Mowing mechanism

Abstract

To provide a novel mowing mechanism hardly scattering mown grass to a surrounding area.SOLUTION: A mowing mechanism for mowing grass by rotating a mowing blade about a prescribed rotation shaft comprises: a driven gear unit having a driven gear rotatable about the rotation shaft as a shaft center; and a drive gear unit having a drive gear connected to a prescribed power source via a drive shaft, circumscribing and meshing with the driven gear, and transmitting power supplied from the power source to the driven gear to rotate the driven gear, where the driven gear formed in an annular shape, includes a through-hole passing through the rotation shaft and penetrating in a direction of the rotation shaft, and the mowing blade provided on an inner circumferential surface thereof.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mowing mechanism. [Background technology]

[0002] A known conventional mower cuts vegetation growing on the ground by rotating a disk with multiple metal blades attached to the outer periphery, as shown in Patent Document 1. Another known conventional mower is a nylon cutter type mower that cuts vegetation by rotating a nylon cord at high speed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-054476 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, conventional mowers with rotating blades that face outward or with rotating nylon cords have the problem that cut grass and vegetation fly around at high speeds, posing a risk to the operator and those nearby.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its main object is to provide a new grass-cutting mechanism that prevents cut grass from scattering around. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In other words, the mowing mechanism of the present invention cuts grass by rotating a cutting blade around a predetermined rotation axis, and is equipped with a driven gear unit having a driven gear that can rotate around the rotation axis, and a drive gear unit having a drive gear that is connected to a predetermined power source via a drive shaft and meshes with the driven gear on its outer periphery, transmitting power supplied from the power source to the driven gear to rotate it, and is characterized in that the driven gear is annular in shape with a through hole that passes through the rotation axis and penetrates in the direction of the rotation axis, and has a cutting blade provided on its inner peripheral surface.

[0007] With this type of mower, instead of cutting grass by rotating an outward-facing cutting blade as in the conventional method, the grass can be cut by a cutting blade attached to the inner peripheral surface of a ring-shaped driven gear that is rotated by a power source, thereby preventing the cut grass from scattering around.

[0008] The driven gear unit has a plurality of driven gears arranged in a row along the rotation axis direction, with different outer diameters, and capable of rotating independently of one another; the drive gear unit has a plurality of drive gears arranged in a row along the rotation axis direction, with different outer diameters circumscribing each of the driven gears; the plurality of driven gears are preferably arranged so that their outer diameters decrease from the tip end, which faces the ground in use, to the base end, in the rotation axis direction; and the plurality of drive gears are preferably arranged so that their outer diameters increase from the tip end, which faces the ground in use, to the base end, in the rotation axis direction. In this way, when the drive gears of the drive gear unit are rotated at the same speed by the power source, the smaller the diameter of the driven gear, the faster its rotation speed can be.As a result, the rotation speed of the driven gear increases from the tip end to the base end along the rotation axis, allowing vegetation to be cut finely.

[0009] The driven gears preferably have cutting blades with different widths, and are arranged such that the width of the cutting blades narrows from the tip end toward the base end in the direction of the rotation axis. In this way, the width of the cutting blade becomes narrower from the tip end to the base end along the rotation axis direction, so that vegetation can be cut more finely.

[0010] Of the multiple driven gears, it is preferable that the driven gear located at the tip end in the direction of the rotation axis has a cutting blade provided so as not to overlap with the rotation axis, and the driven gear located at the base end in the direction of the rotation axis has a cutting blade provided so as to overlap with the rotation axis. In this way, the driven gear at the tip end has a hollow shaft, so even thick plants can be taken in and cut. On the other hand, the driven gear at the base end has a cutting blade that passes through the shaft, so the thin plants cut by the driven gear at the tip end can be further cut into smaller pieces without any loss.

[0011] It is preferable that the drive gear unit rotates some of the plurality of driven gears in opposite directions to each other. In this way, by rotating some of the driven gears forward while rotating other driven gears in the reverse direction, it becomes possible to cut the grass that has been taken in by twisting it off.

[0012] It is preferable that a suction mechanism for sucking up cut grass is connected to a through hole formed in the driven gear located at the base end side in the direction of the rotation axis. In this way, the driven gear unit can suck up and store the cut grass without scattering it.

[0013] It is preferable that a plurality of the drive gear units have different drive shafts, and that the drive gear units are arranged in positions that are substantially rotationally symmetrical with each other when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis. In this way, one driven gear unit is driven by the driving gear unit, so that vegetation can be cut more powerfully. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, a new grass-cutting mechanism can be provided that prevents cut grass from scattering around. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the overall configuration of a mowing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a driven gear unit and a driving gear unit of the mowing mechanism of the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a driven gear unit and a driving gear unit of the mowing mechanism of the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the configuration of the driven gear unit and the drive gear unit of the mowing mechanism of the embodiment, viewed from the tip side. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a driven gear unit of the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the driven gear at the most distal end of the driven gear unit of the embodiment; [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the second driven gear from the tip side of the driven gear unit of the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the third driven gear from the tip side of the driven gear unit of the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the fourth driven gear from the tip side of the driven gear unit of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] An embodiment of the mowing mechanism of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0017] The mowing mechanism 100 of this embodiment is mounted on a mower or brush cutter that uses a power source such as an engine or a battery to cut grass, and is configured to cut grass by rotating a cutting blade 12 about a predetermined rotation axis A. Specifically, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, this mowing mechanism 100 is equipped with a driven gear unit 1 having driven gears 11a-d that are rotatable about the rotation axis A, a drive gear unit 2 that is connected to a predetermined power source (not shown) via a drive shaft 22 and has drive gears 21a-d that mesh externally with the driven gears 11a-d and transmit power supplied from the power source to rotate the driven gear 11, and a support plate 3 that rotatably supports these by sandwiching them from both sides along the rotation axis direction.

[0018] In the grass mowing mechanism 100 of this embodiment, the driven gears 11a-d are annular with through holes formed therein that pass through the rotation axis A and penetrate in the direction of the rotation axis, and the cutting blade 12 is provided on the inner circumferential surface of each driven gear 11. The driven gears 11a-d are rotated by drive gears 21a-d connected to a power source, so that grass can be cut by the cutting blade 12 provided on the inner circumferential surface of the driven gear 11.

[0019] In the mowing mechanism 100 of this embodiment, one end face of the driven gear unit 1 along the rotational axis is provided with a cutting port P1 that faces the ground during use and allows grass to enter the mowed area. The other end face of the driven gear unit 1 along the rotational axis is provided with a collection port P2 for collecting cut grass during use. A suction mechanism (not shown) is connected to the collection port P2, and air flows from the cutting port P1 toward the collection port P2, causing the cut grass that enters through the cutting port P1 to be collected by the suction mechanism through the collection port P2. Hereinafter, the side of the rotational axis where the cutting port P1 is provided will be referred to as the tip end, and the side where the collection port P2 is provided will be referred to as the base end. Each part will be described in more detail below.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 5, the driven gear unit 1 has a plurality of (four in this example) driven gears 11a-d that are arranged coaxially along the rotation axis direction and can rotate independently of one another. Each of the plurality of driven gears 11a-d is an external gear that forms an annular shape when viewed from the rotation axis direction, and a cutting blade 12 is provided on its inner peripheral surface. The plurality of driven gears 11a-d have different outer diameters and through-hole diameters, and are arranged so that the outer diameters and through-hole diameters decrease sequentially from the distal end to the proximal end in the rotation axis direction. The opening on the distal end side of the driven gears 11a-d arranged at the distal end side functions as the above-mentioned cutting mouth P1.

[0021] Furthermore, the cutting blades 12a-d provided on the multiple driven gears 11a-d differ from one another in shape and size. In this embodiment, the multiple driven gears 11a-d have cutting blades 12a-d with different widths, and are arranged so that the width of the cutting blades 12 narrows (so that the cutting blades 12 become finer) from the tip end to the base end in the direction of the rotation axis. Furthermore, of the multiple driven gears 11a-d, the two driven gears 11a, 11b located on the tip end side are provided with cutting blades 12a, 12b so as not to overlap with the rotation axis A. Meanwhile, the two driven gears 11c, 11d located on the base end side are provided with cutting blades 12c, 12d so as to overlap with the rotation axis A.

[0022] 6 and 7, multiple (four in this example) inward-facing cutting blades 12a, b are provided on the inner circumferential surface of each of the first and second driven gears 11a, b from the tip end side in a rotationally symmetrical relationship. Each cutting blade 12a, b provided on the inner circumferential surface is formed to extend inward when viewed from the rotation axis direction, and to extend from the base end side to the tip end side when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction.

[0023] 8, a cutting blade 12c is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the second driven gear 11c from the base end side so as to cross the through-hole through the rotation axis A. Specifically, this cutting blade 12c has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the rotation axis direction, and has a V-shape that is convex downward from the base end side to the tip end side when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction.

[0024] 9, a plurality of (four in this example) inward-facing cutting blades 12d are provided in a rotationally symmetric relationship on the inner circumferential surface of the driven gear 11d closest to the base end. Each cutting blade 12d provided on the inner circumferential surface extends inward when viewed from the rotation axis direction, and extends from the base end side to the tip end side when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 9, nozzles 13 (referred to as tip-side nozzle 13a and base-side nozzle 13b) are connected to the tip-side and base-side end faces of the driven gear 11d, which is closest to the base end. The tip-side nozzle 13a controls the flow rate of the fluid flowing from the tip side into the driven gear 11d. The base-side nozzle 13b controls the flow rate of the fluid flowing out from the driven gear 11d toward the base end. The tip-side nozzle 13a is open on both the tip-side and base-side end faces and has a hollow truncated cone shape that decreases in diameter from the tip side to the base end. The base-side nozzle 13b is open on both the tip-side and base-side end faces and has a hollow truncated cone shape that increases in diameter from the tip side to the base end. The opening on the base-side end face of the base-side nozzle 13b functions as the recovery port P2. By providing two nozzles 13 having such a shape, a jet effect is generated on the fluid flowing into the driven gear 11d on the most proximal end side, and the suction force can be increased.

[0026] The drive gear unit 2 has a plurality of (four in this example) drive gears 21a-d that are arranged coaxially along the rotation axis direction and can rotate independently of one another. All of the drive gears 21a-d are external gears, and each drive gear 21a-d is arranged so as to correspond to and circumscribe the corresponding driven gear 11a-d of the driven gear unit 1. The drive gears 21a-d have different outer diameters, and are arranged so that the outer diameters increase in order from the distal end to the proximal end in the rotation axis direction.

[0027] The drive shaft 22 of the drive gear unit 2 is configured to transmit power transmitted from a power source to each of the drive gears 21a-d and rotate some of the drive gears 21a-d in directions opposite to each other. In this embodiment, the drive shaft 22 is configured to rotate the first and third drive gears 21a, 21c from the tip in the same direction (for example, forward rotation) and rotate the second and fourth drive gears 21b, 21d from the tip in opposite directions (for example, reverse rotation).

[0028] 4, the mowing mechanism 100 of this embodiment is equipped with a plurality (three in this example) of drive gear units 2 each having a different drive shaft 22. The plurality of drive gear units 2 are equipped with the same size and number of drive gears 21a-d. When viewed in the direction of the rotation axis, the plurality of drive gear units 2 are arranged so as to be rotationally symmetrical with respect to one another about the rotation axis A.

[0029] <Advantages of the grass mowing mechanism 100 of this embodiment> According to the grass-cutting mechanism 100 of this embodiment configured in this manner, instead of cutting grass by rotating the outward-facing cutting blade 12 as in the conventional method, grass can be cut by cutting blades 12a-d provided on the inner peripheral surface of annular driven gears 11a-d that are rotated by a power source, thereby preventing cut grass from scattering around.

[0030] <Other embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the mowing mechanism 100 of other embodiments may be provided with only one drive gear unit 2, rather than a plurality of drive gear units 2.

[0031] Furthermore, in the mowing mechanism 100 of the above embodiment, the driven gear unit 1 includes a plurality of driven gears 11a-d, and the drive gear unit 2 includes a plurality of drive gears 21a-d, but this is not limited to this. In other embodiments, the driven gear unit 1 may include only one driven gear 11, and the drive gear unit 2 may include only one drive gear 21.

[0032] In the above embodiment, the driven gears 11a-d included in the driven gear unit 1 have different outer diameters and the cutting blades 12a-d have different shapes, but this is not limited to this. In other embodiments, the driven gears 11a-d included in the driven gear unit 1 may have the same outer diameter and the cutting blades 12a-d may have the same shape.

[0033] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 100....Mowing mechanism A: Rotation axis 1. Driven gear unit 11 Driven gear 12 ... mowing blade 2. Drive gear unit 21 Drive gear 22 Drive shaft

Claims

1. A grass cutting mechanism that cuts grass by rotating a cutting blade around a predetermined rotation axis, a driven gear unit having a driven gear that is rotatable about the rotation shaft; a drive gear unit having a drive gear connected to a predetermined power source via a drive shaft, circumferentially meshing with the driven gear, and transmitting power supplied from the power source to the driven gear to rotate it; The driven gear is annular and has a through hole passing through the rotation shaft and penetrating in the direction of the rotation shaft, and a cutting blade is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the driven gear.

2. the driven gear unit includes a plurality of driven gears arranged side by side along the rotation axis direction, each having a different outer diameter, and capable of rotating independently of one another; the drive gear unit includes a plurality of drive gears arranged side by side along the rotation axis direction, circumscribing the plurality of driven gears in correspondence with each other, and having different outer diameters; the plurality of driven gears are arranged such that their outer diameters become smaller from a tip end side, which faces the ground in use, to a base end side in the direction of the rotation axis, The mowing mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of drive gears are arranged so that their outer diameters increase from a tip end, which faces the ground in use, to a base end in the direction of the rotation axis.

3. The grass mowing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of driven gears have cutting blades with different widths, and are arranged so that the width of the cutting blades narrows from the tip end side to the base end side in the direction of the rotation axis.

4. Among the plurality of driven gears, The driven gear, which is located at the tip end side in the direction of the rotation axis, is provided with a cutting blade so as not to overlap with the rotation axis, The grass mowing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the driven gear located on the base end side in the direction of the rotation axis is provided with a cutting blade so as to overlap with the rotation axis.

5. The mowing mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein the drive gear unit rotates some of the plurality of driven gears in directions opposite to each other.

6. The grass mowing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein a suction mechanism that sucks cut grass is connected to a through hole formed in the driven gear that is located furthest to the base end in the direction of the rotation axis.

7. The mowing mechanism according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of drive gear units each having a different drive shaft, and the plurality of drive gear units are arranged in positions that are approximately rotationally symmetrical with respect to one another when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis.

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