Tool for the automatic installation of discrete cable ties provided on a continuous ribbon of cable ties

Claim 2

A ribbon of cable ties for installation by a cable tie installation tool, comprising: a strip portion extending the length of said ribbon; a plurality of cable ties each having a locking head portion and a strap portion; connecting means for connecting said strip portion to the heads of said cable ties; and alignment means integral with said strip portion being positioned along the length of said strip portion, said alignment means comprising two projecting surfaces each respectively being located towards opposing edges of the planar surface of said strip portion, said projecting surfaces having inner opposing sides that define two alignment edges at least one of said alignment edges being positioned parallel to a longitudinal axis of said strip portion, whereby said alignment means is adapted to cooperate with means in the tool to laterally position said ribbon in the tool for accurate removal of individual cable ties from said strip portion.

Claim 3

A ribbon as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said projecting surfaces is discontinuous, having a plurality of in line constituent projections spaced along the length of said strip portion, the successive inner sides of said projections respectively defining each of said alignment edges, said alignment edges together defining an alignment channel that cooperates with the means in the tool to laterally align said ribbon in both lateral directions.

Claim 4

A ribbon as set forth in claim 2, wherein said alignment means are affixed to both opposing planar surfaces of said strip portion.

Claim 5

A ribbon as set forth in claim 3, wherein said projections positioned on one planar surface of said strip portion are juxtaposed with corresponding projections positioned on the opposite planar surface of said strip portion.

Claim 6

A ribbon as set forth in claim 4, wherein said connecting means comprise a plurality of tabs each having a trapezoidal shape, tapering from a wider end adjacent said strip portion to a narrower end adjacent the respective head of each of said cable ties, said narrower end facilitating separation of said cable tie from said tab, close to said head.

Claim 7

A ribbon as set forth in claim 5, wherein: each of said projections of said alignment means is located adjacent the opposing respective edges of said strip portion, said projections each having a width one third the width of said strip portion; said cable ties are equally spaced along the length of said strip portion; and said ribbon is integrally molded for thermoplastic.

Claim 8

A ribbon of cable ties for use in an automatic cable tie installation tool having a longitudinally grooved cylinder, the grooves of the cylinder being adapted to engage and contain individual cable ties in order to position said ribbon longitudinally and to carry said ribbon for removal of individual cable ties from said ribbon, comprising: a strip portion extending the length of said ribbon, having at least one alignment edge positioned parallel to the length of said strip portion for accurate lateral alignment of said ribbon relative to the grooved cylinder of the automatic cable tie installation tool; a plurality of cable ties each having a locking head and a strap portion; connecting means for connecting said strip portion to each of said locking heads, said locking heads being accurately spaced along the length of said strip portion to cooperate and mate with the grooves of the grooved cylinder, said strap forming an angle with the longitudinal line of said strip portion that positions said cable ties to cooperate with the grooved cylinder and allow mating engagement of said cable ties with the grooved cylinder of the automatic cable ties installation tool, said heads being adapted to position and carry said ribbon on the grooved cylinder in the longitudinal direction; and alignment means including two surfaces projecting from the surface of said strip portion and running the length of said strip portion, defining two parallel alignment edges for providing accurate alignment reference guidance for lateral alignment of said ribbon, said projecting surfaces being discontinuous each having a plurality of in line constituent projections spaced along the length of said strip portion, inner opposed sides of said projections defining said parallel alignment edges, said sides being collinear with respective sides of successive projections.

Claim 9

A ribbon of cable ties for use in an automatic cable tie installation tool having a longitudinally grooved cylinder, the grooves of the cylinder being adapted to engage and contain individual cable ties in order to position said ribbon longitudinally and to carry said ribbon for removal of individual cable ties from said ribbon, comprising: a strip portion extending the length of said ribbon, having at least one alignment edge positioned parallel to the length of said strip portion for accurate lateral alignment of said ribbon relative to the grooved cylinder of the automatic cable tie installation tool; a plurality of cable ties each having a locking head and a strap portion; connecting means for connecting said strip portion to each of said locking heads, said locking heads being accurately spaced along the length of said strip portion to cooperate and mate with the grooves of the grooved cylinder, said strap forming an angle with the longitudinal line of said strip portion that positions said cable ties to cooperate with the grooved cylinder and allow mating engagement of said cable ties with the grooved cylinder of the automatic cable ties installation tool, said heads being adapted to position and carry said ribbon on the grooved cylinder in the longitudinal direction; and alignment means including two surfaces projecting from the surface of said strip portion and running the length of said strip portion, defining two parallel alignment edges for providing accurate alignment reference guidance for lateral alignment of said ribbon, said projecting surfaces being discontinuous each having a plurality of in line constituent projections spaced along the length of said strip portion, inner opposed sides of said projections defining said parallel alignment edges, said sides being collinear with respective sides of successive projections.

Claim 10

A ribbon as set forth in claim 7, wherein said projecting surfaces are respectively located towards opposing edges of the planar surface of said strip portion, said alignment edges defining an alignment channel, said alignment channel being adapted to cooperate with a means in the cable tie installation tool to align said ribbon laterally.

Claim 11

A ribbon as set forth in claim 8, wherein said alignment means are affixed to both opposing planar surfaces of said strip portion.

Claim 12

A ribbon as set forth in claim 9, wherein said projections positioned on one planar side of said strip portion are juxtaposed with reflecting projections positioned on the opposite planar surface of said strip portion.

Claim 13

A ribbon as set forth in claim 10, wherein each of said projections of said projecting surfaces is located adjacent the opposing respective edges of said strip portion, said projections each having a width one third the width of said strip portion.

Claim 14

A ribbon as set forth in claim 11, wherein said ribbon is integrally molded thermoplastic.

Claim 15

A ribbon of cable ties for installation by a cable tie installation tool, comprising: a strip portion having opposing planar sides and first and second lateral edges extending the length of said ribbon; a plurality of cable ties each having a locking head portion and a strap portion; means for connecting said strip portion at said second lateral edge to the heads of said cable ties; and alignment means integrally formed on at least one of said planar sides of said strip portion and extending the length of said ribbon including two parallel alignment edges which are disposed parallel to the length of said ribbon and are spaced inwardly of said first and second lateral edges, said alignment means further including surfaces formed on and spaced from said strip portion, each respective alignment edge adjoining one of said surfaces and said strip portion, whereby said alignment means is adapted to cooperate with means in the tool to laterally position said ribbon in the tool for accurate removal of individual cable ties from said strip portion.

Claim 16

A ribbon of cable ties for installation by a cable tie installation tool, comprising: a strip portion having opposing planar sides and first and second lateral edges extending the length of said ribbon; a plurality of cable ties each having a locking head portion and a strap portion; means for connecting said strip portion at said second lateral edge to the heads of said cable ties; and alignment means integrally formed on at least one of said planar sides of said strip portion and extending the length of said ribbon including two parallel alignment edges which are disposed parallel to the length of said ribbon and are spaced inwardly of said first and second lateral edges, said alignment means further including surfaces formed on and spaced from said strip portion, each respective alignment edge adjoining one of said surfaces and said strip portion, whereby said alignment means is adapted to cooperate with means in the tool to laterally position said ribbon in the tool for accurate removal of individual cable ties from said strip portion.

Claim 17

A ribbon as set forth in claim 13, wherein each of said surfaces is discontinuous along the length of the strip, successive inner edges of said surfaces being collinear to define said alignment edges, said alignment edges together defining an alignment channel that cooperates with means in the tool to laterally align said ribbon in both lateral directions.

Claim 18

A ribbon as set forth in claim 14, wherein said alignment means are affixed to both of said opposing planar sides of said strip portion.

Claim 19

A ribbon as set forth in claim 15, wherein said surfaces positioned on one planar side of said strip portion are juxtaposed with corresponding surfaces positioned on the opposite planar side of said strip portion.

Claim 20

A ribbon as set forth in claim 16, wherein said means for connecting include a plurality of tabs each having a trapezoidal shape tapering from a wider end adjacent said strip portion to a narrow end adjacent the respective head of each of said cable ties whereby said narrow end facilitates separation of said cable tie from said tab, close to said head.