Leaf stalk cutter

Abstract

To provide a leaf stalk cutter capable of cutting a leaf stalk at the side of a flower bud of a broccoli by expanding a cutter by centrifugal force by high speed rotation to the outside from he inside of the leaf stalk of the broccoli.SOLUTION: A leaf stalk cutter of the present invention has a rotation body rotating above a broccoli and a cutter rotatably installed in the rotation body, and the cutter rotates according to rotation of the rotation body, and cuts the leaf stalk at the side of the flower bud by expanding to the leaf stalk side of the broccoli from the side of a flower bud of the broccoli.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a petiole cutting device that can automatically cut off the petioles, stems, and other unnecessary parts 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 several 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 that protrudes 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 (at the root) as shown in Figure 2(b), and the stalk D is cut to the desired length.

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

[0005] The automatic cutting device of Patent Document 1 is more efficient than manual cutting. However, because the petiole is cut near the base, part of the petiole does not remain on the outer periphery of the flower bud, leaving the flower bud completely bare. For this reason, it is not possible to cut the petiole according to Hokkaido specifications, which leave the petiole on the outer periphery of the flower bud. [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 capable of cutting the petiole extending upward and outside of a broccoli flower bud laterally (including approximately laterally) of the flower bud without damaging the flower bud. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The petiole cutting device of the present invention comprises a rotating body that rotates above the object to be cut (e.g., broccoli) and a blade attached to the rotating body, the blade rotates as the rotating body rotates and spreads outward due to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation, allowing the blade to cut the broccoli petiole, and returns to its original position before spreading outward when the rotation of the rotating body stops.

[0009] The petiole cutting device can also have a rotor that can be raised and lowered. In this case, when the rotor is lowered, the blade can be lowered onto the broccoli floret, and the lowered blade rotates above the floret as the rotor rotates, and spreads toward the petiole by the centrifugal force to cut the petiole. When the rotor stops rotating, the blade returns to its original state before spreading, and when the rotor is raised, the blade also rises. Effect of the Invention

[0010] The petiole cutting device of the present invention has the following effects. (1) The petiole can be cut next to the flower bud, leaving the part below the cut outside the flower bud. This means that the flower bud is surrounded and protected by the remaining petiole, making it less likely to be damaged. (2) After the blade descends onto the flower bud, it spreads from the inside of the petiole to the outside (petiole side) so that the flower bud is not damaged by the blade. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [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] 1 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of the petiole cutting device, the object to be cut, and the lower cutting device of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4 is an explanatory diagram of how the blade and the pusher are attached to the rotating body in the petiole cutting device of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 5] 1A is an explanatory diagram of the spread of the blade in the petiole cutting device of the present invention when rotating at high speed, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the attachment of the blade and the pushing tool to the rotating body. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a side view of the rotating body, blade, and pushing tool in the petiole cutting device of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a blade attachment part of the petiole cutting device of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the attachment of a blade to the petiole cutting device of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the blade attachment state of the petiole cutting device of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the blade of the petiole cutting device of the present invention when stationary (not rotating). [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of petiole cutting using a blade of the petiole cutting device of the present invention. [Figure 12] (a) An explanatory diagram of the base of the petiole cutting device of the present invention, (b) An explanatory diagram of the state in which broccoli is set on the base. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the state in which the base of the petiole cutting device of the present invention is tilted to discharge broccoli. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] (Embodiment) The petiole cutting device of the present invention is suitable for cutting the upper part of broccoli petioles. There are various configurations and operations of the device. As an example, an embodiment for cutting broccoli petioles will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0013] [Stalk cutting device] The petiole cutting device 50 of the present invention is disposed above an object to be cut (broccoli) A set on a base 1 as shown in Fig. 3. The petiole cutting device 50 includes a motor M, a rotating shaft 2, a rotating body 3 (Fig. 4) attached to the rotating shaft 2, two blades 4 (Fig. 4) attached to opposing positions in the circumferential direction of the rotating body 3, and a suction cup-shaped pressing tool 5 (Figs. 4 and 5) attached to the lower part of the rotating shaft 2.

[0014] [Rotating shaft, motor] The rotating shaft 2 rotates with the rotation of the drive shaft of the motor M. The motor M is a general-purpose motor. The rotating shaft 2 is connected to a lifting body (not shown) and moves up and down with the lifting body.

[0015] [Lathe] As shown in Fig. 4, the rotor 3 has a cylindrical upper portion 3a and a lower portion 3b that flares outward toward the bottom, with the upper portion 3a being connected to the rotating shaft 2 so as to rotate with the rotation of the rotating shaft 2. A high rotation speed of, for example, about 1500 to 4000 rpm (a rotation speed at which the blades 4 spread out as shown in Fig. 5(a) due to the centrifugal force during rotation) is suitable for the rotor 3. The rotor 3 rises and falls with the rise and fall of the rotating shaft 2.

[0016] [Knives and installation of knives] The two blades 4 have the same shape and structure, and a blade tip 4b is located on the outer side in the width direction (the forward direction of the arrow in Fig. 6) of an elongated blade base plate 4a as shown in Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 7, the blade base plate 4a has a bush insertion hole 4c and a return tool insertion hole 4d.

[0017] The blade 4 is attached to the rotor 3 using a main shaft 6, a main shaft fixing nut 7, a collar 8, a return tool (return spring) 9, a bush 10, and a blade fixing nut 11 as shown in FIG.

[0018] The main shaft 6 is provided with an upper thread 6a, a flange 6b, an unthreaded cylindrical portion 6c, and a lower thread 6d, in that order from its upper end to its lower end in the axial direction.

[0019] The spindle fixing nut 7, collar 8, bushing 10, and blade fixing nut 11 are the same as those for general use. The collar 8 in Fig. 7 is cylindrical, and the bushing 10 has a flange 10b at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 10a.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 7, the return spring 9 has an axial middle portion 9a wound in a coil shape several times, and an upper end portion 9b and a lower end portion 9c which are linear.

[0021] As shown in Figure 9, the main shaft 6 is inserted upward from the inside of the lower part 3b of the rotating body 3 into the main shaft insertion hole 3c that is opened in the flared lower part 3b of the rotating body 3, with the upper threads 6a of the main shaft 6 protruding above the lower part 3b. The main shaft fixing nut 7 is screwed onto the upper threads 6a and tightened, and the main shaft 6 is sandwiched between the main shaft fixing nut 7 and the receiving flange 6b of the main shaft 6, and fixed to the lower part 3b of the rotating body 3.

[0022] [Installation of blade: Installation that allows revolution and rotation] The blade 4 is attached to the spindle 6 as shown in FIG. 8. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the collar 8 is loosely placed on the outer periphery of the tubular portion 6c of the spindle 6 so as to be rotatable, the return tool 9 is placed on the outer periphery of the collar 8, and the bush 10 is inserted into the bush insertion hole 4c (FIG. 7) of the blade 4 from below. The tubular portion 10a of the bush 10 is loosely inserted inside the collar 8 so as to be rotatable, and the lower screw 6d of the spindle 6 is protruded below the flange 10b of the bush 10. The blade fixing nut 11 is screwed onto the lower screw 6d, and the blade 4 is sandwiched between the lower end of the collar 8 and the flange 10b of the bush 10. As a result, the blade 4 is attached to the flared lower portion 3b of the rotor 3 in a state in which it can rotate (spin) around the outer periphery of the spindle 6. The blade 4, which is thus rotatably attached, rotates in the same direction as the rotating body 3 as the rotating body 3 rotates (revolves around the outer periphery of the broccoli A set on the base 1 as shown in Figure 3), and is also able to rotate around the outer periphery of the main shaft 6.

[0023] [Installation of the return tool] As shown in Fig. 9, the return tool (return spring) 9 has a coil-shaped middle part 9a that covers the outer periphery of the collar 8, an upper end part 9b that is inserted from below into the opening hole 3d (Fig. 6) of the rotor 3 and protrudes upward, and a lower end part 9c that is inserted from above into the return tool insertion hole 4d of the blade 4 and protrudes downward. By attaching it in this manner, when the blade 4 rotates, the diameter of the coil-shaped middle part 9a is reduced, and a force (reversal force) that returns the blade 4 is stored.

[0024] When the rotor 3 is stationary (not rotating), the two blades 4 are pulled upward by the reversing force of the return tool 9 and are accommodated (stored) on the pusher 5 as shown in Fig. 10, but when the rotor 3 rotates at high speed, they rotate (revolve) at high speed in the same direction as the rotor 3 as shown in Fig. 5(a), and the centrifugal force of the high speed rotation causes the tip side 4e (Fig. 9) to spread out to the lower outside of the peripheral part of the lower part 3b of the rotor 3 as shown in Fig. 5, so that the petiole C can be cut as shown in Fig. 11. Also, when the rotor 3 stops rotating at high speed (stationary: not rotating), each blade 4 is pulled up to the top of the pusher 5 by the reversing force of the return tool 9 (reversing force stored during high speed rotation) and is stored on the pusher 5 as shown in Fig. 10.

[0025] [Pressing tool] The pressing tool 5 (Fig. 3) is used to press against the flower bud B of the broccoli A, and has a suction cup-like shape with a flared base as shown in Figs. 5(b) and 9. The pressing tool 5 is attached to the bottom of the rotating shaft 2 as shown in Fig. 5(b). The pressing tool 5 rises and falls as the rotating shaft 2 rises and falls, but is designed not to rotate (spin) when the rotating shaft 2 rotates. With this structure, the pressing tool 5 descends as the rotating shaft 2 descends and presses against the flower bud B as shown in Fig. 10, but does not rotate when the rotating shaft 2 rotates, so that it does not rub against the flower bud B and does not damage the flower bud B. The pressing tool 5 can also be attached to a lifting body separate from the rotating shaft instead of to the rotating shaft 2, so that it presses against the flower bud B when it descends but does not rotate, and moves away from the flower bud B when it rises.

[0026] [pedestal] The base 1 on which the broccoli A is set as shown in Fig. 3 may have any shape, structure, operation, etc., as long as the broccoli A can be set with its flower buds B on top and its stem D on the bottom. The base 1 in Fig. 3, which is one example, is in the shape of a square box and has a main body 31 on a base 30.

[0027] There is a circular insertion hole (setting hole) 39 (Fig. 12(a)) in the centre of the main body 31, which vertically communicates with the opening 34 in the centre of the base 30. The setting hole 39 is large enough that broccoli A can be set by inserting (pushing) it with the flower bud B on top and the stem D on the bottom, as shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 12(a), the inner circumferential surface 39a of the setting hole 39 has a height in the vertical direction and slopes downward from top to bottom, with the inner diameter gradually becoming smaller (thinner) downward, making it easy to insert the broccoli A.

[0028] Two approximately 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, and the connecting plates 41 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 when broccoli A is pushed into the set hole 39, they are pushed outward (expanded in diameter), and when the broccoli A is discharged, they return to their original position (reduced in diameter). By configuring them to open and close, it becomes easier to push the broccoli A into the set hole 39 from above, and when the pushing is completed, the two opening / closing plates 40 come into contact with the outer periphery of the broccoli A to hold the broccoli A from the outside. As shown in FIG. 3, the broccoli A set in the set hole 39 of the base 1 is perpendicular to the horizontal base 1.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 12(b) and Fig. 13, the main body 31 is attached to the base 30 by a pin 38 and can be rotated from the horizontal position shown in Fig. 12(b) to the vertical position shown in Fig. 13. The rotation angle can be set as desired. Broccoli A can be removed from the set hole 39 manually by an operator or by a robot. The main body 31 can be configured to rise up vertically as shown in Fig. 13 automatically or when an operator operates a switch, and when the main body 31 rises up vigorously, the broccoli A automatically jumps out of the set hole 39 and falls onto the conveyor belt 45 (Fig. 13). The main body 31 that has risen up as shown in Fig. 13 can be automatically returned to the horizontal position as shown in Fig. 12(b), or it can be returned manually by an operator or by a robot.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 3, the center of the stem D, the center of the petiole cutting device (upper petiole cutting device) 50 arranged above the base 1, and the center of the lower petiole cutting device 60 arranged below the base 1 are arranged to be located on a single vertical axis XX. By locating 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 stem D can be cut by the lower petiole cutting device 60 smoothly. If the above three centers are deviated from the vertical axis XX, when the blade 65 of the lower petiole cutting device 60 cuts the lower part of the petiole C, the blade 65 may bite into the stem D and damage the stem D.

[0031] [Lower petiole cutting device] An example of a lower petiole cutting device 60 is shown in Figure 3. This lower petiole cutting device 60 has a rotor 63 attached to the top of a rotating shaft 62 rotated by a motor M, and two long, slender oscillating bodies 64 rotatably attached to the rotor 63. A blade 65 is rotatably attached to the upper surface of one longitudinal end of each of the oscillating bodies 64 by a support shaft 66, and a weight 67 is fixed to the lower surface of the other end of the oscillating body 64.

[0032] 3 is rotatably attached to the rotor 63 by a support shaft 66 at approximately the center in the longitudinal direction, and rotates in the same direction as the rotor 63. The two rotors 64 are parallel when not rotating (stationary), and rotate at high speed as the rotor 63 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 and comes into contact with the base of the petiole C to cut that base. When the rotor 63 stops after cutting, the two rotors 64 return to being parallel, and the two blades 65 also return to being parallel (original state).

[0033] [Knife] The blades 65 are in the form of an upwardly pointed triangle, and are attached to the oscillating body 64 facing upward. The two blades 65 are parallel when each oscillating body 64 is not rotating (when stationary), but when the oscillating body 64 rotates at high speed in conjunction with the high speed rotation of the rotor 63, the blade 65 side is swung inward (toward the stem D) by the centrifugal force of the high speed rotation and comes into contact with the base of the petiole C to cut the base, and when the high speed rotation stops and the oscillating body 64 stops, the blades return to their original parallel state.

[0034] [Weight] A weight 67 is attached to the underside of the other axial end of the swinging body 64, which is on the rear end side (opposite the blade attachment side) of the support shaft 66. By attaching the weight 67, when the swinging body 64 rotates at high speed in the clockwise direction in conjunction with the high speed rotation of the rotor 63, the blade attachment side (tip side) of the swinging body 64 is easily moved closer to the stalk D side by centrifugal force.

[0035] [Lower support] 3 is a lower support 70, which abuts against the bottom surface E of the stalk D of the broccoli A when the rotating shaft 62 of the lower petiole cutting device 60 is raised by a lifting body (not shown) to support the stalk D and prevent the broccoli A from rotating when the blade 65 of the lower petiole cutting device 60 cuts the base of the stalk C extending outward from the stalk D. The lower support 70 is attached to the upper part of a lifting body 71 (FIG. 3) provided separately from the rotating shaft 62, and rises and falls with the lifting body 71, and can abut against the bottom surface E of the stalk D of the broccoli A when raised to support the stalk D, and descends with the lowering body 71 to move away from the bottom surface E of the stalk D of the broccoli A. This ensures that the stalk D is supported even when the blade 65 of the lower petiole cutting device 60 is rotating to cut the base of the stalk C.

[0036] S in FIG. 3 denotes a return body (for example, a coil spring) that is wound around the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 62 and pulls down (returns) the rotating shaft 62 that has been raised by a lifting body (not shown).

[0037] [Operation of petiole cutting device] The operation of the illustrated petiole cutting device 50 is as follows. (1) When the rotating shaft 2 is lowered by the lifting body, the blade 4 and the pusher 5 are also lowered, and the pusher 5 is pressed against the flower bud B of the broccoli A (Figure 7). (2) In the state of (1) above, when the motor M rotates to rotate the rotating shaft 2, the rotor 3 rotates (revolves) around the outside of the flower bud B, and the centrifugal force generated during the revolution rotates (spins) the two blades 4, causing the tip sides 4e of each blade 4 to spread outward (outward) from above the flower bud B (Figure 8). In this case, the two blades 4 spread out to the position where the centrifugal force is at its maximum. (3) The blades 4b of the two blades 4 that have spread apart come into contact with the petal C from the flower bud B side (the inside of the petal C), and the petal C is cut from its inside (Figure 8). At this time, the rotation of the blades 4 stores a return force in the return spring 9 that returns the blades 4 to their original state (position). (4) When the cutting is completed, the revolution of the rotor 3 stops, and the rotation of the blade 4 also stops. At this time, the blade 4 is pulled up above the presser 5 by the return force of the return tool 9 that was previously energized, and the tip side 4e of the blade 4 is pulled up above the presser 5 as shown in Fig. 10 (returned to the original state (position) before the rotation). The rotor 3 is also pulled up by the rise of the lifting body (not shown), and the blade 4 and the presser 5 are pulled up above the flower bud B as shown in Fig. 3, returning to the original state before the descent.

[0038] When cutting the petiole C as in (1) to (4) above, the lower support 70 in Fig. 3 can be pressed against the bottom surface E (the bottom surface previously cut to the desired length) of the stalk D of the broccoli A to support the stalk D, and in this state, the vicinity of the base of the petiole C can be cut with the blade 65 of the lower petiole cutting device 60. This cutting near the base can be performed simultaneously with the cutting of the upper part of the petiole C (cutting beside the flower bud B) with the blade 4 of the petiole cutting device 50. In this case, the petiole cutting device (upper petiole cutting device) 50, the center of the stalk D of the broccoli A, and the center of the lower petiole cutting device 60 are aligned on the vertical axis XX, so that the flower bud B, the petiole C, the stem D, etc. can be cut without being damaged. [Industrial Applicability]

[0039] The shapes, structures, arrangements, operations, order of operations, timing of operations, etc. of the rotating shaft 2, the rotating body 3, the blade 4, the pushing tool 5, the reset tool 9, the lifting mechanism, and other components in the present invention can be modified in design within the scope of solving the problems of the present invention. For example, the reset tool 9 may be a spring of a different shape or may be something other than a spring. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 Pedestal 2 Rotation Axis 3 Rotating body 3a (Top of Rotor) 3b (Lower part of the rotor) 3c (rotating body) spindle insertion hole 3d (rotational) hole 4. Knives 4a Blade board 4b Cutting edge 4c (Tool base) bush insertion hole 4d (Blade base) return tool insertion hole 4e Tip side (of blade base) 5 Pressing tool 6 main axis 6a (Main shaft) upper screw 6b (Main shaft) tsuba 6c (Main shaft) barrel 6d (Main shaft) bottom screw 7 Spindle fixing nut 8 Color 9 Return spring 9a (of the return tool) middle part 9b (of the return tool) upper end 9c Lower end (of the return tool) 10. Bush 10a (Bush) Cylinder 10b (Bush) flange 11 Blade fixing nut 20-pin 30 Base 31 Main unit 34 (Base) Opening 38 pin 39 Insertion hole (setting hole) 39a (Set hole) inner surface 40 Opening plate 41 Connecting plate 45 Conveyor belt 50 Petiole cutting device (upper petiole cutting device) 60 Lower petiole cutting device 62 Rotating shaft (of lower petiole cutter) 63 Rotor (for lower petiole cutting device) 64 (Lower petiole cutter) rocker 65 (Lower petiole cutter) blade 66 (Lower petiole cutter) support shaft 67 (Lower petiole cutter) weight 70 Lower support 71 Lifting body A. Broccoli B Flower bud C Petiole D. Stem E (of stem) bottom Medium motor S Return body XX Vertical axis

Claims

1. The cutting tool is provided with a rotating body that rotates above the object to be cut, and a blade that is rotatably attached to the rotating body, The blade rotates inside the object to be cut as the rotor rotates, and the centrifugal force caused by the rotation spreads toward the object, allowing it to be cut. A petiole cutting device characterized by the above.

2. The cutting machine is provided with a rotor that rotates above the broccoli to be cut, and a blade that is rotatably attached to the rotor, The blade rotates above the broccoli flower buds and inside the petioles as the rotor rotates, and spreads outward due to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation, contacting the petioles from the inside and cutting the petioles. A petiole cutting device characterized by the above.

3. The cutting machine is provided with a rotor that rotates above the broccoli to be cut, and a blade that is rotatably attached to the rotor, The rotor can ascend and descend, and when descending, it descends above the broccoli florets. The blade rotates above the broccoli flower bud and inside the petiole as the descending rotor rotates, and spreads outward due to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation, contacting the petiole from the inside and cutting the petiole. A petiole cutting device characterized by the above.

4. The petiole cutting device according to claim 2 or 3, There is a pusher that can be raised and lowered, When the pusher descends, it presses against the top of the flower bud, preventing the broccoli from rotating when the blade is used to cut the petiole. A petiole cutting device characterized by the above.

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