U.S. patent application number 11/629481 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for reinforcing bar binding machine and wire reel.
Invention is credited to Shuichi Ishii, Ichiro Kusakari, Atsushi Matsuoka, Takahiro Nagaoka, Shinichi Ohkubo.
Application Number | 20070227613 11/629481 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35509721 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070227613 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matsuoka; Atsushi ; et
al. |
October 4, 2007 |
Reinforcing Bar Binding Machine and Wire Reel
Abstract
An antenna of an RF tag reader and a photo sensor for detecting
a rotational position of a wire reel are provided in a wire reel
receiving portion of a reinforcing bar binding machine. The photo
sensor detects a mark on the wire reel, and when an RF tag mounted
on a side surface of the wire reel is brought into opposed relation
to the antenna of the RF tag reader, a control portion decelerates
or stops the wire reel, and an RF tag recognition operation by the
RF tag reader is executed, thereby identifying a wire kind. When
the RF tag is opposed to the antenna of the RF tag reader, the wire
reel is decelerated or stopped, and in this condition the
transmitting and receiving operations are executed, and therefore
the stable communication can be executed.
Inventors: |
Matsuoka; Atsushi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Ohkubo; Shinichi; (Tokyo, JP) ; Ishii;
Shuichi; (Tokyo, JP) ; Nagaoka; Takahiro;
(Tokyo, JP) ; Kusakari; Ichiro; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORGAN LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP
1111 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20004
US
|
Family ID: |
35509721 |
Appl. No.: |
11/629481 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
May 23, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP05/09371 |
371 Date: |
December 14, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
140/93.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 13/027 20130101;
B65B 13/185 20130101; E04G 21/122 20130101; E04G 21/123
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
140/093.6 |
International
Class: |
B21F 45/00 20060101
B21F045/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 18, 2004 |
JP |
2004-181732 |
Claims
1. A reinforcing bar binding machine including a wire feed
mechanism, a wire twisting mechanism, and a wire cutting mechanism
for feeding a wire wound on a wire reel in a loop-shape so as to
wind the wire around reinforcing bars, twisting a wire loop so as
to tighten the reinforcing bars, cutting off the wire loop from the
wire extending from a trailing end of the wire loop, and binding
the reinforcing bars, the reinforcing bar binding machine
comprising: means for reading wire identification information
provided on the wire reel; control means for controlling a wire
feed amount and a wire twisting torque based on the read wire
identification information; an RF tag reader provided on a body of
the reinforcing bar binding machine; an RF tag mounted on the wire
reel; and control means for identifying a kind of the wire from a
radio wave fed from the RF tag in response to a transmitting wave
from the RF tag reader and for controlling the wire feed amount,
the wire twisting torque.
2. The reinforcing bar binding machine according to claim 1,
wherein the RF tag is provided on a side surface of the wire reel;
and the RF tag reader includes an antenna disposed on a position
opposed to an RF tag affixing surface of the wire reel loaded in
the reinforcing bar binding machine.
3. The reinforcing bar binding machine according to claim 2,
further comprising: position detection means for detecting a
rotational position of the wire reel; and transmit-receive timing
control means for executing an RF tag recognition operation when
the RF tag on the side surface of the wire reel is generally
positioned in a position opposed to the antenna of the RF tag
reader.
4. The reinforcing bar binding machine according to claim 3,
further comprising: means for reducing a rotational speed of the
wire reel when the RF tag on the side surface of the wire reel is
generally positioned in the position opposed to the antenna of the
RF tag reader.
5. The reinforcing bar binding machine according to claim 3,
further comprising: means for stopping the RF tag on the side
surface of the wire reel within a transmit-receive range of the RF
tag reader.
6. The reinforcing bar binding machine according to claim 5,
wherein the means for stopping the RF tag on the side surface of
the wire reel within the transmit-receive range of the RF tag
reader comprises a recess portion provided on the wire reel, and a
braking member provided on the reinforcing bar binding machine and
being brought into and out of engagement with the recess
portion.
7. The reinforcing bar binding machine according to claim 3,
further comprising: means for stopping the wire reel when the RF
tag on the side surface of the wire reel is generally positioned in
the position opposed to the antenna of the RF tag reader.
8. The reinforcing bar binding machine according to claim 7,
wherein the means for stopping the wire reel comprises a recess
portion provided on the wire reel, and a braking member provided on
the reinforcing bar binding machine and being brought into and out
of engagement with the recess portion.
9. The reinforcing bar binding machine according to claim 1,
wherein a RF tag recognition step by the RF tag reader is executed
as part of an initialization operation executed when a power of the
reinforcing bar binding machine is turned on, the initialization
operation including the wire feed operation.
10. A wire reel for being loaded in a reinforcing bar binding
machine for feeding a wound wire in a loop-shape so as to wind the
wire around reinforcing bars, twisting a wire loop so as to tighten
the reinforcing bars, cutting off the wire loop from the wire
extending from a trailing end of the wire loop, and binding the
reinforcing bars, the wire reel comprising: an RF tag that is
responsive to a transmitting wave from an RF tag reader provided on
the reinforcing bar binding machine and feeds a signal for
identifying a kind of the wire.
11. A reinforcing bar binding machine comprising: a wire reel
receiving portion; an RF tag reader; and a loop antenna connected
to the RF tag reader and disposed within the wire reel receiving
portion.
12. The reinforcing bar binding machine according to claim 11,
further comprising: a reflection photo sensor disposed within the
wire reel receiving portion and including a light-emitting portion
and a light-receiving portion.
13. The reinforcing bar binding machine according to claim 12,
further comprising: a reel support boss provided within the wire
reel receiving portion; wherein the loop antenna and the reflection
photo sensor are angularly spaced substantially 90 degrees from
each other around a center of the reel support boss.
14. The reinforcing bar binding machine according to claim 11,
further including: a round hole formed in a wall of the wire reel
receiving portion; and a solenoid provided on a reverse surface of
the wire reel receiving portion; wherein a plunger of the solenoid
can project through the round hole beyond a front surface of the
wire reel receiving portion.
15. The reinforcing bar binding machine according to claim 14,
further comprising: a reel support boss provided within the wire
reel receiving portion; wherein the loop antenna and the round hole
are angularly spaced substantially 90 degrees from each other
around a center of the reel support boss.
16. A control circuit for a reinforcing bar binding machine
comprising: an RF tag reader; a trigger switch; a wire feed motor
drive circuit; a wire twisting motor drive circuit; and a control
portion.
17. The control circuit according to claim 16, when a trigger
signal from the trigger switch is inputted to the control circuit,
the control circuit controls the wire feed motor drive circuit and
the wire twisting motor drive circuit based on wire identification
data read by the RF tag reader and drives a wire feed motor and a
wire twisting motor.
18. A wire reel comprising: a cylindrical tubular hub; a reel
flange; and an RF tag mounted on the reel flange.
19. The wire reel according to claim 18, further comprising: an RF
tag mounting seat formed at an outer surface of the reel flange;
wherein the RF tag is bonded to the RF tag mounting seat.
20. The wire reel according to claim 18, wherein wire
identification data is stored in the RF tag.
21. The wire reel according to claim 20, wherein manufacturer's
data and a manufacturing lot number are further stored in the RF
tag.
22. The wire reel according to claim 20, wherein an amount of the
remaining wire and a use-starting date of the wire can be written
in the RF tag.
23. The wire reel according to claim 18, further comprising: a
reflection mark.
24. The wire reel according to claim 23, wherein the RF tag and the
reflection mark are angularly spaced substantially 90 degrees from
each other around an axis of rotation of the wire reel.
25. The wire reel according to claim 18, further comprising a round
hole formed in the reel flange.
26. The wire reel according to claim 25, wherein the RF tag and the
round hole in the reel flange are angularly spaced substantially 90
degrees from each other around an axis of rotation of the wire
reel.
27. A wire wound around the wire reel as defined in claim 18.
28. A method of binding reinforcing bars by a reinforcing bar
binding machine, comprising the steps of: feeding a wire until a
distal end of the wire reaches a wire guide nose; driving an RF tag
reader; identifying a kind of the wire from a frequency reflected
from an RF tag mounted on a wire reel; and setting a twisting
torque and a feed amount based on the kind of the wire.
29. The method of binding reinforcing bars by a reinforcing bar
binding machine according to claim 28, further comprising the steps
of: detecting a reflection mark on the wire reel; and driving the
RF tag reader when the reflection mark is detected.
30. The method of binding reinforcing bars by a reinforcing bar
binding machine according to claim 29, further comprising the step
of: reducing a speed of feeding of the wire when the reflection
mark is detected.
31. The method of binding reinforcing bars by a reinforcing bar
binding machine according to claim 29, further comprising the step
of: stopping the feeding of the wire when the reflection mark is
detected.
32. The method of binding reinforcing bars by a reinforcing bar
binding machine according to claim 28, further comprising the steps
of: driving a plunger in a forward direction; and driving the RF
tag reader when the plunger is fitted into a round hole in the wire
reel.
33. The method of binding reinforcing bars by a reinforcing bar
binding machine according to claim 32, further comprising the step
of: stopping the feeding of the wire when the plunger is fitted
into the round hole in the wire reel.
34. A method of identifying a kind of a wire in a reinforcing bar
binding machine, comprising the steps of: transmitting a radio wave
by a transmitting portion of an RF tag reader provided on the
reinforcing bar binding machine while gradually varying a frequency
of the radio wave; inducing electric power by a resonance circuit
of an RF tag when the frequency of the transmitted wave corresponds
to a resonance frequency of the RF tag mounted on a wire reel;
sending a radio wave by the RF tag; receiving the wave from the RF
tag by a receiving portion of the RF tag reader; recognizing the
resonance frequency of the RF tag by a transmit-receive control
portion of the RF tag reader; and identifying the kind of the wire
from the resonance frequency of the RF tag.
35. The method of identifying a kind of a wire in a reinforcing bar
binding machine according to claim 34, when the RF tag makes no
response to the wave transmitted from the transmitting portion of
the RF tag reader, it is judged that the wire and the wire reel are
not genuine products.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a reinforcing bar binding machine
and a wire reel, and more particularly to a reinforcing bar binding
machine and a wire reel, in which the kind of a wire wound on the
wire reel is identified by a non-contact type sensor.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] JP-A-08-114034 and JP-A-08-114035 disclose a motor-driven
reinforcing bar binding machine provided with a binding wire feed
mechanism for feeding a binding wire in a loop-shape so as to wind
the binding wire around reinforcing bars, and a binding wire
twisting mechanism for twisting the binding wire wound around the
reinforcing bars so as to bind the reinforcing bars together, and
executing one cycle of the binding operation including the binding
wire feed operation and the binding wire twisting operation by
operating a trigger.
[0003] JP-B2-3050369 discloses a reinforcing bar binding machine in
which indication means indicative of a wire kind is provided on a
wire reel, and means for detecting the wire kind indication means
of the wire reel, as well as means for controlling a wire twisting
torque according to the kind of the wire, is provided on the above
reinforcing bar binding machine, and the kind of the wire is
detected by the detection means, and the wire twisting torque is
automatically set to a proper value by the control means according
to the kind of the wire.
[0004] JP-B2-3050369 discloses, as means for reading information
such as the kind of the wire, a construction for reading a
reflection seal or bar code seal (affixed to the wire reel) by a
reflection photo sensor, a construction for reading a magnet
(embedded in the wire reel) by a magnetic sensor such as a Hall
element or a reed switch, and a construction for detecting-the wire
kind by a lever-type switch--in which a recess or a projection is
formed at a side surface of the wire reel, and a distal end of a
lever is resiliently contacted with the side surface of the wire
reel, and follows the recess or the projection during rotation of
the wire reel so that the lever-type switch can be turned on and
off.
[0005] A reinforcing bar binding machine is mainly used outdoors at
a construction site, and therefore is often exposed to wind, rain
and sand, and mud and dirt are liable to deposit on its body.
Therefore, when an optical element such as a photo sensor is used
as the wire reel identification means, rain drops, mud and so on
deposit on the optical element (provided on the body) and the
reflection seal on the wire reel, so that the machine often can not
be operated, or is subjected to a malfunction.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0006] One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a
reinforcing bar binding machine and a wire reel which have an
identification performance of non-contact type wire reel
identification means such as a stabilized RF recognition
system.
[0007] According to one or more embodiments of the present
invention, a reinforcing bar binding machine is provided with a
wire feed mechanism, a wire twisting mechanism, and a wire cutting
mechanism, a wire wound on a wire reel is fed in a loop-shape and
wound around reinforcing bars, the wire loop is twisted to tighten
the reinforcing bars, the wire loop is cut off from the wire
extending from a trailing end of the wire loop so as to bind the
reinforcing bars, and the machine is provided with means for
reading wire identification information on the wire reel, control
means for controlling a wire feed amount and a wire twisting torque
based on the read wire identification information, an RF tag reader
provided on a body of the reinforcing bar binding machine, an RF
tag mounted on the wire reel, and control means for identifying a
kind of the wire from a radio wave fed from the RF tag in response
to a transmitting wave from the RF tag reader and for controlling
the wire feed amount, the wire twisting torque, etc.
[0008] According to one or more embodiments of the present
invention, the RF tag is mounted on a side surface of the wire
reel, and the RF tag reader includes an antenna which is disposed
so as to be opposed to an RF tag affixing surface of the wire reel
loaded in the reinforcing bar binding machine.
[0009] According to one or more embodiments of the present
invention, the reinforcing bar binding machine is provided with
optical, magnetic or mechanical position detection means for
detecting a rotational position of the wire reel, and
transmit-receive timing control means for executing an RF tag
recognition operation when the RF tag on the side surface of the
wire reel is generally opposed to the antenna of the RF tag
reader.
[0010] According to one or more embodiments of the present
invention, the reinforcing bar binding machine is provided with
wire feed control means or wire reel braking means for reducing the
rotational speed of the wire reel when the RF tag on the side
surface of the wire reel is generally opposed to the antenna of the
RF tag reader.
[0011] According to one or more embodiments of the present
invention, the reinforcing bar binding machine is provided with
wire feed control means or wire reel braking means for stopping the
RF tag on the side surface of the wire reel within a
transmit-receive range of the RF tag reader.
[0012] According to one or more embodiments of the present
invention, the reinforcing bar binding machine is provided with
wire feed control means or wire reel braking means for stopping the
wire reel when the RF tag on the side surface of the wire reel is
generally opposed to the antenna of the RF tag reader.
[0013] According to one or more embodiments of the present
invention, the wire reel braking means is provided with a recess
portion provided on the wire reel, and a braking member which is
provided on the reinforcing bar binding machine so as to be brought
into and out of engagement with the recess portion.
[0014] According to one or more embodiments of the present
invention, the reinforcing bar binding machine executes the RF tag
recognition step by the RF tag reader as part of an initialization
operation which is executed when a power of the reinforcing bar
binding machine is turned on, the initialization operation
including the wire feed operation and so on.
[0015] According to one or more embodiments of the present
invention, a wire reel is loaded in a reinforcing bar binding
machine for binding reinforcing bars together, and a wire wound on
the wire reel is fed in a loop-shape therefrom, and is wound around
the reinforcing bars, and the wire loop is twisted to tighten the
reinforcing bars, and the wire loop is cut off from the wire
extending from a trailing end of the wire loop, and the wire reel
includes an RF tag which is responsive to a transmitting wave from
an RF tag reader, provided on the reinforcing bar binding machine,
to feed a signal enabling a kind of the wire to be identified.
[0016] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following description and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view showing a reinforcing bar
binding machine, with a reel cover removed.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the reinforcing bar
binding machine.
[0019] FIG. 3(a) is a vertical cross-sectional view of a wire
reel.
[0020] FIG. 3(b) is a front-elevational view of the wire reel.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the reinforcing bar binding
machine.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an initialization operation of the
reinforcing bar binding machine.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a front-elevational view showing another
embodiment of a wire reel.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a side-elevational view showing another embodiment
of a reinforcing bar binding machine, with a reel cover
removed.
[0025] FIG. 8(a) is a vertical cross-sectional view of a wire
reel.
[0026] FIG. 8(b) is a front-elevational view of the wire reel.
[0027] FIG. 9 is a plan, cross-sectional view of the reinforcing
bar binding machine.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a plan, cross-sectional view of the reinforcing
bar binding machine.
[0029] FIG. 11 is a plan, cross-sectional view of the reinforcing
bar binding machine.
[0030] FIG. 12 is a front-elevational view showing another
embodiment of a wire reel.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0031] 1 reinforcing bar binding machine
[0032] 3 wire reel receiving portion
[0033] 6 reel support boss
[0034] 7 loop antenna
[0035] 8 reflection photo sensor
[0036] 9 RF tag reader
[0037] 10 control portion
[0038] 21 reinforcing bar binding machine
[0039] 22 round hole
[0040] 23 solenoid
[0041] 24 plunger
[0042] 25 plate
[0043] 26 micro switch
[0044] 27 spring
[0045] 31 wire reel
[0046] 32 hub
[0047] 33, 34 reel flange
[0048] 36 RF tag
[0049] 38 reflection mark
[0050] 39 reflection mark
[0051] 41 wire reel
[0052] 42 hub
[0053] 43, 44 reel flange
[0054] 46 round hole
[0055] 47 RF tag
[0056] 48 slot
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0057] One or more embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to the drawings.
First Embodiment
[0058] FIG. 1 shows a right side surface of a reinforcing bar
binding machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present
invention. The reinforcing bar binding machine 1 is provided with a
binding wire feed mechanism, a binding wire cutting mechanism, and
a binding wire twisting mechanism. A wire reel is loaded into a
wire reel receiving portion 3 formed in a right side surface of a
housing 2 at a rear end portion thereof. The binding wire feed
mechanism (not shown), is provided with a pair of gear-type pulleys
in mesh with each other, is located forwardly of the wire reel
receiving portion 3. A wire wound on the wire reel is fed forward
by the binding wire feed mechanism, and is fed in a loop-shape
along a curved wire guide nose 4 provided on a front end portion of
the housing, and is wound around reinforcing bars. After a
predetermined length of wire is fed out, and is wound around the
reinforcing bars to form several turns therearound, the binding
wire feed mechanism is stopped, and the wire loop is gripped by a
hook (not shown) disposed at the inside of a hook cover 5 provided
on a distal end of the binding wire twisting mechanism, and a
trailing end portion of the wire loop is cut by the binding wire
cutting mechanism (not shown) located near to a proximal end
portion of the wire guide nose 4, thereby cutting the wire loop off
from the wire extending from the trailing end of the wire loop.
Subsequently, the hook is driven to be rotated to twist a portion
of the wire hoop, thereby binding the reinforcing bars
together.
[0059] A reel support boss 6 of a circular shape is provided on the
center of the wire reel receiving portion 3, and an RF tag reader
(Radio Frequency tag reader) and a flat sheet-like loop antenna 7
are provided on a reverse surface of the wire reel receiving
portion 3, and are disposed above the reel support boss 6. A
reflection photo sensor 8, including a light emitting portion and a
light receiving portion which are integral with each other, is
provided on a front surface of the reel support boss 6, and the
loop antenna 7 and the reflection photo sensor 8 are angularly
spaced substantially 90 degrees form each other around the center
of the reel support boss 6.
[0060] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of a
circuit of the reinforcing bar binding machine 1, and the RF tag
reader 9 (RF transceiver) and the photo sensor 8 are connected to a
control portion 10. When executing an initialization operation (for
feeding the wire to the wire guide nose 4 and for cutting off its
leading end portion by the binding wire cutting mechanism) upon
turning-on of a main power, the control portion 10 is responsive to
the rotational position of the wire reel (described later) (read by
the photo sensor 8) and information of an RF tag of the wire reel
(read by the RF tag reader 9) to automatically set the feed amount,
the twisting torque and so on according to the kind of the wire.
When a trigger signal is fed from a trigger switch 11 to the
control portion 10, the control portion controls a wire feed motor
drive circuit 12 and a wire twisting motor drive circuit 14 based
on the automatically-set feed amount, twisting torque, etc.,
thereby sequentially driving a wire feed motor 13 and a wire
twisting motor 15, thus executing one cycle of reinforcement
binding operation.
[0061] FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) show the wire reel 31 which is a
resin-molded product, and has reel flanges 33 and 34 integrally
formed respectively on opposite sides of a cylindrical tubular hub
32. An RF tag mounting seat 35 of a rectangular shape is formed at
an outer surface of one reel flange 33, and the wire reel is loaded
into the reinforcing bar binding machine 1 in such a manner that
the sheet-like RF tag 36, bonded to the RF tag mounting seat 35,
faces the loop antenna 7 of the reinforcing binding machine 1. A
reflection mark 38 of a white color is provided on a pin support
post 37 formed within the hub 32. The positional relation between
the RF tag 36 and the reflection mark 38 corresponds to the
positional relation between the loop antenna 7 and the reflection
photo sensor 8, and when the reflection mark 38 is brought into
opposed relation to the reflection photo sensor 8 during the
rotation of the wire reel 31, the RF tag 36 is opposed to the loop
antenna 7. FIG. 4 shows a condition in which the wire reel 31 is
loaded in the reinforcing bar binding machine 1. Reference numeral
9 denotes the RF tag reader.
[0062] One example of the RF tag 36 is a read-only RF tag
(disclosed in JP-U-05-75890 and others) in which an aluminum foil
coil pattern and a capacitor pattern are formed respectively on
opposite sides of a dielectric film, and the coil pattern and the
capacitor pattern are connected together to form an RF resonance
circuit. In another example, an IC chip such as an EEP-ROM is
mounted on the above RF tag so as to enable the reading and writing
of data (disclosed in JP-A-2000-148950 and others). Either type may
be used, but if merely the kind of the wire is to be identified,
the use of the RF tag with no IC chip is satisfactory, and in this
case the cost can be reduced. In the case of the RF tag having the
IC chip mounted thereon, various data such as manufacturer's data
and a manufacturing lot number other than the wire identification
data can be written in the RF tag, and besides if necessary, the
reinforcing bar binding machine can be constructed such that the
amount of the remaining wire, a use-starting date of the wire and
so on can be written in the RF tag through the RF transceiver of
the reinforcing bar binding machine.
[0063] Here, the system, provided with the read-only RF tag and the
RF tag reader, will be described. The RF tag reader 9, mounted on
the reinforcing bar binding machine, includes a transmitting
portion, a receiving portion, and a transmit-receive control
portion. The transmitting portion of the RF tag reader 9 executes
scanning while gradually varying a frequency of a transmitting wave
at a predetermined frequency band, and when this transmitting
portion transmits the radio wave having the same frequency as a
resonance frequency of the RF tag 36, the resonance circuit of the
RF tag 36 resonates with the transmitted wave, so that electric
power is induced, and the RF tag sends a radio wave having the same
frequency as that of the transmitted wave from the RF tag reader 9.
The receiving portion of the RF tag reader 9 receives the radio
wave sent from the resonance circuit of the RF tag 36, and the
transmit-receive control portion recognizes the resonance frequency
inherent to the RF tag from the frequency of the received wave, so
that the frequency channel of the RF tag 36 is identified.
[0064] For example, in a frequency band "a" from the frequency
channel al to a frequency channel a20, RF tags of different
frequency channels a1, a8 and a15 are affixed respectively to three
kinds of wire reels A, B and C having three different kinds of
wires respectively wound thereon. In this case, the kind of the
wire can be identified by determining whether the resonance
frequency of the RF tag 36, received by the RF tag reader 9, is the
frequency channel a1, the frequency channel a8 or the frequency
channel a15. When there is no response to the transmitted wave, it
can be judged that the wire and the wire reel are not genuine
products.
[0065] A flow chart for the wire reel identification operation in
the reinforcing bar binding machine is shown in FIG. 5. First, when
the wire reel 31 is loaded into the reinforcing bar binding machine
1, and a main power switch is turned on, the reinforcing bar
binding machine 1 executes the initialization operation in which a
predetermined length of wire is fed until a distal end of this wire
reaches the wire guide nose 4. At this time, the wire reel 31
rotates, and when the reflection mark 38 is brought into opposed
relation to the front surface of the reflection photo sensor 8
while the RF tag 36 is brought into opposed relation to the front
side of the loop antenna 7 of the RF tag reader 9, the reflection
photo sensor 8 outputs an ON-signal, and when the control portion
10 (serving as the control means) receives the ON-signal, this
control portion 10 drives the RF tag reader 9, thereby executing
the RF tag recognition operation.
[0066] Here, the kind of the wire reel (that is, the kind of the
wire) is identified by the frequency reflected from the RF tag 36,
and the control portion 10 sets a twisting torque and a feed amount
to respective proper values according to the kind of the wire, and
stops the feeding of the wire, thus finishing the initialization
step. Thereafter, each time the trigger switch is operated, the
binding operation is carried out with the twisting torque and feed
amount set in the initialization step until the main power switch
is turned off. Thus, the RF recognition operation is executed when
the RF tag provided on the wire reel 31 is brought into opposed
relation to the front side of the loop antenna 7 of the RF tag
reader 9, and with this construction the wire reel can be
positively identified.
[0067] The control may be executed such that when the reflection
photo sensor 8 detects the reflection mark 38 (that is, when the RF
tag 36 of the wire reel 31 is brought into opposed relation to the
loop antenna 7 of the tag reader 9), the feeding of the wire is
decelerated or stopped so that the RF tag recognition operation can
be carried out more positively. Furthermore, instead of the
spot-type reflection mark 38 on the wire reel 31, there can be used
a reflection mark 39 which extends in the rotating direction to
increase the range of detection of the reflection mark, as shown in
FIG. 6. Furthermore, there is no problem if the RF tag recognition
operation is continued during the binding operation executed after
the initialization step is finished.
Second Embodiment
[0068] The first embodiment is directed to the construction in
which the rotational position of the wire reel is detected by the
photo sensor. Description will now be made of an embodiment in
which a wire reel is temporarily stopped mechanically, and in this
condition an RF recognition operation is executed so that the
possibility of a recognition error can be further reduced.
[0069] FIG. 7 shows a reinforcing bar binding machine 21, and the
arrangement of a loop antenna 7 and an RF tag reader is the same as
in the reinforcing bar binding machine of FIG. 1. However, here,
instead of using the photo sensor, a round hole 22 is formed
through that portion of a wall of a wire reel receiving portion 3
disposed rearwardly of a reel support boss 6, and a plunger of a
solenoid, provided on a reverse surface of the wire reel receiving
portion 3, projects through this round hole 22 beyond a front
surface (i.e., forwardly beyond the sheet of FIG. 7) of the wire
reel receiving portion 3 so as to stop the wire reel.
[0070] FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) show the wire reel 41, and reference
numeral 42 denotes a hub, reference numerals 43 and 44 denote reel
flanges, respectively, and reference numeral 45 denotes an RF tag
mounting seat. A round hole 46 is formed through the reel flange
43, and is angularly spaced 90 degrees from the RF tag mounting
seat 45 around the axis of rotation of the reel flange 43. The
positional relation between the RF tag mounting seat 45 (and hence
an RF tag 47) and the round hole 46 is the same as the positional
relation between the RF tag 36 and the reflection mark 38 in the
wire reel 31 of FIG. 3. Also, the round hole 22 in the wire reel
receiving portion 3 of the reinforcing bar binding machine 21 of
FIG. 7 is so disposed as to correspond to the round hole 46 in the
wire reel 41 of FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b).
[0071] As shown in FIG. 9, the plunger 24 of the solenoid 23,
provided on the reverse surface of the wire reel receiving portion
3, is inserted in the round hole 22 in the wall of the wire reel
receiving portion 3 as described above, and when the solenoid 23 is
energized, the plunger 24 projects into the wire reel receiving
portion 3. A plate 25 is mounted on a rear end of the plunger 24,
and when the plunger 24 advances, and is fitted into the round hole
46 in the wire reel 41, the plate 25 presses a micro switch 26
disposed adjacent to the solenoid 23, and turns on this micro
switch 26. Reference numeral 27 denotes a spring, and reference
numeral 28 denotes a wire feed mechanism disposed forwardly of
(upwardly of in FIG. 9) the wire reel 41.
[0072] FIG. 9 shows an initial condition of the reinforcing bar
binding machine 21, and when a power is turned on after the wire
reel 41 is loaded, an initialization step is started, so that a
wire feed operation is started, and also the solenoid 23 is
energized so as to drive the plunger 24 forward. As a result, the
plunger 24 is resiliently contacted with the reel flange 43 of the
wire reel 41 as shown in FIG. 10, and when the round hole 46 in the
wire reel 41 is brought into alignment with the plunger 24 during
the rotation of the wire reel 41, the plunger 24 is fitted into the
round hole 46 as shown in FIG. 11, so that the wire reel 41 is
stopped in a position where the RF tag 47 is opposed to the loop
antenna 7 of the RF tag reader 9.
[0073] At this time, the micro switch 26 is turned on by the plate
25 of the solenoid 23, and a control portion is responsive to this
ON-signal to start an RF tag recognition operation. When the
identification of a wire kind is completed by reading a resonance
frequency of the RF tag 47, the control portion sets a twisting
torque and a feed amount to respective proper values according to
the kind of the wire, and also stops the energization of the
solenoid 23, so that the plunger 24 is retracted to its initial
position by the spring 27, and is disengaged from the round hole 46
of the wire reel 41, thus finishing the initialization step.
[0074] Thus, the rotation of the wire reel 41 is temporarily
stopped in the position where the RF tag 47 of the wire reel 41 is
opposed to the loop antenna 7 of the RF tag reader 9, and in this
condition the RF recognition operation is executed, and by doing
so, the wire kind can be positively identified.
[0075] As shown in FIG. 12, the round hole 46 in the wire reel 41
can be replaced by a slot 48 extending in the circumferential
direction of the wire reel 41 as is the case with the reflection
mark 39 of the wire reel 31 of FIG. 6. In this case, the plunger 24
can be easily fitted into the hole in the rotating wire reel 41,
thereby positively stopping the wire reel, and besides the
resiliently-contacting force of the plunger 24 can be reduced, so
that a resistance to the rotation of the wire reel, as well as
electric power to be consumed, can be reduced.
[0076] The present invention is not limited to the above
embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the
technical scope of this invention. For example, instead of the wire
twisting torque, a wire twisting time can be set, or an overload
stop current value for the motor for executing the twisting
operation can be set. Furthermore, a character, a mark, a color or
the like which enables the wire kind to be identified can be
indicated on the surface of the RF tag so that the wire reel can
beforehand be recognized visually. Naturally, this invention covers
these modifications.
[0077] Although the present invention has been described in detail
by way of the specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be
added without departing from the spirits of the present
invention.
[0078] The present Application is based on Japanese Patent
Application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-181732) filed on
Jun. 18, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein as a
reference.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0079] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the
reinforcing bar binding machine is constructed such that the RF tag
is provided on the wire reel, and the wire kind is read by the RF
tag reader provided on the reinforcing bar binding machine so that
the wire feed amount and the wire twisting torque can be
controlled. Therefore, this machine is less affected by a weather
condition such as rain and a stain such as mud than the
conventional type in which information is read by a photo sensor,
and therefore the wire information can be positively obtained. And
besides, the rotation of the wire reel is decelerated or stopped
when the RF tag is disposed within the transmit-receive range of
the RF tag reader, and by doing so, an RF recognition error can be
prevented.
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