FR2482134A1 - Rotary bladed machine for cutting sugar cane - uses circular blades rotatable to spread wear around circumference - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine is of the type having a rotary shaft on which axially spaced blade mountings are angularly offset around the shaft. Each blade mounting carries an arm pivoted on an axis parallel to the shaft. Each pivoted arm has a stud parallel to the pivot axis and passing through the centre of a circular cutting blade which is removably, and angularly adjustably, fixed on the stud. Pref. each arm carries a pair of circular blades, mounted one on each side of the arm and both fixed on the same stud. Alternatively, a single blade is clamped in a slit in the pivoted arm. By periodic rotation of the circular blade on its stud, cutting edge wear is spread around 360 deg. of the circumference. Highly efficient cutting action is combined with economy in usage of blades.

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for cutting sugar cane or any other similar product
A number of rod cutters are already known which use different types of knives arranged at the periphery of a rotor.

 A first known type of rod cutter provides for knives of rectangular shape fixed on the periphery of the rotor.

 In such a cane cutter, wear considerably dulls the active top of each knife and considerably increases the distance between the outer trace of the knives and the moving belt causing the canes to be cut. This results in a significant increase in the power absorbed and a reduction in the quality of the p: reparatioz of the treated product. To limit the importance of these drawbacks, it is known practice to use reversible knives. It is also known to mount knives of this type in an oscillating manner around axes integral with the roter to improve the efficiency of the cutting operation.

 A second known type of rod cutter provides knives with curved cutting edges which are more efficient than rectangular knives. With such knives, wear is indeed better distributed, which reduces the aforementioned drawbacks.

However, knives with curved edges have a higher cost price than rectangular knives and do not have the advantage of the reversibility of the latter.

Their use is, therefore, quite limited.

 The main object of the invention is to produce a rod cutter with circular knives, offering the possibility of distributing the wear over 3600 by successive rotations of indifferent amplitude, and this by improving the efficiency of the cutting operation.

The invention relates to an apparatus for cutting sugar cane, comprising a rotary shaft, a stack of angularly offset trays which is mounted on said shaft, said trays supporting axes of articulation for the cutting members, characterized in that that each cutting member is constituted by a circular knife removably fixed, in the central position, on a support oscillating around one of said axes.

Each support is provided with two knives respectively fixed on one and the other face of said support which is produced in the form of a plate.

As a variant, each support is provided with a single knife fixed between two arms of said support which is produced in the form of a stirrup.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings, concerning a particular embodiment given by way of nonlimiting example.

Figure 1 is an axial sectional view of the apparatus.

 FIG. 2 is a view in partial -axial section along line B-B in FIG. 3.

 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of Figure 1.

 In the figures, we can see a stack of trays, such as 1, mounted on a shaft 2. A key 3 secures said stack with said shaft which drives the trays 1 in rotation. The successive plates of the stack are angularly offset.

Each plate 1 has three branches arranged at 1200, and two successive plates 1 are offset by 600 relative to one another. Between the branches of plates 1 occupying the same angular position, are mounted hinge pins, such as 4, parallel to the shaft 2, for the cutting members which will be discussed below.

 The reference 5 designates a knife support. Such a support, produced in the form of a plate, is mounted oscillating around an axis 4. The support 5 is provided, at its end opposite to its articulation, with two circular knives 6 a and 6 b respectively fixed on the faces of the support 5. The fixing of the two knives on their common support 5 is carried out by means of two flanges 7 a and 7 b applying the knives 6 a and 6 b respectively against the support 5, and of a bolt 8 cooperating with a nut to assemble the support 5, the knives 6 a and 6 b and the flanges 7 a and 7 b. The fixing axis passes through the knives 6 a and 6 b in the center of these.

The reference 9 designates a nut ensuring the tightening of the stack by means of a ring 10 mounted on the shaft 2. Discs, such as 11, are moreover interposed between the successive plates 1 of the stack so to ensure a suitable spacing of said plates and / or reduce their thickness.

The arrangement which has just been described has the advantage of being able to distribute the wear over the entire periphery of each knife due to the removable fixing produced by the bolts such as 8. I1 becomes possible by loosening the latter to rotate the knives 6 a and 6 b at any angle.

 Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it goes without saying that it is in no way limited and that modifications can be made to it without departing from its field.

According to a variant of the invention, each support 5 produced for example in the form of a stirrup, can be provided with a single knife 6 fixed between the two arms of said stirrup.

The shape of the plates may possibly differ from that which has been illustrated. The plates will for example have two or four branches, or will be made in the form of discs. The angular offset of the successive plates, depending on the number of articulation axes 4 carried by plates 1 of the same angular orientation, will be adapted accordingly and may therefore differ from 600.

I1 is also possible to provide axes 4 carried by a group of more than two plates 1. Optionally, an axis 4 can be carried by all the plates 1 having the same orientation.

 It is understood that any of the means described can be replaced by a technically equivalent means. The invention therefore covers, in addition to the example shown, its various alternative embodiments.

Claims (3)

1. Apparatus for cutting sugar cane, comprising a  rotating shaft, a stack of angular trays  offset which is mounted on said shaft, said plates  supporting articulation axes for the organs of  cutting, characterized in that each cutting member is  consisting of a circular knife fixed so  removable, in central position, on an oscillating support around one of said axes. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that  that each support is provided with two respective knives  ment fixed on both sides of said support which is made in the form of a plate. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that that each support is provided with a single knife fixed between  two arms of said support which is produced in the form  of a stirrup.