This invention concerns wire wrapping apparatus, particularly, though by no means exclusively, for binding the ends of stalks of flowers or foliage for use in flower arranging, wreath making and the like.

In order to arrange flowers or make wreaths, it is necessary to bind wire to the end of a stalk or bunch of stalks, leaving some of the wire protruding to secure it in an oasis or wreath base. Presently this is done by hand by looping and twisting a pre-cut piece of wire around the stalk. This is not only a time consuming and expensive method, but also causes cuts and scratches to the workers handling the wire.

The present invention provides wire wrapping apparatus which overcomes, at least to some extent, the problems aforesaid.

According to the present invention there is provided wire wrapping apparatus comprising a rotatable carrier for at least one spool of wire and guide means delivering wire from the spool in an axial direction at a position offset from the axis of rotation of the carrier and axially spaced from the spool.

The rotatable carrier may comprise a plate which may be in the form of a wheel. The carrier may be rotatable by a handle, or may be motor driven.

There may be more than one spool of wire with associated guide means and preferably two spools and two guide means.

A third spool of wire may be provided to guide wire therefrom along the axis of rotation of the carrier, This wire may be inserted into an item to be wrapped and the item and wire wrapped by one or both of the rotating wires.

The guide means may comprise a bridge member positioned over the spools on the carrier having holes therein through which the ends of the wire pass.

There may be an aperture in the bridge member on the axis of rotation of the carrier and into which an item to be wrapped may be inserted.

The apparatus may also comprise a guillotine for cutting the wire or wires after an item has been wrapped. The guillotine may be hand or motor operated.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawing, which show, by way of example only, one form of the wire wrapping apparatus embodying same.

Of the drawing:-

Figure 1 shows a front view of a manually driven wire wrapping apparatus;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the apparatus of figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a side view of a motor driven wire wrapping apparatus;

Figure 4 shows a top view of the apparatus of figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a front view of the apparatus of figure 3; and

Figure 6 shows foliage wrapped by the wire wrapping apparatus.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings it will be seen that the wire wrapping apparatus 11 comprises a carrier 12 in the form of a rotatable plate mounted on a stand 22. Two spools of wire 13, 14 mounted on spindles for free rotation, are located on the plate 12. A bridge member 15 is located over the spools 13 and 14 and has holes located therein at positions 16 and 17 offset from the axis of rotation and through which the ends 13a and 14a of the wires pass. The holes 16 and 17 are provided with hardened steel or ceramic linings 16a and 17a. An aperture 18 in bridge member 15, on the axis of rotation, allows one or more stalks 21 to be inserted therein for wrapping.

The plate 12 is rotated by a handle 20. As the plate 12 rotates the ends of the wires 13, 14, are held against stalks 21 to be wrapped therearound to bind them together, as shown in Figure 6a. After sufficient wrapping, the ends of the wires are cut and enough length left to ensure the stalk may be secured in an oasis or wreath base.

Referring now to Figures 3 to 5 of the drawings, wherein like parts are identified by like reference numerals, the carrier 12 is drivable by an electric motor 23 and a third spool of wire 26 is located behind

the rotatable carrier 12. The wire from the spool 26 is threaded along the axis of rotation of the carrier and through aperture 18 in the brige 15 to be inserted within a bundle of stalks 21. The bundle is then wrapped by a single wire 13 as illustrated in Figure 6b by rotating the carrier 12 as described above. Of course the bundle could be wrapped by the two wires 13 and 14 if desired.

The wires may be cut by a wire cutter 24 attached to the apparatus 11, which may also be driven by a motor 25.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art being possible, without departing from the scope there would be appreciated.