JP2022007043A - Ultrasonic cutting device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an ultrasonic cutting device cutting the material to be cut using a long blade-like blade body.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic cutting device comprises: a linear blade body; a tension-imparting member; a fixing frame forming a fixed-end fixing one end of the blade body and a tension-imparting end supporting the blade body while freely imparting tension at the other end of the blade body by the tension-imparting member; tension-imparting means imparting the tension to the blade body by the above member at the tension-imparting end of the fixing frame; first fixing means fixing one end of the blade body to the fixed-end of the fixing frame; second fixing means fixing the other end of the blade body to the tension-imparting member of the fixing frame tension-imparting end; a horn; ultrasonic vibration means; and ultrasonic vibration control means. The cutting device is configured: to support both ends of the long blade-like blade body at the position of a flexible vibration knot of a blade body side face; to evenly generate the flexible vibration by a blade side face by dabbing the tip of the ultrasonic vibration horn at the middle position of the above flexible vibration in such a state as applying the tension to the blade body; and to cut the material to be cut by pushing the blade body thereto.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic cutting device, and more specifically, to an ultrasonic cutting device that bends and vibrates a long blade-shaped blade to cut an object to be cut.

Conventionally, an ultrasonic cutting device for cutting a long-edged blade by ultrasonically vibrating has been used for cutting foods such as bread, confectionery, meat, fruits and vegetables, and marine products.

The ultrasonic cutting device that cuts these long-edged blades by ultrasonically vibrating them includes (1) one that ultrasonically vibrates the long-edged blade in the longitudinal direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1), (2). ) Ultrasonic waves that vibrate the long-blade blade in the lateral direction (direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction) (see, for example, Patent Document 2), and (3) Ultrasonic waves that flex and vibrate the long-blade blade. Cutting devices have been known (see, for example, Patent Documents 3, 4, 5, 6).

Here, the ultrasonic cutting device that flexes and vibrates the long blade-shaped blade of (3) causes the blade to flex and vibrate in a wavy manner at a wavelength of a short natural vibration.

FIG. 26 (a) shows the basic configuration of a conventional ultrasonic cutting device that flexes and vibrates a long blade-shaped blade 70, and FIG. 26 (b) shows the amplitude of the flexure vibration of the blade 70. Indicated. FIG. 26 (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the blade 70. The blade 70 has a thin, long linear shape with a triangular cross section, and the apex of the triangle is a cutting edge. Reference numeral 90 denotes an ultrasonic vibrator, which is an ultrasonic vibration means for ultrasonically vibrating the horn 80.

The tip 80a of the horn 80 is brazed to the side surface of the blade 70 and fixed integrally. When the ultrasonic vibrator 90 directly connected to the horn 80 is ultrasonically vibrated, the side surface of the blade 70 undulates in the longitudinal direction and bends and vibrates as shown in FIG. 26 (b).

FIG. 27 shows an image of the vibration state in the vicinity of the joint portion between the blade body 70 and the horn 80 of the conventional ultrasonic cutting device. Since the side surface of the blade 70 and the tip of the horn 80 are integrally connected by the brazing material 99, the blade 70 at the bonded portion vibrates vertically together with the tip 80a of the horn. The portion of only the blade 70 that is not coupled to the horn 80 flexes and vibrates at the wavelength of the natural vibration of the blade.

FIG. 28 shows a state of cutting an object to be cut such as a cake 300 with an ultrasonic cutting device that bends and vibrates a blade 70 brazed to the tip of a horn 80. In FIG. 28, the cake 300 carried on the belt conveyor 400 as shown by the white arrow is cut by the slanted blade 70. Since the blade 70 is cantilevered and supported by the horn 80, the tip of the blade 70 may sway due to the reaction force of the object to be cut.

FIG. 29 shows how the cake 301 is cut by another conventional ultrasonic cutting device that bends and vibrates the blade 71. In the ultrasonic cutting device of FIG. 29, horns 81a and 81b are fixed at both ends of the blade 71 with screws 50, respectively, and ultrasonically vibrated. The cake 301 supports the bottom 301a with a flat pedestal (not shown), and the blade 71 is moved downward from above the cake 301 and pressed against the cake 301 to cut the cake 301. 302 exemplifies a figure in which a piece of cake 301 is cut and knocked down.

FIG. 30 shows, as an image diagram, a state in which the blade 71 and the horn 81a of the conventional ultrasonic cutting device are fastened with a screw 50 and the blade 71 bends and vibrates. Both ends of the blade 71 are connected to the tips of the horns 81a and 81b by screws 50 and 50, respectively. Then, the blade 71 at the coupling portion vibrates vertically together with the tip of the horn 81a, and the blade 71 in the range not coupled with the horn 81 flexes and vibrates.

In the ultrasonic cutting apparatus shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the blade body 71 is supported by both sides. However, a large tension is not applied in the longitudinal direction of the blade body 71, that is, in the direction in which the blade body 71 is taut. When tension is applied to the blade 71, the tips of the horns 81a and 81b are tilted inward. When the tips of the horns 81a and 81b are tilted, the direction and angle of the ultrasonic vibration are tilted. Therefore, the bending vibration of the blade body 71 may become unstable. Further, when the cake 301 is cut, the blade body 71 bends or the linearity of the blade body 71 becomes unstable when a reaction force is applied.

FIG. 31 shows a main part of a conventional ultrasonic cutting device that flexes and vibrates another blade. Also in FIG. 31, both ends of the blade body 72 are applied to the horns 82a and 82b, respectively, and fixed with screws 50. In the ultrasonic cutting device of FIG. 31, a traveling wave is transmitted from the horn 82a to the blade body 72 to cause bending and vibration. In the ultrasonic cutting device of FIG. 31, since the blade body 72 may growl, a beat prevention means 510 is provided in the middle of the blade body 72. The beat prevention means 510 sandwiches and fixes both side surfaces of the blade body 72. Then, the blade body 72 is pressed against an object to be cut (not shown) to cut the blade.

In the conventional ultrasonic cutting device described above, (a) the blade is integrated with the tip of the horn at the joint portion where the tip of the horn is brazed to the side surface of the blade or joined by screwing, and the blade is integrated with the tip of the horn. It vibrates vertically. However, the part of only the blade that is not the joint part bends and vibrates. Therefore, repeated stress acts on the portion where the blade body shifts from longitudinal vibration to deflection vibration. When the blade was used for a long time, the blade may break, the brazed part may crack, the screw may loosen or come off, and the joint between the blade and the horn may be damaged.

(B) In an ultrasonic cutting device having a cantilever structure in which one end of the blade is fixed to one horn and the other end is a free end, the unfixed free end of the blade cuts the object to be cut. It was deformed by the reaction force and sometimes wobbled.

(C) In a case where the blade is supported by holding both sides with two horns, when the blade is pulled by applying tension, the horn bends and ultrasonic vibration is less likely to occur. Therefore, a large tension is not applied to the blade. If the blade is not taut, the blade may be deformed by the reaction force that cuts the object to be cut, and the object to be cut may not be cut straight.

(D) In an ultrasonic cutting device that cuts bending vibration as a progressive wave, the blade may growl, so it is necessary to provide a beat prevention means in the middle of the blade.

(E) The one using two horns was expensive.

(F) In the conventional ultrasonic cutting device, it takes time to replace the blade. Even if a plurality of blades were prepared in advance according to the intended use and an attempt was made to replace them with the optimum blades, quick replacement work could not be performed in a short time.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-159413 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-51633 Jikkenhei 1-106194 Gazette Jikkenhei 4-54694 Gazette Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-113693 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-105390

The present invention solves various problems of the conventional ultrasonic cutting device that bends and vibrates a long-edged blade. Specifically, (1) the joint between the blade and the horn does not break. (2) The blade does not sway during cutting work. (3) Maintain the straightness of the blade during cutting work. (4) No beat prevention means is required for the blade. (5) The blade is flexed and vibrated with one horn. (6) To provide an ultrasonic cutting device that can easily replace the blade in a short time, can quickly replace the blade with the most suitable blade for the object to be cut, and can replace it with a new blade to maintain sharpness. That is the issue.

In the ultrasonic cutting device that flexes and vibrates the long-blade-shaped blade of the present invention, both ends of the long-blade-shaped blade are supported at the positions of the flexion vibration nodes on the side surface of the blade, and tension is applied to the blade. The tip of the horn that vibrates ultrasonically is applied to the position of the antinode of the deflection vibration on the side surface of the blade to uniformly bend and vibrate the entire blade, and the entire blade is pressed against the object to be cut for cutting.

More specifically, the ultrasonic cutting device that bends and vibrates the long-edged blade of the present invention includes a linear blade, a tension-applying member, a fixed end that fixes one end of the blade, and the above. A fixed frame having a tension applying end forming a tension applying end that freely supports the tension applying member on the other end side of the blade, and a tension applying tension to the blade body by the tension applying member at the tension applying end of the fixed frame. The applying means, the first fixing means for fixing one end of the blade to the fixed end of the fixed frame, and the second fixing means for fixing the other end of the blade to the tension applying member at the tension applying end of the fixed frame. It has a fixing means, a horn, an ultrasonic vibration means, and an ultrasonic vibration control means. Then, it is fixed by the first and second fixing means, respectively, the horn and the ultrasonic vibration means are integrally connected, the ultrasonic vibration control means is connected to the ultrasonic vibration means, and the side surface of the blade is bent. With the tip of the horn pressed against the position of the antinode of vibration, the ultrasonic vibration means and the horn that are integrally connected are attached to the fixed frame, and the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic vibration means by the ultrasonic vibration control means. Is transmitted from the horn to the side surface of the blade, and the blade is controlled to flex and vibrate ultrasonically, and the flexing and vibrating blade is pressed against the object to be cut to cut the object to be cut. ..

Further, in the ultrasonic cutting device of the present invention, the tension applying member is a slide member, and the tension applying means is a pulling means for pulling the slide member, which is a tension applying member, at the tension applying end of the fixed frame in the slide direction.

Further, in the ultrasonic cutting device of the present invention, the tension applying member is a swing arm member, and the tension applying means is a swinging means for swinging the swing arm member in one direction at the tension applying end of the fixed frame. ..
Further, in the ultrasonic cutting device of the present invention, the other end side of the blade of the fixed frame is an elastic force swing arm member that applies tension to the blade by elastic force, and the tension applying means is a tension applying end of the fixed frame. The structure in which tension is applied to the blade body by the elastic force of the swing arm member is used as the tension applying means.

Further, in the present invention, the side surface of the blade body is sandwiched by a cork sheet as a fixing means, so that the blade body easily vibrates due to the natural vibration of the blade body itself.

The ultrasonic cutting device that flexes and vibrates the long-blade-shaped blade of the present invention supports both ends of the long-blade-shaped blade at the positions of the flexion vibration nodes on the side surface of the blade, and applies tension to the blade. , The tip of the horn that vibrates ultrasonically is applied to the position of the antinode of the flexural vibration on the side surface of the blade, and the entire blade is uniformly flexed and vibrated.

As a result, (1) the joint between the blade and the horn is not damaged. (2) The blade does not sway due to the reaction force during cutting work. (3) The straightness of the blade is maintained during the cutting work. (4) No beat prevention means is required for the blade. (5) Bend and vibrate the blade with one horn, (6) Replace the blade with a new one, which can be replaced easily and in a short time, and can be quickly replaced with the most suitable blade for the object to be cut. It makes it possible to provide an ultrasonic cutting device that can maintain sharpness.

(A) A front view showing a part of the main part configuration of the ultrasonic cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention as a cross section, and (b) the ultrasonic cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The figure which showed the vibration state of a blade as an image. The bottom view which made a part of the ultrasonic cutting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention a cross section. (A) (b) An image diagram showing a vibration state of a blade and a horn of the ultrasonic cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. (A)-(c) External perspective views showing various blades used in the ultrasonic cutting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. (A)-(d) Cross-sectional view showing an image of a transition in which an object to be cut is cut by a blade of an ultrasonic cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The exploded view which showed the positional relationship of the fixed frame, the blade body, the slide member, and the fixing means of the ultrasonic cutting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The bottom view which showed the positional relationship between the fixed frame and the slide member of the ultrasonic cutting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. An exploded perspective view showing a fixed frame, a fixing means, a blade, a horn, and a main part of an ultrasonic vibrator of the ultrasonic cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The external perspective view which showed the main part of the ultrasonic cutting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The external perspective view of the ultrasonic cutting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cork sheet of a blade and a fixing means of an ultrasonic cutting device according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. The cross-sectional view which shows the state which fixed the blade body of the ultrasonic cutting apparatus which concerns on 1st modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention to a fixing frame by a fixing means. (A) (b) A large tension is applied by using a blade tension adjusting mechanism containing a compression spring that applies tension to the blade of the ultrasonic cutting device according to the second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. Partial cross-sectional view when giving, (b) Similarly, partial cross-sectional view when applying a small tension. (A) An external perspective view showing a state in which an inclined blade is pressed against a rectangular parallelepiped object to be cut by an ultrasonic cutting device according to a third modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. (B) A side view showing a state in which an inclined blade is pressed against a rectangular parallelepiped object to be cut to cut it. The external perspective view of the ultrasonic cutting apparatus which concerns on 4th modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. The external perspective view of the ultrasonic cutting apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. (A) A front view showing a part of the main part configuration of the ultrasonic cutting device according to the third embodiment of the present invention as a cross section, and (b) the ultrasonic cutting device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The figure which showed the vibration state of a blade as an image. (A) (b) External perspective view of the horn of the ultrasonic cutting device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. (A) (b) An image diagram showing a vibration state of a blade and a horn of an ultrasonic cutting device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The exploded view which showed the positional relationship of the fixing frame, the blade body and the fixing means of the 1st modification of the ultrasonic cutting apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. The external perspective view of the horn of the 1st modification of the ultrasonic cutting apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. The exploded view which showed the positional relationship of the fixing frame, the blade body and the fixing means of the 2nd modification of the ultrasonic cutting apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. The external perspective view of the horn of the 2nd modification of the ultrasonic cutting apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. (A) (b) A front view showing a part of a main part configuration of the ultrasonic cutting apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention as a cross section. (A) Front view showing a part of the main part configuration during the mounting work of the blade as a cross section in the ultrasonic cutting device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, (b) the sixth embodiment of the present invention. A front view showing a part of a main part configuration after mounting a blade in an ultrasonic cutting device according to a form as a cross section. (A) A block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional ultrasonic cutting device, (b) an image diagram showing a vibration state of a blade of a conventional ultrasonic cutting device, and (c) a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the blade. Image diagram showing the vibration state of the joint part where the blade and horn of the conventional ultrasonic cutting device are brazed. The external perspective view which showed the state of cutting the object to be cut by another conventional ultrasonic cutting apparatus. The external perspective view which showed the state of cutting the object to be cut by the other conventional ultrasonic cutting apparatus. An image diagram showing the vibration state of the joint where the blade and horn of a conventional ultrasonic cutting device are fastened with screws. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a configuration in which a beat prevention means is provided in the middle of a blade in another conventional ultrasonic cutting device.

Hereinafter, the ultrasonic cutting apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment of the present invention)
FIG. 1A shows the main configuration of the ultrasonic cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the present invention, one end of a thin long-edged blade 7 is sandwiched between cork sheets 12a and 12b, and the tip end surface of the left side member 10a of the U-shaped fixed frame 10 is referred to as a fixed end, and a stepped bolt 13a ( It is fixed by screwing with the first fixing means). Further, the other end of the blade 7 is sandwiched between the cork sheets 12c and 12d, and the stepped bolt 13b (the first) is incorporated into the slide member 11 slidably incorporated in the longitudinal direction of the blade 7 at the tip of the right member 10b of the fixed frame 10. It is fixed by screwing with the second fixing means).

The slide member 11 slides at the tip of the right side member 10b of the fixed frame 10 due to the movement of the wing nut 15. When the slide member 11 is moved by the wing nut 15 so as to extend the blade body 7, tension is applied to the blade body 7 and the blade body 7 is taut. That is, the slide member 11 is a tension applying member, and the wing nut 15 is a tension applying means for applying tension to the blade 7 by the slide member 11.

Then, the horn 83 and the ultrasonic vibrator 93 are integrally assembled in advance, the ultrasonic vibrator 93 integrated with the horn 83 is inserted into the hole of the fixed frame 10, and the tip 83a of the horn 83 is attached to the blade 7. On the side surface, the flange 93a of the ultrasonic vibrator is pressed and fixed by the pressing plate 10e in contact with the position that becomes the antinode of the bending vibration.

When the ultrasonic vibrator 93 is driven by an ultrasonic vibration driving means (not shown) in the assembled state as shown in FIG. 1 (a), the horn 83 directly connected to the ultrasonic vibrator 93 vibrates ultrasonically, and the horn Ultrasonic vibration energy is transferred to the blade 7 from the tip 83a, and the blade 7 bends and vibrates.

In FIG. 1A, both ends fixing the blade 7 are vibration nodes having zero amplitude, and the position where the tip 83a of the horn 83 hits is the antinode of vibration vibrating with the maximum amplitude. I am trying to be.

In FIG. 1B, one end of the blade 7 fixed to the left side member 10a of the fixed frame 10 and the other end fixed to the slide member 11 have zero amplitude, and the maximum amplitude is where the tip 83a of the horn 83 hits. It shows that it vibrates at.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of a main part configuration of the ultrasonic cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, in the blade body 7 of the present embodiment, the lower side in the drawing is the cutting edge 7b, and the upper side in the drawing is the peak 7c.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show an image of the blade body 7 flexing and vibrating at the natural frequency. In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the horn 83 side is represented as the upper side and the opposite side is represented as the lower side with respect to the blade body 7. In the ultrasonic cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the thin tip 83a of the horn 83 is pressed against the side surface of the blade 7. Although not connected by screwing or brazing, if the horn 83 ultrasonically vibrates at a frequency of 15 kHz to 40 kHz and an amplitude of several tens of μm, the side surface of the blade 7 follows the movement of the tip 83a of the horn 83. Vibrate.

FIG. 3A shows a state in which the tip 83a of the horn 83 descends to the bottom dead center of the amplitude of the ultrasonic vibration (the apex of the amplitude toward the side away from the horn 83) and pushes down the side surface of the blade 7. .. FIG. 3B shows a state in which the tip 83a of the horn 83 rises to the top dead center of the amplitude of the ultrasonic vibration (the apex of the amplitude toward the side approaching the horn 83) and the side surface of the blade 7 is pushed up. There is.

The tip 83a of the horn 83 is thinly processed into a vertically long rectangle in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the blade 7. Then, it is pressed against the side surface of the blade 7.

In the ultrasonic cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a constant tension is applied to the blade body 7. Therefore, if the tip 83a of the horn 83 is applied to the side surface of the blade 7 and pushed down, the blade 7 is deformed and the tension increases. The blade 7 vibrates in an attempt to restore it. Since ultrasonic vibration energy is emitted from the tip 83a of the horn 83, the tip 83a of the horn 83 and the side surface of the blade 7 are in contact with each other, and the horn 83 flexes and vibrates at the frequency of ultrasonic waves. When the cutting edge 7b of the blade body 7 that is flexing and vibrating is pressed against the object to be cut, the object to be cut is cut.

FIG. 4 shows an external perspective view of the blades 7, 70, and 71 used in the first embodiment of the present invention. When any one of the blades 7, 70, and 71 is attached to the fixed frame 10, the bending vibration of ultrasonic waves is performed, and the blade is pressed against the object to be cut, the object to be cut can be cut with a light force. The object to be cut does not adhere to the side surface of the blade.

The blade 7 of FIG. 4A has the same shape as a commercially available saw blade for cutting metal or the like. It has an elongated and thin rectangular parallelepiped, and the outer shape at both ends is an arc. Mounting holes 7a and 7a are opened in the center of each arc, and the cutting edge 7b, which is one side in the longitudinal direction, has a jagged cutting edge.

The blade 70 of FIG. 4B has the same outer shape as that of FIG. 4A, but has a straight cutting edge 70b without knurling. The blade body 71 of FIG. 4 (c) has the same outer shape as that of FIG. 4 (a), but the end face itself of the thin blade body is used as a cutting edge. Since these blades 7, 70, and 71 have the same size and distance of mounting holes, the optimum blade with good sharpness is selected according to the properties of the object to be cut and mounted on the fixed frame 10. Can be disconnected.

For example, a sponge-like product containing air bubbles, such as bread or cake, can be jagged as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (d) by using a blade 7 having a jagged cutting edge 7b. The cutting edge 7b rubs the surface of the bread or cake and cuts while making chips. Chips can be made, but they can be cut quickly.

In FIG. 5A, the jagged cutting edge 7b of the blade 7 hits the sponge-like object 30 containing bubbles like bread or cake, and the side surface of the blade 7 bends and vibrates. It shows a state in which the surface of bread or cake is rubbed with the cutting edge 7b and started to be cut. Then, as shown in FIGS. 5 (b) and 5 (c), the blade 7 digs a groove in the object to be cut 30 while making chips, and finally cuts the object to be cut 30 as shown in FIG. 5 (d). ..

Something like yokan or pudding can be cut quickly using a straight blade 70 or a thin blade 71 itself. When the blade body 70 or the blade body 71 of the straight blade is used, there is an advantage that the object to be cut 30 can be sharply cut without generating chips.

The explanation in principle is as described above, but the structure for realizing the effect of the present invention will be described in detail below. FIG. 6 shows the positional relationship between the fixing frame 10, the blade body 7, the slide member 11, and the fixing means of the ultrasonic cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention as an exploded view. As already described with reference to FIG. 4, mounting holes 7a are opened at both ends of the blade body 7. In each of the left side member 10a and the right side member 10b of the fixed frame 10, the pair of cork sheets 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d are square cork sheets having a certain thickness. The cork is elastic and holds the blade 7 in close contact with each other, but the held blade 7 can vibrate within the range allowed by the elasticity of the cork. A through hole corresponding to the mounting hole 7a of the blade 7 is formed in the center of the cork sheets 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d. Reference numerals 13a and 13b are stepped bolts, and the outer shape of the stepped portion is smaller than the mounting holes 7a of the blade body 7 and the through holes of the cork sheets 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d. Both ends of the blade 7 are sandwiched between a pair of cork sheets 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d, respectively, and the stepped bolts 13a and 13b are slid by the screw holes 10c formed in the left side member 10a of the fixing frame 10 and the fixing frame 10. It is fastened and fixed in the screw hole 11b formed in the slide member 11.

The center of the mounting hole 7a of the blade body 7 is a node of deflection vibration, and the amplitude is zero, but the amplitude increases as the distance from the center of the mounting hole 7a increases. The cork sheets 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d allow the vibration movement of the blade 7 as a cushion at a position away from the center of the mounting hole 7a of the blade 7 sandwiched between the pair of cork sheets 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d. is doing. This structure is different from the structure of the joint portion in which the conventional blade is integrally fixed to the tip of the horn by brazing or screwing so as not to move, and the blade 7 is not damaged by the vibration.

In the present invention, the blade body 7 sandwiched between the cork sheets 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d is a vibration node at the center of the mounting hole 7a, but bends and vibrates at a distance from the center of the mounting hole 7a. Is allowed. As a result, in the present invention, the blade 7 flexes and vibrates as a whole in the longitudinal direction. The blade does not break.

The axial direction of the stepped bolts 13a and 13b is parallel to the ultrasonic vibration direction of the horn 83. If the axial direction of the stepped bolts 13a and 13b and the ultrasonic vibration direction of the horn 83 are the same, the stepped bolts 13a and 13b will not loosen due to ultrasonic vibration.

In the ultrasonic cutting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, when each component is disassembled, the other blade 70 or the blade 71 shown in FIG. 4 is replaced with the blade 7. If the blade is fixed by a fixing means, the blade can be replaced in a short time with a simple operation.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing the positional relationship between the fixed frame 10 and the slide member 11 of the ultrasonic cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a slide hole 10d formed in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the blade 7 is formed at the tip of the right side member 10b of the fixed frame 10. The arm portion 11a of the slide member 11 is slidably inserted into the slide hole 10d. The tip side of the arm portion 11a is threaded so that it can be screwed to the wing nut 15. The wing nut 15 is rotatably fixed at the tip of the right side member 10b. As a result, by tightening the wing nut 15, the slide member 11 is pulled toward the wing nut 15 side to increase the tension applied to the blade body 7. On the other hand, by loosening the wing nut 15, the slide member 11 moves away from the wing nut 15 and reduces the tension applied to the blade body 7.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a fixed frame, a fixing means, a blade, a horn, and a main part of an ultrasonic vibrator of the ultrasonic cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A horn 83 integrated with the ultrasonic vibrator 93 is attached to the middle portion of the U-shaped fixed frame 10. The tip 83a of the horn 83 is thinned in the longitudinal direction of the blade 7, and the thin tip is pressed against the side surface of the blade 7.

FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing a state of cutting work for cutting a semi-cylindrical cake with the ultrasonic cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 15 is a wing nut. The wing nut 15 pulls the slide member 11 that slides on the fixed frame 10. By tightening the wing nut 15, the slide member 11 is slid with respect to the fixed frame 10, and tension is applied to the blade body 7.

In FIG. 9, as described above, the blade 7 and the horn 83 integrated with the ultrasonic transducer 93 are attached to the U-shaped fixed frame 10, and the fixed frame 10 is attached to the object to be cut 31. It can be moved up and down freely. An ultrasonic vibration control means 401 is connected to the ultrasonic vibrator 93.

When the horn 83 is ultrasonically vibrated by the ultrasonic vibrator 93 in this state, the ultrasonic vibration is transmitted to the blade 7 from the side surface of the blade 7 to which the thin tip 83a of the horn 83 hits. The entire blade 7 bends and vibrates. Then, when the object to be cut 31 is placed on the mounting table 16a on the anvil 19 and the blade 7 is pressed together with the fixed frame 10 onto the object to be cut 31 as shown by the white arrow, the bending vibration of the ultrasonic wave is generated. The blade 7 is cutting the object to be cut.

If the fixed frame 10 to which the blade 7 and the horn 83 of FIG. 9 are fixed is moved toward the object to be cut 31 by a means (not shown), the blade body 7 that is ultrasonically flexed and vibrated makes the object to be cut 31 at an arbitrary angle. Cut with.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the fixed frame 10 in a state where the blade 7 and the horn 83 integrated with the ultrasonic vibrator 93 are attached is moved downward by the vertical moving means 18, and the blade edge of the blade 7 is moved downward. The object to be cut 31 may be pressed against the mounting table 16a to cut the object to be cut 31. Further, if the mounting table 16a is intermittently moved in the depth direction with a constant dimension by means (not shown), the object to be cut such as a cake can be cut to a uniform thickness. In an experiment in which cake, bread, etc. were actually cut, it was possible to cut the blade 7 in the longitudinal direction.

Later, as will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, the shape of the fixed frame 10 may be changed, or the gripped portion may be projected onto the fixed frame 10 and the gripped portion may be attached to an arm of an articulated robot to fix the fixed frame 10. The blade fixed to the frame 10 may be used to cut the object to be cut at an arbitrary angle.

(First Modification Example of First Embodiment of the Present Invention)
In the first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in the cross-sectional view in FIG. 11, the shape of the cork sheet 12e is a truncated cone with a hole in the center. The fact that the cork sheet 12e has a through hole for screwing in the center is the same as the cork sheets 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d already described, but the wall thickness of the cork sheet 12e goes from the center to the outside. As shown in FIG. 12, by setting the top surface of the cork sheet 12e to the blade body 7 side, the side surface of the blade body 7 is strongly strengthened in the vicinity of the through hole for screwing of the cork sheet 12e. Supporting. Therefore, when the side surface of the blade body 7 is slightly separated from the vicinity of the through hole for screwing, the cork sheet 12e does not hit the side surface of the blade body 7. The side surface of the blade 7 does not hit the cork sheet 12e and bends and vibrates. That is, the loss of ultrasonic energy due to the cork sheet 12e is reduced, and the ultrasonic energy transmitted to the blade 7 is effectively used for cutting the object to be cut.

(Second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention)
13 (a) and 13 (b) are the second modification of the ultrasonic cutting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the wing nut 15 and the slide member 11 are arranged so as to adjust the tension of the blade body 7. A compression spring 60 and a compression spring holder 61 are inserted between them to form a blade tension adjusting mechanism, and the tension of the blade 7 is applied by the spring force of the compression spring 60.

That is, since the compression spring 60 is sandwiched between the right side member 10b of the fixed frame 10 and the compression spring holder 61, if the wing nut 15 is tightened to compress the compression spring 60, the reaction force of the compression spring 60 becomes large. , The tension of the blade 7 increases. On the contrary, if the wing nut 15 is tightened to reduce the amount of compression of the compression spring 60, the reaction force of the compression spring 60 becomes small and the tension of the blade 7 decreases. The tension of the blade 7 can be easily adjusted by the amount of compression of the compression spring 60.

In FIG. 13A, the amount of compression of the compression spring 60 is increased to apply a large tension to the blade 7. In FIG. 13B, the amount of compression of the compression spring 60 is reduced to apply a small tension to the blade 7. When a large tension is applied to the blade 7 when the object to be cut is difficult to cut, the straightness of the blade 7 is maintained and the blade 7 can be cut straight.

(Third variant example of the first embodiment of the present invention)
FIG. 14A is an external perspective view showing a third modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. In the third modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, the blades 7 are mounted diagonally with a height difference by changing the mounting positions of the blades 7 at both ends of the U-shaped fixed frame 110.

When the blade 7 is attached diagonally with a height difference, when the upper surface of the object to be cut 31a is flat like a rectangular parallelepiped, the blade 7 is the upper surface of the object to be cut 31a as shown in FIG. 14 (b). It hits the corner of the blade diagonally. When the blade 7 and the object to be cut 31a hit a point at the start of cutting, the pressing force concentrates on the pointed portion. Then, since the cutting method is to expand the cut surface from the pointed position, it can be easily cut.

(Fourth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention)
FIG. 15 is an external perspective view showing a fourth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, the grip portion 120a is projected from the upper surface of the U-shaped fixed frame 120, and the grip portion 120a is used as the grip 505 of the arm 504 of the multi-axis robot 500. I'm holding it with. In the multi-axis robot 500, the first arm 502 extends from the base 501, and the second arm 504 is connected via the joint portion 503. The multi-axis robot 500 moves the arms 502 and 504 and swings the grip 505 that grips the grip portion 120a on the upper surface of the fixed frame 120 up and down, left and right, and swings to determine the angle and position of the blade 7 with respect to the object to be cut. It can be moved arbitrarily.

Therefore, by programming the preferable operation of the blade according to the ease of cutting the object to be cut, it is possible to easily cut the object to be cut, which is considered to be difficult to cut.

(Second Embodiment of the present invention)
In the ultrasonic cutting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in the external perspective view in FIG. 16, the blade body 7 is configured to be tilted in the horizontal direction. The blade edge 7 faces the cutting edge in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the mounting table 16. In FIG. 16, when the mounting table 16 is moved in the direction of the white arrow 302, the object to be cut 31b on the mounting table 16 is horizontally cut by the blade 7. The ultrasonic cutting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention makes it possible to cut the object to be cut 31b in the horizontal direction.

(Third Embodiment of the present invention)
In the ultrasonic cutting apparatus according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the ultrasonic vibrator 93 integrated with the horn 83 is inserted into the hole of the fixed frame 10 to press the flange 93a of the ultrasonic vibrator. It was positioned and fixed. However, in order to accurately apply the tip 83a of the horn to the antinode of the bending vibration on the side surface of the blade, it may be desired to move the ultrasonic transducer 93 integrated with the horn 83 in the longitudinal direction of the blade 7.

As a third embodiment of the present invention, the hole of the fixed frame 130 is a long hole long in the longitudinal direction of the blade 7, and the ultrasonic oscillator 93 integrated with the horn 83 is finely adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the blade 7. The structure that can be shown is shown.

That is, as shown in FIG. 17, the fixed frame 130 has an ultrasonic vibrator integrated with a horn 83 on a slide plate 140 that can be slidably adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the blade 7 with respect to the fixed frame 130. 93 is inserted, the flange 93a of the ultrasonic vibrator is attached, the slide plate 140 is slid-adjusted with respect to the fixing frame 130 in the longitudinal direction of the blade 7, and then fixed with the fixing bolt 150.

It should be noted that this structure is an example, and it goes without saying that another structure may be used as long as the ultrasonic vibrator 93 integrated with the horn 83 can be moved and adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the blade 7.

(Fourth Embodiment of the present invention)
In the ultrasonic cutting apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 18 (a) and 18 (b), the tip of the horn 84 is a rectangular parallelepiped 84a thin in the ultrasonic vibration direction. Alternatively, it is a thin cylindrical body 85a.

In the ultrasonic cutting apparatus according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention, a rectangular parallelepiped in which the shape of the tip of the horn is narrowed to a short length in the longitudinal direction of the blade is shown as a desirable figure of the tip of the horn. As shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the tips of the horns 84 and 85 are formed as a thin rectangular parallelepiped 84a or a thin cylindrical body 85a, and the blade body bends and vibrates even when the blade body is pressed.

When the material of the horn is an aluminum material such as duralumin, in order to extend the life of the horn, as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the tips of the horns 84 and 85 are made into a thin rectangular parallelepiped 84a or a thin cylinder. It can be said that it is preferable to use the body 85a because the strength of the horns 84 and 85 is increased and the life is extended. Further, since the side surface of the blade is brought into contact with the curved surface to transmit ultrasonic vibration energy, stress is not concentrated on the side surface of the blade, and the life of the blade is extended. If the life of the blade is extended, there is an advantage that a certain number of objects to be cut can be cut with one attached blade.

When the tips of the horns 84 and 85 are thin rectangular parallelepipeds 84a or thin cylindrical bodies 85a, it is preferable to form the tip surfaces of the horns 84 and 85 as outwardly convex curved surfaces. As shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the tip surfaces of the horns 84 and 85 can be brought into contact with the antinodes of the bending vibration on the side surface of the blade 7 to cause the blade 7 to bend and vibrate. 20 and 21 show external perspective views when the tip of the horn 84 is formed as a thin rectangular parallelepiped 84a and the tip surface of the horn 84 is formed as an outer convex curved surface. 22 and 23 show external perspective views when the tip of the horn 85 is formed as a thin cylindrical body 85a and the tip surface of the horn 85 is formed as an outer convex curved surface.

In FIGS. 18 to 23, the diameter of the cylinder at the tip of the horn and one side of the rectangular parallelepiped are drawn larger than the diameter of the tip of the horn. It may be the same as or smaller than the diameter of the tip.

In the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention, as a tension applying means for applying tension to the blade, the other end of the blade is fixed to a slide member that slides with respect to the fixed frame, and the slide member is pulled to pull the blade. An example using a pulling means for applying tension to the body has been described.

(Fifth Embodiment of the present invention)
In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, as the tension applying means for applying tension to the blade body, the swinging members 115 and 115a are swingably fixed to the fixed frame 114, and the other end of the blade body 7 is swinging member. It is fixed to 115, 115a, and the swing member 115, 115a is pulled by a tension spring to give tension.

24 (a) and 24 (b) are front views showing a part of the main part configuration of the ultrasonic cutting apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention as a cross section. An L-shaped swing member 115 is swingably attached to the fixed frame 114 of FIG. 24 (a) in the longitudinal direction of the blade 7, and a T-shape is attached to the fixed frame 114 of FIG. 24 (b). A swing member 115a of the mold is mounted swingably in the longitudinal direction of the blade 7, and a tension spring 116 is attached to one end of the L-shaped swing member 115 and the T-shaped swing member 115a, respectively. ..

In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, one end of the blade body 7 sandwiched between the cork sheets 12a and 12b is fixed to the tip of the left side member 114a of the fixed frame 114 with a stepped bolt 13a, and the rocking members 115 and 115a are shown. The other ends of the blade 7 sandwiched between the cork sheets 12c and 12d are fixed to the lower ends of the 24 (a) and (b) with the stepped bolts 13b. The tension spring 116 causes the swing members 115 and 115a to rotate counterclockwise, and tension is applied to the blade body 7. In this state, the tip 83e of the horn 83 is in contact with the position of the antinode of the bending vibration of the blade body 7. When the ultrasonic vibrator 93 is driven, the ultrasonic vibration in the vertical direction of the horn 83 is transmitted to the blade 7, and the side surface of the blade 7 is flexed and vibrated. Pressing the bending and vibrating blade 7 against the object to be cut to cut it is the same as described above.

As shown in FIG. 24 (b), after attaching the blade body 7 and the horn 83 using the T-shaped rocking member 115a, the screw 311 is tightened to the upper end on FIG. 24 (b) to rock. When the moving member 115a is fixed to the fixed frame 114, the swinging member 115a is integrated with the fixed frame 114, so that the tension applied to the blade 7 is kept constant. Then, the blade body vibrates in a stable manner.

In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, in this way, both ends of the long blade-shaped blade are supported at the positions of the flexion vibration nodes on the side surface of the blade, and the blade is tensioned on the side surface of the blade. The tip of the horn that vibrates ultrasonically is applied to the position of the antinode of the bending vibration, the entire blade is uniformly deflected and vibrated on the side surface of the blade, and the blade is pressed against the object to be cut to cut.

(Sixth Embodiment of the present invention)
In the sixth embodiment of the present invention, as a tension applying means for applying tension to the blade, a part of the fixed frame is formed into an elastically deformable shape, and when the blade is fixed to the fixed frame, one of the fixed frames is used. After the part is compressed and the blade is fixed, tension is applied to the blade by the restoring force of a part of the fixed frame that has been compressed.

25 (a) and 25 (b) show, in the ultrasonic cutting apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, a part of the main part configuration during the blade mounting work and after the blade is mounted is taken as a cross section. The front view shown is shown. In FIG. 25A, the right member of the fixed frame 117 has a shape that can be elastically deformed. That is, a curved portion 117g having a thin wall thickness is formed on the right side of the horizontal portion of the U-shaped fixed frame 117, and the tip thereof and the portion corresponding to the right side member of the fixed frame 117 are the elastic deformation arm portion 117h. The elastic deformation arm portion 117h is elastically deformed by the curved portion 117g of the fixed frame 117.

FIG. 25A shows a state in which one end of the blade 7 is fixed to the fixed frame 117a and the other end of the blade 7 is not yet fixed to the elastic deformation arm portion 117h. The elastic deformation arm portion 117h is open to the right, but elastically bends at the curved portion 117g at the base. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 25B, the elastic deformation arm portion 117h is bent, the other end of the blade body 7 is sandwiched between the cork sheets 12c and 12d, and fixed with the stepped bolt 13. Since the elastic deformation arm portion 117h tries to restore the original shape shown in FIG. 25 (a), tension acts on the blade body 7.

In the sixth embodiment of the present invention, both ends of the long blade-shaped blade are supported at the positions of the flexion vibration nodes on the side surface of the blade, and tension is applied to the blade surface on the side surface of the blade. The tip of the horn that vibrates ultrasonically is applied to the position of the antinode of the bending vibration, the entire blade is uniformly deflected and vibrated on the side surface of the blade, and the blade is pressed against the object to be cut to cut.

As described above, in the present invention, (1) the joint between the blade and the horn is not damaged. (2) The blade does not sway due to the reaction force during cutting work. (3) The straightness of the blade is maintained during the cutting work. (4) No beat prevention means is required for the blade. (5) Bend and vibrate the blade with one horn, (6) Replace the blade with a new one, which can be replaced easily and in a short time, and can be quickly replaced with the most suitable blade for the object to be cut. It makes it possible to provide an ultrasonic cutting device that can maintain sharpness.

As described above, the present invention is applied to an ultrasonic cutting device that cuts a long-edged blade by ultrasonically vibrating to cut foods such as bread, confectionery, meat, fruits and vegetables, and marine products. Can be done.

7: Blade 10: Fixed frame 11: Slide member 12: Cork sheet 13: Stepped bolt 14: Collar 15: Wing nut 16: Anvil 18: Reciprocating means (air cylinder)
30: Object to be cut 83: Horn 93: Ultrasonic oscillator

Claims (5)

With a straight blade,
A fixed frame for fixing the tension-applying member and one end of the blade, and a fixed frame having a tension-applied end that is freely supported by the tension-applying member on the other end side of the blade.
A tension applying means for applying tension to the blade by the tension applying member at the tension applying end of the fixed frame.
A first fixing means for fixing one end of the blade to the fixed end of the fixed frame,
A second fixing means for fixing the other end of the blade body to the tension applying member at the tension applying end of the fixing frame,
With the horn
With ultrasonic vibration means,
With ultrasonic vibration control means,
One end and the other end of the blade are fixed to the fixing frame and the tension applying member at the positions of the bending vibration nodes of the blade by the first and second fixing means, respectively, and the horn and the horn are fixed. A state in which the ultrasonic vibration means is integrally connected, the ultrasonic vibration control means is connected to the ultrasonic vibration means, and the tip of the horn is pressed against the side surface of the antinode position of the deflection vibration of the blade. Then, the ultrasonic vibration means and the horn that are integrally connected are attached to the fixed frame, and the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic vibration means by the ultrasonic vibration control means is transmitted from the horn to the side surface of the blade. The blade is controlled to flex and vibrate ultrasonically, and the blade, which is fixed to the fixed frame and vibrates, is pressed against the object to be cut to cut the object to be cut. An ultrasonic cutting device that flexes and vibrates a long-edged blade. The first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the tension applying member is a slide member, and the tension applying means is a pulling means for pulling the slide member, which is a tension applying member, in the slide direction at the tension applying end of the fixed frame. An ultrasonic cutting device that bends and vibrates the described long-edged blade. The claim is characterized in that the tension applying member is a swing arm member, and the tension applying means is a swinging means for swinging the swing arm member in one direction at a tension applying end of the fixed frame. The ultrasonic cutting device for bending and vibrating the long blade-shaped blade according to 1. With a straight blade,
A fixed end for fixing one end of the blade, and a fixed frame having an elastic deformation arm portion for fixing the other end of the blade and elastically deforming to apply tension to the blade.
A first fixing means for fixing one end of the blade to the fixed end of the fixed frame,
A second fixing means for fixing the other end of the blade to the elastically deforming arm portion of the fixing frame,
With the horn
With ultrasonic vibration means,
With ultrasonic vibration control means,
One end and the other end of the blade are fixed to the fixed end of the fixed frame and the elastic deformation arm portion at the positions of the flexion vibration nodes of the blade by the first and second fixing means, respectively. The horn and the ultrasonic vibration means are integrally connected, the ultrasonic vibration control means is connected to the ultrasonic vibration means, and the tip of the horn is attached to the side surface of the position of the antinode of the deflection vibration of the blade. In the pressed state, the ultrasonic vibration means and the horn are integrally connected and attached to the fixed frame, and the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic vibration means by the ultrasonic vibration control means is transmitted from the horn. It is transmitted to the side surface of the blade, and the blade is controlled to flex and vibrate ultrasonically, and the blade, which is fixed to the fixed frame and vibrates, is pressed against the object to be cut to cut the object to be cut. An ultrasonic cutting device that flexes and vibrates a long-edged blade, which is characterized by being configured in this way. The ultrasonic cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the side surface of the blade is sandwiched between cork sheets as the fixing means, and the long blade-shaped blade is flexed and vibrated.

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