WO2017043956A1

WO2017043956A1 - Blade-replaceable tapping knife

Info

Publication number: WO2017043956A1
Application number: PCT/MY2016/000042
Authority: WO
Inventors: Norsofiana UMAR; Wan Rosli WAN AZIZ
Original assignee: Lembaga Getah Malaysia
Priority date: 2015-09-09
Filing date: 2016-07-26
Publication date: 2017-03-16
Also published as: MY174085A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a blade-replaceable tapping knife adapted to make an incision by carving into the cortex or outer bark of rubber trees. The blade-replaceable tapping knife (100) includes a blade holder (110) having a rigid cavity with locking slots (114), a retaining element (120) having a slot (122) with retaining edge (124), a locking pin (130), a replaceable cutting blade (140) with protruded edge (142) wherein the blade holder (110) is adapted to accommodate the replaceable cutting blade (140) and the retaining element (120), such that it enables the cutting blade (140) to be detachable secured therewith and wherein the slot (122) of the retaining element (120) is made aligned with the locking slots (114) of the blade holder (110), such that the replaceable cutting blade (140) is able to be sandwichly secured within the cavity of the blade holder (110) through which the locking pin (130) is inserted.

Description

BLADE-REPLACEABLE TAPPING KNIFE

FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention generally relates to a cutting tool, and more particularly to a blade- replaceable tapping knife adapted to make an incision by carving into the cortex or outer bark of the rubber trees, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Tapping knife is one of the commonly used cutting tools used by rubber farmers to harvest latex from Hevea brasiliensis, or commonly known as rubber tree. There are two basic types of tools currently used i.e. the Jebong (pull knife] and the Gouge (push knife]. Tapping is done by either pulling or pushing the respective knife over a previously cut surface. Normally, the Jebong knife should be sharpened after the trees are tapped in the range of 400 to 500 trees.

Replaceable tapping knife is used to overcome the problem of knife sharpening where it is done after each tapping routine. Sharpening a knife requires high skills and high cost if it is done daily. This knife was designed with a slotting design where after each use it will be replaced with a new blade. The replaceable tapping knives are usually equipped with a replaceable sharp tip secularly mounted to a tool holder of the knife. They are particularly useful as the cutting blade can be changed frequently to assure a sharp and proper cutting edge.

One of the shortcomings of currently available tapping knives with replaceable blades is that the changing of the cutting blade is cumbersome and time-consuming. In typical prior art cutting tools, in order to change the blade, the tool assembly is taken apart so that the old blade can be removed, a new one is put into the required position, and then to be assembled back together. With present labour costs, this is an expensive procedure and bothersome task for the worker. As a result, the blade is not being changed as often as it should be, and the edges of the material being cut are finished off improperly.

Another difficulty with many prior art cutting tools is that they require the replaceable blade to be securely fixed into space of the cutting tool for cutting operation. However, the space of the cutting tool may cause weakened areas where breaking may occurs in the event that excessive pressure is applied on the blade during substantial times of cutting operation. Blade breakage may result in time wasted in changing the broken blade.

In view of this and other shortcomings, it would be advantageous to provide an improved cutting tool for harvesting latex from the rubber trees. Accordingly, the present invention provides a blade-replaceable tapping knife which is simple and effective, and yet easy for replacement of the cutting blade. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail in the detailed description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a blade-replaceable tapping knife adapted to make an incision by carving into the cortex or outer bark of rubber trees, characterized in that the blade-replaceable tapping knife includes (a) a blade holder having a rigid cavity with locking slots, (b) a retaining element having a slot with retaining edge, (c) a locking pin and (d) a replaceable cutting blade with protruded edge wherein the blade holder is adapted to accommodate the replaceable cutting blade and the retaining element such that it enables the cutting blade to be detachable secured therewith and wherein the slot of the retaining element is made aligned with the locking slots of the blade holder, such that the replaceable cutting blade is able to be sandwichly secured within the cavity of the blade holder through which the locking pin is inserted.

The present invention consists of several novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying description and drawings, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an assembly views in perspective illustrating an improved blade-replaceable tapping knife for latex harvesting in accordance with preferred exemplary of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a partial enlarged view of the blade-replaceable tapping knife of FIG. 1 in accordance with preferred exemplary of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a blade-replaceable tapping knife. Hereinafter, this specification will describe the present invention according to the preferred embodiments or exemplary of the present invention. However, it is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred embodiments or exemplary of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalents without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Generally, the present invention describes a blade-replaceable tapping knife adapted to make an incision by carving into the cortex or outer bark of rubber trees, characterized in that the blade-replaceable tapping knife includes (a) a blade holder having a rigid cavity with locking slots, (b) a retaining element having a slot with retaining edge, (c) a locking pin and [d] a replaceable cutting blade with protruded edge wherein the blade holder is adapted to accommodate the replaceable cutting blade and the retaining element such that it enables the cutting blade to be detachable secured therewith and wherein the slot of the retaining element is made aligned with the locking slots of the blade holder, such that the replaceable cutting blade is able to be sandwichly secured within the cavity of the blade holder through which the locking pin is inserted.

Preferably, but not limited to, the blade holder is made integral with a handle of the blade- replaceable tapping knife. It should be noted that the retaining element of the present invention is able to pivotally clip into the rigid cavity of the blade holder such that its retaining edge is adapted to be securely engaged with the protruded edge the replaceable cutting blade. By way of example, but not limitation, the replaceable cutting blade of the present invention is provided with cutting edge at predetermined angel of 50° to 60°, or more specifically at preferred angel of 55°. Preferably, but not limiting, the replaceable cutting blade may be made of a tool steel and titanium.

The blade-replaceable tapping knife according to the preferred exemplary of the present invention will now be described in details in accordance with the accompanying drawings FIGS. 1 to 2, either individually or in any combination thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1, the blade-replaceable tapping knife (100) generally includes a blade holder (110), a retaining element (120), a locking pin (130) and a replaceable cutting blade (140). Accordingly, the blade holder (110) is preferably made integral with a handle (112) of the blade-replaceable tapping knife (100). The blade holder (110) provides a rigid cavity to accommodate the replaceable cutting blade (140) and the retaining element (120), such that it enables the cutting blade (140) to be detachable secured therewith. By way of example but not limitation, the blade holder (110) is further provided with locking slots (114) to receive the locking pin (130).

In the preferred exemplary of the present invention, the retaining element (120) also includes slot (122) to receive the locking pin (130). Accordingly, the slot (122) of the retaining element (120) is made aligned with the locking slots (114) of the blade holder (110), such that the replaceable cutting blade (140) is able to be sandwichly secured within the cavity of the blade holder (110) through which the locking pin (130) is being inserted. It should be noted that the retaining element (120) is able to pivotally clip into the rigid cavity of the blade holder (110) such that its retaining edge (124) is adapted to be securely engaged with a protruded edge (142) the replaceable cutting blade (140) (see FIG. 2).

It should also be noted that the replaceable cutting blade (140) of the present invention is provided with cutting edge at predetermined angel of 50° to 60°, or more specifically at preferred angel of 55°. Accordingly, such angles are found to be suitable, with satisfactory yields and least wounding of bark of the trees. It will be appreciated that the sharpness of the replaceable cutting blade (140) is much depend on the degree of tampering and the quality of materials to be used. By way of example but not limitation, the materials used in fabricating the replaceable cutting blade (140) are preferably a tool steel and titanium. The cutting edge angle and the materials, although exemplary, will be used herein in describing the configurations or designs of the replaceable cutting blade (140), however other materials, designs, and/or configurations of replaceable cutting blade may also contemplate. As such, the cutting edge angle and the materials of the replaceable cutting blade (140) described herein should not be construed as limiting in any way.

The present invention provides an improved blade-replaceable tapping knife that can be readily released from the cutting position or readily removed from a cutting holder for cutting blade replacement. Accordingly, the worker may need only to remove a locking pin to release a retaining element to easily and conveniently disassemble the cutting blade from the cutting holder without having to disassemble the entire handle as is the case with prior art tools. Changing or replacing the cutting blade takes no more than a few seconds to accomplish and handle of the tapping knife need not be disassembled to do this. Moreover, the blade-replaceable tapping knife provides a cutting blade with predetermined angle in which, with one operation, adapted to make a groove in the cortex or outer bark of the tree, and at the same time an incision or cut through the inner bark or Cambium, penetrating through to the space from which the sap or caoutchouc flows at satisfactory yield and yet, least wounding to the bark. It is to be understood that both the set forth examples and detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention. As such, the set forth examples and detailed description, including apparatuses, components, designs, configurations, and its contents or any other parameters and approaches as described above should not be construed as limiting, but as the best mode contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention. The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the principle and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would obvious to one skilled in the art intended to be included within the scope of following claims.

Claims

1. A blade-replaceable tapping knife adapted to make an incision by carving into the cortex or outer bark of rubber trees,

characterized in that

the blade-replaceable tapping knife (100) includes:

a) a blade holder (110) having a rigid cavity with locking slots (114); b) a retaining element (120) having a slot (122) with retaining edge (124); c) a locking pin (130); and

d) a replaceable cutting blade (140) with protruded edge (142);

wherein the blade holder (110) is adapted to accommodate the replaceable cutting blade (140) and the retaining element (120), such that it enables the cutting blade (140) to be detachable secured therewith; and

wherein the slot (122) of the retaining element (120) is made aligned with the locking slots (114) of the blade holder (110), such that the replaceable cutting blade (140) is able to be sandwichly secured within the cavity of the blade holder (110) through which the locking pin (130) is inserted.

2. The blade-replaceable tapping knife (100) according to Claim 1, wherein the blade holder (110) is made integral with a handle (112) of the blade-replaceable tapping knife (100).

3. The blade-replaceable tapping knife (100) according to Claim 1, wherein the retaining element (120) is able to pivotally clip into the rigid cavity of the blade holder (110) such that its retaining edge (124) is adapted to be securely engaged with the protruded edge (142) the replaceable cutting blade (140).

4. The blade-replaceable tapping knife (100] according to Claim 1, wherein the replaceable cutting blade (140) is provided with cutting edge at predetermined angel of 50° to 60°, or more specifically at preferred angel of 55°.

The blade-replaceable tapping knife (100) according to Claim 1, wherein replaceable cutting blade (140) is made of a tool steel and titanium.