GB2120069A - Cutting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Scissors-like cutter means 214 is carried by and adapted to be reciprocatingly actuated by hydraulic cylinder 213 carried on turning device 211 comprising piston 218 united with screw 220 so that axial movement of the piston 218 rotates rod 212. The device 211 is carried at the top of an extensible crane boom 209 swingably mounted on an operating vehicle so as to be disposed above an open topped frame 225 on receiver 223 of a chute 221, whereby objects (e.g. fruit on trees) cut by the cutter means are caught and constructed to a load carrier. Different forms of cutter means, such as a sickle- like blade, and non-turnable scissors, may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A cutting machine The present invention relates to a cutting machine suitableforcutting leaves, stalks, branches and the like of trees such as palm trees and other fruit trees.

Conventionally, a cutter such as a sickle-like blade fixed to a pole has been used for cutting leaves and stalks growing thickly around palm fruits in orderto permit gathering of the fruits. However, since the cutting operation is performed by manual labour, it is fatiguing to the workers and reduces working effi ciency.

Furthermore, since the cutfruits fall to the ground, they lie randomly on the ground and have to be collected one byone,which involves much labour.

The fallen fruits may be damaged or spoilt, and mud, dust or the like may stickthereto, which can adversely affect the qualityofthefruit.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a cutting machine by which fruits, stalks, branches, leaves orthe like oftrees, such as palm trees and otherfruittrees can be cut, gathered and transported without handling the same, or with the minimum of handling, so that working efficiency and quality ofthe fruits are improved.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. lisa side view of a first embodiment of the cutting machine according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a cutter of the machine of Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a side view ofthe cutter of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional side view illustrating a cutter of a second embodiment of the machine ofthe invention; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the cutter of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a cutter of a third embodimentofthe machine ofthe invention; Fig. 7 is a side view of the cutter of Fig. 6, with certain parts shown in section; Fig. 8 is a sideviewofa cutterof afourth embodiment of the machine of the invention, with certain parts shown in section;; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the cutter of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a plan view illustrating two knives of another embodiment ofthe invention; Fig. 11 is a side view of yet a further embodiment of the cutting machine of the invention; Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of part ofthe cutting machine of Fig. 11, with certain parts shown in section; Fig. 13 is a plan view illustrating an inlet portion of a chute forming part ofthe machine of Figs. 11 and 12; and Fig. 14 is a side view of the inlet portion ofthe chute of Fig. 13.

Referring to Fig. 1, a first embodiment of the cutting machine ofthe invention comprises an operation vehicle 1 having driving tracks or crawlers 2 and a jib or crane 4 provided on its body 3. The crane 4 has a hydraulic cylinder 5, a lower boom 5, a hydraulic cylinder 7 and an upper boom 8. The cylinder 5 is operable to swing the boom 5 upward and downward.

The cylinder7 is operable to extend and contract the upper boom 8 with respectto the lower boom 6. Cutter means 9, described in more detail hereinafter, is provided on the top end of the upper boom 8.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the cutter means 9 comprises a hydraulic cylinder 10 and a stationary knife 12 ofwhich one end is fixed to a side face of body 11 ofthe cylinder 10 buy a bolt 13. The cutter means 9 also has aturnable orpivotable knife 14which is pivotally mounted on a support shaft 15 fixed to a middle portion of the stationary knife 12. The base end of the knife 14 is rotatably connected to a rod 16 of the cylinder 10through a shaft 18. Thus, the rod 16 extends and contracts to turn the knife 14, whereby blades 12a and 14a ofthe knives 12 and 14 open and close. Accordinglythe knives 12 and 14form a cutter 27 of scissors type.The bottom portion of the cylinder 10 is fitted into the cylindrical top end of the boom 8 and is fixed thereto by a bolt 17. The boom 8 forms a cutter frame.

Although it is not illustrated, the cylinder 10 is connected th rough pipes to an operating mechanism provided on the body 3 ofthe vehicle 1, and is remotely controlled from the vehicle body. As detailed above, the upper boom 8 is operable to extend and contract with respectto the lower boom 6, and the lower boom 6 is pivotable relative to the vehicle body 3. Therefore, the upper boom 8 and lower boom 6 can be operated to move the scissors-type cutter 27 to any desired position. Further, the boom 6can be swung down to a lowermost inoperative position, as illustrated in alternate long and two short dashes line in Fig. 1,fordriving the vehicle 1.

In the embodiment shown in Figs.4 and 5, a horizontally-turning mounting means 20 is associated with the scissors type cutter 27 of Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 4, the bottom end ofthe hydraulic cylinder 10 is fixed to a mounting block 19 which is fixed to a turnable rod 21 of the mounting means 20, so that the rod 21 can turn the cutter 27 horizontally. The mounting means 20 comprises a cylinder 22 in which there is a piston 23. The rod 21 is fixed to the piston 23 and hasa screw24which is screwed to the inner periphery ofthe cylinder 22. Thus, when hydraulic fluid under pressure is introduced selectively into one or the other ofthe pressure chambers present atthe two sides to the piston 23, the piston 23 and the rod 21 move up or down and the rod 21 is caused to turn by the screw 24.The cylinder 22 is fixed to a mounting bed or stub 26 by way of a bracket 25. Base portion 26a ofthe bed 26 is fixed to the upper boom 8. The cylinder 22 oftheturning mounting means 20 is connected through pipes to an operation mechanism on the vehicle body3 (Fig.1). 1). In this embodiment,sincethe cutter 27 can turn horizontally, an operator can easily move the cutter 27 to any intended position, which widensthe possible working area. Fig. 5 illustrates the cutter 27 having been turned 90" with respect to the position of Fig. 4.

In the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7, a sickle-like blade or cutter 28 is employed instead ofthe scissors type cutter27. The sickle 28 has a mounting portion 28a of which the middle part is rotatably supported by the top end of a rod-like bracket 29 byway of a support shaft 30. Nearthe base end ofthe portion 28a, a horizontal stationary plate 31 is fixed to the bracket 29.

The plate 31 is formed with three screw holes 32 spaced in the turning direction ofthe sickle 28. A bolt 34 extending through a hole 33 in the sickle 28 is selectively screwed into one ofthe holes 32 to fix the sickle 28 non-rotatably to the bracket 29 and to set a desired angle of blade 28b projecting beyond the top end of the bracket 29.

Theturning mounting means 20, which is same as that of Figs. 4 and 5, may be employed also in this embodiment. A screw cap or socket 35 is screwed to the top end ofthe rod 21 of the mounting means 20. A mounting bolt36 extending from the bracket 29 is screwed into the screw cap 35. A locknet 37 is screwed to the bolt 36 and is fastened against the cap 35, whereby, the bracket 29 is fixed to the rod 21. The mounting bed 26 ofthe mounting means 20 is fixed to the top end ofthe boom 8 in a manner similar to that shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In this embodiment, when the upper boom 8 is extended and contracted, the sickle 28 performs its cutting operation. Thus, in this embodiment, the cylinder 7 (see Fig. 1) for extending and contracting the upper boom 8 also functions as a cylinderfor operating the sickle 28.

In the embodiments ofthe invention as detailed hereinbefore, cutting operation of the cutter, such as the scissors, the sickle orthe like, is performed by powered reciprocating means, such as the cylinder employed forthe cutter orthe cylinderforthe boom.

Therefore,the fatigue experienced by the workers is reduced andtheirworking efficiency is increased in comparison with manual cutting operations. Further, in the embodiments already described the cutter is disposed atthetop end ofthe extensible boom on the operating vehicle. Therefore, cutting at high locations can easily be performed by extending the boom. Also, the cutting location can easily be changed from one placeto another by driving the vehicle. Moreover, the horizontally-turning mounting means forthe cutter can be employed as described and illustrated for bringing the cutter into the desired cutting position so as to widen the working area without any substantial effort.

The cutting machine of the invention may be used for general cutting of vegetation, e.g. ofthe leaves and branches of roadsidetrees orthe like, and is not limited to the cutting of palm trees and other fruit trees.

Further embodiments will be detailed hereinafter.

Referringto Figs. 8 and 9, a reciprocating device 110 is mounted on a horizontal mount 111. As shown in Fig. 9, the device 110 is provided at its end with a knife 113, of chisel type, sharpened at its forward edge 112.

Although specific construction ofthedevice 110 is not detailed, a pneumatic hammer or drill such as is used in construction work or the like may be used as the reciprocating device 110, and the knife 113 being employed instead of the usual chisel of the pneumatic hammer. Thus, the knife 113 reciprocates rapidly.

There aretwotypes of conventional pneumatic hammer, one of which is a hydraulic and the other of which isa pneumatic. It is desirableto usea hammer ofthe hydraulictype, because a hydraulic power source will normally be provided in the operating vehicle 1.

Aturning mounting 114 is employed for horizontally turning the mount 111. The mounting 114 comprises a piston 116 in a cylinder 115. A rod 117, having a screw 118, is fixed to the piston 116. The screw 118 is screwed to the inner periphery ofthe cylinder 115.

Thus, when hydraulic fluid under pressure is introduced selectively into the one orthe other ofthe pressure chambers present at opposite sides ofthe piston 11 6,the piston 116 and the rod 117 rise or lower with the rod 117 turning underthe influence of screw 118. The top end of the rod 117 projecting from the cylinder 115 is fixed to the bottom surface ofthe mount 111. Therefore, the rod 117 is operable to turn the reciprocating device 1 10 and the knife 13together with the mount 111 horizontally, so thatthe knife 113 can be directed toward a desired position.

The cylinder 115 oftheturning mounting 114 is fixed two a mount 120 through a bracket 119. The mount 120 is provided at its lower end with a portion 1 20a inserted into the top end ofthe upper boom 8. The portion 1 20a is fixed to the boom 8 by a bolt 121. The shape ofthe sharpened edge 112 ofthe knife 113 may be straight as shown in Fig. 9, saw-tooth-shape as shown in Fig. 10(A) or curved as shown in Fig. 10(B).

The blade 112 may have other shapes.

The reciprocating device 110 and the turning mounting 114 are connected respectively through pipes to an operation mechanism on the vehicle body 3, so that the operator can control them remotely.

lnthisembodiment,the knife of the chisel type is fixed to the reciprocating means and reciprocates in operation. Thus, a cutting operation can be performed by driving the reciprocating means whilst lightly pressing the sharpened edge ofthe cutter againstthe target Therefore, the same advantages as those provided by the embodiments of Figs. 2 to 7, can be obtained.

Afurther embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 11. In this, a crane 203 is mounted on a middle portion ofthe body ofthe operating vehicle 1 having crawlers 2. The vehicle 1 is provided with a load-carrying container 204 such as a box, a cage orthe like, in frontofthe crane 203.

The crane 203 has a hydraulic cylinder 205, a lower boom 206, a hydraulic cylinder 2(k7, middle boom 208 and an upper boom 209. The cylinder 205 is operable to pivotthe boom 6 upward and downward.

The cylinder 207 is connectedtothe boom 206 and is operableto extend and retracttheboom8.Theboom 9 is operably, by manual operation,to extend and retract relative to the boom 8, anctto be brought into any desired position. A cutter 210, for cutting fruits or the like, is provided atthe top end ofthe boom 209.

Referring to Fig. 12, the cutter means 210 compris es a cutter turning device 211 provided at the top end ofthe boom 209, a hydraulic cylinder213fixed to the top end of a rod 212 ofthetturning device 211 and a cutter 214 connected tothe cylinder 213. In this embodiment, the cutter 214 is of scissors-type and comprises a pair of knives 215 and 216. The knife 215 is fixed to the outer surface ofthe cylinder 213. The other knife 216 is pivotably supported by the knife 215 and is connected at its base end to a rod 217 ofthe hydraulic cylinder 213. Thus, the rod 217 is operable to reciprocate and thereby to pivot the knife 216for cutting leaves, stalks or the like.In the turning device 211,the rod 212 is rotatablyfixedto a piston 218 and is screwed to a hydraulic cylinder 219 by means of a screw portion 220. Thus, the rod 212 is operable to turn, whereby, the cutter 214 is horizontallyturnable, togetherwith the cylinder 213, to bring it into a desired position. The hydraulic cylinders 213 and 219 of the cutter means 210 are connected to an operating mechanism onthevehicle body th rough respective pipes, sothatthey may be remotely controlled.

A chute 221 is provided nearthe cutter means 210.

This chute 221 comprises an open end frame 222 having substantially heart-like shape as shown in Fig.

13, a receiver portion 223 supported by the frame 222 and a guide portion 224 of sack-like ortubular shape connecting the bottom of the receiver portion 223 to the container 204. The receiver portion 223 is made of net so thatthe operator may observe the means 210 through the receiver portion 223. The frame 222 is of a large enough size to receive cut-offfruits. Referring to Fig. 13, bottom open part 223a ofthe receiver portion 223,towhich the guide portion 224in Fig. 13 is connected, is formed at one side (the right side in Fig.

13) of said heart shape, and the receiver portion 223 of the net istapered toward the open part 223a. The guide portion 224 is of such a diameter that the fruits will fall therethrough, only slowly, so thatthey are prevented from falling rapidly, and the risk of damage thereto is minimised.

The mounting ofthe chute 221 is as follows.

Referring to Fig. 12, the chute 221 has a horizontal mounting frame 225 of rod-like form. One end ofthe frame 225 is bent downwards and forms a support shaft 226 which is inserted into and rotatably supported by a shaft support 227 fixed to the upper boom 209. The other end 228 of the frame 225 is bent downward and is fixed to the frame 222. A middle portion of the frame 225 and the frame 222 are fixed together through a support rod 229. Thereby, the frame 222 is suspended from and supported by the boom 209.

Referring to Fig. 13, the open end frame 222, of heart-like shape, has a left cu rved shou Ider 222a and a right curved shoulder 222b, which shoulders protrude oppositely to the mounting frame 225 and substantially surround the upper boom 209. At the opposite side to the shaft 226 of the frame 225, a pulley 230 is suspended from and carried by a bracket 231 fixed to the upper boom 209. Two ropes 232a and 232b extend around the pulley 230 in opposite directions to each other, and are connected respectivelyto the shoulders 222a and 222b of the frame 222. The ropes 232a and 232b extend downwards along the booms 209,208,206 to the vehicle body.

When one ofthe ropes is pulled, the open end frame 222 turns towards the pulled rope so that the receiver portion 223 moves under the cutting position so asto receive cut-off objects.

Inthis embodiment, different cutters may be employed in the place ofthe scissors type cutter 214.

For example, use can be made of a cutter in the form of a knife of the chisel type provided on a reciprocating device such as a pneumatic reciprocating motor.

Alternatively the cutter may be in the form of a sickle operated by extension and contraction ofthe booms, similarto that described in theforegoing. Awheeled crane, a truck crane orthe like may be employed as the operating vehicle 1 having the crane.

With the embodiment of Figs. 11 to 14, as described above, the fruits or the like are cut off by the cutting means atthetop of the crane booms and are guided to drop to the load-carrying meansthrough the chute.

Therefore, the cutting, gathering and conveying operations are performed mechanically and successively, and it is not necessary manually to cut offthe fruits and to gather in the fallen fruits one by one. The number ofthe workers required is, therefore reduced in comparison with hand picking. Also, the fruits are not disfigured and the quality thereof is not adversely affected, because the cut-off fru its do notfal I directly to the ground and mud, dust orthe like does not stick thereto. Further, since the cutting means is provided at the top end of the crane boom, it is easy to perform the cutting operation even in very high locations in which fruits has been difficult to be cut by conventional operations. Therefore, the harvest is improved.

Claims (8)

1. A cutting machine comprising a cutter, a cutter frame for supporting the cutter and reciprocating means operable to drive the cutterto perform its cutting operation.

2. Acutting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cutterframe is a crane boom provided on an operating vehicle.

3. A cutting machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein the operating vehicle is provided with load-carrying means in which objects cut off by the cutter are gathered, and a chute which extends from the nearto the cutterto the load carrying means for guiding and gathering the objects.

4. Acutting machine as claimed in claim 1,2 or3 wherein a turning device is connected to the cutter for varying the position of the cutter.

5. A cutting machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cutter is of scissors type having a pair of relatively movable knives, and the reciprocating means is an extensible and retractable cylinder mounted on the top of the cutter frame.

6. A cutting machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4wherein the cutter is of chisel type having a sharpened edge, and the reciprocating means is operable to reciprocate the cutter linearly.

7. Acutting machine as claimed in claim 2,3 or4 wherein the cutter is a sickle, and the reciprocating means is a hydraulic cylinder connected to the crane booms for extending and retracting the crane boom.

8. A cutting machinesubstantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, in Figs. 4and 5, in Figs. 6 and 7, in Figs. 8 and9; in Fig. 10, or in Figs.11 to 14Ofthe accompanying drawings.