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, EACH OF SAID SHELLS COMPRISING A FIRST MEMBER AND A SECOND MEMBER, HINGES CONNECTING SAID MEMBERS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SHELLS, SAID MEMBERS FORMING IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SHELLS AT LEAST ONE HELICAL PASSAGEWAY INTERIOR OF SAID SHELLS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MEMBERS IN EACH SHELL BEING ADAPTED TO ROTATE ABOUT ITS RESPECTIVE HINGE THEREBY TO OPEN SAID HELICAL PASSAGEWAYS, SAID PATHWAYS FORMING TOGETHER A CONTINUOUS HELICAL PASSAGEWAY OF AT LEAST ONE CONTINUOUS LOOP FOR GUIDING THE LIGATURE IN A HELICAL PATH AROUND THE ARTICLE BEING BOUND, DRIVE MEANS FOR FEEDING THE LIGATURE THROUGH SAID HELICAL PASSAGEWAY, MECHANICAL MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID RESPECTIVE MEMBERS ABOUT THE SAID HINGES SO AS TO FREE THE LIGATURE FED THERETHROUGH, A FEED REVERSAL MEANS FOR CINCHING THE LIGATURE AGAINST THE ARTICLE BEING BOUND, A FIRST MEANS FOR GRIPPING AND HOLDING FAST THE FREE END OF THE LIGATURE, A SECOND MEANS FOR 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 LIGUATURE.