Machine for cutting corn husks

Description

1 / 7 Machine for cutting corn husks

[001] This patent application relates to a machine for cutting corn husks, belonging to the mechanical field, with application in the manufacture of straw cigarettes, more particularly it relates to an automatic machine for cutting corn husks, for processing and use in the manufacture of straw cigarettes, increasing productivity and providing greater safety in the extraction of the husk. STATE OF THE ART

[002] In the production of straw cigarettes, the extraction of straw from corn cobs goes through a long process that requires a lot of labor in a practically artisanal job, where initially a corn cob harvester collects the corn cobs along with the straw in the cornfield and on the farm itself the stage of extracting the straw and separating the corn begins.

[003] Normally, the cutting and extraction of the straw is done by hand, where the straw of each ear is cut using a knife that makes a circular cut close to the node, and then the straws are removed with "cups".

[004] However, this handcrafted work presents several drawbacks, among which we highlight: - It requires a lot of manpower; - low productivity; - lack of safety for the employee who manually cuts the husks from the corn cob; - Exhausting and repetitive work, causing repetitive strain injuries; - It does not allow for a uniform cut, often causing waste; and Handling with bare hands often damages the straw. Petition 870250005189, dated 01 / 22 / 2025, p. 9 / 39 2 / 7

[005] In order to solve such inconveniences of the manual work of extracting straw, there are also grinding machines on the market that assist in cutting the straw, which are equipped with a fixed grinding wheel on a base where the worker manually rotates the cob around the grinding wheel and cuts the straw.

[006] It should be noted, however, that although this machine eliminates the use of a pocketknife, it still presents some drawbacks regarding productivity, cut quality, and especially regarding the safety of the employee, which we highlight: - Low productivity, since the ears of corn must be handled by the employee when they are cut to remove the husks; - Exposing the fingers of the hands close to the cutting disc; - It does not allow for a uniform cut, often causing waste; and Handling with bare hands often damages the straw. OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

[007] Thus, the main objective of the corn husk cutting machine, the subject of the present invention, is to avoid handling the husk during cutting, thereby achieving other benefits provided by the machine, such as standardization of cutting, increased productivity and, above all, greater safety for the worker, solving the problems of the prior art and providing other advantages arising from its design. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[008] The corn husk cutting machine consists of a base formed by a metal structure, equipped with a conveyor belt, and an upper, elevated structure where the devices are mounted. Petition 870250005189, dated 01 / 22 / 2025, page 10 / 39 3 / 7 Traction and cutting of corn husks, which move along the conveyor belt, receiving the cut and moving to extract the husk and ear. The conveyor belt, and the cutting and traction devices are driven by independent motors, with synchronization programmed through a Programmable Logic Controller - PLC via dedicated software command. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[009] The corn husk cutting machine will be better understood through the figures which schematically represent: Figure 1 - perspective view of the corn husk cutting machine, highlighting the rear and right side faces; Figure 2 - Perspective view of the machine for cutting corn husks, highlighting the front and left side faces; Figure 3 - Front view of the perspective view of the corn husk cutting machine, with the front cover open; Figure 4 - Perspective view of the corn husk cutting machine with the lids open and wheels on the lower structure; Figure 5 - Partial perspective view of the machine, highlighting the corn cob guides; Figure 6 - detailed perspective view of the machine, highlighting the side exit of the husks that detach from the corn cobs during cutting; Figure 7 - Partial front view of the machine, highlighting the front face of the upper structure; Figure 8 - side detail of the machine, highlighting the traction device; Figure 9 - partial perspective view of the machine, highlighting the traction device; Figure 10 - perspective detail of the machine, highlighting the device of Petition 870250005189, dated 01 / 22 / 2025, page 11 / 39 4 / 7 traction; Figure 11 - Left side detail of the machine, highlighting part of the traction device; Figure 12 - partial right side view of the machine, highlighting the cutting device; Figure 13 - partial perspective view of the machine, highlighting the cutting device; Figure 14 - perspective detail of the machine's cutting disc; Figure 15 - perspective detail of the base of the machine's cutting device; Figure 16 - perspective detail of the fixing of the base of the machine's cutting device; Figure 17 - Partial front view of the machine, showing a corn cob being cut; Figure 18 - partial rear view of the machine, showing a corn cob being cut; Figure 19 - partial left side view of the machine, showing a corn cob being cut; Figure 20 - Front detail of the machine, showing an ear of corn being cut; Figure 21 - rear detail of the machine, showing a corn cob being cut. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[010] According to the figures presented, the machine for cutting corn husks comprises a metal structure (1), on which a conveyor belt (2) is mounted, equipped with feet (11), optionally with wheels (12), on the metal structure (1), in the median region, there is also an upper structure (3), with a closed upper face and a perforated lower face. Petition 870250005189, dated 01 / 22 / 2025, p. 12 / 39 5 / 7 and the front, rear and side faces, equipped with doors (31), with the box (4) of the Programmable Logic Controller PLC mounted on one of the side doors, with dedicated software control.

[011] Inside the upper structure (3), the traction devices (5) for the corn cobs (EM) and the cutting devices (6) for the corn cob husks (EM) are mounted, moving along the side of the metal structure (1) and on the conveyor belt (2) which is equipped with freely rotating rollers (21). The conveyor belt (2) is driven by the motor (M1), the traction device (5) by the motor (M2) and the cutting device (6) by the motor (M3), independently, with synchronization programmed through a Programmable Logic Controller - PLC via dedicated software command.

[012] The metal structure (1) is equipped on the lower face of the central region with an inclined plate (13) for lateral collection of the straw that comes off the ears of corn (EM) during cutting, and guides (7) fixed to the side of the metal structure (1) that assist in moving the ears of corn so that they move facing the side of the same.

[013] The traction device (5) comprises a U-shaped base (50) on which the motor (M2) is mounted, equipped with a toothed sprocket (51), connected by the upper chain (52) to one of the double toothed sprockets (531) fixed to the shaft (532) in the support (533) of the lower end of the inclined rod (53) which has the other end fixed to the lower face of the base (50) and the second toothed sprocket (531) is connected by the lower chain (52') to one of the double toothed sprockets (541) fixed to the front shaft of the roller (54) connected by the chain (52") to the toothed sprocket (551) of the second roller (55), positioned parallel and articulated by the movable base (56) which is fixed to the lower end of the movable rod (57) which has the upper end articulated to the shaft (532) of the rod Petition 870250005189, dated 01 / 22 / 2025, page 13 / 39 6 / 7 inclined (53) and both rods, movable (56) and fixed (53), are joined by a spring (58), for displacement control. Said rollers (54 and 55) are fitted with rubber rings (59) to improve traction and prevent damage to the corn cob husk.

[014] The cutting device (6) comprises a fixed base (60), to which are welded the fixed bushings (611) coupled to the shaft (61), which also have coupled the articulated bushings (612), which are welded to the lower face of the movable base (62) on which is mounted the motor (M3), equipped with an upper pulley (63), connected by the belt (64) to the lower pulley (63'), coupled to the shaft (65) which at the other end has the cutting disc (66) fixed and is fixed to the lower face of the movable base (62) which has its height limited by the pin (67) and its movement controlled by the spring (68). HOW THE INVENTION WORKS

[015] The corn cob husk cutting machine, object of the present invention, after having the traction (5) and cutting (6) devices adjusted to maintain the correct height of the cutting disc (66) and the traction rollers (54) and (55), and the motors (M1, M2 and M3) synchronized, the machine is ready to be used, where a single operator feeds the conveyor belt (2), positioning the corn cobs (EM) on the freely rotating rollers (21), with the nodes of the corn cobs (EM) touching the side of the metal structure (1) and with the aid of the guides (7) are kept touching until close to the cutting disc (66) where each cob upon reaching the rollers (54) and (55), is pulled, giving a complete rotation under the cutting disc (66) which cuts the husk and then the corn cob (EM) continues on the conveyor belt (2) to have the husk extracted from the corn (see (Figures 17 to 21). ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION Petition 870250005189, dated 01 / 22 / 2025, p. 14 / 39 7 / 7

[016] With the corn husk cutting machine, as designed, it provides several advantages, among which we highlight: - Increased productivity, where cutting is done in a fully automated way; - Prevents the operator from being exposed to close proximity to the cutting disc; - Avoids handling the corn cob during cutting; - Allows for a uniform and standardized cut; - It prevents waste; - Ensures the quality of the extracted straw; - It allows the machine to be operated by only one operator, solely for refueling the conveyor belt; and - Ensures greater safety for the operator. OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

[017] The scope of this patent of invention should not be limited to its application or construction details, but rather to the terms defined in the claims and their equivalents. Petition 870250005189, dated 01 / 22 / 2025, p. 15 / 39

Claims

1 / 2 CLAIMS 1 - MACHINE FOR CUTTING CORN HUSKIES, in which a conveyor belt (2) is mounted, equipped with feet (11) or wheels (12), on the metal structure (1), in the median region, there is also an upper structure (3), with a closed upper face, a perforated lower face and the front, rear and side faces equipped with doors (31), with the Programmable Logic Controller - PLC box mounted in one of the side doors, with dedicated software control, responsible for synchronizing the motor (M1) of the conveyor belt (2), the motor (M2) of the traction device (5) and the motor (M3) of the cutting device (6), which are independent, characterized in that the upper structure (3) houses the traction devices (5) for the corn husks (EM) and the cutting devices (6) for the corn husks (EM), which move facing the side of the metal structure. (1), and on the conveyor belt (2) which is equipped with rollers (21), which rotate freely. 2 - MACHINE FOR CUTTING CORN HUSKIES, according to claim 1, characterized by the metal structure (1) having on the lower face of the central region, an inclined plate (13), for lateral collection of the husks, and guides (7) fixed to the side of the metal structure (1). 3 - MACHINE FOR CUTTING CORN HUSKIES, according to claim 1, characterized by the traction device (5) comprising a U-shaped base (50) on which the motor (M2) is mounted, equipped with a toothed crown (51), connected by the upper chain (52) to one of the double toothed crowns (531) fixed to the shaft (532) in the support (533) of the lower end of the inclined rod (53) which has the other end fixed to the lower face of the base (50) and the second toothed crown Petition 870250005189, dated 22 / 01 / 2025, page.16 / 39 2 / 2 (531) is connected by the lower chain (52') to one of the double toothed crowns (541) fixed on the front axis of the roller (54) connected by the chain (52”) to the toothed crown (551) of the second roller (55), positioned parallel and articulated by the movable base (56) which is fixed to the lower end of the movable rod (57) which has its upper end articulated on the axis (532) of the inclined rod (53) and both rods, movable (56) and fixed (53), are joined by a spring (58), and said rollers (54 and 55) are provided with rubber rings (59). 4 - MACHINE FOR CUTTING CORN HUSKIES, according to claim 1, characterized by the cutting arrangement (6) comprising a fixed base (60), to which are welded the fixed bushings (611) coupled to the shaft (61), which also have coupled the articulated bushings (612), which are welded to the lower face of the movable base (62) on which is mounted the motor (M3), equipped with an upper pulley (63), connected by the belt (64) to the lower pulley (63'), coupled to the shaft (65) which at the other end has fixed the cutting disc (66) and is fixed to the lower face of the movable base (62) which has its height limited by the pin (67) and its movement controlled by the spring (68). Petition 870250005189, dated 22 / 01 / 2025, p. 17 / 39

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