Rubber tapping machines and rubber tapping methods.

Abstract

DEPCT65 The exposed parts show the rubber tapping machine and the rubber tapping method. The rubber tapping machine consists of the following components. Deformable guide rails at the top and bottom where the sliding channel is formed between the inner walls. And the outer wall of each deformable guide rail and the teeth are aligned on the outside. The outer wall of the rubber tapping machine also incorporates longitudinal guide rails at both ends. Two of the longitudinal guide rails were mounted to the upper and lower guide rail holders, respectively. Each guide rail grip is fitted with an inner groove and a transverse limiting wheel gear in each grip. The guide rail can interlock with the teeth on the outer wall. -----------------------------------------------------------

Description

A rubber tapping machine and a rubber tapping method Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of agricultural machinery, and more specifically to a rubber tapping machine and method for cutting the bark of rubber trees. Background Technology

[0002] Since humans discovered that natural rubber could be harvested from rubber trees, the method for creating a flow channel in the rubber tree bark has always been manual tapping with a hand-held tapping knife. Although electric tapping knives have appeared in modern times, manual operation is still required.

[0003] Chinese invention patent application CN104429813A discloses a rubber tapping machine, including a tree-binding frame and two annular planetary gear housings respectively installed at the upper and lower ends of the tree-binding frame. A vector moving blade assembly is arranged between the two planetary gear housings. A gear shaft is arranged on the vector moving blade assembly. A motor and a rubber tapping blade holder with gears and racks are arranged inside the vector moving blade assembly. A rubber tapping blade assembly is arranged inside the rubber tapping blade holder. The top of the rubber tapping blade assembly is connected to a lead screw. Rotating the lead screw can make the rubber tapping blade assembly move up and down inside the rubber tapping blade holder. The ring planetary gear housing of this type of rubber tapper has a fixed shape and cannot be adjusted according to the thickness of the rubber tree trunk. If the rubber tree trunk is thin, the lever arm between the tapping blade assembly and the rubber tree trunk is long, making tapping laborious and ineffective. The tapping blade holder uses a gear and rack transmission method, which has a high failure rate and is troublesome to install. In addition, the position of the blade head of this type of rubber tapper is fixed, while the surface of the rubber tree bark is irregular. This structure makes it difficult for the tapper to cut into the concave parts of the rubber tree bark surface during the tapping process, and it is also easy to get stuck on the convex parts of the rubber tree bark surface, which cannot effectively solve the problem of continuous cutting on the irregular surface of the rubber tree bark.

[0004] Chinese invention patent application CN107711410A discloses a rubber tapping machine and a rubber tapping method. It solves the problem of fixing the rubber tapping machine to tree trunks of different thicknesses by using a flexible guide rail, but the stability of the machine during the rubber tapping process still needs to be improved.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a rubber tapping machine and a rubber tapping method that can be firmly fixed to different tree trunks and can make stable and uniform cuts.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0008] An improved rubber tapping machine includes two deformable guide rails, one upper and one lower, with a groove formed between the inner and outer walls of the deformable guide rails, and teeth provided on the outer side of the outer wall. The machine also includes a longitudinal guide rail, with upper and lower guide rail frames installed at both ends. The guide rail frames have inner grooves and transverse limiting wheels. The two deformable guide rails are inserted into the inner grooves of the upper and lower guide rail frames, allowing the gears within the guide rail frames to mesh with the teeth on the outer wall of the deformable guide rails, and the transverse limiting wheels to be embedded in corresponding grooves on the deformable guide rails. Furthermore, a lead screw is installed between the upper and lower guide rail frames, one end of which is fixedly connected to the motor teeth of a motor I, and the other end is fixedly connected to a drive gear. The machine also includes a blade holder assembly mounted on the longitudinal guide rails and the lead screw.

[0009] Furthermore, the deformable guide rail is divided into an inner wall and an outer wall. The inner wall has a segmented structure, and each segment of the outer wall and the inner wall is connected as a whole.

[0010] Furthermore, the inner wall of the deformable guide rail is divided into evenly spaced segments or into multiple regularly spaced small segments.

[0011] Furthermore, the inner wall surface of the deformable guide rail is provided with protruding studs.

[0012] Furthermore, two or more transverse limiting wheels are respectively set at the top and bottom of the groove inside the guide rail frame.

[0013] Furthermore, two or more longitudinal limiting sliders are respectively provided at the top and bottom of the groove inside the guide rail frame.

[0014] Furthermore, the motor teeth and drive gears in the upper and lower guide rail frames are respectively meshed with the teeth on the two deformable guide rails through multi-stage gear transmission.

[0015] Furthermore, one end of the tool holder assembly is fitted onto the lead screw via a nut, and the other end passes through the longitudinal guide rail and can slide up and down along it. A ratchet and a fixed-angle positioning block that can rotate synchronously with the nut are fixedly installed outside the nut. A tool holder seat and a linear displacement slider with a spring return plate are provided on the tool holder assembly. Motor II is fixedly installed on the tool holder seat. A power wheel with a notched slot is installed on the power output shaft of motor II. A rubber cutting knife assembly is installed at one end of the linear displacement slider, and the edge of the other end contacts the aforementioned power wheel. In addition, a spring-loaded pawl is installed on the linear displacement slider at a position opposite to the ratchet, and positioning end faces are provided at intervals at positions opposite to the fixed-angle positioning block.

[0016] Furthermore, the ratchet has three or more teeth.

[0017] Furthermore, the rubber tapping knife assembly includes a blade head swing arm hinged to the blade holder seat, a torsion spring is provided on a protrusion at one end of the blade head swing arm, and the torsion spring is connected to a linear displacement slider by a steel wire. One end of the blade head swing arm is connected to a blade depth limiting member, and a rubber tapping blade is fixed on the blade depth limiting member.

[0018] Furthermore, the cutting depth limiting component is connected to the cutting head swing arm via an anti-loosening screw, allowing the cutting depth limiting component to swing freely at multiple angles.

[0019] Furthermore, the depth limiting component is provided with a limiting part and a guiding part.

[0020] An improvement to a rubber tapping method using the aforementioned rubber tapping machine includes the following steps:

[0021] (1) Fixing: Hoop the upper and lower deformable guide rails of the rubber tapper onto the rubber tree, and tighten the two ends of the deformable guide rails with a tightening strap to fix the rubber tapper onto the rubber tree trunk.

[0022] (2) Release the blade: Start motor II to make the power wheel rotate clockwise. The notch on the power wheel pulls the linear displacement slider to reset, so that the rubber tapping blade assembly extends and presses against the rubber tree bark.

[0023] (3) Rubber tapping: Start motor I to drive motor teeth, lead screw and drive gear to rotate clockwise, so that the upper and lower guide rails move clockwise in a circular motion along the upper and lower deformable guide rails respectively. At the same time, the knife holder assembly moves from bottom to top along the lead screw due to the transmission of the lead screw. The two vector superposition forms a spiral rubber tapping process from the lower right to the upper left.

[0024] (4) Retracting the blade: When the upper and lower guide rails move to the end of the deformable guide rails, turn off motor I and start motor II in reverse so that the power wheel rotates counterclockwise. The notch and slot on the power wheel catches the edge of the linear displacement slider and pushes it forward so that the rubber tapping blade assembly retracts and detaches from the rubber tree bark. At the same time, as the power wheel pushes the linear displacement slider forward, the spring-loaded pawl on it drives the ratchet to rotate. The rotation of the ratchet drives the fixed angle positioning block and nut to rotate, so that the blade assembly moves down a set distance along the screw.

[0025] (5) Return stroke: Start motor I drives the motor teeth, lead screw and drive gear to rotate counterclockwise, so that the upper and lower guide rails move counterclockwise in a circular motion along the upper and lower deformable guide rails respectively. At the same time, the tool post assembly moves from top to bottom along the lead screw due to the transmission of the lead screw. The two vector superposition forms a spiral return stroke from the upper left to the lower right.

[0026] (6) Repeat steps (2)-(5) above until the entire rubber tapping process is completed.

[0027] Furthermore, in step (2), the linear displacement slider resets and simultaneously tightens the steel wire, causing the torsion spring to be under force, and the cutter head swing arm extends; in step (4), the linear displacement slider pushes forward to relax the steel wire that pulls the torsion spring, so that the torsion spring is no longer under force, and the cutter head swing arm retracts.

[0028] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0029] The rubber tapping machine disclosed in this invention utilizes a deformable guide rail, allowing it to be used with tree trunks of varying thicknesses and shapes. When used in conjunction with a tightening belt, the entire tapping machine can be securely fixed to the tree trunk. Furthermore, the deformable guide rail also provides transmission during the tapping process. The outer wall of the deformable guide rail is a single, integrated structure, while the inner wall is segmented. This segmentation promotes uniform overall deformation, ensuring the rigidity of the inner wall while allowing the guide rail to deform at different angles. The protruding studs on the inner wall of the deformable guide rail help it grip the tree trunk surface firmly.

[0030] The rubber tapping machine disclosed in this invention has both vertical and horizontal limits between the deformable guide rail and the upper and lower guide rail frames, which greatly improves the stability and practicality of the rubber tapping machine during the tapping process. Specifically, the lateral limiting wheel embedded in the groove of the deformable guide rail can prevent the guide rail frame from falling out and limit the lateral displacement between the upper and lower guide rail frames and the deformable guide rail. The longitudinal limiting slider can reduce the friction between the groove and the upper and lower guide rail frames and limit the vertical direction of the entire deformable guide rail.

[0031] The rubber tapping machine disclosed in this invention, because the tree trunk is not perfectly circular, allows the blade depth limiting component to continuously adjust its swing angle according to the tree shape, ensuring that the cutting blade always remains perpendicular to the center of the circle, thus guaranteeing a uniform cutting depth. Otherwise, the blade would not be able to cut through concave areas, and would cut too deeply through convex areas, damaging both the blade and the rubber tree. The cutting depth for different rubber trees can also be controlled by adjusting the distance the cutting blade extends beyond the blade depth limiting component.

[0032] The rubber tapping machine disclosed in this invention features a power wheel, a linear displacement slider, a ratchet, and a fixed-angle positioning block on the blade holder. This allows the blade holder assembly to automatically move down a set distance after each cut and remain stationary until the next cutting cycle is complete. Specifically, the rotation angle of the ratchet is determined by the number of teeth on it. Positioning is achieved by aligning the positioning end face of the linear displacement slider with the end face of the fixed-angle positioning block on one side of the ratchet. The ratchet engages with a lead screw via a nut, thus its rotation drives the entire blade holder assembly to move down.

[0033] The rubber tapping method disclosed in this invention can complete the vector superposition tapping process from the lower right to the upper left and the vector superposition return process from the upper left to the lower right with just one motor, which conforms to the tapping pattern of rubber trees. The tool holder assembly is lowered at the same time as the knife is retracted, which is simple and convenient. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the rubber tapping machine disclosed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the rubber tapping machine disclosed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention (II);

[0036] Figure 3 is a partial structural schematic diagram of the blade holder assembly in the rubber tapping machine disclosed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 4 is a partial structural schematic diagram (II) of the blade holder assembly in the rubber tapping machine disclosed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 5 is a partial structural schematic diagram of the rubber tapping blade assembly in the rubber tapping machine disclosed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the deformable guide rail of the rubber tapping machine disclosed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0040] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0041] Example 1, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, discloses a rubber tapping machine. The machine includes two deformable guide rails 1, upper and lower, with a groove 2 formed between the inner and outer walls of the deformable guide rails. Teeth 3 are provided on the outer side of the outer wall of the deformable guide rail 1. The machine also includes a longitudinal guide rail 4, with upper and lower guide rail frames 5 installed at both ends. Inner grooves are provided on the guide rail frames 5, and the two deformable guide rails 1 are respectively inserted into the inner grooves of the upper and lower guide rail frames 5, so that the gears inside the guide rail frames 5 mesh with the teeth 3 on the outer wall of the deformable guide rails. A transverse limiting wheel 6 and a longitudinal limiting slider 13 are respectively provided on the upper and lower guide rail frames. The limiting wheel 6 is embedded in the corresponding groove 2 on the deformable guide rail, and the longitudinal limiting slider 13 contacts the edge of the outer wall of the deformable guide rail; in addition, a lead screw 7 is installed between the upper and lower guide rail frames 5. One end of the lead screw 7 is fixedly connected to the motor teeth of the motor I8, and the other end is fixedly connected to a drive gear; the motor teeth and drive gear in the upper and lower guide rail frames 5 are respectively meshed with the teeth on the two deformable guide rails through multi-stage gear transmission. A driven gear can also be set in the upper and lower guide rail frames to ensure more stable transmission between the guide rail frames and the deformable guide rails. The rubber tapping machine also includes a blade holder assembly mounted on the longitudinal guide rail 4 and the lead screw 7. As shown in Figures 1-4, one end of the tool holder assembly is fitted onto the lead screw 7 via a nut, and the other end passes through the longitudinal guide rail 4 and can slide up and down along it. A ratchet 10 and a fixed-angle positioning block 11 that can rotate synchronously with the nut are fixedly installed outside the nut. A tool holder seat and a linear displacement slider 12 with a spring return plate 17 are provided on the tool holder assembly. A motor II9 is ​​fixedly installed on the tool holder seat. A power wheel 14 with a notch and groove is installed on the power output shaft of the motor II9. A rubber cutting knife assembly is installed at one end of the linear displacement slider 12, and the edge of the other end of the linear displacement slider 12 contacts the aforementioned power wheel 14. In addition, a spring-loaded pawl 15 is installed on the linear displacement slider 12 at a position opposite to the ratchet 10, and a positioning end face 16 is provided at intervals opposite to the fixed-angle positioning block 11.In this embodiment, the ratchet 10 has 4 teeth, the fixed-angle positioning block 11 has rounded corners on all four sides, and the linear displacement slider 12 has 2 positioning end faces. When the power wheel 14 rotates counterclockwise, when the edge of the linear displacement slider 12 falls into the notch and slot of the power wheel 14, the linear displacement slider 12 is pushed out. The pawl 15 can then move the teeth on the ratchet, causing the ratchet 10 and the fixed-angle positioning block 11 to rotate 90 degrees. After rotating to the correct position, one end face of the fixed-angle positioning block 11 aligns with one positioning end face of the linear displacement slider 12. 16. During the overlapping positioning, the nut inside the ratchet engages with the lead screw 7. The rotation of the ratchet 10 will drive the entire tool holder assembly to move down one distance unit along the longitudinal guide rail 4 and the lead screw 7. When the power wheel 14 rotates clockwise, the edge of the linear displacement slider 12 falls into the notch slot of the power wheel 14 under the action of the spring return plate 17. The power wheel 14 pulls the linear displacement slider 12 back, and the spring pawl 15 cannot move the teeth on the ratchet 10. The ratchet 10 and the fixed angle positioning block 11 remain in place.

[0042] As shown in Figures 1 and 5, in this embodiment, the rubber tapping knife assembly includes a blade head swing arm 18 hinged to the blade holder seat. A torsion spring 19 is provided on a protrusion at one end of the blade head swing arm, and the torsion spring 19 is connected to a linear displacement slider 12 by a steel wire. One end of the blade head swing arm 18 is connected to a blade depth limiting member 20. The blade depth limiting member 20 is provided with a limiting part 23 and a guiding part 22, which can swing freely at multiple angles. The blade depth limiting member 20 is connected to the blade head swing arm 18 by an anti-loosening screw. A rubber tapping blade 21 is fixed on the blade depth limiting member 20. The rubber tapping blade 21 has a cutting depth adjustment hole. The rubber tapping blade 21 is fixed to the blade depth limiting member 20 by a screw passing through the depth adjustment hole.

[0043] As shown in Figure 6, in this embodiment, the deformable guide rail consists of an inner wall and an outer wall. The outer wall is a single, integral structure, while the inner wall is a segmented structure. Each segment of the outer and inner walls is connected as a single unit. The segments of the inner wall can be evenly spaced or unequal, but evenly spaced segments are more conducive to uniform deformation. Protruding nails 24 are provided on the inner wall of the deformable guide rail to grip the tree trunk. Alternatively, the inner wall can be made into a textured, non-slip, rough surface.

[0044] This embodiment also discloses a rubber tapping method using the aforementioned rubber tapping machine, comprising the following steps:

[0045] (1) Fixing: Hoop the upper and lower deformable guide rails of the rubber tapper onto the rubber tree, and tighten the two ends of the deformable guide rails with a tightening strap to fix the rubber tapper onto the rubber tree trunk.

[0046] (2) Release the blade: Start motor II to make the power wheel rotate clockwise. The notch on the power wheel pulls the linear displacement slider to reset, so that the rubber tapping blade assembly extends and presses against the rubber tree bark.

[0047] (3) Rubber tapping: Start motor I to drive motor teeth, lead screw and drive gear to rotate clockwise, so that the upper and lower guide rails move clockwise in a circular motion along the upper and lower deformable guide rails respectively. At the same time, the knife holder assembly moves from bottom to top along the lead screw due to the transmission of the lead screw. The two vector superposition forms a spiral rubber tapping process from the lower right to the upper left.

[0048] (4) Retracting the blade: When the upper and lower guide rails move to the end of the deformable guide rails, turn off motor I and start motor II in reverse so that the power wheel rotates counterclockwise. The notch and slot on the power wheel catches the edge of the linear displacement slider and pushes it forward so that the rubber tapping blade assembly retracts and detaches from the rubber tree bark. At the same time, as the power wheel pushes the linear displacement slider forward, the spring-loaded pawl on it drives the ratchet to rotate. The rotation of the ratchet drives the fixed angle positioning block and nut to rotate, so that the blade assembly moves down a set distance along the screw.

[0049] (5) Return stroke: Start motor I drives the motor teeth, lead screw and drive gear to rotate counterclockwise, so that the upper and lower guide rails move counterclockwise in a circular motion along the upper and lower deformable guide rails respectively. At the same time, the tool post assembly moves from top to bottom along the lead screw due to the transmission of the lead screw. The two vector superposition forms a spiral return stroke from the upper left to the lower right.

[0050] (6) Repeat steps (2)-(5) above until the entire rubber tapping process is completed.

[0051] In step (2), the linear displacement slider resets and simultaneously tightens the steel wire, causing the torsion spring to be under force, and the cutter head arm extends. In step (4), the linear displacement slider pushes forward, causing the steel wire pulling the torsion spring to relax, the torsion spring to be under no force, and the cutter head arm retracts. At the same time as the cutter retracts, the ratchet 10 rotates 90 degrees, causing the cutter holder assembly to move down one distance unit along the lead screw 7 and the longitudinal guide rail 4. After the ratchet 10 is rotated 90 degrees by the retractable pawl 15, no matter how many times the power wheel 14 continues to rotate counterclockwise, the ratchet 10 and the fixed angle positioning block 11 will still be locked and will not move. Only when the power wheel 10 rotates clockwise to pull the linear displacement slider 12 back to its original position, and then the power wheel 10 rotates counterclockwise again to push the linear displacement slider 12, can the retractable pawl 15 rotate the ratchet 10 a second 90 degrees, and so on, thereby realizing the function of unidirectional fixed angle positioning.