Machines for binding bundles with metal ligatures

Claim 1

A MACHINE FOR BINDING ARTICLES WITH LIGATURES COMPRISING A FIRST SHELL, A SECOND SHELL ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FIRST SHELL TO COMPLETELY ENCIRCLE THE ARTICLE BEING BOUND, MEMBERS IN ENGAGEMENT EACH WITH A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID SHELLS EACH SELECTIVELY FORMING IN COOPERATION WITH THE RESPECTIVE SHELL AT LEAST ONE HELICAL PATHWAY INTERIOR OF SAID SHELL, SAID MEMBERS BEING ADAPTED TO BE DISENGAGED SELECTIVELY AND MOVED AXIALLY AWAY FROM SAID RESPECTIVE SHELLS, SAID PATHWAYS FORMING TOGETHER A CONTINUOUS HELICAL PASSAGEWAY OF AT LEAST ONE CONTINUOUS LOOP FOR GUIDDING THE LIGATURE IN A HELICAL PATH AROUND THE ARTICLE BEING BOUND, DRIVE MEANS FOR FEEDING THE LIGATURE THROUGH SAID HELICAL PASSAGEWAY, MECHANICAL MEANS FOR SUCCESSIVELY MOVING SAID MEMBERS AWAY FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE SHELLS IN SEQUENCE TO FREE THE LIGATURE FED THERETHROUGH, A FEED REVERSAL MEANS FOR CINCHING THE FREED LIGATURE AGAINST THE ARTICLE BEING BOUND, A FIRST MEANS FOR GRIPPING AND HOLDING FAST THE FREE END OF THE LIGATURE IN THE VICINITY WHERE GRIPPING AND HOLDING FAST THE LIGATURE IN THE VICINITY WHERE IT CROSSES TO FORM A COMPLETE LOOP, AND HEAD MEANS FOR TWISTING THE CROSSED PORTION OF THE LIGATURE WHEREBY THE ARTICLE IS SECURELY BOUND BY THE LIGATURE.