Petiole cutter

Abstract

To provide a petiole cutter which is designed to cut off near the base of broccoli petiole by swinging the cutter on the base side by means of the centrifugal force of high-speed rotation.SOLUTION: A petiole cutter includes: a rotor which rotates around broccoli stems; and a cutter which is rotatably installed in the rotor. The cutter rotates in the outer periphery of the stems with the rotation of the rotor, comes into contact with the petiole base of the broccoli by being swung on the stem side by means of the centrifugal force of the rotation, and is made to cut off near the base. The rotor is situated downward from the pedestal which can set the broccoli, with the upper part of the petioles and flower buds upward, and with the stem downward. A rocking body is rotatably provided in the rotor, with the cutter installed in the rocking body. The cutter-installed side of the rocking body is swung in the stem direction when the rotor rotates at high speed. The cutter comes into contact with the base of the petiole and is made to cut off the base.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a petiole cutting device that can automatically cut the base (lower part) of the petiole of harvested broccoli, cauliflower, and other vegetables (hereinafter collectively referred to as "broccoli"). [Background technology]

[0002] Harvested broccoli A (Fig. 1(a), Fig. 2(a)) has multiple petioles C extending from the outer periphery of flower bud B. Unnecessary petioles are cut off in the field at harvest time, but several petioles C extending from around stalk D and above the periphery of flower bud B are left intact and brought to the sorting facility. These petioles C and stalks D are cut to the desired length at the sorting facility, then boxed (packaged) and shipped.

[0003] The cutting location and cutting length of the petiole differ depending on the region to which it is shipped. For example, for broccoli A (Hokkaido specification) to be shipped to Hokkaido, the petiole C protruding above the outer periphery of the flower bud B is cut at approximately the center in the height direction of the flower bud B as shown in Figure 1(b), leaving the lower part below approximately the center in the height direction of the flower bud B. Also, the stalk D is cut below the petiole C. For broccoli A (Kanto / Kyushu specification) to be shipped to the Kanto and Kyushu regions, the petiole C is cut near the base as shown in Figure 2(b), and the stalk D is cut to the desired length.

[0004] Cutting of the petioles C and stalks D of broccoli A was previously done manually, but in recent years, a cutting device has become available that can automatically cut the petioles near their bases (Patent Document 1).

[0005] The automatic cutting device of Patent Document 1 has improved workability compared to manual cutting. The cutting blade of this automatic cutting device is elongated in the axial direction of the stem, so that it can cut all the petioles protruding from several points in the axial direction of the stem (cutting to the Kanto and Kyushu specifications). However, because the cutting blade is fixed to the upper side of the axial direction of the stem, it is not possible to cut the petioles at the upper part of the axial direction of the stem while leaving them (cutting to the Hokkaido specifications). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-138590 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a petiole cutting device which can cut all of the petioles extending from several points in the axial direction of a broccoli stalk near the base (Kanto / Kyushu style cutting), or cut only the lower petioles near the base while leaving the upper petioles intact (Hokkaido style cutting). [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The petiole cutting device of the present invention comprises a rotating body that rotates around the object to be cut, and a blade rotatably attached to the rotating body, so that the blade rotates around the outer periphery of the object to be cut as the rotating body rotates, and is swung toward the object by the centrifugal force caused by the rotation, allowing the object to be cut.

[0009] The petiole cutting device is suitable for cutting the base of a broccoli petiole. In this case, a long and slender rocker is rotatably attached to a rotor that rotates around the broccoli with a support shaft, and a blade is attached to one axial end of the rocker, further forward than the support shaft, so that when the rocker rotates around the periphery of the broccoli with the rotation of the rotor, the blade approaches the stalk of the broccoli by centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rocker, and cuts the base of the petiole.

[0010] The petiole cutting device can be configured so that the rotating body can be raised and lowered in conjunction with the raising and lowering of the lifting body, and by changing the raised position, the vicinity of the base of the petiole to be cut can be selected. Effect of the Invention

[0011] The petiole cutting device of the present invention is convenient because it can cut all of the petioles extending from the stem (cutting to Kanto and Kyushu specifications) or cut only the lower petioles while leaving the upper petioles (cutting to Hokkaido specifications) with a single device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] (a) and (b) are explanatory diagrams of Hokkaido-style petiole cutting, where (a) is an explanatory diagram before cutting and (b) is an explanatory diagram after cutting. [Diagram 2] (a) and (b) are explanatory diagrams of petiole cutting according to the Kanto and Kyushu specifications, where (a) is an explanatory diagram before cutting and (b) is an explanatory diagram after cutting. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the petiole cutting device of the present invention. [Figure 4] (a) is an explanatory diagram of the base on which the broccoli is placed, and (b) is a perspective view of the broccoli placed on the base. [Diagram 5] An explanatory diagram showing the petiole cutting device of Figure 3 placed below a base on which broccoli is set. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the petiole cutting device of the present invention in a raised state. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the blade of the petiole cutting device of the present invention when stationary (not rotating). [Figure 8] An explanatory diagram of cutting near the base of a petiole using the blade of the petiole cutting device of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of another example of a petiole cutting device of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the petiole cutting device of FIG. 9 in a state where the blade is swung toward the stem. [Figure 11] An explanatory diagram of cutting near the base of the petiole using the blade of the petiole cutting device in Figure 9. [Figure 12] An explanatory diagram of the state in which the petiole cutting device of the present invention is placed below the base and an upper petiole cutting device is placed above the base. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the upper petiole cutting device when stationary. [Figure 14] An explanatory diagram of petiole cutting by the upper petiole cutting device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] (Embodiment 1) As shown in Figure 3, the petiole cutting device 10 of the present invention has a horizontally elongated oval rotating body 3 attached to the top of a rotating shaft 2 rotated by a motor M, and two elongated oscillating bodies 4 rotatably attached to the rotating body 3. A blade 5 is rotatably attached to the upper surface of one longitudinal end of each of the oscillating bodies 4 by a support shaft 6, and a weight 7 is fixed to the lower surface of the other end of the oscillating body 4.

[0014] The petiole cutting device 10 also includes a support 11. The support 11 is attached to the upper end of a lifting body 12 (Fig. 3) provided separately from the rotating shaft 2, and rises and falls with the lifting body 12, piercing the bottom surface E of the stalk D (Fig. 5) of the broccoli A when it rises and separating from the bottom surface E when it descends.

[0015] Rotation Axis The rotating shaft 2 rotates due to the rotation of the motor M. The rotation speed can be adjusted by meshing the drive gear G1 (Fig. 7) mounted on the rotating shaft of the motor M with the transmission gear G2 (Fig. 7) mounted on the rotating shaft 2.

[0016] [Lathe] The rotor 3 is fixed to the rotating shaft 2 and rotates in the same direction as the rotating shaft 2. The rotation speed of the rotor 3 is such that the blade attachment side of the oscillating body 4 is swung inward (in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 3) by the centrifugal force accompanying the rotation of the rotor 3, for example, a high speed rotation of about 1500 to 4000 rpm is suitable.

[0017] [Oscillating body] Each oscillating body 4 is long and slender, and is rotatably attached to the rotor 3 at approximately the center in the longitudinal direction by a support shaft 6, so that it rotates in the same direction as the rotor 3 rotates. When not rotating (stationary), the two oscillating bodies 4 are parallel to each other as shown in Fig. 7, and rotate at high speed as the rotor 3 rotates at high speed, so that the blade attachment side is swung toward the stalk D of the broccoli A set on the base 1 as shown in Fig. 5, and comes into contact with the base of the petiole C so that the base can be cut. When the cutting is completed, the rotor 3 stops rotating, and the two oscillating bodies 4 also stop rotating and return to being parallel, and the two blades 5 also swivel to return to being parallel (original state).

[0018] [Knife] As shown in FIG. 3, the blade 5 is attached to one end of the oscillating body 4 in the axial direction, closer to the tip than the support shaft 6. As shown in FIG. 3, the blade 5 has a sharp triangular blade base with the inside being the blade tip 5a. The blade 5 is attached to the upper surface of the oscillating body 4 facing upward, so that when the oscillating body 4 rotates in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 3, the blade tip 5a faces the stem D side. When each of the oscillating bodies 4 is not rotating (when stationary), the two blades 5 are parallel to each other like the two oscillating bodies 4. However, when the oscillating body 4 rotates at high speed in conjunction with the high speed rotation of the rotor 3, the blade 5 side is swung inward (toward the stem D in FIG. 6) by the centrifugal force of the high speed rotation, and the blade tip 5c comes into contact with the base of the petiole C and can cut the base, and when the high speed rotation of the rotor 3 stops and the oscillating body 4 stops, the blades return to their original state (parallel state).

[0019] [Weight] A weight 7 is attached to the underside of the other axial end of the rocking body 4, rearward of the support shaft 6 (opposite the blade attachment side). When the rocking body 4 rotates clockwise at high speed (for example, about 1500 to 4000 rpm) in conjunction with the high speed rotation of the rotor 3, the weight 7 makes it easier for the blade attachment side (tip side) of the rocking body 4 to approach the stalk D by the centrifugal force associated with the high speed rotation.

[0020] [stopper] In the present invention, a stopper 8 (Figs. 3 and 8) is provided to prevent the blade attachment side of the swinging body 4 from swinging more toward the stem D than necessary, causing the blade 5 to damage the stem D. The stopper 8 can have any structure as long as it can prevent the blade 5 from contacting the stem D. In Fig. 3, the stopper 8 is composed of a vertical bar 8a protruding above the top surface of the rotor 2 and a horizontal bar 8b protruding sideways from the support shaft 6. The swinging body 4 rotates with the high speed rotation of the rotor 2, and the centrifugal force caused by the rotation swings the swinging body 4 inward, so that the cutting edge 5a of the blade 5 comes into contact with the base of the petiole C as shown in Fig. 6, and cuts the base. After cutting, the vertical bar 8a (Fig. 3) comes into contact with the horizontal bar 8b (Fig. 3), preventing the swinging body 4 from swinging further inward.

[0021] The support 11 has a protrusion on the top surface of a ring-shaped base material and is attached to the upper end of a lifting body 12 (Figure 3) provided separately from the rotating shaft 2 so that it rises and falls along with the rise and fall of the lifting body 12, and when rising, it comes into contact with the bottom surface E of the stalk D (Figure 5) of the broccoli A.

[0022] [Lift drive] The petiole cutting device 10 (Fig. 3) has a rotating shaft 2 attached to a lifting body (not shown) so that it can be raised and lowered with the lifting body, and the petiole C to be contacted (cut) can be selected by changing the lifting position. When the height is adjusted so that the shaft 2 contacts the base of all the petioles C, the base of all the petioles C is cut, as in the Kanto and Kyushu specifications (Fig. 2(b)). When the height is adjusted so that the shaft 2 contacts only the base of the lower petioles C, only the base of the lower petioles C is cut, and the upper petioles C remain, as in the Hokkaido specifications (Fig. 1(b)). The rotating shaft 2 in Fig. 3 can be raised by a driving mechanism such as a cam or cylinder (not shown) and lowered by pulling it back with a spring S, or conversely, pushed up by the spring S and lowered by pulling it down with a driving mechanism (not shown). The lifting mechanism may be any other mechanism as long as it can raise and lower the rotating shaft 2.

[0023] [Changing blades] In the present invention, instead of adjusting the height of the blade 5 by raising and lowering the rotating shaft 2, the blade 5 can be replaced with one of a different length to change the cutting position of the petiole C, thereby switching between the Kanto / Kyushu specification and the Hokkaido specification.

[0024] [pedestal] The base 1 (FIGS. 4 to 6) for setting broccoli A may have any shape, structure, operation, etc., as long as it can set broccoli A with its flower buds B on top and its stems D on the bottom. The base 1 in FIG. 4(a), which is an example, is a square box-like shape with a main body 31 on a base 30. The main body 31 and the base 30 have a circular insertion hole (setting hole) 39 in the center, which opens vertically and is connected. As shown in FIG. 4(b), the setting hole 39 is large enough to insert (push) the flower buds B on top and the stems D on the bottom to set broccoli A. As shown in FIG. 4(a), the inner peripheral surface 39a of the setting hole 39 has a height in the vertical direction and slopes downward from the top to the bottom, with the inner diameter gradually becoming smaller (thinner) downward, making it easy to insert broccoli A.

[0025] Two roughly semicircular opening / closing plates 40 are disposed at opposing positions on the periphery of the upper surface of the set hole 39. The two opening / closing plates 40 are connected by two connecting plates 41, which are pulled toward each other by a traction device (e.g., a spring) not shown. The two opening / closing plates 40 are configured to open and close so that they are pushed outward (expanded in diameter) when broccoli A is pushed into the set hole 39, and return to their original position (reduced in diameter) when the broccoli A is discharged. By configuring them as opening and closing plates, it becomes easier to push the broccoli A into the set hole 39 from above, and when the broccoli A has been pushed in, the two opening / closing plates 40 come into contact with the outer periphery of the broccoli A, thereby holding the broccoli A from the outside.

[0026] [Cutting the stem] Broccoli A in Fig. 5 has its stalk D cut to a desired length. The stalk D can be cut before or after broccoli A is set on the base 1. A rotating disc-shaped blade is suitable for cutting the stalk, and the stalk and / or the disc-shaped blade can be moved to cut the stalk while it is moving.

[0027] [Operation 1 of the petiole cutting device of embodiment 1] This petiole cutting device is disposed below a bucket (base) 1 on which a broccoli A is set, as shown in Fig. 5, and can cut a petiole C of the broccoli A near its base at the stem D. The cutting can be performed as follows. (1) The petiole cutting device 10 in Fig. 3 is raised by a lifting device (not shown) to press the support tool 11 against the bottom surface E of the stem D. It is preferable to cut the stem D to a desired length in advance. (2) Rotate motor M to rotate rotor 3 (at a high speed of about 1500 rpm), and rotate oscillating body 4 in the same direction. The centrifugal force of this rotation swings the longitudinal tip side (the side where the blade is attached) of oscillating body 4 inward (toward stalk D of broccoli A) as shown in Figures 8 to 11, and blade 5 comes into contact with the vicinity of stalk D of petiole C and cuts the contacted portion as shown in Figure 2(b). After cutting, vertical bar 8a (Figure 3) comes into contact with horizontal bar 8b (Figure 3), and oscillating body 4 does not swing inward any further. (3) When cutting of the petiole C near its base is completed, the motor M and the rotor 3 stop rotating, and the oscillation and vibration of the oscillating body 4 stop. (4) After the blade 5 stops rotating, the petiole cutting device 10 is lowered by the lifting device to separate the support 11 from the bottom surface E of the stalk D. After separation, the broccoli A is removed from the base 1. The removal can be done manually or automatically by a robot. It can also be done by tilting the base 1 sideways so that the broccoli A falls out automatically.

[0028] (Embodiment 2) The petiole cutting device of the present invention may be as shown in Figures 9 to 11. The basic configuration of the petiole cutting device in these figures is the same as that of the petiole cutting device in Figure 3. The difference is the shape and structure of the rotor 3.

[0029] In Figures 9 to 11, a base 1 on which broccoli A is set is attached to a base plate 51 to which a motor M is attached, a ring-shaped rotating body 3 is rotatably attached to this base 1, and oscillating bodies 4 are attached to two places on the upper surface of the rotating body 3, and a blade 5 is attached to each of the oscillating bodies 4 facing upward.

[0030] In the petiole cutting device of Figures 9 to 11, when stationary (not rotating), the two oscillating bodies 4 are parallel to each other and the two blades 5 are parallel to each other. When the rotor 3 rotates at high speed in the same direction as the motor M rotates at high speed, the oscillating body 4 also rotates at high speed, and the centrifugal force of the high-speed rotation causes the blade attachment side of the oscillating body 4 to swing toward the stalk D of the broccoli A set on the base 1 as shown in Figure 10, and the blade 5 comes into contact with the vicinity of the base of the petiole C of the broccoli A as shown in Figure 11, so that the vicinity of the base can be cut.

[0031] 9 to 11 may also be attached to a lifting device (not shown) so that the contact position of the blade 5 near the base of the petiole C can be adjusted as the lifting device is raised and lowered, thereby allowing the selection of a petiole C that can be cut. Instead of attaching the device to a lifting device, the blade 5 may be replaced with one of a different length to change the contact position of the blade 5 near the base of the petiole C, thereby allowing the selection of a petiole C that can be cut.

[0032] The embodiment in Figures 9 to 11 also includes a support and a lifting body having the same configuration and function as the support 11 and the lifting body 12 in Figure 3, but the support and the lifting body are not shown (omitted) in Figures 9 to 11.

[0033] [Operation of the petiole cutting device of embodiment 2] The petiole cutting device of the second embodiment can also cut the vicinity of the base of the petiole C of the broccoli A set on the base 1, as shown in Fig. 5. In this case, the petiole cutting device 10 of the second embodiment can be raised and lowered, elevated, and rotated at high speed in the same manner as the petiole cutting device of the first embodiment.

[0034] [Use in conjunction with upper petiole cutting device] As described above, when cutting the base of the petiole C with the petiole cutting device 10 of the present invention, it can be used in combination with the upper petiole cutting device 50 as shown in Fig. 12. In this case, the center of the stem D, the center of the upper petiole cutting device 50 arranged above the base 1, and the center of the petiole cutting device (lower petiole cutting device) 10 of the present invention arranged below the base 1 are arranged on a single vertical axis XX. By arranging them on the vertical axis XX, the upper part of the petiole C can be cut by the upper petiole cutting device 50 and the lower part of the petiole C can be cut smoothly by the lower petiole cutting device 10. Incidentally, if the center of the stem D, the center of the upper petiole cutting device 50, and the center of the lower petiole cutting device 10 are deviated from the vertical axis XX, when the blade 5 of the lower petiole cutting device 10 cuts the lower part of the petiole C, the blade 5 may bite into the stem D and damage the stem D.

[0035] [Upper petiole cutting device] The upper petiole cutting device 50 has a rotor 53 (FIG. 12) attached below a rotating shaft 52 that rotates with the rotation of a motor M, and two blades 54 attached to the rotor 53. A pusher 55 is also attached below the rotor 53. The pusher 55 is attached to a lifting body (not shown) so that it rises and falls with the lifting body, and when it falls, it presses against a floret B of a broccoli A, as shown in FIG. 13.

[0036] As the lifting body descends, the pusher 55 descends and presses against the flower bud B. When the rotating shaft 52 rotates, the rotating body 53 rotates (revolves) around the outside of the flower bud B, and the centrifugal force generated during the revolution causes the two blades 54 to rotate (spin on their own axes), causing the tip side (lower end side) of each blade 54 to spread out horizontally (outside) from above the flower bud B as shown in Figure 14. The cutting edges of the two blades 54 come into contact with the petiole C from the flower bud B side (the inside of the petiole C), allowing the petiole C to be cut from its inside.

[0037] When cutting of the petiole C is completed, the motor M, the rotation of the rotating shaft 52, and the rotation (revolution) of the rotor 53 stop, the rotation (spinning) of the blade 54 also stops, the blade 54 is pulled up above the pusher 55 and returned to its original state before spinning (the state in Fig. 13), and the tip side of the blade 54 is pulled up above the pusher 55 as shown in Fig. 13. In addition, the rotor 53 is pulled up by the rise of the lifting body (not shown), and the blade 54 and the pusher 55 are pulled up above the bud B and returned to their original state before they descended (the state in Fig. 12). [Industrial Applicability]

[0038] The shapes, structures, arrangements, operations, and order of operations of the rotating shaft, rotating body, swinging body, blades, lifting mechanism, and other components in the present invention can be modified in design as long as the object of the present invention is solved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 Pedestal (bucket) 2 Rotation Axis 3 Rotating body 4. Oscillator 5. Knives 5a cutting edge 6 Support shaft 7 weight 8 Stopper 8a Vertical bar 8b Horizontal bar 10 Petiole cutting device (lower petiole cutting device) 11 Supports 12 Lifting body 30 (pedestal) base 31 (Pedestal) Main Body 39 Insertion hole (setting hole) 39a (Set hole) inner surface 40 Opening plate 41 Connecting plate 50 Upper petiole cutting device 51 Substrate 52 Rotation axis 53 Rotating Body 54 Knives 55 Push Tool A. Broccoli B Flower bud C Petiole D. Stem E (of stem) bottom G1 Drive gear G2 Transmission gear Medium motor S Spring

Claims

1. The cutting tool includes a rotor that rotates around the object to be cut and a blade that is rotatably attached to the rotor, The blade rotates around the outer circumference of the workpiece as the rotor rotates, and is swung toward the workpiece by the centrifugal force caused by the rotation, allowing the workpiece to be cut. A petiole cutting device characterized by the above.

2. The device includes a rotor that rotates around the broccoli, a swinging body, and a blade. The rocking body is rotatably attached to the rotor by a support shaft, The blade is attached to one axial end of the rocking body, further forward than the support shaft, so that when the rocking body rotates around the outer periphery of the broccoli with the rotation of the rotor, the blade approaches the stalk of the broccoli by centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the rocking body, and is able to cut the vicinity of the base of the broccoli petiole. A petiole cutting device characterized by the above.

3. a rotor that is disposed under a base on which the broccoli can be placed and rotates in a circumferential direction of the broccoli stem; An elongated rocking body rotatably attached to the rotating body by a support shaft; The blade is attached to one axial end side of the rocking body, further forward than the support shaft, and disposed outside the stem, The rocking body rotates around the outer periphery of the stalk as the rotor rotates, and the blade side is swung so as to approach the stalk side of the broccoli by centrifugal force caused by the rotation. The blade is adapted to come into contact with the base of the broccoli petiole when the blade side of the swinging body is swung toward the stem, thereby cutting the base. A petiole cutting device characterized by the above.

4. The petiole cutting device according to claim 2 or 3, A weight is attached to the other axial end of the rocking body and rearward of the support shaft. A petiole cutting device characterized by the above.

5. The petiole cutting device according to claim 2 or 3, A stopper is provided to prevent the blade side of the swinging body from being swung toward the stem more than necessary, thereby preventing damage to the stem by the blade. A petiole cutting device characterized by the above.

6. The petiole cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The rotor can be raised and lowered to adjust the height of the blade, and the cutting position of the blade near the base of the petiole can be adjusted. A petiole cutting device characterized by the above.

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