Drive assembly and motor assembly for strap tensioning

Abstract

A tool for bundling a plurality of elongate articles using a tape includes a drive assembly in communicable connection with a motor assembly. The motor assembly can include a motor and a gear train including a drive axle, a first gear, a second gear oriented to rotate around the drive axle, wherein the second gear is positioned to engage with the first gear, and a compliant member coupled to the second gear and oriented along the drive axle. The drive block of the drive assembly can be driven by the second gear of the motor assembly via the drive pin to engage and move the tape through the tool in a first direction, and by the second gear of the motor assembly via the compliant member to engage and move the tape through the tool in a second direction opposite the first direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drive apparatus for a tool to bundle a plurality of elongate articles using a tape, the drive apparatus comprising:
 a drive assembly comprising a guide block, a drive block, and a drive pin; and   a motor assembly comprising:
 a motor connected to the guide block of the drive assembly; and 
 a gear train connected to the motor and extending through the guide block of the drive assembly, the gear train comprising:
 a drive axle; 
 a first gear; 
 a second gear oriented to rotate around the drive axle, wherein the second gear is positioned to engage with the first gear; and 
 a compliant member coupled to the second gear and oriented along the drive axle, 
 
   wherein the drive block of the drive assembly is driven by the second gear of the motor assembly via the drive pin to engage and move the tape through the tool in a first direction, and   wherein the drive block of the drive assembly is driven by the second gear of the motor assembly via the compliant member to engage and move the tape through the tool in a second direction opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The drive apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller, wherein the controller can control a motor torque of the motor to apply a desired tension to the tape by the drive block. 
     
     
         3 . The drive apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motor assembly further comprises an output nut fixed to the drive axle to rotate with the drive axle. 
     
     
         4 . The drive apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the second gear has a spring aperture through which an end of the compliant member is inserted to couple the compliant member to the second gear. 
     
     
         5 . The drive apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the output nut has a spring slot to engage an end of the compliant member to couple the compliant member to the output nut. 
     
     
         6 . The drive apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the drive block of the drive assembly is driven by the output nut via the compliant member to engage and move the tape through the tool in the second direction. 
     
     
         7 . The drive apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein engagement of the compliant member increases a torque applied to the output nut. 
     
     
         8 . The drive apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein increasing the torque applied to the output nut increases a motor torque required to turn the motor assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The drive apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein increasing the motor torque required to turn the motor assembly allows for up to nearly one additional turn of the second gear to tension the tape. 
     
     
         10 . The drive apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the compliant member is a torsion spring. 
     
     
         11 . A drive apparatus for a tool to bundle a plurality of elongate articles using a tape, the drive apparatus comprising:
 a drive assembly comprising a guide block, a drive block, and a drive pin; and   a motor assembly comprising:
 a motor connected to the guide block of the drive assembly; and 
 a gear train connected to the motor and extending through the guide block of the drive assembly, the gear train comprising:
 a drive axle; 
 a first gear; 
 a second gear oriented to rotate around the drive axle, wherein the second gear is positioned to engage with the first gear; 
 a compliant member coupled to the second gear and oriented along the drive axle; and 
 an output nut fixed to the drive axle to rotate with the drive axle, 
 
   wherein the drive block of the drive assembly is driven by the second gear of the motor assembly via the drive pin to engage and move the tape through the tool in a first direction, and   wherein the drive block of the drive assembly is driven by at least one of the second gear and the output nut of the motor assembly via the compliant member to engage and move the tape through the tool in a second direction opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         12 . The drive apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a controller, wherein the controller can control a motor torque of the motor to apply a desired tension to the tape by the drive block. 
     
     
         13 . The drive apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the second gear has a spring aperture through which an end of the compliant member is inserted to couple the compliant member to the second gear. 
     
     
         14 . The drive apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the output nut has a spring slot to engage an end of the compliant member to couple the compliant member to the output nut. 
     
     
         15 . The drive apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the drive block of the drive assembly is driven by the output nut via the compliant member to engage and move the tape through the tool in the second direction. 
     
     
         16 . The drive apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein engagement of the compliant member increases a torque applied to the output nut and increasing the torque applied to the output nut increases a motor torque required to turn the motor assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The drive apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein increasing the motor torque required to turn the motor assembly allows for up to nearly one additional turn of the second gear to tension the tape. 
     
     
         18 . The drive apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the compliant member is a torsion spring. 
     
     
         19 . A tool for bundling a plurality of elongate articles using a tape, the tool including a body, a handle, and a trigger, the tool comprising:
 a drive assembly in communicable connection with the trigger, the drive assembly comprising a guide block, a drive block, and a drive pin; and   a motor assembly comprising:
 a motor connected to the guide block of the drive assembly; and 
 a gear train connected to the motor and extending through the guide block of the drive assembly, the gear train comprising:
 a drive axle; 
 a first gear; 
 a second gear oriented to rotate around the drive axle, wherein the second gear is positioned to engage with the first gear; and 
 a compliant member coupled to the second gear and oriented along the drive axle, 
 
   wherein the drive block of the drive assembly is driven by the second gear of the motor assembly via the drive pin to engage and move the tape through the tool in a first direction, and   wherein the drive block of the drive assembly is driven by the second gear of the motor assembly via the compliant member to engage and move the tape through the tool in a second direction opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         20 . The tool of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 an output nut fixed to the drive axle to rotate with the drive axle, wherein the output nut is coupled to an end of the compliant member such that engagement of the compliant member increases a torque applied to the output nut; and   
       a controller, wherein the controller can control a motor torque of the motor to apply a desired tension to the tape by the drive block.