the second magnet 124 and a further hall-sensor element arrangement can be comprised in the sensor arrangement such that an even more reliable detection of if the |id 160 is in the closed position A or in the opened position B can be provided.

According to some aspects, the sensor arrangement may instead comprise one or more electrical switches, possibly in combination with one or more magnets and hall-sensor element arrangements. This means that many different types of components and even combinations of different types of components are conceivable for the sensor arrangement. Such an electrical switch my for example be connected to a current source and be arranged tobe closed when the lid 160 is in the closed position A, such that an electric current is output to the control unit arrangement 130. When the lid 160 is in the opened position B, the switch is opened, and no electric current is output to the control unit arrangement 130. ln this case, the signal that is indicative of if the lid 160 is in the closed position A or in the opened position B is constituted by the presence or absence of an electric current. Of course the switch can be open when the lid 160 is in the closed position A and closed when the lid 160 is in the opened position B. The switch may further be of an optical type such that the signal that is indicative of if the lid 160 is in the closed position A or in the opened position B is constituted by the presence or absence of the optical signal.

According to some aspects, generally, when the lid 160 is in the closed position A, an electric current or other signal, such as an optical signal, is output to the control unit arrangement 130, and when the lid 160 is in the opened position B, no electric current or other signal is output to the control unit arrangement 130. Alternatively, when the lid 160 is in the opened position B, an electric current or other signal, such as an optical signal, is output to the control unit arrangement 130, and when the lid 160 is in the closed position A, no electric current or other signal is output to the control unit arrangement According to some aspects, the sensor arrangement may instead comprise one or more digital switches, such that the signal that is indicative of if the lid 160 is in the closed position A or in the opened position B is constituted by different digital words that are communicated to the control unit arrangement lt is apparent that many different options are available for communicating the signal that is indicative of if the lid 160 is in the closed position A or in the opened position B.

The lid 160 can be retained in the closed position A by means of other locking means that the magnetic means described above, for example by means of snap-lock members or screws.Figure 8 schematically illustrates, in terms of a number of functional units, the components of the control unit arrangement 130 according to an embodiment of the discussions herein. Processing circuitry 210 is provided using any combination of one or more of a suitable central processing unit CPU, multiprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor DSP, etc., capable of executing software instructions stored in a computer program product, e.g. in the form of a storage medium 230. The processing circuitry 210 may further be provided as at least one application specific integrated circuit ASIC, or field programmable gate array FPGA.

Particularly, the processing circuitry 210 is configured to cause the control unit 130 to perform a set of operations, or steps. For example, the storage medium 230 may store the set of operations, and the processing circuitry 210 may be configured to retrieve the set of operations from the storage medium 230 to cause the control unit 130 to perform the set of operations. The set of operations may be provided as a set of executable instructions. Thus, the processing circuitry 210 is thereby arranged to execute methods as herein disclosed.

The storage medium 230 may also comprise persistent storage, which, for example, can be any single one or combination of magnetic memory, optical memory, solid state memory or even remotely mounted memory.

The control unit 130 may further comprise an interface 220 for communications with at least one external device, such as the sensor arrangement 120. As such, the interface 220 may comprise one or more transmitters and receivers, comprising analogue and digital components and a suitable number ports for wireline or wireless communication.

The processing circuitry 210 controls the general operation of the control unit 130 e.g. by sending data and control signals to the interface 220 and the storage medium 230, by receiving data and reports from the interface 220, and by retrieving data and instructions from the storage medium 230. Other components, as well as the related functionality, of the control node are omitted in order not to obscure the concepts presented herein.Figure 9 shows a computer program product 300 comprising computer executable instructions 310 on computer media 320 to execute any of the methods disclosed herein.

The present disclosure also relates to a computer program 310 for contro||ing loading and threading reinforcement bar tying wire into a wire tying machine 100 that comprises a |id 160, a trigger 140, a sensor arrangement 120 and a tying head 101, where the |id 160 is adapted to at least partly cover spool compartment 155 adapted to accommodate a wire spool 150. The computer program 310 comprises computer code which, when run on processing circuitry 210 of a control unit arrangement 130, causes the control unit arrangement 130 to control the function of the trigger 140 in dependence of a signal received from the sensor arrangement The function of the trigger 140 is controlled such that when the received signal is indicative of that the |id 160 is in a closed position A, the wire tying machine 100 is set in a normal running state such that when the trigger 140 is pressed, the wire tying machine 100 is arranged to feed 156, 110 a free end 152 of wire 151 on the wire spool 150 out from the opening in the tying head 101 such that the wire 151 extends along an arcuate path to encircle reinforcement bars 105, 106 which are to be tied together and is then received 111 back in the tying head 101, where the wire tying machine 100 is arranged to perform a tying procedure such that a knot 153 is formed on the wire The function of the trigger 140 is also controlled such that when the received signal is indicative of that the |id 160 is in an opened position B, the wire tying machine 100 is set in a reload state such that when the trigger 140 is pressed, the wire tying machine 100 is arranged to feed 156, 110 the free end 152 of the wire 151 towards the tying head 101, but without forming a knot 153 on the wire The present disclosure also relates to a control unit arrangement 130 adapted to control a function of a trigger 140 comprised in a wire tying machine 100 that also comprises a |id 160, a trigger 140, a sensor arrangement 120 and a tying head 101. The |id 160 is adapted to at least partly cover spoolcompartment 155 adapted to accommodate a wire spool 150, where the control unit arrangement 130 is adapted to control the function of the trigger 140 in dependence of a signal received from the sensor arrangement The function of the trigger 140 is controlled such that when the received signal is indicative of that the lid 160 is in a closed position A, the wire tying machine 100 is set in a normal running state such that when the trigger 140 is pressed, the wire tying machine 100 is arranged to feed 156, 110 a free end 152 of wire 151 on the wire spool 150 out from the opening in the tying head 101 such that the wire 151 extends along an arcuate path to encircle reinforcement bars 105, 106 which are to be tied together and is then received 111 back in the tying head 101, where the wire tying machine 100 is arranged to perform a tying procedure such that a knot 153 is formed on the wire The function of the trigger 140 is also controlled such that when the received signal is indicative of that the lid 160 is in an opened position B, the wire tying machine 100 is set in a reload state such that when the trigger 140 is pressed, the wire tying machine 100 is arranged to feed 156, 110 the free end 152 of the wire 151 towards the tying head 101, but without forming a knot 153 on the wire With reference to Figure 10, the present disclosure also relates to a method for controlling loading and threading of reinforcement bar tying wire into a wire tying machine 100 that comprises a lid 160, a trigger 140, a sensor arrangement 120 and a tying head 101. The lid 160 is adapted to at least partly cover spool compartment 155 adapted to accommodate a wire spool The method comprises determining S100 if the received signal is indicative of that the lid 160 is in a closed position A, and if that is the case setting S200 the wire tying machine 100 in a normal running state such that when the trigger 140 is pressed, the wire tying machine 100 is arranged to feed 156, 110 a free end 152 of wire 151 on the wire spool 150 out from the opening in the tying head 101 such that the wire 151 extends along an arcuate path to encircle reinforcement bars 105, 106 which are to be tied together and is then received 111 back in the tying head 101, where the wire tying machine 100 is arranged to perform a tying procedure such that a knot 153 is formed on the wire The method further comprises determining S300 if the received signal is indicative of that the |id 160 is in an opened position B, and if that is the case, setting S400 the wire tying machine 100 in a re|oad state such that when the trigger 140 is pressed, the wire tying machine 100 is arranged to feed 156, 110 the free end 152 of the wire 151 towards the tying head 101, but without forming a knot153 on the wire With reference to Figure 11, the present disc|osure also re|ates to a method, for loading and threading reinforcement bar tying wire into a wire tying machine 100 that comprises a |id 160, a trigger 140 and a tying head 101. The method comprising opening T100 the |id 160 to an opened position B such that access is provided to a spool compartment 155 adapted to accommodate a wire spool 150, and if an old wire spool is present, removing T200 the old wire spool, inserting T300 a new wire spool 150 that comprises a length of wire 151. The method further comprises pressing T400 the trigger 140 which prompts the wire tying machine 100 to feed 156, 110 a free end 152 of the wire 151 towards an opening in the tying head 101, without forming a knot 153 on the wire 151, while the |id 160 is in the opened position B, and closing T500 the |id 160 to a closed position A.

The present disc|osure is not limited to the above examples, but may vary freely within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the metal pads 122, 123 may be made in a ferromagnetic material.

According to some aspects, each time the trigger 140 is pressed in the re|oad state, the wire tying machine 100 is arranged to feed 156, 110 the free end 152 of the wire 151 a certain predetermined distance, and/or during a certain predetermined time and then stopping.

According to some aspects, in case the sensor arrangement 120 detects that the |id 160 has been set in the opened position B, this is communicated to the control unit arrangement 130 that is adapted to set the wire tying machinein a reload state, such that the trigger 140 is de-activated. This means that in the reload state, the trigger is disconnected from any functionality.

According to some aspects, as schematically indicated with dashed lines in Figure 1, the wire tying machine 100 comprises a separate reload trigger 142, where, when the reload trigger 142 is pressed, the wire tying machine 100 is arranged to feed 156, 110 the free end 152 of the wire 151 towards the tying head 101, but without forming a knot 153 on the wire 151. ln this way, the reload trigger 142 can be used when the trigger 140 is de-activated. The indicated position of the reload trigger 142 is only an example, the reload trigger 142 can have any suitable position on the wire tying machine According to some aspects, the main body part 102 is constituted by the complete body of the wire tying machine 100 except the lid According to some aspects, as schematically indicated in Figure 1, the wire tying machine 100 comprises a rechargeable battery 104 (only shown mounted in Figure 1) that is used as an energy source, where the wire tying machine 100 comprises a battery receptacle 108 in the main body part 102 for receiving the battery 104. Other types of energy sources are of course conceivable, such as for example a main electric source.

With reference to Figure 1, the present disclosure also relates to a wire tying machine 100 adapted to tie wire knots 153 that secure reinforcement bars 105, 106 together, where the wire tying machine 100 comprises a main body part 102, a trigger 140 for activating a knot tying procedure, a wire tying head 101 at a front end F of the wire tying machine 100, a battery receptacle 108 in the main body part 102 for receiving a battery 104, and a spool compartment 155 that is adapted to accommodate a wire spool 150 comprising a length of wire 151. The wire tying machine 100 is arranged to feed 110 a free end 152 of the wire 151 out from an opening in the wire tying head 101 and to receive the free end 152 into another opening of the wire tying head 101, where the wire tying machine 100 is arranged to perform a tying procedure such that a knot 153 is formed on the wire 151. The battery receptacle 108 is arranged at a rear end R of the wire tying machine 100, opposite to the front end F.According to some aspects, the wire 151 is held in the tying head 101 and brought to rotate 112 about a wire tying head axis H such that a knot 153 is formed on the wire 151. The trigger 140 is arranged between the wire tying head axis H and the spool compartment 155, and the wire tying head axis H intersects with the battery 104 when the battery 104 is inserted into the battery receptacle According to some aspects, with reference also to Figure 6A, a plane P that runs parallel to the wire tying head axis H also runs between, on one hand, the tying head 101 and the battery receptacle 108, and, on the other hand, the spool compartment According to some aspects, the trigger 140 is positioned between the wire tying head axis H and the spool compartment According to some aspects, a shortest distance D1 between the spool compartment 155 and the trigger 140 falls below a shortest distance D2 between the spool compartment 155 and the battery 104 when the battery 104 is inserted into the battery receptacle 108.

Claims (4)

1. A wire tying machine (100) adapted to tie wire knots (153) that secure reinforcement bars (105, 106) together, wherein the wire tying machine (100) comprises a main body part (102), a trigger (140) for activating a knot tying procedure, a wire tying head (101) at a front end (F) of the wire tying machine (100), a battery receptacle (108) in the main body part (102) for receiving a battery (104), and a spoo| compartment (155) that is adapted to accommodate a wire spoo| (150) comprising a length of wire (151), wherein the wire tying machine (100) is arranged to feed (110) a free end (152) of the wire (151) out from an opening in the wire tying head (101) and to receive the free end (152) into another opening of the wire tying head (101 ), where the wire tying machine (100) is arranged to perform a tying procedure such that a knot (153) is formed on the wire (151 ), where the battery receptacle (108) is arranged at a rear end (R) of the wire tying machine (100), opposite to the front end (F),_-.- (151) is held in the tying head (101) and brought to rotate (112) about a wire tying head axis (H) such that a knot (153) is formed on the wire (151), wherein the wire tying head axis (H) intersects with the battery (104) when the battery (104) is inserted into the battery receptacle (108). The wire tying machine (100) according to claim 1-<=>-;=-;ší-, wherein the wire (151) is held in the tying head (101) and brought to rotate (112) about a wire tying head axis (H) such that a knot (153) is formed on the wire (151), wherein the trigger (140) is arranged between the wire tying head axis (H) and the spoo| compartment (155). The wire tying machine (100) according to any one of the claims wherein the wire (151) is held in the tying head (101) and brought to rotate (112) about a wire tying head axis (H) such that a knot (153) is formed on the wire (151), wherein a plane (P) that runs parallel to the wire tying head axis -:'I“'r:":'~': the wire<~ ~ ' Formatted: Normal(H) also runs between, on one hand, the tying head (101) and the battery receptacle (108), and, on the other hand, the spool compartment (155). The wire tying machine (100) according to any one of the claims 1-='š-'_L~_É, wherein a shortest distance (D1) between the spool compartment (155) and the trigger (140) falls below a shortest distance (D2) between the spool compartment (155) and the battery (104) when the battery (104) is inserted into the battery receptacle (108).