WO2013081450A2

WO2013081450A2 - A cutting device

Info

Publication number: WO2013081450A2
Application number: PCT/MY2012/000293
Authority: WO
Inventors: Abdul Razak JELANI; Abd Rahim SHUIB; Moh Ramdhan MOHD KHALID
Original assignee: Malaysian Palm Oil Board
Priority date: 2011-11-30
Filing date: 2012-11-30
Publication date: 2013-06-06
Also published as: WO2013081450A3

Abstract

The invention relates to cutting device (100) which is suitable for cutting oil palm fronds and fresh fruit bunches (FFB), whereby cutting device (100) comprises a cutting assembly; a pair of gearing means; (15, 16) suitably attached to the cutting assembly; a connecting member (13) for connecting the cutting assembly to the gearing means (15,.16) and; a housing (17) for accommodating the cutting assembly and at least one of the gearing means (15); wherein said cutting, assembly comprises:, a cutting member. (10), a cutting member sleeve (11) for receiving at least one 'portion of the cutting member (10); and a slotting member (12) adapted to accommodate at least a portion of the cutting member sleeve (11).

Description

A CUTTING DEVICE

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cutting apparatus, more particularly to a cutting device for cutting or trimming tree limbs, preferably, for cutting fronds and fresh fruit bunches from the oil palm. tree.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Oil palm plays a major role in respect to the livelihood for various countries, worldwide, and more particularly South East Asian countries, amidst other lucrative agricultural resources. Recognizing its significance in economical growth of these countries, it is highly imperative to ensure appropriate measures and maintenance tasks relative to the growth of oil palm are performed accurately in order to avoid detrimental health effects or damages during its cultivation period.

There are several main tasks which are performed on a frequent basis .throughout the growth of the oil palm, these tasks include trimming the fronds for pruning purposes, and harvesting fresh fruit bunches (FFB) . Such tasks may be performed manually with a standard apparatus such as a chisel and sickle for trimming and cutting fronds, and for harvesting the fruits as well. Alternatively, mechanized methods may be implemented mainly to accelerate the processes in addition to minimize the manpower used for such considerably arduous and time consuming tasks.

A few of the prominent solutions at present in relation to the use of cutters or cutting tools is the utilization of high pitched technology equipped tools or machineries, for instance the usage of chainsaw or a rotating disc accordingly secured to also a boom or pole. However, such devices have been reported to be ineffective, whereby one of the main drawbacks is the possibility of such devices to be trapped or caught in between fronds during cutting and thus may result to damaging the cutter or the cutter blade of the devices, particularly in the event that there are big sized fronds to be removed. Further to this, friction seems to cause inconvenience to users has frequent wear and tear to metal which eventually would affect durability, and resulting to frequent replacement of parts and components which may not be cost effective.

The above discussed tribulations and other causative factors which would eventually result to gain losses could be overcome by way of further innovation in regards to providing a more simplistic mechanism and system. Accordingly the above shortcomings therefore puts forward various advances and improvements endeavors for inventors of the industry in providing systems and devices that offer efficiency in the vital aspects as briefly described in the preceding paragraphs. However, existing prior art devices and tools have yet to effectively solve the tribulations in relation to >the earlier discussed criteria.

It is therefore a great need to provide relevant industry with a- device and method for use in cutting the fronds of palm trees and fresh fruit bunches that does not encounter friction during use and thus cost effective.

Thus, it is therefore the primary object of the present invention to -overcome the above discussed problems,- and thus an effectual solution by providing an improvement to cutter heads for use with cutting means so as to provide smooth moving of the cutting tool.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cutter head for use with cutting means or tools which prevent the occurrence of friction thus increased durability

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cutting device with improved features, particularly to enhance durability of said cutting device. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

There is disclosed a cutting device comprising: a cutting assembly; a pair of gearing means; (15, 16); a connecting member (13) for connecting the cutting assembly to the gearing means (15, 16) and; a housing (17) for accommodating the cutting assembly and at least one of the gearing means (15).; wherein said cutting assembly comprises:, a cutting member (10), a cutting member sleeve (11) for receiving at least one. portion of the cutting member (10); and a...slotting member (12) adapted to accommodate at least a portion of the cut: ting member sleeve (11)... In a preferred embodiment, the cutting assembly further comprising a stopper member (18) to be used as additional securing member of the cutting member (10) to the cutting sleeve member (11) . In another preferred embodiment, the device further comprises a pin member (14) for fastening the connecting member (13) to the cutting member sleeve (13) .

In another preferred embodiment, the device further comprising a hooking member (19) ; attached to at least one of the side surface of the housing member (17) for use in removing or pulling out the fruit after it was cut from an oil palm tree.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more understood by reference to the description below taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing herein: FIG 1 illustrates the device (100) in accordance with a _^preferred embodiment of the. present invention;..

FIG 2 shows another view of the device (100) in accordance with the preferred embodiment of- the present invention;

-

FIG 3 shows another perspective view of the device (100) in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG 4 shows an exemplary of the cutting member (10) in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG 5 shows the various designs of the slotting member (12) in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG 6 to FIG 11 show the various designs of the slotting member (12) and the body section (lib) of the cutting member sleeve (11) ; and

'

FIG 12 shows the overall view of the- device (100) being secured to a pole/shaft prior to operating.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In addition . to the drawings, further understanding of the object, construction, characteristics and functions of the invention,., a ..detailed description with reference to the embodiments is given in the following.

■-^■ - - - - -

It should- be noted that to those skilled that there may be changes in construction and differing embodiments and applications of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

A motorized or power driven cutter installed with an improved cutter head will be more specifically described herein shortly with reference to the drawings.

The device (100) of the present invention as shown in FIG 1 and FIG 2 comprises of a cutting assembly which includes a cutting member (10) which may be in the form of a C-sickle or a chisel, a cutting member sleeve (11), a slotting member (12) adapted to fit in the cutting member sleeve (11); a connecting member (13), a pin (14) a pair of driving and main gears or gearing means (15, 16) a housing (17), a stopper (18), a_. bearing (22) to be attached to the pin (14) and a hooking means (19) .

FIG 2 and FIG 3 show the overall perspective view of the device (100) in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG 2 and FIG 3, the cutting member (10) may be in. the form of a chisel ,.. whereby, in this form, .. at least one end there is provided a flat, sharp or cutting end which is referred herein as the cutting end (10a) and the other end is adapted to serve as a holder end (10b) and for attachment to cutting member sleeve (11).. The said holder end (10a) may be in the form of an elongated extension, preferably flattened with rectangular cross sectional shape. Further in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holder end (10a) of the cutting member (10) is formed with at least a pair of projections (5, 6) with predetermined dimension. These projections (5, 6) are accordingly sized to form a tongue and groove joint or attachment with a section of the cutting member sleeve (11), which will be described later herein. An exemplary of the cutting member (10) is as shown in FIG 4.

Still referring to FIG 2, the cutting member sleeve (11) in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is an elongated plate formed with two distinctive sections, a head section (11a) and body section (lib) . The head section (11a) is formed with a plurality of recesses thus forming a groove like section; said recesses are suitably sized to fit the projections from the holder end (10b.) of the cutting member .( 10 )...Accordingly, a„ tongue- in- groove joint is formed when the projections (5, 6) are in firm contact ...with the.. recesses of the ..cutting member sleeve (11) respectively. Further, at the distal end of the body section (lib) there is formed an opening or recess sized to fit a suitable fastening means such as nuts, screws or the likes. The cutting member sleeve (11) allows the cutting member (10) to be easily interchangeable as the used cutting members can be swiftly removed and attached thereto devoid of any cumbrance.

The slotting member (12) is generally rectangular shaped member formed with a predetermined size channel along its length, on one surface, as suitably shown in FIG 1. The slotting channel (12a) is sized accordingly to receive one end of the cutting member sleeve (11) , more specifically the body section (lib) of said cutting member sleeve (11) . The body section (lib) is slotted into said slotting member (12) and locked therein during use. Examples of several designs of slotting members (12) are shown in FIG 5. In any design, the slotting channel (12a) is accordingly formed to receive the body section (lib) of the cutting member (11) . Examples of modifications in body section (lib) of the cutting sleeve member (11) to correspond with that of the slotting channel (12a) are shown in FIG 6. to FIG 11.

FIG 6 shows a slotting member (12) having an inverted T- shape cross section slotting channel design. Accordingly, the... body . section, (lib) of the. cutting sleeve, member (11) should have an outlook similar to that of the slotting - channel, with a dimension sufficient to fit in the -slotting channel.

FIG 7 shows a slotting member (12) having a U shaped cross section slotting channel design however with a curved internal side profile. FIG 8 shows a slotting member (12) having an inverted T-shape slotting channel design however with a smoothened or curved internal side profile. FIG 9 shows a slotting member (12) having a U-shaped cross section slotting channel design however with a sharp triangular internal side profile. FIG 10 shows a slotting member (12) having a U-shaped cross section design with a generally circular internal side profile. In another design, the slotting channel is formed with a generally elliptical cross section with pointed out fins on the internal side profile. In the event that the design of the slotting member (12) varies, the^" design of the body section^" (lib) of the cutting sleeve member (11) therefore varies in accordance with the slotting channels dimensions and external configuration. The connecting member (13) is an elongated plate formed with two holes _.( 1.3a, ...13b) on each., end, ...whereby at least , one hole (13a) is sized with a greater dimension than the other (13b)These, receiving holes (13a, 13b.) ..are sized to receive suitable fastening means such as, but not limited to, bolts.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pin (14) is an elongated spherical member, sized to fit in at least one of the holes on the connecting member (13). Further' in accordance with the preferred embodiment, another end of the pin (14) is suitably attached to a housing member (17) which will be described herein later.

The driving main gears (15, 16) are conventional mechanical gears used to provide movements to the cutting members of the device. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the housing member (17) is formed with two main sections, a holder section (17a) and the body section (17b) . The body section (17b) is formed preferably from a metal based material, designed into a^" generally^" rectangular member with a slightly tapered section at one end. The housing therefore has two side surfaces, and a bottom surface. The top surface is formed, with a., cutout portion thus defining a channel (17c). The channel (17c) is of a predetermined size is formed therein, whereby the channel has an arcuate section which ^■ is formed adjacent and connecting to the holder

. section (17a.) . of. the housing (17),.. and. while, the other end. of the channel is formed as an open end. There is further - provided a frusto- or conical shape protrusion- (17b) projecting downwards relative to the housing member (17) . Said protrusion is integrally formed at one end of the housing member (17), preferably adjacent to the holder section (17a) of the housing member (17). A through hole (17d) is formed extending into said conical shaped protrusion (17d) from the surface of the housing member (17) The through hole (17d) is sized to fit at least a portion of the mechanical gear (15, 16) described earlier. At one side surface of the housing member (17), is formed with a flange (17e) protruding outwardly relative to the side surface. On said flange (17e) there is provided a plurality of recesses sized to fit suitable fastening means.

The holder section (17b) of the housing member is generally a spherical member formed with a segment to accommodate a second gear member (16)^"; preferably said segment^" is formed on the edge or distal end of the holding section (17b).

In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a hooking member (19) which is formed from a suitable material into an elongated, member, adapted to be detachably secured to the flange (17e) of the housing member (.1.7.) whereby the main functions . of this . hooking member (17e) is used to pull out the fruit after, it was cut. Under normal circumstances during harvesting the fruit will be stuck in between the fronds and it must be pulled out with a mechanical means. Therefore this hooking member (19) plays a crucial role in this regards and thus eliminating the said impediment .

It is noted that the cutting member (10) attachment may be adapted to be removable, therefore allowing the types of cutting members (10) to be interchangeable. The stopper (18) in one embodiment of the present invention is formed from a suitable material and shaped into generally flat rectangular member with at least One recess on each corner for receiving suitable fastening means. Said stopper (18) is suitably sized to sufficiently secure the cutting member (10) to the cutting member sleeve (11).

Upon assembled, the holder end (10b) of- the cutting member (10) having formed with a tongue section is secured to the groove section formed on the head section (11a) of the cutting member sleeve ,( 11 ).. Accordingly, owing to the tongue and groove mechanism, a firm grip formed by these two members can be achieved. The stopper (18) is. then placed over the surface of the and thus fastened thereto, resulting to a more compact and rigid attachment. The. body section

(11a) of the cutting sleeve member (11) is inserted or slotted into the channel formed on the slotting member (12) and then fastened to the connecting member (13) at one end via a suitable fastening means extending through the recess provided on the body section (lib) of the cutting sleeve member and (11) into the second hole (13b) provided on the connecting member (13) . The fastening means in accordance with the present invention is the pin member (14). The first hole (13a) provided on the other end of the connecting member is adapted to be removably connected to the gearing means (15) . In this connection at least one part of the gearing means (15) is movably connected to the connecting member (13) . The said pin (14) which is equipped with a bearing means (not shown) functions mainly to provide a pivotal connection of the cutting member sleeve (11) to the connecting member (13) ,and thus allow smooth or uninterrupted movement of the cutting member (10) during use

Accordingly as mentioned, a pivotal connection is formed therein, in which the cutting member (10) is able to move in a longitudinal direction when operated. When energy issupplied to the . gear (15)., the. connecting member (13) rotates at its axis thus providing movement to the cutting member (10) .. Suitably,, both the.. slotting member (12) and cutting member sleeve (11) are placed or embedded in the housing member ..(1.7) ..and thus, enclosed ...therein.. Therefore, the possibility of the cutting member (10) being derailed or skew horizontally can^" be decreased with such arrangement .

In effect, when the gearing means are activated and thus rotated, the connecting member (13) oscillates. Such movement results to pushing the pin (14) which is attached to the cutting member sleeve (11) thereby provide a longitudinal movement to the cutting member (10) . Increasing the operating power will increase the rotational movements of the gears (15, 16), and causes the cutting member (10) to vibrate. It is preferred that the revolution of the gears is directly proportional to the vibration of the cutting member (10). Comprehendingly, such vibrating movement results to effective cutting mechanism by the cutting member (10) .

It is noted that the driving or operating power is transmitted from the power generator means (not shown) and is accordingly associated to the bevel gear of the vibration means (4). In this connection, the power generator means may be secured at the bottom end portion of a shaft which is connected to the cutting device of the present invention.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device may be secured to a shaft or pole of suitable length. In this ^arrangement the device (100) may be. secured to at least one end of the pole, while the power generator means (not shown) may be secured on the opposite end of the pole, as shown in FIG 12.

During use, the power generator means and the device (100) are powered on by suitable means whereby there may be provided switching on mechanism or the likes on said power generator means so as to set it off. With the installation of the pole, the operator of the motorized cutter lifts and thus holds the present invention upwards and thus aiming at the fronds which are selected for removal. The simplistic mechanism and construction of the present invention provides a cost effective, significantly reduced manpower and highly effective solution for the oil palm farmers with regard to pruning and harvesting process of the oil palm trees.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in. the . art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the. scope, of the present invention which, is intended to be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cutting device comprising:

a cutting assembly;

a pair of gearing means; (15, 16) connected to the cutting assembly; ^"

a connecting member (13) for connecting the cutting assembly to the gearing means (15, 16) and;

a housing (17) for accommodating the cutting assembly and at least one of the gearing means (15);

wherein said cutting assembly comprises: a cutting member (10), a cutting member sleeve (11) for receiving at least one portion .of... the cutting member (10); and. a slotting member (12) adapted to accommodate at least a portion of the cutting member sleeve (11) . ^~~

2. The device (100) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein thecutting assembly further comprising a stopper member (18) to be used as additional securing member of the cutting member (10) to the cutting sleeve member (11) .

3. The device (100) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the device further comprising a pin member (14) for fastening the connecting member (13) to the cutting member sleeve (13)

4. The device (100) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the pin (14) is placed in a manner relative to the cutting member sleeve (11) and the connecting member (13) such that when the gearing means is powered up, the connecting, member (13) oscillates, resulting to pushing the pin (14) thereby provide a longitudinal movement to the cutting member (10) .

5. The device (100) as claimed in Claim 4, whereby increasing the operating ..power will .increase the rotational movements of the gears (15, 16) , and causes the cutting member (10) to vibrate.

6. The device (100) as claimed in . Claim 1 wherein the device (100) further comprising a hooking member (19); attached to at least one of the side surface of the housing member (17) for use in removing or pulling out the fruit after it was cut from an oil palm tree.